ESL 204/2/D (Fall 2023 )

Refining Academic English Skills

Monday & Wednesday 2:45 pm – 5:30 pm
September 6 – December 4
H-601

Instructor: Evadne Anderson (Department of Education, Faculty of Arts & Science)

Contact Details: evadne.anderson@concordia.ca
Office Location: Faubourg Building -- 1610 Saint Catherine St. West - Room: FG-5-221
Office Hours: By appointment ➔Mondays (Office): 2:00p.m - 2:3 p.m. / Wednesdays
(Office): 2:00p.m - 2:30p.m. / Fridays: 1:00p.m.- 2:00 p.m. Virtually (Zoom)
+ other mutually convenient times.

Writing (All in class) 40%

Summary/Paraphrase (10%) è Summary & Paraphrase #1= 5%,
Summary & Paraphrase #2= 5%
Cause/Effect Essay (15%) è Essay 1 Draft 1 = 10%
Essay 1 Draft 2 = 5%
Argumentative Essay (15%) è Essay 2 Draft 1 = 10%
Essay 2 Draft 2 = 5%

3 Vocabulary in-class quizzes (highest 2 of 3 = 10%) 10%

3 Grammar in-class quizzes (highest 2 of 3=5%) 10%
7 Grammar Online Moodle quizzes (highest 5 of 7 =5%) (Check dates on the Course Schedule)
Midterm 1 Exam 15%
Midterm 2 Exam 15%
Preparation Quizzes 5%
Class Engagement: participation and preparation 5%

A+ 95 - 100 B+ 82 – 84 C+ 72 – 74 D+ 62 – 64
A 88 – 94 B 78 – 81 C 68 – 71 D 58 – 61 F 0 – 54
A- 85 – 87 B- 75 – 77 C- 65 – 67 D- 55 – 57

EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES
This class will be delivered in person on campus. In the event of extraordinary circumstances and
pursuant to the Academic Regulations, the University may modify the delivery, content, structure, forum,
location and/or evaluation scheme. In the event of such extraordinary circumstances, students will be
informed of the changes.

TEXTBOOKS & MATERIALS

Textbooks are used in every class and are essential. Students, faculty, and staff at Concordia must all respect
the University’s Policy on Copyright Compliance -- Complete text available at
http://www.concordia.ca/content/dam/common/docs/policies/official-policies/SG-2.pdf.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK
ESL 204 - Refining Academic English Skills– Coursepack is available in print format only from the Concordia
Bookstore: https://www.bkstr.com/concordiastore/shop/textbooks-and-course-materials
(Must be Academic Year 2022-2023 edition). Please note that older versions are significantly different
and are no longer sufficient.
 RECOMMENDED REFERENCE BOOKS AND MATERIALS: 1) A good English/English dictionary,
such as the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, the American Heritage College Dictionary, or
the Collins-Cobuild English Language Dictionary. 2) The Oxford Thesaurus of English. 3) *Understanding
and Using English Grammar Student Workbook (available on 3-hour reserve at the Webster Library).

ATTENDANCE POLICY – Regular attendance is crucial to success in ESL 204. Students who are frequently
absent will miss graded in-class assignments and quizzes; they will also miss in-class language practice that is
essential to mastery of course content and successful performance on the final exam. From the first day of
classes for the Fall 2023 term (September 5, 2023), any student who misses more than 8 classes for ANY reason
(including late registration, illness, or visa problems) is ineligible to write the final exam and will automatically
receive a final grade of FNS. Teachers are required to keep attendance records. There are no “excused” absences, and
warning notices will not be issued.

CLASSROOM PROTOCOL
Electronic devices should only be used to support course learning. ALL CELL PHONES/Blackberries/iPods, MP3
players, etc. should be turned off. At no time should anyone engage in making/receiving calls, text messages
or e-mails during the class. UNACCEPTABLE: consulting smart watches during a quiz or exam, surfing the web
for non-class related material, chatting, and/or working on projects for other classes.

SHORT-TERM ABSENCE FORM: While students may not exceed the total absence limit stated in the
attendance policy, students can now use the short-term absence form to indicate absence from courses for two
days during the term when assignments, exams, quizzes etc. in any given course are worth less than 30%. For
more information about this form and the rules, regulations, and restrictions for using it or to submit a form, use
this link: https://www.concordia.ca/students/absence-form.html .

