Syllabus
ESL 33A: ESL Reading and Writing, Level 4
Class Information
 Section: 1343
 Location: Arcadia High School, Room C13
 Time: Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:00 – 6:00
Instructor Information
 Name: Ms. Sundar
 E-mail address: mcdames@pasadena.edu
 Office hours: By appointment
 Mailbox: Label items “Ms. Dames Sundar” and leave them with Languages Division Office in C247.
The contents of the box will be collected once a week.
Objectives
The goal of ESL 33A is to help you develop some of the writing, grammar, and reading skills you need to
succeed in transfer–level academic classes. The specific objectives and outcomes set by PCC for this class are:
Writing
Students should be able to:
Plan, write, and edit a three-part
composition that includes a clear
beginning, middle, and end;
Write a multi-paragraph essay
developing a single idea with logical
organization and appropriate support.
Use process techniques, including
generating ideas, outlining, and revising;
Express relationships between ideas
using coordination and
subordination;
Use a variety of sentence
structures;
Write a 250-300 word
composition in 50 minutes;
Use techniques of direct and
indirect quotation to incorporate
ideas in a composition.
Grammar
Students should be able to use
appropriately:
Reading & Vocabulary
Students should be able to:
All coordinating conjunctions;
All verb tenses and verb forms,
including perfects, conditionals, and
modals;
Adverbial clauses;
Adjective clauses;
Reduction of clauses to phrases;
Unreal conditionals;
Conjunctive verbs;
Noun clauses;
Gerunds and infinitives of
transition signals and understand the
relationships;
Correct grammar, appropriate
vocabulary, and a variety of
advanced sentence structures to
communicate ideas effectively.
Read college-level texts,
primarily non-fiction;
Recognize the whole range
they indicate;
Understand inferred
meanings;
Study college-level
vocabulary.
Write a short paragraph
summary of an article of 3-5
pages.
Identify the main idea of a
level-appropriate text and the
development of thought within
the text;
Locate appropriate
information using the library
and the Internet;
Demonstrate awareness of
themselves as responsible, selfdirected language learners
through class participation and
self- assessment.
Books and Materials
Please have your books and materials by the second day of class. Bring all of your books every day. You need
to bring:
 Reason to Write, Intermediate: Strategies for Success in Academic Writing, by Robert Cohen and Judy
Miller.
 Understanding and Using English Grammar: Volume B, Third Edition, by Betty Azar.
 An English dictionary. You may use a paper dictionary for tests and in-class writing assignments. You
may not use an electronic dictionary for tests or in-class writing assignments.
 Basic supplies (paper, pens, pencils, erases, binder, 2 pocket journal folder, stapler, etc.).
 Internet access. (This class requires you to access the Internet at least twice a week. If you do not have
Internet at home, you can access the Internet for free at the PCC library as well as public city libraries.)
Homework:
 To properly learn, understand, and apply the English concepts that I teach in this class, you must do all
of your homework every night. It will be very difficult for you to understand this class if you do not
complete all of the homework on time.
 For every hour of class, you are expected to do 1 – 2 hours of homework. That means that you are
expected to complete 5 – 10 hours of homework each week.
 Homework will be checked regularly and collected as needed. Homework will affect your grade in this
class.
 Late work - including work that is turned in after the beginning of class – is not accepted. You must
finish all homework before class.
 If you are absent, you may turn in your homework on the day that you return to class.
 If you miss a class, you still must do the homework so that you are prepared for the next class. This
means you must call a classmate or check online to find out what the homework assignment is. (For
example, if you miss class on Monday, you still need to do Monday’s homework and turn it in on
Wednesday).
Attendance policy
 PCC policy allows students to have 10 hours of unexcused absences. I may drop you from class if you
miss more than 4 classes. If you must absent for more than a few days, please discuss it with me. We
might be able to make alternative arrangements.
 Each time you are absent, talk to a classmate or check online to learn about the homework so that you
can complete it on time. It is your responsibility to complete the homework before you return to class.
 If you are absent, check with me when you return to see if there is any paperwork that you missed.
 Come to class on time. Do not be tardy. Three tardies equal one absence.
Grading
 Approximately 80% of your final grade is based on your writing. Approximately 20% of your grade is
based on your homework, grammar and reading quizzes / tests, rewrites, Self-directed Study Binder,
attendance and class participation.
 Writing that you do in class is worth more than writing that is done at home. We will have a timed inclass essay approximately every two weeks.
 In order to receive credit for this class, you must earn a C or better.
