Course Syllabus
ESL 371/781:
High-Intermediate Reading/ Writing/ Grammar
Sections 0457/1429
Course Description
This is an intermediate reading, writing, and grammar course focusing on the development of pre-academic reading skills with particular focus on comprehension, critical thinking, vocabulary and rate. Paragraph structure and introduction to essays, including writing, revising, and editing. Emphasis on tenses and the development of varied sentence structure. Review of high beginning grammar and punctuation. Designed for non-native speakers of English.
Student Learning Outcomes
After completing this course, students will be able to:
1) Apply critical thinking skills to respond to adapted selections of fiction and nonfiction
2) Apply the writing process to produce paragraphs and short essays that demonstrate level-appropriate organization and content, critical thinking, vocabulary and fluency, and grammatical accuracy
3) Comprehend intermediate reading passages by identifying organizational strategies, paraphrasing and summarizing, and using main ideas and details to support writing assignments
4) Word-process essays and access information on the Internet
5) Utilize meta-cognitive thinking skills in learning and studying processes
Class Meetings
All classes will held on Zoom. Use this Zoom Class Link.
Monday 6:30 – 9:00 pm
Wednesday 6:30 – 9:00 pm
Thursdays 6:30 – 9:00 pm
This is a 9-unit class, which means that we will spend about 7.5 to 9 hours together every week. Plan to spend at least 9-10 hours or more per week on homework and studying. You will use Canvas to access homework, quizzes, tests, and other activities for this class.
Instructor Contact
Pat MacKenzie
Email: pmackenzie@santarosa.edu
Phone: (707) 527-4999, ext. 5014
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 4:30-6:00pm. Please email Pat for an appointment in her Zoom office.
Click on the link to attend: Zoom Office Link
I respond to emails within 24 hours M-F to emails received by 5 pm Friday. I will respond by the following Monday at 5 pm to emails received after 5 pm Friday and on the weekend.
Course Web Site
Students will use the Canvas course web site for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, viewing classmate's work, sharing resources, and viewing grades. You will need your Student ID # and pin code to log in to Canvas. Our course "card" is on your Canvas dashboard.
Textbooks
-
Pathways 2 Reading, Writing, and Critical Thinking, 2nd Edition by Laurie Blass & Mari Vargo
- ISBN #9781337407779
-
Fundamentals of English Grammar, 5th Edition by Betty Azar & Stacy Hagen
- ISBN-13: 978-0134998824
-
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
- ISBN #9780547577319
You can locate and order textbooks online via the SRJC Bookstore. Use these handy SRJC Online Book Ordering instructions.
****** ESL 781 students, please wait until you are sorted into the correct level before ordering your books.
Required Software
You will need the following software for this course.
Important Dates
Day Class Begins: Monday, August 17th
Day Class Ends: Monday, December 10th
Last Day to Add without instructor's approval (add code): Sunday, August 23rd
Last Day to Add with instructor's approval (add code): Sunday, September 6th
Last Day to Drop without a 'W' symbol: Sunday, September 6th
Last Day to Opt for Pass/No Pass: Friday, December 18th (371 ONLY)
Last Day to Drop with a 'W' symbol: Sunday, November 15th
Dropping the Class
If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it to avoid getting no refund (after 10% of course length), a W symbol (after 20%), or a grade (after 60%). Also, for several consecutive, unexplained absences, the instructor may drop a student.
Pass‐NoPass (P/NP) for 371 only
You may take this class P/NP. You must decide before the deadline, and add the option online with TLC or file the P/NP form with Admissions and Records. With a grade of C or better, you will get P.
You must file for the P/NP option by Friday, December 18th. Once you choose P/NP, you cannot change back to a letter grade. If you are taking this course as part of a certificate program, you can probably still take the class P/NP. Check with a counselor to be sure.
Instructor Announcements and Q&A Discussion
The instructor will post announcements on the “Instructor Announcements” page in Canvas throughout the semester. Canvas notifies students according to their preferred Notification Preferences as soon as the instructor creates an Announcement. You will get the announcement in your email.
A “Q&A Discussion” is also on Canvas for students to ask for help from other classmates or from Pat.
