ESL 21A: INTERMEDIATE PARAGRAPH/ESSAY COMPOSITION AND GRAMMARSPRING 2010SECTION 2063T TT 9:30 – 10:50 a.m.ROOM ESL 103INSTRUCTOR: SHARON JAFFE, Ph.D.EMAIL: jaffe_sharon@smc.edu VOICEMAIL: 310-434-4567OFFICE: ESL 119OFFICE HOURS: M W 2:30 – 3:30 T 12:30 – 2:30ESL 21A is a 3 unit, 3 hour per week high intermediate communicative writing course for non-native speakers. ESL 21A is the first part of the ESL 21A/B sequence.

Upon completion of this course students will be able to do the following:Writing:1. construct and revise a variety of sentence types within paragraphs2. plan, compose, and revise multi-paragraph essays (built upon a thesis statement, supporting body paragraphs, transitional sentences, and a conclusion)3. respond to questions with paragraphs or essays under time constraints4. paraphrase and summarize information from lectures and readings5. demonstrate use of appropriate academic vocabulary in paragraphs and essays6. write both short and extended definitions7. begin to document sourcesReading:1. use table of contents, titles, headings, and indices to preview an academic text2. use skimming and scanning to locate main ideas and specific details in academic texts3. evaluate the use of cohesive markers; distinguish word forms and their functions in a sentence4. identify purpose, bias, audience, tone, and register5. access articles onlineGrammar:Use the following in speaking/writing1. verb tense and aspect (active and passive voice); time shifts, subject/verb agreement2. clauses (noun, adjective, adverb); reported speech3. modals in passive and reported speech4. comparatives, superlativeListening and Speaking:1. discuss information from readings and audio-video tapes in small groups to collect and organize ideas for writing2. express and support opinions3. participate in class discussions4. give individual presentationsTexts:

Hartmann and Blass, Quest 3:Reading and Writing (second edition)Blass and Hartmann, Quest 3: Listening and Speaking (second edition)Additional readings from periodicals (to be assigned)An English-English Dictionary (Oxford or American Heritage recommended)

Requirements:Protocol:No food or drinks in the classroom. All cell phones and other electronic devices must be shut off during class. No electronic dictionaries. Attendance:Regular attendance is crucial. Students who miss more than 6 hours of class can be dropped. If you know in advance that you will be absent, please contact me by email . In addition, please arrange for a classmate to pick up any material handed out during the session. You are responsible for all assignments regardless of whether you or present or not. Be sure that you have the email addresses and/or phone numbers of at least two other students so that you can contact them if you are not in class. Lateness:Students who arrive late for class or leave early consistently may be dropped. If you are late please be considerate and do not disturb the momentum of the ongoing class. Enter quietly and do not walk across the front of the room. Drops:Students are responsible for dropping the course. Check drop deadlines. Failure to drop may result in an “F.”Writing:Four graded writing assignments will be written in class and revised outside of class. Final drafts of all essays, paragraphs, summaries, etc. should be word-processed. Put your last name, first name, ESL 21A, Section #2103 and the date in the upper left hand corner of an 8 ½ by 11 paper.No late papers will be accepted without a valid reason.Journals:Dated, titled, and numbered entries will be written both in and outside of class. Journal responses may also be posted as a part of a discussion on eCompanion. Be sure that you have an SMC password and that you log on to eCompanion (go to the SMC home page, click Technological Resources, and then click eCompanion). Journals will receive a check, check plus, or check minus response and will be returned during the semester. However, all journals must be saved and resubmitted at the end of the semester for a final letter grade. No credit will be given to lost journals. Keep your journals in a separate folder.Quizzes: Occasional quizzes will cover grammar, mechanics, terminology and editing skills. There will be no make-up quizzes.Exams:There will be two major writing exams during the semester: the common essay exam and the final. The common essay exam will be given around the 12th week of the semester and the final might be given in part on the last day of class. It is not possible to pass the class without taking the final.Group Work:Students will be expected to participate in study groups in and out of class.

Honor Policy:Students must adhere to the SMC Code of Academic Conduct regarding plagiarism and cheating: “Santa Monica College defines academic dishonesty as the act or assistance in deceiving, including fraud or deception in an academic exercise. Academic honesty includes, but is not limited to, certain actions not authorized by the instructor or testing officer, such as using notes or testing aids, allowing someone else to assume one’s identity, falsifying records, plagiarism, changing answers on a previously scored assignment or exam, copying, inventing information by any means during an exam. Check the SMC catalog for additional details, including information on the consequences for academic conduct violations.” Students who cheat will be reported to the Admissions and Records Office and will receive a Fail on the assignment or in the class.Communication:You may communicate with me either through email or voice mail. I will try to reply as soon as possible. I also advise students to discuss their progress with me during office hours. Please get the phone number or email of at least two classmates to ask about course assignments.

