Category Archives: Writing

Passed November 1, 2013

EAP VI Preparation RW VI

Course Rationale:

This course is designed for students who have passed EAP V Reading/Writing but need more experience in academic reading, writing, and grammar before pursuing the EAP/Grad VI Reading/Writing class. This academic class could also be chosen by ELI students in the general or culture tracks who want a more academic reading/writing class. First priority would be given to CAP students needing more academic work as mentioned above. This fills a gap between EAP V R/W and EAP/Grad VI R/W for students who do not meet the requirement for going directly between the two courses. [1]

Course Sequence:

• Pre-requisite course is EAP V R/W for CAP students.
• A passing grade in EAP Prep RW VI (ie. 73 or higher with no skill below C-) is required in order to proceed to EAP VI or Grad VI R/W.
• EAP Prep RW VI is one option for students who have taken EAP V RW but are not eligible for EAP/Grad VI RW. Other options include General VI and R/Film VI.
• Non-academic students may proceed to other level 6 R/W classes after this course.

Textbooks:

Inside Reading 4: The Academic Word List in Context by Kent Richmond

Grammar and Beyond 4 by Bunting, Diniz ,and Reppen

Other materials: extra reading from  SALC sources

Reading practice:

Most of the reading textbook work would be done as reading and answering questions in class rather than for homework.  Reading homework would consist mostly of reading extensively from sources in the SALC.

Learning Outcomes for Reading:

1. Demonstrate improvement in reading comprehension and speed.
2. Demonstrate ability to identify main ideas and supporting details in a passage.
3. Understand and use new vocabulary chosen from context.
4. Demonstrate understanding and identify relationships between the parts of a reading passage (transitions, references)
5. Demonstrate ability to  make inferences
6. Demonstrate knowledge of  the basics of argument
7. Demonstrate ability to separate fact from opinion
8. Demonstrate ability to identify the author’s purpose and tone

Writing practice would include summaries and paraphrasing (see above), daily editing exercises, in-class writing of essays, short answer essay questions about the textbook reading passages, and synthesizing of articles researched by the students on topics from the reading text or the extra reading book. In preparation for research paper writing in EAP VI, students will learn to summarize, paraphrase, analyze, and synthesize academic articles.

Writing skills:

Students will demonstrate the ability to:

1. 1.       write effective paragraphs and essays
2. 2.       summarize and paraphrase
3. 3.       synthesize at least three articles on the same topic
4. 4.        use effective transitions and references

Grammar practice would include editing and proofreading practice exercises, editing of the students’ own work with the help of the teacher and tutors, correction by the class of sample sentences from students’ work (anonymously), writing paragraphs demonstrating a grammar point, and completing exercises in the grammar book.

Grammar skills:

Students will demonstrate the ability to:

1. accurately use verb tenses in writing.
2. correctly use parallel structure
3. use articles more accurately.
4. avoid use of fragments, run-ons, and comma splices
5. proofread his/her own writing more accurately.
6. use clauses and good sentence structure more consistently.

Grading:

Reading

Quizzes on in-class readings- 40%

Summaries and paraphrasing from extra reading- 20%                                                                                    (this grade would be based on demonstrating understanding of the reading- the content of the writing)

Vocabulary quizzes/projects- 20%

Final reading test- 20%

Writing          

Essays and short answer questions- 40 %

Summaries and paraphrasing (this grade would be based on the writing quality of the projects)-20%

Synthesis of articles-20%

Final in-class essay-20%

Grammar

Quizzes on grammar book chapters-20%

Short writings demonstrating grammar points-30%

Grammar grades from in-class essay writing-30%

Final Grammar Exam-20%

Passed October 16, 2013

Course Proposal: Level VI Reading/ Writing English through Newspapers and Magazines

Overview:

This course is designed for students who want to improve their reading and writing skills at the advanced level of proficiency, and to apply their grammar skills to reading comprehension and their writing. A heavy emphasis is placed on learning vocabulary and on recognizing the use of metaphor and idiomatic expression. Tone and register will also be addressed, as newspapers and magazines exhibit many varieties of both. Although there will be “essay” writing assignments, students will be asked to write in formats other than the traditional ESL five-paragraph essay. Finally, there will be an emphasis on students’ choosing material to read, and responsibly guiding some of their own development as they explore the wealth of information periodicals have to offer.

Rationale:

This course was created in part to address the uneven balance of skills in the high advanced level as demonstrated by COMPASS reading scores and other assessments. The hope is that newspaper and magazine articles about high interest subjects can help motivate students to read more in their second language. The course is also designed as an alternative to Level VI English for General Purposes, with many similar outcomes but with different materials. Many students repeat level six, and it is important to keep these students motivated by offering them more choices.

Target Students

English through Newspapers and Magazines is meant to be part of the General/Culture track at level six. As such, it should appeal to students who may be interested in attending a university, but not necessarily the University of Delaware. These students would include many of our Turkish, Colombian, Saudi, Taiwanese, and Japanese students. Students who are interested in gaining admission to a school through the TOEFL would also find this course appealing due to its emphasis on vocabulary and content-area reading.

Course Sequence

This course would be open to students who have passed a General track level V reading/writing course or who have passed level six but wish to continue to develop their English skills.

This class would also be open to students who have finished level V, but who have not met the requirements to take EAP VI. I would also recommend that this class be an option for the “all but 6.5” students who have taken EAP VI twice but have not met the 6.5 essay requirement to be admitted to U.D.

Texts

Photocopies of newspaper and magazine articles

Students will be expected to spend up to $35 on newspapers and magazines

Focus on Grammar 5 Fourth Edition by Jay Maurer (Pearson)

Any paper-bound English to English dictionary

Passed June 24, 2013

Overview

American Culture IV is designed to be an upper-intermediate level content-based English course for those students who want to gain a better understanding of the values and conventions of American society.  It will have comparable linguistic outcomes to General IV Reading/Writing as well as expose students to basic concepts about American culture such as values, history and government, home and family life, media and the arts, and diversity.  Grammar objectives will be identical to those currently used in General IV; reading, vocabulary, and writing objectives will be similar but will be reflect the cultural content of the course.

Rationale

Experience with ELI students has demonstrated that most have little general knowledge of American culture, and this knowledge is vital to successful study in the U.S.  As a broad survey, this Level IV elective could also serve as a precursor to more specific cultural study at the higher levels, including courses such as English through American History (V), English through the 1960s (V), and American Voices (VI).  In addition, it may serve to stimulate interest in these more specific upper level culture electives. Finally, with the exception of Written Business IV, there are currently no alternative courses in Reading/Writing IV.

Target Students

This course is intended for any student (general, business-oriented, or academically bound) who has successfully completed Level III R/W or who is repeating Level IV.

Course Sequence

This course will follow Level III R/W and meet the requirements for Level IV.  As with R/W IV, after successful completion of this course, students may proceed to General V, English through American History, Read It, Watch It, or Advanced Written Business; eligible students may also take the EAP skip test.

Texts

Required

Academic Encounters 2 Reading & Writing by Jessica Williams (Cambridge)

Understanding and Using English Grammar (with online component) by Betty Azar and Stacy Hagen (Pearson)

Recommended

Longman Dictionary of American English, 4^th ed. (Pearson)