De Anza College—Fall 2009
ESL 263: Low Advanced Grammar & Writing
M/W: 6:00—7:40, S75

Instructor:    Katie Brundage
Phone:    408-864-8999 x3502
Email:    deanza_katie@yahoo.com
Website:    http://www.deanza.edu/faculty/brundagekatherine
Office / Office Hours:    By appointment only

Welcome to ESL 263!

PREREQUISITES:
Restricted to students whose native language is not English.  English as a Second Language 225 and 253 or a qualifying score on the English as a Second Language placement test.

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES:
ESL 263 is designed to help the non-native English speaker develop paragraph and short essay writing skills. Students will learn to use clear expository English prose in well-developed paragraphs and short essays.  The student will:
•    Plan for paragraph assignments building to the short essay
•    Compose first drafts of unified paragraphs and short essays
•    Recognize rhetorical types
•    Revise for clarity
•    Edit sentence-level grammar and mechanics of revised drafts
•    Rewrite revised and edited paragraphs and short essays
•    Recognize and use word forms and idioms to demonstrate expansion of active vocabulary
•    Write summaries of brief readings
•    Write paragraph and short essay responses to brief readings


REQUIRED MATERIALS:

•    Oshima, Alice and Ann Hogue, Introduction to Academic Writing, 2nd ed., ISBN 020169509-X
•    Cain, Joyce C., Eye on Editing 1, ISBN 0201621320
•    A good English-English dictionary  (Advanced Longman, Newbury House or Merriam-Webster)
•    A thesaurus

Binder paper to take notes and a 3-ring binder to keep all your materials organized


COURSE CONTENT:

Reading:  You will be expected to read several brief essays on a given topic each week.  On average, you will need to plan for 1-2 hours of homework (reading, writing, grammar) per class.  

Writing Assignments: You will be writing three take-home paragraph length writing assignments, which will go through a multiple-draft revision process. All drafts of all writing assignments done outside of the classroom must be typed and double-spaced. If you do not have a computer at home, there are computers on campus available for student use (see the last page of this syllabus for resources). Handwritten papers will not be accepted.  I do not accept late or incomplete work.  Please also note that I do not accept assignments by email. In the upper right hand corner, you should include your name, course title /instructor’s name, date, and the assignment # and draft #. When you turn in your work, the newest draft goes on top with previous drafts stapled behind it.

There will be two in-class writing assignments: the midterm (short answer questions related to the  course content: paragraph length responses), and the final (an in-class essay of approximately three paragraphs). In-class writing assignments cannot be made up, so do not be absent on days they are scheduled.

Quizzes: There will be quizzes on the course readings, grammar points, or writing material often (almost every week).  Each quiz is worth 5 points.  You cannot make up quizzes.

Reading & Vocabulary Journal: You will be expected to keep an ongoing vocabulary and freewriting journal.  More to come on this assignment later on.

ATTENDANCE:
This class is like a job: you must attend regularly, do your work, and participate actively.  Just like a job, you are allowed time off: three absences (excused or unexcused).  And just like a job, I am your manager and can “fire you” if attendance becomes a problem or other issues arise.  If you miss class more than three times, I will assume that you have withdrawn and give you a W.  3 tardies of more than 10 minutes (arriving late or leaving early) are equal to one absence.  If you are absent, do not contact me to see what you have missed.  You must arrange with other students to get copies of the homework you miss, and you are responsible for those assignments in the following class.  If you are absent the first two weeks of class and do not inform the instructor ahead of time, you may be dropped to allow another student on the wait list to be added.

You might find it useful to exchange phone numbers / email addresses with two of your classmates.  However, you are under no obligation to share this information with anyone:

Name:                                                         Phone #                                                 Email Address

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK POLICY, LATE AND/OR INCOMPLETE WORK:
You will receive various homework assignments every week.  Most of these assignments will be related to other subsequent assignments or in-class activities, so be sure to do all your homework. I will randomly check your homework.  Homework checks will be counted towards your participation grade.  Homework to be collected will be done so at the beginning of the class.  You are responsible for turning in all assignments--including essays--on time (even if you are absent). If you are absent, it is your responsibility to see that your work gets delivered to me before class.  I do not accept any assignments by email.   

Late and/or incomplete assignments cannot be turned in for credit.  Work is considered late and/or incomplete when:
•    It is partially finished upon the time of collection or discussion
•    You are working on it in class when I collect it  
•    You forget to bring your homework to class
•    Any other reason that prevents you from turning it in on time

Thus it seems advisable to complete your homework on time and come to class prepared.


