ESL 828: Writing IV
College of San Mateo • Spring 2006 • MTWThF 8:10 – 9 a.m. • 18-201
KRISTI RIDGWAY, INSTRUCTOR
650-574-6686 • kridg@hotmail.com • Office 17-128

Recommended Preparation
You should have completed ESL 827 (previously called ENG 843) with a grade of C or higher or possess the equivalent skill level as indicated by placement test. Concurrent enrollment in READ 825 or higher and ESL 848 is STRONGLY recommended because reading and class discussion are important aspects of this course.

Course Description
ESL 828, Writing for Non-native Speakers IV, instructs nonnative speakers in sentence mechanics, structure and basic composition skills.

Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
• approach composition as a process that includes pre-writing, writing, revising and proofreading;
• be able to write well-developed paragraphs with clear topic sentences;
• be able to write clearly-organized, well-developed essays with strong thesis statements and appropriate transitions; and
• be able to proofread to correct most of your errors, demonstrating good control over punctuation and complex grammatical structures such as adjective clauses, adverb clauses, noun clauses, the conditional, subject-noun and pronoun agreement and the passive, and
• demonstrate the ability to use idiomatic, correct language to express yourself more clearly and effectively in English writing.

Required Materials/Resources
• Folse, Keith, et al. Blueprints 2: Composition Skills for Academic Writing. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2003.
• Wakatsuki Houston, Jeanne and James D. Houston. Farewell to Manzanar. New York: Dell Laurel Leaf-Random House, Inc., 1973.
• Monolingual English dictionary (such as Longman Dictionary of American English)
• E-mail account/Internet access (i.e. - hotmail.com or yahoo.com)

Recommended Resource
• ESL 850: Writing Workshop: Sign up for .5 credit hours by arrangement to assist you with the writing and grammar skills necessary to compose essays in this course. (18-104)

Course Requirements
• Speak English.
• Attend and be on time (more than five unexcused absences may lower your grade).
• Come to class prepared (bring your book, homework, writing/reading materials).
• Participate and ask questions when you do not understand something.
• Complete and hand in your assignments on time.
• Take all quizzes, the midterm and the final (NO electronic DICTIONARIES!).
• Do your own work; copying from another person or cheating could result in an ‘F.’
• Turn off all pagers, cell phones and other noise-making electronic devices during class.

Homework Assignments & Journal l
In addition to regular writing assignments, this class involves reading, and you will be required to keep a reading journal. You should plan to spend about 2 hours on homework for each hour you are in class (about 10 hours per week outside of class). Homework is due at the beginning of class even if you are absent. Late homework will receive a lower grade and will not be accepted more than one week late. Please contact me ahead of time if you know you will be absent. You may e-mail your homework to me, give it to the Bldg. 17 Language Arts secretary or have a classmate turn in your homework for you if you are absent. Get the names and phone numbers of classmates now to help you if you miss class. I do not give make-up quizzes, but talk to me if you have an emergency situation.

Grades
You must successfully achieve 70% of the total points in the course for a passing grade. Your grade is based on the following:

Class Activities & Homework 8%
Essay Assignments 50% (4 Out-of-class; 2 In-class)
Quizzes/Tests 12%
Final 30%
100%
You are responsible for checking your grade in the class and telling me if you believe there is an error. Keep all of your graded assignments! If you disagree with your semester grade in the class, this is the only way to defend yourself. Once a week I will update grades; check them online at:

www.smccd.net/accounts/ridgwayk

Important Dates
Last day to drop with a partial refund Fri., Feb. 10
PRESIDENTS’ DAY (Holiday – no class) Fri. & Mon., Feb. 17 & 20
SPRING BREAK Mon. – Fri., April 10-16
Last day to withdraw with ‘W’ Fri., April 21
LAST DAY OF CLASS Fri., May 19
FINAL Thurs., May 25, 8 – 10:40 a.m.