Attendance
Learning a language requires steady attendance and hard work. Therefore, it is important to attend classes and to be on time since the curriculum is developed to provide continuity. What this means is that the techniques learned in one class will be incorporated and practiced in later classes. Per SRJC policy, students who are absent more than 10% of class time—14 hours— may be dropped from this course. Also, tardiness will affect your grade. When you are tardy, you miss important information, you disrupt your classmates and your professor. You are allowed six tardies before losing points. After six tardies, you will lose 5 points on the next test grade for each additional tardy. In addition, two tardies = one absence. If you are tardy 12 times (12 tardies = 6 absences), I may drop you from the course. Finally, when you are absent, it is your responsibility to email or phone Pat. Don’t tell a classmate to tell Pat. Find out what the assignment is and complete it before returning to class. Use the Q & A Discussion Board, contact a classmate or Pat about the homework.
Late Policy
All assignments are due by the time stated on the due date. A late submission will receive a 20% penalty. Submissions more than one week late are not accepted without prior arrangement.
Exams
There will be online midterm and final exams. The material comes from the textbook, class lectures and supplemental materials. If any exam is missed, a zero will be recorded as the score. It is your responsibility to take the online exams by the due date.
Grading Policy
Visit “Grades” in Canvas to keep track of your grades. I post grades and comments on the online Canvas gradebook.
This is a letter grade (A-F) class for 371 students, but you do have a pass/no pass option. 781 students will earn a P=Pass, SP= Sufficient Progress or NP=No Pass. Your grade will be based on your attendance, class participation, homework, writing and tests. Santa Rosa Junior College requires that you take a final exam to pass the class, so please plan accordingly.
To earn a passing grade (371 or 781), you must earn at least 70% and complete the midterm and final exams.
A (90-100%)
B (80-89%)
C (70-79%)
D (60-69%)
F (below 60%)
Student Conduct in Our Class
You must follow the SRJC standards of conduct. If you disrupt the classroom, you will be instructed to leave class for two classes and will be subject to further disciplinary action. Since this is an English class, you must speak English at all times while in the main Zoom classroom and Zoom breakout rooms because it is the best way to learn English. Speaking your native language may exclude another student from the conversation, which can be rude and hurtful. Please plan to arrive on time, stay the full meeting and conduct yourself in a way that is respectful of other students and their desire to learn. Attend class only if you wish to learn and contribute to this class and your own educational goals.
SRJC Student Conduct Standards
Students who register in SRJC classes are required to follow the SRJC Student Conduct Standards. Violation of the Standards is basis for referral to the Vice President of Student Services or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Student Code of Conduct page.
Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. I encourage students to share information and ideas, but not their work. See these links on Plagiarism:
SRJC Writing Center Lessons on avoiding plagiarism
SRJC's policy on Academic Integrity
Working Together
In this class we often work together in small groups or in pairs. I ask that you respect each other. Please listen when someone speaks; do not interrupt; do not laugh at mistakes or make fun of someone’s questions or ideas. The more you support each other, the more you will learn yourself.
Other Important Policies and Practices
Avoid Plagiarism Like the, er, the Plague
Although most students have likely heard about plagiarism during their years of schooling, it still is prevalent-even in higher education.
The video below reviews what plagiarism is and how not to do it.
Netiquette, or Why Is It Harder to Be Polite Online?
Netiquette refers to using common courtesy in online communication. All members of the class are expected to follow netiquette in all course communications. Use these guidelines:
- Use capital letters sparingly. THEY LOOK LIKE SHOUTING.
- Forward emails only with a writer's permission.
- Be considerate of others' feelings and use language carefully.
- Cite all quotations (Use "quotation" marks), references, and sources (otherwise, it is plagiarism).
- Use humor carefully. It is hard to "read" tone; sometimes humor can be misread as criticism or personal attack. Feel free to use emoticons like :) for a smiley face to let others know you are being humorous.
- Use complete sentences and your best English grammar to compose posts. Write in proper paragraphs. Review work before submitting it.
- Text speak, such as "ur" for "your" or "ru" for "are you" etc., is only acceptable when texting.
- Please watch this video from the ASL (American Sign Language Department) for more Netiquette Rules.
Special Needs
Students with disabilities who believe they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disability Resources (527-4278), as soon as possible to better ensure such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
Changes to Syllabus
Except under unusual circumstances, the guidelines in the above syllabus will not change. However, if any changes are necessary, all will be communicated in writing as an addendum to the syllabus.