ESL 160-831

a four-unit high-advanced academic ESL class, presented partially online

Instructor: Katarina Mijatovic
office: L518      phone: 452-7089
web: www.ccsf.edu/kmijatov      e-mail: kmijatov@ccsf.edu
(check website for office hours)

Spring 2011

CRN: 38392

Face-to-face Meetings: Tuesday, 6:30 – 8:45 pm., HC 206

 

PREREQUISITE: Placement in ESL 160 or completion of ESL 150 with a grade of C or higher

 

TEXTS: Bedford Basics Workbook, 3rd ed., Diana Hacker

               Impressions 1: America Through Academic Readings Cheryl & Stephen Benz

               Impressions 2: America Through Academic Readings Cheryl & Stephen Benz

               Longman Advanced Dictionary of American English (recommended)

 

 

ESL 160 is an advanced composition course. In this class you will practice and improve your essay writing, using various forms of expository composition. In addition to writing, the course will include reading, critical analysis, advanced grammar work and vocabulary development. You will write a total of 6 essays, one research paper and several shorter opinion pieces and responses to the readings. There will be reading comprehension, vocabulary and grammar quizzes. Participation in online discussion topics related to the reading will be required. Since this is a hybrid class, online participation is required and does not replace class time. Weekly attendance in class is required.

 

 

ONLINE DISCUSSIONS: Each week, discussion questions related to the reading will be posted online and you will be required to submit a one or two paragraph answer to at least two questions and to respond to at least one other student’s answer, for a total of three postings per week. This will be done through a program called Insight. You will be given an Insight account and an orientation early in the semester.

 

 

LAB REQUIREMENT: ESL 160 has a lab requirement of 15 lab hours for the semester, which you must fulfill in order to pass the course. You can fulfill your required hours by working on various grammar, writing and news programs in the ESL lab or by attending workshops at the CLAD (MUB 149). Lab cards will be collected at midterm time and at the end of the semester.

 

ATTENDANCE: Your attendance is very important because you will be responsible for everything that is discussed in class and written on the board concerning the lessons whether you are present or not. Attendance will be checked at each class session and you will be allowed a total of 2 absences. If you are absent 3 times, your final grade will be lowered. Four absences will result in your being dropped from the class. Being late to class three times is equivalent to one absence. You may not make up any quiz or in-class essay that you miss if you have not informed the instructor in advance!

 

-          You must arrive on time and attend class regularly

-          You must come to class with all assigned work completed

-          You may not be absent more than 3 times

-          You are responsible for getting work handed in on time

-          If you have an emergency, contact me by e-mail or phone

 

 

ASSIGNMENTS: You can expect the following types of assignments:

-          weekly reading assignments from the text and online

-          comprehension quizzes on the readings

-          essay questions and summaries of articles that have been discussed

-          advanced grammar topics, readings and exercises

-          grammar quizzes

-          contributions to the online discussion forum

-          an online writing journal

-          essay assignments, in-class and out of class

-          essay revisions, following teacher comments and guidelines

-          one research paper on pre-approved topic

 

 

All reading and writing assignments must be prepared by the date that they are due, whether or not they are to be collected. Essays that are turned in late will receive a lower grade. Discussion and journal assignments will be checked regularly. Each student must participate in online discussions at least twice a week.

 

 

GRADES: Your final grade will be based roughly on the following formula. However, you will not receive a passing grade if the average of your in-class essays is not C or better.

 

in-class essays, tests and quizzes - 35%

take-home essays, research paper - 25%

contributions to online forums, online journal and lab - 15%

final exam - 25%

 

 

Plagiarism: Copying from another student, a book or a website is plagiarism, and it will not be tolerated. Plagiarized work will receive an “F.” Please do your own work at all times!