 To pass the class, both your writing and your grammar need to be strong. If either area is weak, you will
not pass.
 Your final grade will be calculated using the following percentages:
A = 90% - 100%
B = 80% - 89%
C = 70% - 79%
D = 60% - 69%
F = Less than 60%
Format for Written Assignments
 Typed papers should use 12-point type font, be double-spaced, and have 1-inch margins.
 All papers should be single-sided so that there is writing on only one side.
 All papers should be the standard size (8 ½ inches wide and 11 inches long).
 Always write your name, date, the assignment title, class name and instructor name in the top right
corner of your written assignments.
Communication and Honesty
 Talk to me if the class is difficult for you. If you do not understand an assignment, talk to me before the
due date. I can give you extra help.
 Mistakes are a natural part of learning a language. Do not hide them. I need to see your mistakes so that
I can help you.
Plagiarism and Cheating
 Students must do all their work by themselves. No one should help you do your work or correct the
work you have done unless the assignment specifically asks you to work with another person.
 Students may not copy or plagiarize. When you copy complete phrases or sentences from a book, an
article, the Internet, or any other source, you must put quotation marks ( “ ” ) around the words and/or
cite the source of the words. If you do not do this, you are plagiarizing.
 If I suspect that you may have gotten extra help with your assignment, plagiarized some of your work, or
cheated during an exam, I will ask you to do an alternative assignment under close supervision. If this is
a regular problem, you will be reported. You may fail the assignment and possibly the class.
Important Dates
 October 7th: Class might not meet due to norming sessions. Your instructor will update you in October.
 November 11th: There is no class due to Veteran’s Day.
 November 25th: Class WILL MEET. (Note: PCC is closed for Thanksgiving from Nov. 26th – 28th).
 December 14th: The final exam is currently scheduled for Dec. 14th from 3:15 – 5:15. Your instructor
will update you in December if this date changes.
Other Recommended Courses
Consider attending one of these other courses to further improve your skills.
 Library Skills: LIB 1 (Basic Skills), LIB 10 (Internet), LIB 101
 Reading Skills: ENGL 415, ENGL 130
 Speaking and Listening Skills: ESL 136, ESL 106
 Grammar Skills: ESL 133 (Advanced Grammar Review)
 Study Skills: ENGL 110
Learning Assistance Center
 The Learning Assistance Center (L.A.C.) is a free center in Room D300 at PCC. It has books, computer
exercises, videos, tapes, tutors, and other things that can help you improve your English. Remember to
use your ID each time you go to the Learning Assistance Center to get credit for your attendance. To
get more information, you can call their phone number (585-7230) or check their website
(http://www.pasadena.edu/studentservices/lac/).
 All students are required to get at least 1 hour of extra help each week by attending the Learning
Assistance Center. You are required to keep a log of these weekly activities. This is part of your grade.
If you are not doing well in the class, you may be required to complete more than 1 hour a week.
Arcadia High School Rules
 All high schools are non-smoking sites.
 PCC students are required to carry a PCC ID and registration slip at all times.
 Please do not bring food or drinks to class.
LAC Materials for ESL 33A
I recommend you spend most of your time on grammar, writing, and reading.
Grammar software
1. Focus on Grammar – High-Intermediate level
2. Skills Bank (English 403 – enter as a guest)
Readers
3. Reading for Real: High Intermediate
4. American Short Stories (Fry Readability of 13-14 years)
5. Cambridge Readers, Level 5
6. Advanced Anecdotes in American English
Grammar books
7. Side by Side Intermediate (last half)
8. Graded Exercises in English (last half - has answer key in back)
Writing and test-taking skills videos
9. Study Skills: How to Take Essay Tests (15 min.)
10. Basic Writing Skills – with Cicely Tyson (Tape 2: Paragraphs and Meaning)
11. English Punctuation (20 minutes each)
• Tape 1: Ending the sentence (including indirect/reported speech)
• Tape 2: Commas
• Tape 3: Semicolons and colons
11. Read, Write, and Research, Tape 7: Writing the Argumentative Essay
Vocabulary
12. Wordcraft 2
Reference
13. Dictionary of Prepositions
Idioms/Culture/Listening
14. 101 American English Proverbs
15. Slangman Guide to Street Speak (low readability, but idioms will be new)
16. Attitudes Through Idioms
17. All Clear! Advanced – Idioms and Pronunciation in Context
18. Attitudes: DVD 4
19. Focus on American Culture (video)
and Meaning)