This Template Specifies Minimum Information and Policies (And Provides Some Optional, Sample

Metropolitan Community College

Class Syllabus – ACADEMIC YEAR 2009-2010 WINTER QUARTER

CLASS IDENTIFICATION

TITLE: Intermediate Reading and Writing PREFIX/SECTION: ESLX 0215 / 7B CREDIT HOURS: 6.0 CLASS BEGINS/ENDS: 3/11/10 – 5/25/10 MEETING DAY(S)/TIMES: Tues. & Thurs. / 12:00 – 2: 40 PM NO CLASS DAYS: N/A WITHDRAWAL DATE: 5/10/10 LAST DAY OF CLASS 5/25/10 CLASS LOCATION: SOC, MHY 312

CONTACT INFORMATION

INSTRUCTOR NAME: Naomi Mardock OFFICE LOCATION: SOC, MHY 300 OFFICE TELEPHONE: 402-738-4736 FACSIMILE: 402-738-4553 OFFICE HOURS: M / W, 12:00 – 3:00 EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]

FACULTY WEB SITE: http://faculty.mccneb.edu/nmardock (to view syllabus) http://resource.mccneb.edu/eslx (to access course resources) http://eslxatmcc.blogspot.com (for ESLX program announcements)

ACADEMIC AREA: Learning Design and Support DEAN’S TELEPHONE: 457-2287

1 COURSE INFORMATION

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course helps the student develop reading skills, increase his/her vocabulary and improve his/her writing skills by applying knowledge of intermediate level sentence structures. (Formerly ESL 096/ESLX 0250)

This intermediate level reading/writing course is designed to provide intensive practice in writing short compositions in American English, to help students recognize common grammatical problems, and to expand vocabulary for writing purposes. The course will help students to write with the grammar they have learned in basic and intermediate grammar classes. ESL students will develop strategies to make reading easier by expanding their vocabulary and by learning to recognize the components of written English. They will also have the opportunity to improve their writing skills by applying what they learn about reading effectively to writing effectively.

COURSE PREREQUISITES: ESLX 0140 or placement through assessment testing.

The instructor will review student Academic Progress Reports; students who have not met the course prerequisite must visit an academic advisor to enroll in the correct course(s).

COURSE OBJECTIVES: By the end of this course, students (1) should be able to read low intermediate/intermediate level materials with confidence, (2) should have increased their vocabulary significantly; and (3) should be able to write intermediate level compositions of three to five paragraphs with 80%accuracy.

REQUIRED & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS: Textbook: Writing By Modeling and Editing II: A course in writing for ESL students who have mastered intermediate English grammar, Pfeffer

Loose-leafed, lined notebook paper is recommended for composition writing; an English dictionary should be brought to each class session; an optional but recommended book is a thesaurus.

SOFTWARE/FILE SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Metropolitan Community College uses Microsoft products as part of its standard software and encourages students to do the same. You may save word-processed documents for file attachments in Microsoft Word .doc or .docx format. If your software does not allow either of these, then save files in Rich Text Format (.rtf).

CLASS STRUCTURE: Expressing oneself easily and well on paper in the target language is perhaps the most difficult skill for the learner of a second language. To facilitate acquiring the skill, students will read well-written examples of expository writing, following these models for their own written essays. Students will study vocabulary and grammar exercises coordinated with each reading assignment, then write their own four to five paragraph essays and revise them.

2 The major activities of the class consist of daily student-led error correction of student work, instructor-led grammar / mechanics analysis, vocabulary expansion, reading, and daily writing of essays in class. Revisions are done as homework.

ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT WORK

TYPES OF ASSESSMENTS/ASSIGNMENTS: Students will be assessed by the grading of daily revised compositions, unit tests, and a final examination.

Students will write compositions in class. These compositions will be marked and handed back to the student, who will then revise the composition and turn it in with the original draft. If the revision corrects all the marked errors of the original draft and does not present a noticeable number of new errors, full credit will be given. If the revision does not correct all the marked errors of the original draft and / or presents a noticeable number of new errors, no credit will be given. The student can then rewrite the composition another time for partial (80% credit). No further rewrites will be accepted.

Papers must be revised and turned in by the next class period. If a student has justifiable reasons for not completing work at the assigned time, the work must be made up within seven days or no credit will be given.

There will be four unit tests and a comprehensive final exam. All exams and tests will consist of timed essay writing and error correction. The error correction will be examples of errors from student writing that has been corrected in class.

It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements in the Testing Center for any make-up unit tests within one week of returning to school.

All tests except the final exam will be returned; they can be viewed in MAH 300 by appointment. Grade books will be kept by the instructor for a minimum of one (1) year. Student tests, papers, projects, etc. that were graded by faculty for determining the final grade and were not returned to the student, will be kept for one (1) year.

GRADING POLICY: Criteria for determining the final course grade is as follows: 1. Revised compositions: 30% 2. Unit tests: 20% 3. Final exam: 50%.