BEHAVIOUR
All individuals participating in courses are expected to be professional and constructive throughout the
course, including in their communications. Concordia students are subject to the Code of Rights and
Responsibilities which applies both when students are physically and virtually engaged in any University
activity, including classes, seminars, meetings, etc. Students engaged in University activities must respect this
Code when engaging with any members of the Concordia community, including faculty, staff, and students,
whether such interactions are verbal or in writing, face to face or online/virtual. Failing to comply with the
Code may result in charges and sanctions, as outlined in the Code.

ChatGPT AND Generative AI

Students may not copy or paraphrase from any generative AI applications, including ChatGPT and other AI
writing assistants, for the purpose of completing graded assignments in this course. This course policy is
designed to promote your learning and intellectual development and to help you reach course learning
outcomes.

PREPARATION & PARTICIPATION: Good preparation and active participation are essential to do well in
ESL 204. You are expected to have finished your homework and assignments before coming to class. The day’s
activities will be based on the homework due that day. Failure to complete assigned readings or exercises will
mean that you cannot participate meaningfully in class. Much of the required work (reading, grammar and
vocabulary, etc.) must be done independently. This independent work is crucial to your success in the
course.

WRITING TASKS INCLUDE 3 ESSAYS (30%) 2 PARAPHRASES & 2 SUMMARIES (10%): Detailed
instructions and dates for these tasks will be posted on the course Moodle site. All essays are written in
class. All 1st drafts of essays are worth 10% and 2nd drafts are worth 5%. Draft# 2 is written in class on
the day Draft #1 is returned. Analysis and careful consideration of instructor feedback is expected.
Note: If absent on the day of an in-class writing assignment, it may be possible to make up the work if there
are extenuating circumstances that can be proven with documentation. Late writing assignments will not
be accepted. Pay careful attention to all due dates.

Required: Bring to each class your own 8.5”x11” white lined paper and a pen with dark erasable ink.
Work submitted in pencil will not be accepted.

VOCABULARY and GRAMMAR QUIZZES (10%) (All are written in class)

Vocabulary Component: From Units 2-4 in the coursepack. Please refer to the vocabulary list posted on
Moodle with all target words.
Grammar Component: From Units 1-5 in the coursepack.
There are no make-up quizzes for students who are absent on the day of a vocabulary or grammar quiz.
Vocabulary and Grammar quizzes will be held on the same day (see Moodle &the Course Outline for details).
If you come late to class, you will not be given extra time to finish a grammar/vocabulary quiz.

MOODLE GRAMMAR QUIZZES (5%): There will be 7 Moodle Grammar Quizzes (See Moodle and
Course outline for deadlines for quiz completion). Moodle Grammar Quizzes will be completed outside of
class. You have 30 minutes to complete each Moodle grammar quiz. No extension will be given if you miss
the due date.

PREPARATION QUIZZES (5%): These will be given in class throughout the term and are based on your
responses to reading question, given ahead of time, and your careful viewing of PowerPoint presentations on
essay writing.

CLASS ENGAGEMENT (4%): As noted above, being prepared for each class, and participating actively is
fundamental to your success in this course. Our class time will also involve regular pair work and small group
work where you will be expected to contribute to pair/group tasks respectfully and meaningfully.

MOODLE: It is your responsibility to check the MOODLE course site frequently for up-to-date course
information. NOTE: Web browser “Safari” is generally not compatible with MOODLE.

LATE SUBMISSIONS/MAKE-UP WORK: There will be no make-up quizzes or assignments for students
who are late or absent on the day these are originally scheduled/due unless there are extenuating
circumstances that can be proven through documentation.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: The following is taken from

http://www.concordia.ca/students/academic-integrity/plagiarism.html:

WHAT IS PLAGIARISM? This is the most common offense under the Academic Code of Conduct is
plagiarism which the Code defines as “the presentation of the work of another person as one’s own or without
proper acknowledgement” (Article 16a).

