Intermediate level academic writing and

grammar syllabus- Winter 2020

Instructor Information
Instructor: Miss Whippy
Contact: Send Mrs. Whippy a
message on Canvas
Office: Room # 224 or SASC
Office
hours: Thursdays 12- 1pm

Course Description and Goal

This course helps students master the basics of writing paragraphs and writing target structures
accurately. A student writes basic sentences and paragraphs with accurate grammatical structures
necessary to transition to Foundations C.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Writes level appropriate text.

1. Writes groups of sentences.
2. Connects sentences with similar meaning or purpose
3. Formulates yes/no questions.
4. Formulates wh- questions.
2. Produces target structures accurately.
1. Uses subject, verb object statement structure.
2. Demonstrates subject/verb agreement in controlled contexts.
3. Uses a variety of regular and irregular verbs
4. Uses capitalization correctly.
5. Uses punctuation correctly.
6. Uses basic syntax correctly.
3. Incorporates high frequency general vocabulary in writing.
1. Recombines learned vocabulary into memorized phrases and structures.
2. Spells high frequency general vocabulary correctly.

Required Materials
 1. Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs, 4th edition, ISBN: 978-1285194905
2. Blue book (buy in Room 103 or at the BYU bookstore)
3. Pen/ pencil, eraser and paper.
4. Binder/ folder to keep work in
5. A notebook to record new vocabulary!
6. A good attitude and a smile :)

Grades
The ELC gives two grades, a proficiency grade (ability) and a citizenship grade (effort).

1. Proficiency: This grade is based on performance on paragraphs. A passing

proficiency grade is 74%.
2. Citizenship: This grade is based on two things: homework (50%) and participation
(50%). A passing citizenship grade is 84%.

Assignments & Assessments

Major Assignments
During the semester you will:
1- Respond to a journal prompt daily in class (4 days a week, fluency writing)
2- Write a variety of sentences (Perfect Sentences, Timed writing, Building Better Sentences)
3- Write a variety of paragraphs (definition, process/ analysis, descriptive, opinion, narrative)
4- Keep a function- based vocabulary notebook
5- Practice keyboarding skills (typing.com program)

Assessments & Learning Experiences

Grammar

1. Ten Perfect Sentences. Students write a list of ten sentences that is marked for errors and
revised until it is error-free.
2. Timed Writing. Students write under time constraints.

Writing

1. Chapter/Unit Assessments. Students demonstrate proficiency in using the sentence

patterns they have learned.
2. Fluency Writing. Students write to promote fluency.
3. Typing practice. Students build typing skills through practice.
 4. Drafted Paragraphs. Students revise their writing and respond to feedback.

Citizenship

Homework (50%)
1- In- class daily journal. Using your Blue book, you will write a response to a prompt
each day in class. I will collect them and given them back to you the next day.
2- Weekly typing practice. You will be required to keep a weekly log of your typing
practice.
3- Any additional activity exercises given by the teacher throughout the week.

Participation/ Attendance (50%)

You will receive 3 points per day for participation. You can lose participation points for:
- Being absent ( lose all 3 points for the day)
- Late to class (lose 1 point)
- Sleeping in class
- Speaking in your native language
- Using your iPod or ear buds
- For not being prepared ( for example, not having our book with you in class)
- For not participating actively in a class activity
You can also lose “attitude” points at the discretion of the teacher. You will not always be told
immediately when you lose points in class.

Proficiency
This grade shows your language ability. Be sure not to miss a test or quiz because you
cannot make up a missed quiz or test without a doctor’s note excusing you the day of the
test. If you know you will be absent, please come and talk to me before you are gone.
Your proficiency grade is:
- 30% Paragraphs
- 30% Tests
- 10% Vocabulary Notebook
- 15% Ten Perfect sentences
- 15% Quizzes

Late Work Policy

Homework will only be accepted during the three-week grading period in which it is due. Any
assignments submitted after the three-week grading period will receive a 0. Students with
excused absences will be allowed to make up missing homework within that grading period
without penalty. However, if you have an unexcused absence, you will lose 10% each day
your assignment is late.

Level Achievement Tests (LATs)

Level Achievement Tests (LATs) are given at the end of each semester. They are used to test
your progress in English in each skill area. If you plan to continue studying at the ELC, you must
take the LATs. This semester, you will take your LATs on April 15th and 16th.