 Pass = 80% or above average of chapter test average and final exam.  Repeat = average is below 80 %, but a consistent effort was made to achieve the course’s learning objectives.  F = average is below 80 % and no consistent effort was made to achieve the course’s learning objectives.  FX = absence-related failure

3 ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING PROGRAM: Metropolitan Community College is committed to continuous improvement of teaching and learning. You may be asked to help us to accomplish this objective. For example, you may be asked to respond to surveys or questionnaires. In other cases, tests or assignments you are required to do for this course may be shared with faculty and used for assessment purposes.

USE OF STUDENT WORK: By enrolling in classes offered by Metropolitan Community College, the student gives the College license to mark on, modify, and retain the work as may be required by the process of instruction, as described in the course syllabus. The institution shall not have the right to use the work in any other manner without the written consent of the student(s).

INSTRUCTOR’S EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS

ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION POLICY: Students are expected to be present, on-time and prepared, for all class sessions. Because attendance and active participation are essential in language courses, students are allowed just three absences per course per quarter. Because late arrivals distract the class, arriving 10 minutes late is considered a partial absence, as is leaving the class session early. Arriving more than 30 minutes late is considered a full absence. If you know that you have other obligations such as family, travel or work that will prevent you from preparing for, being on-time to, or attending class, please consider enrolling during another quarter when your commitments will not interfere with your attendance.

Students who attend no class meetings up to and including the Section Census Date published in the Class Schedule at www.mccneb.edu/schedule/ may be disenrolled from the class. There is no appeal for this disenrollment. A student who fails to meet class attendance expectations may receive a final grade mark of FX, indicating an absence- related failure, or a failing (F) grade.

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS: Students are expected to participate in class and be courteous at all times. Students are expected to do homework as assigned. Students are asked to turn off cell phones in the class to prevent distraction and disruption of class time. Please do not leave class to talk on the phone in the hallway. Students who do not follow these rules may be asked to leave the class session for the day. If this happens on a regular basis, the student may be withdrawn from the class and given a grade of F or FX.

COMMUNICATION EXPECTATIONS: When you communicate with others in this course, you must follow the Student Code of Conduct (http://www.mccneb.edu/catalog/studentinformation.asp), which calls for responsible and cooperative behavior. Please think critically, ask questions, and challenge ideas, but also show respect for the opinions of others, respond to them politely, and maintain the confidentiality of thoughts expressed in the class. You may also wish to review information at http://www.albion.com/netiquette/.html.

4 STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT: The College has a standard code of conduct that involves consequences for specific academic and non-academic behavior that may result in a failing grade, probation, or suspension from the college. More complete information about the code of conduct is located in the Student Services portion of the online catalog (http://www.mccneb.edu/catalog/studentinformation.asp).

ACADEMIC HONESTY STATEMENT: Students are reminded that materials they use as sources for class work may be subject to copyright protection. Additional information about copyright is provided on the library website at http://www.mccneb.edu/library or by your instructor. In response to incidents of student dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, etc.), the College imposes specific actions that may include receiving a failing grade on a test, failure in the course, suspension from the College, or dismissal from the College. Disciplinary procedures are available in the Advising/Counseling Centers or at http://www.mccneb.edu/procedures/V- 4_Student_Conduct_and_Discipline.pdf.

STUDENT WITHDRAWAL: If you cannot participate in and complete this course, you should officially withdraw by calling Central Registration at 402-457-5231 or 1-800-228-9553. Failure to officially withdraw will result in either an (FX) or failing (F) grade. The last date to withdraw is noted in the CLASS IDENTIFICATION section of this syllabus.

LEARNING SUPPORT

MCC's Academic Resource Centers, Math Centers, and Writing Centers offer friendly, supportive learning environments that can help students achieve educational success. Staff members in these centers provide free drop-in assistance with basic computing, reading, math, and writing skills. Self-paced, computer-assisted instructional support in reading, vocabulary, typing, English as a Second Language, and online course orientation is also available.

Detailed information about the Academic Resource, Math, and Writing Centers is in the Student Handbook, College Catalog, and online at http://www.mccneb.edu/arc/.

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: If you have a disability that may substantially limit your ability to participate in this class, please contact a Disability Support Services Counselor located in the Student Services Office on each campus. Metropolitan Community College will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with documented qualifying disabilities. However, it is the student’s responsibility to request accommodations. For further information, please visit http://www.mccneb.edu/dss/ and/or contact Student Services.

5 TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT

For assistance with student email, passwords, and most other MCC technology, contact the Help Desk at 457-2900 or [email protected].

TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES: By using the information technology systems at MCC (including the computer systems and phones), you acknowledge and consent to the conditions of use as set forth in the Metropolitan Community College Procedures Memorandum on Acceptable Use of Information Technology and Resources. It is your responsibility as a student to be familiar with these procedures. The full text of the Procedures Memorandum may be found at the following website: http://www.mccneb.edu/procedures/X- 15_Technology_Resources_Use.pdf.

SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS

Week 1: Introductions, review of Syllabus, Sample Writing Assessment

Weeks 2 through 11 will follow the daily assignments in the textbook. These are subject to change at the instructor’s discretion or due to time or other constraints. The final exam will be given on February 24, 2010. NO EXCEPTIONS. Failure to take the final exam will result in an (F) for this course.

IMPORTANT DATES (See Attached calendar) www.mccneb.edu/sos/enrollman.asp.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR: http://www.mccneb.edu/academics/calendar.asp