ESL 21B: Intermediate Composition
Section # 2229
Fall 2012
T Th 3:45 – 5:05 pm ESL 125
Instructor: Barbara Schelbert M.A.
Messages: (310) 434-4658
Email: schelbert_barbara@smc.edu
Office Hours: Thursdays 5:15 to 5:45pm in ESL 125
Catalog Description: Completion of ESL 21A with a C grade or credit equivalency. The
emphasis of the course is on refining composition and editing skills and on eliminating
gross grammar errors.
Required Texts:
Gardener, Peter S.
Lane & Lange
Novel/Short Stories
New Directions, Reading, Writing & Critical Thinking
Writing Clearly (3rd Edition)
TBA
Required Materials:
Six large bluebooks for in-class essays and in-class journals
81/2” by 11 wide-ruled note book paper for journal entries, in-class assignments, and
lecture notes
One three-ring binder; different-colored highlighters
Course Objective: ESL 21B is an intermediate composition course designed to help
international students organize, compose and edit effectively in English. This course is a
critical bridge to English 1; therefore, the curriculum will emphasize a careful reading
of texts and a self-demanding approach to the content of essays, vocabulary use, and
grammatical accuracy. Students will begin to recognize inference and appreciate nuances
of writing styles. Students will also be expected to support personal ideas, opinions, and
generalizations.
Assignments: Approximately every four weeks you will be writing an in-class essay
based on assigned readings. You are expected to revise this essay out of class after it has
been evaluated. Final drafts need to be typed and handed in with the original. There
will be additional grammar and writing assignments. Late assignments get a point
deduction. I use the eCompanion point system to log in your points, so you are able to
check your grade at all times.
There will be four reading responses and/or grammar quizzes
The midterm will be a Common Essay Exam (standardized by the ESL and English
Department)
The Final Exam consists of a written essay.
Journals: Various journal topics related to the assigned readings will be given in class
and/or at home. For full credit, you must connect your journals to the readings. The
journals will either be written in class in a blue book or at home. At home they must be
typed and at least one and a half pages long (25 lines, fond 14 and double-spaced).
Methods of Instruction: Lecture and directed readings, pair/group/class discussions,
collaborative learning activities, tapes and video tapes, and use of the word processor.
Method of Evaluation and Grading: (300 points
2 in-class first-draft essays
2 revisions
4 quizzes
10 journals
10 Homework Assignments
Common Essay
Final Exam
40
20
25
8
8
40
80
80
40
100
80
80
40
80
500
450-500 = A
400-449 = B
350-399 = C
300-349 = D
250-299 = F
English 1
English 1
ESL 25/ English 22
Repeat ESL 21B
Support Courses:
ESL 23 (Reading & Vocabulary); ESL 20A/B (Grammar) ESL 15 (Oral
Communication);
ESL 28 (Academic Vocabulary)
Tutoring and computer labs are available on campus. Contact the ESL office for
tutoring(room 106) or Drescher Hall (room 313). Sign up online:
http://www.smc.edu/esl/tutoringcalendar
Students need to study 3 hours per instructional hour (9 hours per week)
Cell phones/pagers and food/drinks are not allowed in class.
Students are responsible for adding/dropping a class.
Students must adhere to the SMC Academic Conduct Policies regarding plagiarism and
cheating. Students who cheat or plagiarize will receive an F for the assignment and
possibly for the course. Cutting and pasting from the Internet, without citing sources, is
considered plagiarizing.
More than 4 absences may result in being dropped from the class. 2 tardies count as 1
absence. If you need to be absent for any reason, leave me a voice mail or send an email.
If you are absent, you are responsible for all assigned work. Get a homework buddy!
Make-up quizzes/tests only by special arrangement with the instructor.
The syllabus and assignments are subject to change at the discretion of the
instructor.
Course Outline and Assignments:
Week 1
8.28
8.30
Introduction & Diagnostic Testing (Grammar & Essay)
Reading: ND, chapter 1, Intercultural Communication,
“American Values and Assumptions” pp. 5-13
Journal # 1: Discuss your English reading and writing habits.