ELC Attendance Policy

Consistently attending class is a central part of learning and improving your English. When you
are absent from class, you miss important information and practice opportunities that you need to
improve your English. The US Government allows each English program to establish its own
attendance policy. The following requirements reflect the ELC’s commitment to create the right
environment to help you improve your English.
ELC students must maintain 80% attendance in each and every class at all times. As soon as your
attendance drops below 80% in any one of your four classes, you will receive a warning letter. If
you have any unexcused absences before raising your attendance back to 80%, you will be
dismissed. If your attendance drops below 80% a second time in any one of your four classes,
you will be dismissed from the ELC. Once you receive your attendance dismissal letter, you
must go to Anna Bailey’s office (4056 JFSB) immediately.
The US Government states that if a student is dismissed for violation of a school's attendance
policy, then their student visa is immediately terminated and the student will need to leave the
US within two weeks. If students want to transfer to another school, they will have to reapply to
be reinstated. However, attempts to be reinstated are rarely successful. If you are sick and unable
to attend class, please provide a note from your doctor. Within two days of returning to class, the
doctor’s note must be received in the ELC office (103 UPC). Be aware that forging a doctor’s
note is a violation of the BYU Honor Code and will result in an immediate dismissal from the
ELC.
If you know that you will be absent from class for any reason other than an illness (i.e., a family
wedding or a death in the family), you should notify the ELC administration in writing and
deliver your letter to UPC 103. These absences will be considered on an individual basis and
may not necessarily be excused. Being absent also results in missing class participation points
that are part of your citizenship grade. Whenever you are absent from class, please contact each
of your teachers to receive information on the assignments that you missed. Students who are ill
should go to the Student Health Center (see Health Care or http://health.byu.edu for more
information).
Students who are more than 10 minutes late, miss more than 10 minutes during class, or leave
more than 10 minutes early will be marked as absent. (from the Student Handbook)

Academic Honesty
ELC students should seek to be totally honest with others. You should complete your own work and be
evaluated based upon that work. You should avoid academic dishonesty in all its forms, including cheating,
falsification, and plagiarism. (from the ELC Student Handbook).

Preventing Sexual Discrimination & Harassment

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is intended to eliminate sex discrimination and
sexual harassment in educational contexts. Any ELC student, teacher, staff member, or
administrator who becomes aware of sexual harassment, discrimination, or misconduct of any
kind, directed toward them or any other member of the ELC community should immediately
contact Dr. Ben McMurry (801-422-8521, ben_mcmurry@byu.edu) or Dr. Norman Evans (801-
422-8472, norman_evans@byu.edu). If they are unavailable, please leave a message and then
contact the Equal Employment Office (801-422-5895, 1-888-238-1062, http://www.
ethicspoint.com) or the Honor Code Office (801-422-2847). (from the Teacher Handbook, 1.2.6)

Students with Disabilities

If you suspect or are aware that you have a disability, you are strongly encouraged to contact the University
Accessibility Center (UAC) located at 2170 WSC (422-2767) as soon as possible. The disability will be
evaluated and eligible students will receive assistance in obtaining reasonable University approved
accommodations. (from http://uac.byu.edu/)

Calendar

Week 1: Introduction to course, diagnostic tests,

descriptive paragraphs
Jan 13- 17

Week 2: Great Writing Unit 5: Paragraph review

Jan 20- 24 Monday: Holiday- NO CLASS

Tuesday: introduce syllabus, begin journal
writing, opening assembly at 10am.
Wednesday: introduce Better building
sentences, keyboarding program,
Thursday: assign homework to introduce
paragraphs

Week 3: Great Writing Unit 1: Paragraphs Quiz # 1 (Thursday in class)

 10 perfect sentences activity
Jan 27- 31 In class journal
Typing practice (report due Thursday)

Week 4: Great writing Unit 2: Developing ideas Test #1 (Friday, lab)

10 perfect sentences activity Vocabulary notebook check
Feb 3- 7 In class journal
Typing practice (report due Thursday)

Week 5: Great writing Unit 3: Topic sentences Quiz # 2 (Thursday in class)

10 perfect sentences activity
Feb 10- 14 In class journal
Typing practice (report due Thursday)

Week 6: Great Writing Unit 4: Supporting/ Vocabulary notebook check

concluding sentences
Feb 17- 21 Monday: Holiday-NO CLASS
10 perfect sentences activity
In class journal
Typing practice (report due Thursday)

Week 7: Great Writing Unit 6: Definition paragraphs Quiz # 3 (Thursday in class)

10 perfect sentences activity Test #2 (Friday, lab)
Feb 24- 28 In class journal
Typing practice (report due Thursday)

Week 8: Great Writing Unit 7: Process paragraphs

10 perfect sentences activity
March 2- 6 In class journal
Typing practice (report due Thursday)

Week 9: Great Writing Unit 8: Descriptive Quiz #4 (Thursday in class)

paragraphs Vocabulary notebook check
March 9- 13 10 perfect sentences activity
In class journal
Typing practice (report due Thursday)

Week 10: Great Writing Unit 9: Opinion paragraphs Test # 3 (Friday, lab)
10 perfect sentences activity
March 16- 20 In class journal
Typing practice (report due Thursday)

Week 11: Great Writing Unit 10: Narrative paragraphs Quiz # 5 (Thursday, in class)
10 perfect sentences activity
March 23- 27 In class journal
Typing practice (report due Thursday)
Week 12: Great Writing Unit 11: Paragraphs in an Vocabulary notebook check
March 30- essay
April 3 10 perfect sentences activity
In class journal
Wednesday & Thursday: NO CLASS,
TESOL

Typing practice (report due Thursday)

Week 13: Great Writing Unit 11: Paragraphs in an Test # 4

essay
April 6-10 10 perfect sentences activity
In class journal
Typing practice (report due Thursday)

Week 14: Last day of class and closing assembly

(Tuesday)
April 13- 16 LAT Ratings (Wednesday and Thursday)