CLASS PARTICIPATION:
Participating in class is important not only for your course grade, but also for your learning process.  Speaking up, expressing your opinion, and working with your classmates (in groups or in pairs) are all important factors of this class.  It is okay to share your opinion with me and with your classmates.  I realize that speaking up and participating in class is a new experience for a lot of you.  But please know that I really love it when students ask questions, participate, and tell me what they think!  You help your own understanding and you help your classmates.  If you remain passive in class, you will do poorly.  So take a deep breath and dive in!  ☺    


ACADEMIC DISHONESTY AND PLAGIARISM:
Academic dishonesty and / or plagiarism is a form of cheating or fraud; it occurs when a student misrepresents the work of another as his or her own.  Plagiarism may consist of using the ideas, sentences, paragraphs, or the whole text of another without appropriate acknowledgement, but it also includes employing or allowing another person to write or substantially alter work that a student then submits as his or her own, or allowing another student to copy from his/her work.  Any time you use a resource that is not your own you must cite your source.  Any assignment found to be plagiarized or completed by a person other than the student will be given an “F” grade.  Furthermore the student may be dropped from the class or fail the course.  All instances of academic dishonesty and / or plagiarism in ESL 263 will be reported to the appropriate college personnel.    

We will work on paraphrasing (putting ideas into your own words) in class.  If you are not sure if you have paraphrased correctly, please come see me.  I will be more than happy to help you out.   


NOTE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY USE IN THE CLASSROOM:
I am a big fan of technology, and I’ve been labeled a “tech geek” by friends and family.  Technology is great.  I have an iPhone.  I love it.  It’s practically my life.  But it doesn’t always belong in the classroom.  I turn off my iPhone when I enter the classroom to teach, so please turn off any electronic devices you own as well (cell phones, iPhones, iPods, Blackberries, Sidekicks, mp3 players, etc.).  If your cell phone rings in class, you will receive one warning and then you will lose 2 points from your final course grade. Likewise if I catch you texting, updating your Facebook / MySpace, checking your messages, emailing, downloading applications, (and so on and so forth) during class, I will subtract 2 points from your final grade.

Use of any electronic device that can connect to the Internet is prohibited in the classroom at all times.  Any student found to be using an Internet-capable device during quizzes, the midterm, and final will receive an automatic fail (“F”) for the assignment.


GRADING POLICY:
Your final course grade will be determined by the quality of all assignments (writing assignments, journal, quizzes, midterm, final), your attendance, and class participation.  All written assignments (including the midterm and final) will receive a letter grade and point value.   

  Writing Assignment 1                            15 points
  Writing Assignment 2                            20 points
  Writing Assignment 3                            25 points     
  Quizzes                                                 25 points (5 quizzes at 5 points each)
  Midterm                                                 30 points
  Final                                                      50 points    
  Reading & Vocabulary Journal              30 points    
  Class Participation                                20 points
  Point Total                                            215 points   

Grading Scale
Passing: 95-100 (A), 90-94 (A-), 87-89 (B+), 84-86 (B), 80-83 (B-), 76-79 (C+), 70-75 (C)
Not Passing: 0-69 (F/NC)

EXTRA CREDIT: Students co-enrolled in a 1/2 unit Academic Skills Course (Grammar, Reading, Writing, Spelling, or Vocabulary) may be eligible for extra credit in ESL 263.  More to come on this option later on.

CONTACTING YOUR INSTRUCTOR:
The best way to reach me is via email (see the email address posted on the first page of this syllabus).  However, please note that I only check my email Monday through Saturday, 9 AM—5 PM.  I will not answer emails received outside of these times.  You can leave me a voicemail message by calling the phone number listed on the first page of the syllabus.  However, I only check this voicemail every week when I’m on campus.  When in doubt, send an email.


RESOURCES:
De Anza has a great resources for students!

Computer Access / Printing: Library West Computer Lab (lower level of Learning Center West); Computer Access Lab (Advanced Technology Center, Room 203); LARTS Computer Labs (ATC 102, 103)

Tutoring: Individual and drop-in tutoring, all subjects.  Please see Tutorial Center Coordinator, Sandy Blackborow, in The Tutorial Center (L-47) to fill out a tutee application and immediately be placed with an individual or drop-in tutor.  Drop-in writing help: The Writing & Reading Center (WRC), ATC 309.

Academic Skills Courses: In addition to teaching in the ESL Department, I am an Instructor in the Academic Skills Center.  The Skills Center offers ½ unit, self-paced, individualized programs of instruction in Language Arts and Study Skills.  These independent study courses are a great way to brush up on or fine tune your reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, or study skills.  Each ½ unit course requires 12 hours of work over the duration of the quarter.  The 12 hours can be completed according to your own schedule, and in some cases, 6 of the 12 hours can be completed online from home.  If I see that you are struggling in any particular language area, I may recommend that you look into taking a Skills course.  If you have any questions about the Academic Skills Center, please come talk to me. (Please see “Extra Credit” section above for an extra credit option).
          
Listening & Speaking Lab: The LSL offers you the chance to practice, practice, practice your listening and speaking skills in a friendly, supportive, and comfortable environment.  Please see MaryAnne Ifft, LSL Coordinator, in ATC 304 for more information.  


A NOTE FROM YOUR INSTRUCTOR:
We will do a lot of reading, writing, and thinking in this class.    You can expect to work hard this quarter, but I promise you that your hard work will pay off and you will have fun in the process.  In this class we will work individually and in groups to improve our writing, reading, and language skills; we will also help each other out—there’s no competition in ESL 263.  I want everyone to feel comfortable sharing ideas in class; thus please respect your fellow classmates and treat each other how you wish to be treated yourself.  I am always available to discuss your progress in ESL 263.  I encourage you to come talk to me.  ☺