The course is for intermediate ESL students. It is designed to build writing skills through authentic readings and a multi-drafting process approach to writing, in order to prepare for academic work in English. Writing exercises review paragraph organization and focus on essay construction as well as the use of formal English grammar. 

Course Objectives: 

 Analyze an author’s point of view by making inferences. 

 Determine the meaning of increasingly complex passages by using contextual clues. 

 Use background knowledge and linguistic and contextual clues to infer the meaning of unknown words. 

 Draw general conclusions from specific details in a passage. 

 Write compositions with a clear introduction, supporting details, and conclusion. 

 Edit own and peers’ writing for grammatical form, word choice, spelling, mechanics, sentence variety, and organization. 

 Write summaries and paraphrases of reading passages. 

 Take notes from full-length formal presentations using graphic organizers. Student Learning Outcomes: By the end of this class students will be able to: 

 Use syntactic clues to interpret the meaning of complex sentences or new vocabulary. Find information by using reference tools, including online resources. 

 Monitor comprehension and adjust reading strategy as measured by unit reading responses, reading tests, and quizzes. 

 Understand the writing process and method as measured by written essays, reading responses, and research papers.

Instructional Methods: 

This is a face-to-face course, in which you will attend class and submit all classwork on time. There will be daily reading and writing activities along with group and individual projects. Preparation for the next class is strongly encouraged because the class will be conducted based on the assumption that students have prepared for the class. Moreover, students need to become accustomed to the habit of preparation because all university classes require reading books or papers before the class; professors anticipate that students bring up questions about topics. 

Student Responsibilities: 

Students are expected to be prepared for class by doing all assigned reading as well as weekly homework assignments to be completed outside of class. Homework must be turned in on time. No late work will be accepted.

When you miss class for any reason, you are still responsible for the information presented and assignments given in class. Due dates remain the same whether you are in class or not. Contact a fellow student and the teacher for missed assignments.

Academic Integrity 

Students are expected to maintain high standards of integrity and honesty in all of their scholastic work. This means that any essay that is copied from a friend and from an online source will result in a zero grade point.

Syllabus Change Policy 

The syllabus is a guide. Circumstances and events, such as student progress, may make it necessary for the instructor to modify the syllabus during the semester. Any changes made to the syllabus will be announced in advance.

Materials

1. Swales, J. M., & Feak, C. B. (2012). Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential Tasks and Skills (3rd ed.). Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan.

2. Elbow, Peter. (1998). Writing With Power: Techniques for Mastering the Writing Process. Oxford University Press.