This could be material copied word for word from books, journals, internet sites, professor’s course notes,
etc. It could be material that is paraphrased but closely resembles the original source. It could be the work
of a fellow student, for example, an answer on a quiz, data for a lab report, a paper or assignment
completed by another student. It might be a paper purchased through one of the many available sources.
Plagiarism does not refer to words alone – it can also refer to copying images, graphs, tables, and ideas.
“Presentation” is not limited to written work. It also includes oral presentations, computer assignments and
artistic works. If you translate the work of another person into French or English and do not cite the source,
this is also plagiarism. If you cite your own work without the correct citation, this too is plagiarism.
In simple words: DO NOT COPY, PARAPHRASE OR TRANSLATE ANYTHING FROM
ANYWHERE WITHOUT SAYING FROM WHERE YOU GOT IT! DON’T FORGET TO USE
QUOTATION MARKS!
To find out more, go to the Concordia’s Academic Integrity Website:
http://www.concordia.ca/students/academic-integrity.html
 Course Schedule (Subject to modification)

Week Date Topic Evaluation

✎ = Write in class

Sept. 6 (Wed.) Course Introduction ✎Diagnostic Writing (Sept 6)

1 Unit 1: The Pursuit of
Happiness
Sept. 11 (Mon) Unit 1: The Pursuit of
2 Happiness
Sept. 13 (Wed) ✎Group Paraphrase & Summary PRACTICE
Unit 1: The Pursuit of
Happiness
Sept. 18 (Mon)
Unit 1: The Pursuit of
3
Happiness
Sept. 20 (Wed) Unit 1: The Pursuit of ✎Summary & Paraphrase 1 (5%)
Happiness Moodle Grammar Quiz 1 (Friday, Sept. 22 @
11:00p.m.)
✎Summary & Paraphrase #2 (5% )
Sept. 25 (Mon) Unit 2: Consumer
4
Behaviour and Marketing
Sept.27 (Wed) Unit 2: Consumer ✎ Vocabulary & Grammar Quiz 1 (Units 1&2)
Behaviour and Marketing
September 30 MIDTERM 1 EXAM 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 15%
SATURDAY
Oct. 2 (Mon) Unit 2: Consumer
5 Behaviour and Marketing
Oct.4 (Wed) Unit 3: Our Food and Our Moodle Grammar Quiz 2 (Friday, Oct 6 @
Health 11:00p.m.)

READING WEEK October 10-15

Oct. 16 (Mon) Unit 3: Our Food and Our ✎ Group Cause/Effect Essay PRACTICE
6 Health
Oct. 18 (Wed) Unit 3: Our Food and Moodle Grammar Quiz 3 (Friday, Oct 20 @
Our Health 11:00p.m.)

Oct. 23 (Mon) Unit 3: Our Food and Our ✎Vocabulary &Grammar Quiz 2 (Unit 3)
7 Health
Oct. 25 (Wed) Unit 4: Use and Abuse of ✎ Cause/Effect Essay 1 Draft (10%)
Natural Resources Moodle Grammar Quiz 4 (Friday, Oct. 27 @
11:00p.m.)
Oct. 30 (Mon) Unit 4: Use and Abuse of ✎ Cause/Effect Essay Draft 2 (5%)
Natural Resources
8
 Nov. 1 (Wed) Unit 4: Use and Abuse of Moodle Grammar Quiz 5 (Friday, Nov. 3 @
Natural Resources 11:00p.m.)

Nov. 6 (Mon) ✎Vocabulary &Grammar Quiz 3 (Unit 4)

Unit 4: Use and Abuse of
Natural Resources
9
Nov.8 (Wed)
Midterm Review
November 11 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 15%
MIDTERM 2 EXAM
SATURDAY
10 Nov. 13 (Mon) Unit 4: Use and Abuse of
Natural Resources
✎ Group Argumentative Essay PRACTICE
Nov. 15 (Wed) Unit 5: Poverty and
Economic Inequality Moodle Grammar Quiz 6 (Friday Nov.17 @
11:00p.m.)
11 Nov. 20 (Mon) Unit 5: Poverty and
Economic Inequality
Nov. 22 (Wed) Unit 5: Poverty and ✎ Argumentative Essay Draft 1 (10%)
Economic Inequality
12 Nov. 27(Mon) Unit 2: Consumer ✎ Argumentative Essay Draft 2 (5%)
Behaviour and Marketing

Nov. 29 (Wed) Unit 2: Consumer Moodle Grammar Quiz 7 (Friday Nov. 31 @

Behaviour and Marketing 11:00p.m.)
12 Dec 4 (Mon) Final Exam Preparation
+

FINAL EXAM DATE TBD 0% (Dec. 6- Dec. 19)

DNE Deadline: Monday, September 18, 2023

DISC Deadline: December 6, 2023

Note:* You are responsible for confirming these dates on the University website.
*Modifications to the schedule will be announced in class and posted on Moodle.