Day, Time: Mon/Wed, 4:10-6:00pm

Classroom: ESC 108

Lab: TBA __________

EAP Writing (E2): Fall 2014

Course Description: This course is designed to solidify the student’s ability to write various types of
focused and well-developed essays. In preparation for university-level writing tasks, some assignments
will require students to incorporate advanced academic reading materials and appropriately cite their
sources. Students will also work on demonstrating grammatical control and effective vocabulary choice.

Student Learning Objectives:

Achieve college-entry-level
understanding and control of
academic writing – shown in
different types of academic
writing assignments that earn
at least 70% on the final draft,
both in and out of class.
● Analyze example passages to identify and understand the required
elements in the text to complete a given assignment.
● Use the writing process (generating ideas, drafting, revising, and
editing) to produce unified, coherent, and well-organized five-
paragraph academic essays of at least 1.5-2 pages.
● Improve content by rewriting to incorporate considered responses
to oral and written comments from readers.

● Understand and meet the requirements of additional academic

writing projects as directed by the teacher, which may include
journal entries, summaries, in-class timed writing, and blog
assignments.

● Paraphrase and summarize texts, either from the book or from the
teacher, and correctly cite the original source in MLA or APA
format, as individual assignments and as essay support.

● Restructure and synthesize information to respond to different

prompts on a similar topic.

Display sentence control and
variety – shown by at least
70% accuracy in all writing
projects, worksheets, and
quizzes.
● Use cohesive devices (transitions, coordinators, and subordinators)
correctly.
● Use varied sentence types (simple, compound, complex) to
increase readability and interest.

● Demonstrate control of clauses (adjective, noun, and adverbial)

appropriate for the task and sentence variety.

● Locate and correct fragments, comma splices, and run-ons.

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 Show improved accuracy in
grammar, language, and
formatting in writing – shown
by error correction activities
to achieve at least 70%
accuracy in writing projects,
worksheets, and quizzes.
● Employ vocabulary that is suitable for academic writing at the
college level and that displays awareness of the appropriate level of
formality and genre requirements.
● Use a thesaurus for greater variety of academic vocabulary.
● Control collocations for more natural expression.

● Practice new vocabulary in writing through paraphrase and

summary assignments and use correct citation MLA format.

● Select appropriate grammar for the task (e.g., classification,

advantage/disadvantage, cause/effect, argumentation).

● Use all verb forms correctly, with and without modals.

● Format all writing projects correctly as specified.

● Use correct mechanics (spelling, punctuation, capitalization).

Required textbook: Required class materials:

Writing to Communicate 3 three-ring binder

by Boardman (“B” shelf in bookstore) 8 ½” x 11” college-ruled paper

ISBN 978-0-13-240744-1 blue or black pen, pencil, & eraser
Must buy book from SDSU bookstore

Suggested dictionary/thesaurus phone apps:

Merriam-Webster, dictionary.com

* Canvas
(canvas.instructure.com)
You will need to create an account on Canvas in order to complete your assignments for this class.
Canvas is a course management system (similar to Blackboard) on which you will find take-home
assignments for this class and check your grade. You will be invited to the online course by submitting
your email address to your instructor.
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Grades:
This is a graded class. You must receive a 2.0 or higher to pass this class. Your class will be calculated as
follows:

Attendance      10%

Quizzes & other assignments    10%    (based on homework, vocabulary, outlines, paraphrases)
In-class writings                         15%    (3 first drafts: summary, cause/effect, problem/solution)
Revisions 35%    (3 final drafts: summary, cause/effect, problem/solution)
Mid-term & Final exam              30%                                    
Total                                 100%

I do not offer extra credit, so please do not ask.

Make-up Policy
● Assignments must be turned in at the beginning of class on the due date if it is due in class; otherwise,
it must be turned in by the specified deadline on Canvas.

● You can turn assignments in up to one (1) week late, but 10% will be deducted every class that it is
late. Late work will not be accepted after one (1) week. Discuss with me how to turn in a late
assignment if you missed the deadline on Canvas.

● If you miss class, check Canvas and email a classmate BEFORE the next class to find out what
the homework assignment is. As a student aiming to enter university, you should never wait until
the next class to ask for the work you missed. It is your responsibility to obtain the information and
catch up as soon as you can.

● There will be no make-up quizzes or exams; in other words, if you miss class on the day of an in-
class writing or an exam, there is no way for you to take it on another day. Do NOT miss class!