Grading: (Note :ESL 21A may be taken for credit/no credit. This decision, however, must be made at an early point in the semester. See your counselor for further credit/ transfer guidance.)

In-class essays 25%Revisions 25%Common Essay 10% Quizzes 10%Journals 15 %Final 15% SMC Grading Scale100 – 90% A (ESL 21B or possibly higher recommended)89 – 80% B (ESL 21B recommended)79 – 70% C (ESL 21B recommended)69 – 60% D (Repeat of ESL 21A recommended)below 59% F (ESL 11A/B level recommended)

Support Courses:ESL 14A Pronunciation and SpellingESL 14B American PronunciationESL 15 Oral CommunicationESL 16A ArticlesESL 16B VerbsESL 16C Sentence Structure (Clauses)ESL 20A/B Grammar Workshop (available online as well)ESL 23 Intermediate Reading SkillsESL 28 Academic Vocabulary Skills

Tutoring:Free tutoring is available in the ESL Center. Please sign up online (check the ESL Department’s website). Bring in any ESL 21A assignments that you do not understand. Tutors will not proofread, correct errors, or rewrite sentences. However, they will work with you on your individual English language problems.

Counseling: Academic counselors are now available without any appointment necessary in the ESL building. Check with me for further information about times.

Our final takes place on Thursday, June 10 (8-11). Please make your travel arrangements accordingly.

Please Note: Syllabus may be changed at any time during the semester at the discretion of the instructor. Supplementary readings, videos and/or an additional short text may be assigned. Students should be familiar with and log on to companion. Class messages may be posted there as well as in class.

ESL 21A SYLLABUSSPRING 2009T TT 9:30 – 10:50SECTION 2063ESL 103JAFFE

Note: All page assignments refer to Quest (Q). Syllabus may be changed during the semester at the discretion of the instructor. Supplementary readings and/or videos will be assigned from Quest Listening and Speaking as well as from internet sources.

Week 1: Feb 16/18Introduction to course; student introductions; diagnostic testing (writing, grammar, student exchange); Reading comprehension assignment “Feng Shui in California,” (Q 4-7).

Week 2: Feb 23/25Feedback on diagnostic writing/Recommendations for support coursesClauses and sentence typesReview paragraph elements and discuss definition paragraphs (Q 39)Reading: “Symbolic Systems and Meanings” (Q 12-16)Journal writing discussed and assigned

Week 3: Mar 2/4

Review annotating; Review summarizing (Q 116); Coordinating conjunctions (Q 33-36); Readings in Unit 1 on “Cultural Anthropology” continued (“Alone on a Hilltop”)

Week 4: Mar 9/11Graded summary written in class; Essay organization; Chapter 2 on “Physical Anthropology” begun with readings “Orangutans” (Q 46-48) and “Comparing Humans with Other Primates” (Q 53-57): Chapter vocabulary practice Week 5: Mar 16 (No class Mar 18 – Institutional Flex Day)Continued discussion of essay writing; Preparation for essay #1; Chapter vocabulary practice Week 6: Mar 23/26Further readings and discussion of Chapter 2; Essay skills – citing sources and dangers of plagiarism; Essay #1 written in class Mar 23

Week 7: Mar 30/Apr 1Discussion of essay #1 (rewrite assigned for following week); Begin readings in Chapter 4 on “The Global Economy”: Read “Skills for the Global Marketplace” (Q 127-129) and “International Trade” (Q 136-141).

Week 8: Apr 6/8Research reports; Continued reading in Chapter 4; Identifying grammar hotspots that need to be worked

Spring Break – Apr.13/15

Week 9: Apr 20/22Research reports; Continued readings in Chapter 4 (“International Trade” Q 136-141, “The War on Poverty: Two People’s Stories” Q 89-90, and “A Bank for the Down and Out” Q 95-96);

Week 10: Apr 27/29Essay #2 written in class Apr 29; Preparation for Common Essay – models and scoring

Week 11: May 4/6Return and discussion of essay #2

Week 12: May 11/13Common essay should be given around this timeBegin discussion of Chapter 8 on “Human Ecology”; Student surveys of non-environmentally healthy habits; Readings in Q: “Nine Steps to a Healthier Environment” 273-274; “Are Pesticides Safe?” 278-283

Week 13: May 18/20

Continued readings in Chapter 8 (“E-Waste: The Effects on Human of Toxic Substances” 287-289); Assignment on Sustainable Works and the ecological health of SMC; Preparation for Essay #3

Week 14: May 25/27Continued discussion of the readings in Chapter 8; Essay #3 on Human Ecology May 25

Week 15: June 1/3 (June 3 is the last day of class)Essay #3 returned; preparation for the final

CLASS FINAL: Thursday, June 10 (8 – 11)

Finals Week: June 8 – 15Please be sure to make travel arrangements so that you will not have a conflict with the scheduled final.Everyone is expected to take the final!

Enjoy the semester and good luck!