Writing 8
ESOL 262: Course # 27806
Spring 2009
Instructor:
E-mail:
Class website:
Office:
Office hours:
Class time:
Molly Burns
molly.burns@pcc.edu
http://mollysclass.pbwiki.com
CT 219, Desk “38”
2:30-3:30 Wednesday
Monday & Wednesday, 12:00 PM-02:20 PM, PAC 101
Required texts:
 Grammar Troublespots: A Guide for Student Writers, 3rd ed.
by Ann Raimes, Cambridge University Press
 Advanced Writing Handbook for ESOL, 4th ed.
by John Sparks, Kendall/Hunt
Required Materials:
 Notebook
 English/English dictionary, such as the Longman or Newbury
 3-ring binder for handouts and your notes
 Folder with pocket to turn in essays (all drafts, outline, instructor’s comments)
 Highlighter
Course Objectives:
This course is designed to teach college-level writing tasks and prepare you for university-level
writing courses (such as Writing 121). You will learn about, and write, summaries, essays, and
an academic research paper. Essays may include these styles: definition, classification,
problem-solution, and argument.
Some of our goals include:
(a) Reviewing of the essay-writing process;
(b) Expressing, explaining, and responding to, other writer’s ideas;
(c) Introducing summary papers, reports, and response papers;
(d) Summarizing, paraphrasing, and using quotations;
(e) Using advanced grammar forms appropriately;
(f) Improving your own specific grammar weaknesses;
(g) Conducting research using a variety of resources and writing a research paper using
MLA (Modern Language Association) format; and
(h) Using ideas from other writers to support or challenge your own ideas.
Class Requirements, Grading, and Policy:
1) Homework. We will read and analyze different essay types, and we will read both in-class
and at home. You will base several papers on readings assigned in-class and you will do
independent research. There are weekly grammar homework assignments as well.
You may expect to have a minimum of 1 hour of homework per class hour. Writing 8 is a
demanding class and you may spend much more than that. However, the rewards will affect
your everyday life and your academic future – don’t cheat yourself! Spend the time you need.
Use the Tutoring Center.
2) Writing. You will write a total of 5-7 papers, including 2-3 essays written in-class. Most of
these essays will be rewritten, making corrections and improvements according to the notes I
make on your papers. One paper will be a 4-5 page research paper.
3) Quizzes and Exams. There will be quizzes through the term, a mid-term, and a final exam.
You must pass two in-class timed writing essays to pass the course. In addition,
students must have a C average on the quizzes and exams in order to pass the class.
4) Participation. Follow the attendance guidelines. Ask questions in class. Cooperate in
groups with your classmates. Be prepared every day. Enjoy learning something new!
Grading:
The final grade will be based on the following:



Writing:
Grammar/Assignments:
Quizzes and final:
75% of your grade
10% of your grade
15% of your grade
Students must receive an A, B, or C in the course in order to pass and move on to the next level.
A
B
C
D
F
90% +
80 - 89%
70 - 79%
60 - 69% (repeat the course)
59% and below (repeat the course)
Withdrawing, pass/no pass, and auditing notes:
Students who leave the class without officially dropping might get an 'F' for the course. I may
withdraw a student who is absent from class for a week without informing me.
-Students may drop the course using their MyPCC site: https://my.pcc.edu/cp/home/displaylogin.
-Students may drop the course without having to pay tuition by Friday, April 10th.
-Students may drop the course and receive “W” on transcript by Friday, May 22nd.
-Students must inform instructor by Friday, May 22nd if they want to take the course pass/no
pass (P/NP).
-Students who wish to audit must inform the instructor at the beginning of the term. To get an
audit, a student must attend 70% of the classes.
Attendance Policy
Students should try to come to class every day. Two unexcused absences are allowed per term.
You will automatically fail the class if you are absent for more than 4 classes. Two
percentage points will be taken off of your final grade for every unexcused absence after two.
Often two percentage points will make the difference of a grade!!!! If you are more than 10
minutes late for class, you will be marked as absent. When you are late, it disrupts the
class. Please plan on arriving to class early to avoid this problem.
Late Homework Policy
You must complete all assignments on time whether or not you are absent. It is your
responsibility to find out about homework if you are absent—check the website and talk with
your classmates. Please write down two classmate’s telephone numbers:
_________________________________________________________________________
Graded assignments, including essays, will be marked down for every day they are handed in
late. I will not accept assignments that are more than one week late. I will not accept emailed
homework unless we make special arrangements.
Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is important in schools in the United States. Although copying the words of
others may be acceptable and even desirable in some cultures, it has serious academic
consequences in the U.S. “Academic honesty” means that you will:
 complete your own writing outside of class and not copy from a friend, from the Internet,
or from any writing in a book, a magazine, or a newspaper.
 give credit to the original author when you mention or quote someone else’s ideas
 do your own work during in-class evaluations and writing
If any assignment contains material copied from an outside source and submitted as your own
ideas or writing (i.e., “plagiarism”), you will not receive credit for that assignment. A second
occurrence of plagiarism or copying will result in an “F” for a class grade.
Special Needs
If you have any specific needs, such as special seating arrangements, please let me know on the
first day. The Office for Students with Disabilities is located in the ST Building, Room 229
(Phone: 503-977-4341).
Phones, Texting, and Music
Please turn off cell phones before class begins! Please respect your classmates and teacher.
Tutoring
Tutors in the ESOL Tutoring Center in the CT Building may help students with assignments
for this course. Tutors are not supposed to give answers or rewrite essays; they are there to help
with ideas and explain English structures.
Discipline
Inappropriate behavior in the classroom or in the ESOL Tutoring Center can lead to suspension
or expulsion from the college.
Writing conferences
I will schedule two 15-minute meetings with each student during the term to discuss progress
in the class. You may also make appointments to see me, or come in during office hours.
Final Exam; You must pass the final exam to pass the class.
Burns, Spring 09
Writing 8
Tentative Course Plan
This is not a final plan for our course; we may change some dates or assignments.
We will cover at least 10 units in Grammar Troublespots in class.
Week
Week 1:
Week 2:
Writing Goals
Review writing vocabulary
Summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting
Outlines
Review essay form
Summary paper
Summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting
Week 3:
In-class writing #1: classification
Definition essay
Interview for definition essay assigned
Week 4:
Definition essay
Cause-effect brainstorming
Week 5:
In-class writing #2: cause-effect
Begin problem-solution essay
Start research
Week 6:
Problem-solution essay
First conference
Week 7:
Week 8:
Argument form
Argument form
Outline and thesis statement due
Second research conferences
Week 9:
Draft of research paper due
Week 10:
Final draft of research paper due
Week 11:
Final exam