Grade Equivalents for the EAP Program:

A 4.0 95-100%
A- 3.7 90-94%
B+ 3.3 88-89%
B 3.0 83-87% passing
B- 2.7 80-82%
C+ 2.3 78-79%
C 2.0 70-77%

D 1.0 60-69% not passing

F 0.0 0-59%

EAP PROGRAM POLICIES

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Attendance Policy
There are no excused absences at the ALI. Even if a student is sick and has a doctor’s note, s/he will be
marked absent.

If a student misses half of the class at any time throughout the class period whether that is in the
beginning, after the break or leaving the classroom during class, the student will be marked absent on the
pink attendance sheet.

The teacher keeps records of student tardiness.  The teacher determines what constitutes being late (10
minutes) and informs the students in the beginning of the semester.   

Students can check their attendance record on the bulletin board weekly. Any student whose overall
program attendance drops below 80% may be dismissed from the program. Dismissal notifications and
warnings are sent to all EAP students by email.

Cell Phone Policy

In order to create a productive class environment and minimize distractions, cell phones should be kept in
students' bags during class and be either turned off or set to silent. Students should not answer or make
phone calls and send or receive text messages during class unless it is an emergency situation. If you
expect an emergency call, let your instructor know ahead of time. Please use break time, lunch or after-
school hours to make and receive all phone calls. If your instructor finds it necessary, s/he may allow you
to use your cell phone as a dictionary, calculator or for some other purpose. ALI would like students to
become accustomed to American academic and business culture, including the etiquette we practice
regarding technology.

Plagiarism Policy
According to the SDSU Library Plagiarism Tutorial: "Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's words,
sentences, or ideas and passing them off as your own without giving credit by citing the original source."

You might be plagiarizing if you:

● Hand in someone else's work as your own.

● Buy a paper from another source.
● Copy complete or parts of sentences, phrases, paragraphs, or ideas from someone else's work,
published or unpublished, without naming the original author.
● Copy any work, including any type of multimedia (graphics, audio, video, internet streams),
computer programs, music compositions, graphs, or charts without naming the original author.
● Paraphrase someone else's idea or phrase in your paper without naming the original author.
● Hand in your own paper in more than one course.

In the U.S., plagiarism may have serious academic and professional results. American schools, including
ALI and San Diego State University, regard plagiarism as academic dishonesty. If you plagiarize, you
may fail an assignment, receive a lower course grade, and even fail a course.

Textbook Policy
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EAP students must buy all required texts listed on this syllabus.  You need to have a clean new or used
text, not a book with all the answers and not a photocopy of the text.  The textbook(s) must be brought to
every class session.  Students who do not bring these textbooks will be unprepared for class
assignments/activities, which could negatively affect the course grade.

Standards for Student Conduct

The ALI is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment for students, teachers, and
staff. Behavior that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person within the ALI, such as
physical abuse, threats, intimidation, or harassment, will lead to disciplinary actions.

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 COURSE CALENDAR W-E2: Fall 2014

Week Topics & In-Class Timed Writings

Week 1 Introductions & Syllabus

(August 27) (Diagnostic essay)

Week 2 Plagiarism
(September 3) Introduction to MLA formatting

Week 3 Chapter 1: The writing process

(September 8 & 10)

Week 4 Chapter 2: Cause and Effect

(September 15 & 17)

Week 5 Chapter 2: Cause and Effect

(September 22 & 24) 9/22– In-class writing: Cause and Effect

Week 6 Chapter 3: Problem and Solution

(September 29 & October 2)

Week 7 Chapter 3: Problem and Solution

(October 6 & 8) 10/8– In-class writing: Problem and Solution

Week 8
(October 13 & 15) 10/15: MIDTERM

Week 9 Chapter 4: Summarizing and Responding

(October 20 & 22)

Week 10 Chapter 4: Summarizing and Responding

(October 27 & 29) 11/12– In-class writing: Summary

Week 11 Chapter 5: Using quotations

(November 3 & 5)

Week 12 Chapter 5: Using quotations

(November 10 & 12)

Week 13 Chapter 6: Paraphrasing

(November 17 & 19)

Week 14 Chapter 6: Paraphrasing

(November 24 & 26)

Week 15
(December 1 & 3) 12/3: FINAL

Week 16 Grade conferences

(December 8 & 10) Exit testing

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* This schedule is tentative and may change to adjust to teacher and/or student needs