Seattle Central Community College
ESL 098, Reading for Non-native Speakers II
Summer, 2011
Classroom: 3140
Dates: June 27-Aug 18
Days: M-Th
Time: 9:40-11:10
Holidays: July 4
Teacher: Chris Conley
Office: 3105
Telephone: 206-587-6347
Email: cconley@sccd.ctc.edu
Website:
seattlecentral.edu/faculty/cconley/home.html
Availability: 7:30-7:50am, 11:15-12:00
Course Description and Purpose:
The purpose of ESL 098 is for non-native speakers of English to improve reading skills so that
you may compete equally in all college courses. We will be learning from various sources. We
will use 2 books for the quarter and have in-class reading skills exercises to improve speed,
summarizing, and projection. We will also write summery/reaction papers about what we read.
You will put together a reading portfolio at the end of the quarter, which is a collection of your
learning in class. In the portfolio, you may put any document that you learned something from
including summery/ reaction papers, question sheets, tests, and other activities. As long as you
learned something from that document, you may put it in your portfolio.
Educational Philosophy:
I believe that learning takes place by working on one’s own and by working in groups. Every
one’s a teacher and learner. You will have assignments to do at home and then be asked to work
in a group in class to discuss questions, find answers, and lead whole class discussions. Every
person has unique life experiences and can teach other people about these experiences.
Therefore, you will be asked to use your life experiences and take on the role of teacher for you
classmates. I view my role as a facilitator in building your groups and assisting in your learning.
I prefer to ask questions rather than answer them. I will expect you to participate in class by
completing your readings and assignments on time and taking part in discussions.
Learning Objectives:
 Take responsibility for your own learning.
 Speak and listen in groups to accomplish tasks.
 Provide feedback to others.
 Identify the main idea
 Build vocabulary
 Increase reading speed.
 Summarize the main points of and react to an article or chapter with reflection
towards how the article affects you and the world around you.
 Locate information in a reading and make inferences, conclusions or predictions
about the outcome.
 Synthesize information to create opinions and make decisions.
 Locate materials from a variety of sources.
 Take notes and summarize information from written/oral sources.
 Read for pleasure
Seattle Central Community College
ESL 098, Reading for Non-native Speakers II
Summer, 2011
Required texts and materials
 Baker-Gonzalez, Joan and Blau, Eileen. World of Reading: A Thematic Approach to Reading
Comprehension 3. New York: Pearson, 2009.
 Beah, Ishmael. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. New York: Sarah Crichton
Books, 2007.
 A dictionary, either paper or electronic
 Folder, paper, pencils
Grading System
Seattle Community Colleges use the following numerical grading system:
4.0-3.9
3.8-3.5
3.4-3.2
3.1-2.9
2.8-2.5
2.4-2.2
A 100-96%
A- 95-90%
B+ 89-86%
B 85-83%
B- 82-80%
C+ 79-76%
2.1-1.9 C 75-73%
1.8-1.5 C- 72-70%
1.4-1.2 D+ 69-66%
1.1-0.9 D 65-63%
0.8-.0.7 D- 62-60%
0.0
E 59-0%
Evaluation and Course Requirements
Summary-Reaction-Vocabulary Papers-30%
You will turn in weekly papers after reading the book. All papers have a typed summary, reaction and list of 1012 new vocabulary words.
Tests/Quizzes: 30%
After we have read some chapters in the book, you will have an in-class quiz. We will also have
vocabulary quizzes.
Homework: Comprehension Questions: 20%
You will answer weekly questions on the book and turn in the questions. We also will have homework
from the book, World of Reading.
Reading Portfolio: 10%
At the end of the quarter, you will put together a learning portfolio that reflects what you achieved or
learned during this quarter. This is an opportunity to revisit and reflect what we did all quarter.
Participation/Discussions/Readiness: 10%
You are expected to be on time, attend class and be ready for class by completing assignments on time.
Group work is an important part of our class. Please talk, listen and use your group wisely. This means that you
come to class everyday, complete homework on time, have read the material before discussions, participate in
discussions and group work. If you are absent or late, your grade will suffer because you can not participate in
class. If you are not prepared or don’t discuss in your group, your grade will not be as high.
Miscellaneous
 If you are absent on a test/quiz, you must make it up the first day you are back. After that, it becomes a “0.”
 Homework may be 1 day late and no more. After 2 days, it becomes a “0.”
 You will need a 2.5 to complete this course and to go on to other college level classes.
 If you are going to be absent, email or call me.
In Class

Please turn off your cell phones ringer at the beginning of class.
Seattle Central Community College
ESL 098, Reading for Non-native Speakers II
Summer, 2011
Americans with Disabilities Act:
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical
information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please
make an appointment with me as soon as possible.
Summary/Reaction Format
You will be reading the book on a weekly basis. Along with this, you will write a 1 paragraph
summary and 1 paragraph reaction to the chapters you read. Paragraphs are about 20-25 sentences
long. Practice your paragraphing! This paper is due every Wednesday.
Although your writing skills are not being evaluated directly, you should make every effort to write
clearly and use proper grammar and technique. Grammar will be consideration in your grade. But I
will be focusing mostly on your understanding and reflection about the readings. Your reflection must
show how you connect this reading or event to your life and the community around you. How does it
affect you and the world around you?
In your papers, you will need to:
1. Demonstrate your understanding of the author’s meaning and main points.
2. Demonstrate what this means to you and the world around you. Connect the story to your life and
the world.
3. Write 10-12 new vocabulary words that you learned. Write the word, its meaning, and use it in a
sentence.
Your paper may look something like this:
Name
Class
Date
Assignment #1
Summary:
Reaction:
Vocabulary: