PRINCE GEORGE'S COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ADVANCED COMPOSITION
English as a Second Language 0202 LD01
Tuesday & Thursday 2:00-3:50pm
Spring 2014
IINSTRUCTOR: Anna Rozzo, MA
OFFICE: UTC 253
Telephone : 301 273 5934 ext 333
EMAIL ADDRESS: rozzoac@pgcc.edu
OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday 4:00-5:00 pm & Wednesday 2:50-3:50 pm
Facebook: Anna EnglishTeacher Rozzo
All credit students are required to use Owl Mail for all college communication.
Students are expected to check PGCC email accounts and Blackboard daily. Students are
responsible for all information or communication sent on email or posted on Blackboard. There are
computers and printers available for students in the computer labs and the library
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
 For nonnative speakers whose writing and speaking skills are at a high level. Focus on essay
writing and advanced grammar. Prerequisite: ESL 0201 with a grade of C or higher or
placement by exam.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, a student will
be able to:
1. Use the writing process to produce essays of appropriate length that demonstrate unity of ideas
on academic topics.
2. Respond coherently to prompts using rhetorical essay patterns with appropriate signal
vocabulary.
3. Use standard academic English grammar to communicate ideas effectively.
4. Write and type essays using standard format and mechanics.
5. Edit writing for grammatical and mechanical errors.
TEXTBOOK: Required: Writing Academic English, Oshima & Hogue, Pearson/Longman,
ISBN: 0-13-152359-7
Recommended (Optional): The Essentials of English, A Writer’s Handbook, Ann Hogue,
Longman, ISBN:0-13-150090-2
OTHER REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS:
 English-English Dictionary:
◦ The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary: http://oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.co
◦ Merriam Webster's Learner's Dictionary: http://www.learnersdictionary.com
 Composition or spiral notebook for journal-writing and note-taking
 Writing Assignment Paper (8”x 11” unbound lined paper)
 Binder for organizing and saving all assignments and handouts
 Join the Class Quizlet Group: http://quizlet.com/class/912003/
Homework & Participation:
 You are responsible for reading the text BEFORE class.
 Please complete writing assignments, pre-writing assignments, and other classwork before
class so we can be ready to work.
 You will be expected to participate in class and work with your classmates.
Practice Essays:
 You will draft and revise 4 essays in class and at home for practice:
◦
Essay 1- Paragraph to Essay
◦
Essay 2- Cause & Effect
◦
Essay 3-Compare/ Contrast
◦
Essay 4- Argumentative
There is a 5 step process towards completing these assignments.
1. Draft an essay at home.
2. Get peer feedback in class.
3. Apply feedback to improve or rewrite a second draft.
4. Get feedback from the teacher about your 2nd draft.
5. Write a final draft to be turned in for a grade.
* All practice essays must be typed in Word using Times New Roman 12 font size and doublespaced. *It must have your name, the course name, my name, the name of the assignment. and the
date.* * I will not except handwritten essays as final products for practice essays.*
In class Essays:
 After you have practiced writing a certain kind of essay in class and at home, you will write
one in class. They will be due at the end of class and maybe handwritten.
◦
Essay 1- Paragraph to Essay
◦
Essay 2- Cause & Effect
◦
Essay 3-Compare/ Contrast
◦
Essay 4- Argumentative
Editing Projects:
 These are assignments in which you identify errors in grammar, syntax, and punctuation in a
text. Then, you attempt to fix these errors.
GRADING CRITERIA:
In class Essays
Editing Projects
Practice Essays
Final Essay
32.5 % (8.125% each)
10% (2.5% each)
32.5% (8.125% each)
25% (5% editing test; 20% essay test)
100%
You must get a grade of “C” (70%) or higher to pass this class.
ESL 0202 Advanced Composition (LD01)
Tues/Thurs Class Schedule Spring 2014
This is a tentative schedule, subject to change due to class pace, unexpected class cancellations and other factors.
Writing Topics
Grammar
Topics
Assignments
Introduction to Course,
Review Paragraphs
Sentence Types
Chapters 1 & 10
Jan 28 & 30
Paragraph to Essay
Subordinators, Coordinators,
Independent & Dependent Chapters 4 & 2
clauses
Draft 1st practice essay
Feb 4 & 6
Peer edit 1st essay
Review essay elements
Chapters 2, 4 & 11
Parallel sentence structure, Rewrite 1st practice
Sentence errors
essay
Feb 11 & 13
Editing Project 1
In class Essay 1
Error Correction Practice
5
Feb 18 & 20
Intro to Cause/Effect Essay,
Signal Words
Noun phrases, Active v.
Passive Voice, Indirect
Speech
Chapter 6 & 12
Draft C/E essay
6
Feb 25 & 27
Peer edit C/E Essay,
Feedback from C/E practice essay
Adverb Clauses,
Subordinators
Chapters 6 & 13
Rewrite C/E P. essay
Editing Project 2
Review & Feedback
Cause & Effect
Error Correction Practice
Weeks Class Dates
1
Jan 21 & 23
2
3
4
7
Mar 4 & 6
Chapters 4 & 11
Chapters 6 & 13
8
In class Essay 2
Mar 11 & 13 Intro to Comparison/Contrast Essay Restrictive,
Signal words
Nonrestrictive Clauses
9
Mar 18 & 20 Peer edit C/C Essay,
10
11
12
Mar 25 & 27 Editing Project 3
Feedback from C/C practice essay
Apr 1 & 3
Apr 8 & 10
In class Essay 3
Debate
Intro to Argumentative Essay,
Signal Words
Chapter 7 & 14
Draft C/C essay
Participle Adjectives,
Gerunds
Rewrite C/C essay
Chapters 7, 15
Error Correction Practice
Chapters 7,
Grammar Review
Chapters 7, 11,
Pronoun/Antecedent
Agreement
Chapter 9
Draft Arg. essay
Chapter 9
Error Correction Practice
Rewrite Arg. essay
Apr 15 & 17 SPRING BREAK: No Classes
13
Apr 22 & 24 Cumulative Editing Project 4
Peer edit Argumentative Essays
14
15
Apr 29
May 1
Feedback from Arg. Essays
In class Essay 4
May 8th
Final Essay Test @ 2pm
Review
Study
CREDIT HOUR EXPLANATION: At Prince George’s Community College, for all credit courses
(or equivalent,) students are expected to spend a minimum of 37.5 combined hours of
instructional time and related coursework time per credit hour. This course is a 3 equivalent
hour course. This course achieves the minimum of 112.5 hours of instructional time by
requiring 37.5 hours of instructional time and 75 hours of student work outside of instructional
time.
Q GRADES: Students are expected to attend and participate in class activities. Students who either
never attended the class or who ceased attendance during the first 20 percent of the course will be
assigned a “Q” grade by the instructor. The Q grade is a final grade and will not be replaced with a
different grade at a later time.
Faculty are required to report the date of last attendance for each student receiving Q or F grade(s) in
order for the college to report this date to a variety of federal agencies as mandated. The date of last
attendance is considered the date of the student’s termination from the course, regardless of the date
of grade submission. Early termination from a course may result in reduction in student loans and
financial aid (e.g., Pell, VA benefits) and may require the student to reimburse funds to the funding
agency.
DELAYED COLLEGE OPENINGS: When the college announces a delayed opening, all classes with
at least 45 minutes of class time remaining at the time of the opening will be held. For example, in the
event of a 10 a.m. opening, a 9:00-10:50 a.m. class will be held. This procedure applies to all credit
classes. To sign up for text alerts such as school closings and delays, log in to myPGCC from
my.pgcc.edu or from www.pgcc.edu and click Owl Alert Notification System on the Bookmarks tab.
Owl Alert is the college’s instant messaging and email notification system.
CHEATING & PLAGIARISM: Copying or attempting to copy another student’s work, having
someone else do your work for you, or reproducing textual materials including those on the Internet
as your own will not be tolerated. Allowing any of these activities to occur will be treated similarly.
An “F” on the specific assignment or exam will be the minimum punishment received up to and
including a failing grade in the course or possible expulsion from the college.
CODE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The college is an institution of higher learning that holds academic integrity as its highest principle.
In the pursuit of knowledge, the college community expects that all students, faculty, and staff will
share responsibility for adhering to the values of honesty and unquestionable integrity. To support a
community committed to academic achievement and scholarship, the Code of Academic Integrity
advances the principle of honest representation in the work that is produced by students seeking to
engage fully in the learning process. The complete text of the Code of Academic Integrity is in the
2013-2014 Student Handbook and posted on the college's website.
CIVILITY STATEMENT
To promote a community of scholarship and civility, everyone at Prince George’s Community
College is expected to be respectful, tolerant and courteous towards others at all times, adhere to
college policies and procedures, and respect college property. Creating a culture of civility both inside
and outside the classroom is everyone’s responsibility.
Civility is a college-wide commitment and in order to identify PGCC students, students are required
to enter classrooms with their college IDs visible. ALL students must have their IDs visible while AT
ANY COLLEGE SITE, WHETHER THEY ARE ON THE LARGO CAMPUS OR ANY
EXTENSION SITE.
CODE OF CONDUCT
The Prince George's Community College Code of Conduct defines the rights and responsibilities of
students and establishes a system of procedures for dealing with students charged with violations of
the code and other rules and regulations of the college. A student enrolling in the college assumes an
obligation to conduct himself/herself in a manner compatible with the college's function as an
educational institution. Refer to the 2013-2014 Student Handbook for a complete explanation of the
Code of Conduct, including the Code of Academic Integrity and the procedure for dealing with
disruptive student behavior.
DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES
Students requesting academic accommodations are required to contact the Disability Support Services
Office (B-124) or call (301) 322-0838 (voice) or (301) 322-0122 (TTY) to establish eligibility for
services and accommodations. Students with documented disabilities should discuss the matter
privately with their instructors at the beginning of the semester and provide a copy of their
Student/Faculty Accommodation Form.
Jane Doe
February 14th 2014
Argumentative Essay
Instructor: Anna Rozzo
Advanced Writing
Once upon a time, there was an essay. Much like this example, it had an introduction, a
series of main-body paragraphs, and a conclusion. There were many interesting points to keep the
reader engaged but all the ideas were related to the main topic or thesis.
First of all, the introduction stated the thesis. There was no need to introduce the author or
give a biography of the writer. The first paragraph was very clear and let the reader know what the
maid idea was.
Furthermore, the main body paragraphs served as support for the introduction. Each
paragraph was like a piece of evidence that a would lawyer present in a court of law. They all
contributed, with relevant information, to the introduction's assertion.
Lastly, there was a logical flow from idea to idea. This was facilitated by using transition
words and signals to help connect ideas to each other. The reader could easily follow the writer's
logic because the sentence structure was so clear.
In conclusion, this essay had all the necessary parts for success. It had an introduction, three
main-body paragraphs, and a conclusion. This essay lived happily-ever after.