Week 2
9.4
9.6
Grammar: WC Unit1, verb tenses
Reading: ND, chapter 1 cont’d pp.5 - 13
Journal # 2: Describe two American values that are different from
your culture.
Week 3
9.11
9.13
Grammar: WC Unit 1 cont’d, verb tenses
Reading: ND, chapter 1 cont’d, “Where Do We Stand?” pp. 19-22 &
“Time Talks, with an Accent” pp. 27-31
Writing: How to summarize
Week 4
9.18
9.20
Grammar: WC Unit 2 , verb forms
Reading: ND, chapter 1 cont’d “Polite but Thirsty” pp. 36-39
Writing: How to paraphrase
Journal # 3: Describe two of your stages of cultural adjustment.
Week 5
9.25
9.27
Grammar: WC Unit 2 cont’d
Reading: ND, chapter 1 cont’d. “Friends and Strangers” & “A Coward”
pp. 41 – 51. In-class essay #1
Writing: 3 types of conjunctions, sentence patterns (simple, complex,
compound, compound/complex)
Week 6
10.2
10.4
Quiz #1 (Grammar)
Reading: chapter 2, Education
“School is Bad for Children” pp. 59-63
Writing: Reviewing the structure of an essay (ND pp. 104-110)
Journal # 4: Compare your country’s educational system to the
American school system. (2 differences)
Week 7
10.9
10.11
Grammar: WC Unit 10, S/V Agreement
ND, chapter 2 cont’d, “Multiple Intelligences and Emotional
Intelligence” pp. 77-81;
Writing: How to include quotations in essay writing
Journal # 5: Describe two of your intelligences.
Week 8
10.16
10.18
Grammar: WC Unit 6, Clauses (relative, adverbial, noun clauses)
Reading: ND, chapter 2 cont’d, How the Web destroys the Quality of
Students’ Research papers” & “An Opposing View” pp. 68-72
Journal # 6: Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the
Internet for students.
Week 9
10. 23
10.25
Grammar: WC Unit 6 cont’d
Reading: ND, chapter 4, Gender Roles, “Sex
Roles” pp. 189-194. ND, chapter 4, Gender Roles” Sex Roles” pp. 188
Journal # 7: Why do so many students plagiarize, and how can it be
avoided?
Week 10
10.30
11.2
Grammar: Quiz #2 (Grammar)
WC Unit 6 cont’d
Reading: chapter 4, “Boys Will Be Boys”
pp. 201-206
Writing: Quotation analysis & paraphrasing exercises
Week 11
11.6
11.8
Grammar: WC Unit 7, Sentence Structure
In-class Essay #2
Writing: Vocabulary in context & sentence patterns exercises
Journal # 8 Read “Sex, Sighs, and Conversation: Why Men and
Women Can’t Communicate.” pp. 211-213; describe how your
friendships with females differ from those with males.
Week 12
11.13
11.15
Grammar: WC Unit 8, Word Order
Writing: Common Essay Exam (midterm, in-class essay #3)
Reading: Novel/Short Stories
How to write a compare/contrast essay
Journal # 9: TBA (Novel/Short Stories)
Week 13
11.20
Grammar: WC Unit 13, Word Choice
Quiz #3 (Grammar)
Reading: Novel/Short Stories
November 22nd Thanksgiving Day (no classes 22 - 24th)
Week 14
11.27
11.29
Grammar: WC Unit 14, Word Forms
Reading: Novel/Short Stories
Writing: Vocabulary in context
Week 15
11.4
11.6
Grammar: Quiz #4 (Novel/Short Stories)
Journal # 10: How do you feel about your progress in English? Are
you prepared for English 1? What grade do you deserve?
Week 16
FINAL EXAM: Tuesday December 11th from 3:30 – 6:30pm
“Writing and rewriting are a constant search of what it is one is trying
to say.”
by John Updike