Course
Title: Oral
and Written Communication
Term:
Fall 2012
Class:
ESL 500
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Instructor:
Lisa Ortiz
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Time: TR 5:00-6:20 PM
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Website: esl500fa12ortiz.blogspot.com
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Office: FLB 2112
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Office
Hours: Wednesdays 10:30AM - 12:30PM
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Course
Objectives:
The primary objective of all the ESL service
courses is to help you obtain the English skills you need to successfully
complete your graduate programs. These skills generally include writing
academic papers and giving academic presentations. This course will
specifically target rhetorical patterns and grammar for writing essays,
arguments and proposals, and for speaking in academic contexts. In class we
will:
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Deepen our understanding
of the connection among reading, critical thinking and writing;
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Create an awareness of
and develop skills for writing coherent, cohesive paragraphs;
•
Practice and master the
multi-paragraph essay
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Practice the various
rhetorical modes: compare/contrast, process, cause/effect and argumentation;
•
Learn to write from
academic sources, synthesizing information to construct convincing arguments
WITHOUT PLAGIARISM;
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Increase academic
vocabulary;
•
Develop awareness of
appropriate academic style;
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Establish effective
strategies for our personal writing process;
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Learn and practice
strategies for effective academic presentations;
•
Write a 5-7 page
source-based argumentative paper.
Reflective
Assignments:
You will write three reflective assignments
which serve two purposes. First, it is a means of personal communication
between you and me, student and teacher. Second, it will help you to understand
yourself as a writer, your progress and your needs.
Grading:
Your grade will be made up of the following
components:
Diagnostic essay revision
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15%
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Summary of an article
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15%
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Final source-based argumentative essay
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20%
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Oral presentation of final paper
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10%
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Participation (homework, in-class
activities)
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20%
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Reflective Assignments
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10%
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Attendance
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10%
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More
Course Notes:
There will be no final exam for this course.
Your written assignments will be graded on organization, content, conventions
and vocabulary/style.
All writing assignments are due at the
assigned time, and late papers will be penalized. We will employ a process
method for completing papers, and you can expect to revise your drafts one or
more times before it is considered “done” and ready to be graded. Once the
final draft has been turned in, however, no further revisions may be made.
During the semester, the students will be
required to write three essays on assigned topics. All essays must be typed and
double-spaced using standard 12 point font. They must be written according to
the APA style, which will be discussed this semester in class.
All essays will be sent electronically on the
due date by 11:59 p.m. through Dropbox. The files will be named your NETID_name of assignment and a number
indicating the draft. For example, ortizgu2_diagnostic1,
ortizgu2_diagnostic2, etc.
Homework and reading assignments may be given
daily. Students are expected to come to class prepared to discuss homework and
readings. Participation in class discussions and activities is expected and
will heavily contribute to the final grade—this includes encouraging the participation
of others. A grade of zero will be given to all work missed due to an unexcused
absence. Late homework may not be accepted or will be marked down.
Attendance
Policy for the ESL Writing Service Courses:
Students are required to attend all classes.
If, for some reason, you must be absent, please contact the instructor before
class. IF YOU ARE ABSENT, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL NOTES AND ASSIGNMENTS.
Two tardies (times late) count as one absence, no matter if it's 1 minute or
10. If you are tardy more than 20 minutes, it counts as an absence. After three
absences, you will receive a verbal warning from the instructor. After four
absences, the ESL Coordinator will be notified and you will receive a formal
probation warning. After 5 absences, you may fail the course. Remember,
students who are chronically absent or late are in danger of failing the course
at the coordinator’s discretion.
Plagiarism
Policy for the ESL Writing Service Courses:
Another one of our objectives in this course
is to teach you how to avoid plagiarism. As you know, the consequences of
plagiarism are serious. The University of Illinois’ handbook, Code on Campus
Affairs and Regulations Applying to All Students, defines plagiarism as
“intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one’s
own in any academic exercise.” Plagiarism is one type of academic dishonesty
which may result in a student’s suspension or dismissal from the University. At
the very least, it will result in a failing grade in the course at the
coordinator’s discretion. Therefore, the work you turn in for this class MUST
BE YOUR OWN. Do not plagiarize or you will receive an F on the assignment and
in the course!
Finally,
Communication and understanding are important
elements of this class. If at any time you have questions about the course
content or about your papers, please ask in class, communicate with me by
email, or make an appointment to see me. I will do my best to be available and
responsive.
To obtain disability-related academic adjustments
and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the course
instructor and the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) as soon
as possible. To contact DRES you may visit 1207 S. Oak St., Champaign, call
333-4603 (V/TDD), or e-mail a message to disability@uiuc.edu.
