AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DIVISION OF ARTS & HUMANITIES
ENGLISH for SPEAKERS of OTHER LANGUAGES
DEPARTMENTAL COURSE DESCRIPTION AND SYLLABUS

ESOL 0364: ADVANCED READING AND VOCABULARY
Section: 007       Synonym: 23553
Time & location:  M & W 7:05 - 8:50p.m., SAC 1205
Semester/Year:  spring 2010 (1/19 - 5/11)

Instructor:        Dr. Charles Wukasch
   
Office Hours:        M & W 6:30 - 7:05 p.m. and by     appointment

Office:            SAC 1224
       
Phone(s):         223-9207, 223-9208
   
E-mail:             accprof@att.net

TEXTBOOKS (required):    Advancing Vocabulary Skills 

TEXTBOOKS (optional):    Reader’s Choice

In addition, I will distribute (at no cost to the students) various reading handouts.  We will also see at least one movie in the class; you will be responsible for the vocabulary and idiomatic expressions in the movie.

ACADEMIC ESOL PROGRAM GOALS
The main goal of the Academic ESOL Program at ACC is to prepare international students to handle the listening, speaking, reading and writing assignments required in higher education. To accomplish this purpose, the ESOL faculty has adopted a communicative approach that integrates these four macroskills with crucial subsidiary skills. Although the focus of each class is on a particular set of skills, activities involving the other skill areas are incorporated at all levels; students are taught microskills and strategies that will prepare them to become independent learners.

COURSE DESCRIPTION/RATIONALE
ESOL 0364: Advanced Reading and Vocabulary is the exit level course in a sequence of four ESOL reading courses. It is designed to prepare students for reading in college courses and the workplace. Emphasis is on critical and analytical skills, and advanced reading strategies for reading college-level textbooks, novels and periodicals. Students will continue to expand their vocabulary.

PREREQUISITES
A grade of C or better in ESOL 0363 or placement in the course
through ESOL Assessment.
THIS COURSE MAY BE TAKEN FOR UP TO 6 HOURS OF CREDIT.

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES
This class will help you:
continue to develop and refine skills presented in prior ESOL  reading courses;
learn literary terms and apply them to a text;
distinguish between main idea and supporting details;
distinguish between fact and opinion;
recognize an author's tone and point of view;
    expand vocabulary using context clues to discover the meaning of unfamiliar words;
learn strategies for inferring meaning;
become independent readers.

EVALUATION
This is an upper level reading class. If you do not read, do not expect to pass this class! In order to become proficient readers and do well in this course, it is necessary to:
read daily
prepare homework to participate in class;
maintain a notebook with notes for each reading selection.

EXAMS & QUIZZES
In addition to vocabulary quizzes, there will be three reading exams and a final exam. These will be given on the days indicated by the instructor. You need to be present for all exams and quizzes. Generally, no make up exams will be given.
Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the instructor.

NOTES OVER ASSIGNED READINGS
You will be given a separate handout regarding this component.

EXIT CRITERIA
In order to pass this course and exit the ESOL reading program, you must do the following:
pass all coursework with a grade of C (70%) or better;
pass the final reading exam with a grade of C (70%) or better.

For those students who meet the above exit criteria, the following categories and percentages represent how your final grade will be determined:

Vocabulary quizzes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40%
Reading quizzes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20%
Participation/homework . . . . . . . . . . 20%
Final Exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........20%

GRADES:
A=100%-90%        D=60%-69%
8=80%-89%            F=Below 60%
C=70%-79%


COURSE POLICIES: REQUIREMENTS/RESPONSIBILITIES
Your behavior should be appropriate for a professional situation:
Courtesy and respect for everyone is expected
No food, drink or gum is allowed in the classroom
Turn off all cell phones and beepers
Be on time. If you must be late, enter quietly and sit in the back of the room.
Participate in activities as directed.

ATTENDANCE POLICY
It is very important that you attend all of your classes.
ACC policy states the following:
A student at Austin Community College is expected to attend classes in order to progress satisfactorily toward completion of course objectives. .. A student who is not meeting course objectives may be withdrawn from the course
at the discretion of the instructor (ACC Catalog p.     31).

If you must be absent from class, it is your responsibility to find out what work you missed in class, as well as any homework assignments and announcements about tests.

If you are taking this course to comply with the Texas Success Initiative (TSI)requirements*, Texas law requires the following:
1. If you are not continually in attendance, and making progress in this course, you should be withdrawn from the course by your instructor;
2. If you withdraw yourself or are withdrawn by your instructor, you will be automatically withdrawn from all of your other college courses if this is the only TSI-mandated course you are taking.
*If you are unsure whether or not this warning applies to you, see an ACC advisor immediately.

Attendance at every class for the entire period is expected.  You may be absent three times without penalty provided those absences occur on days on which no quizzes and exams are scheduled. You are expected to arrive on time and stay for the entire class. Being late, leaving early, or leaving and entering class during the class period may lower your attendance/participation grade.

In accordance with college and departmental policy, I reserve the right to withdrawn a student who has 4 or more absences.

INCOMPLETE
Incomplete grades are awarded only in very special circumstances.

SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY
Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work.  Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research or self-expression.  Academic is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects; either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework.

OFFICE OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities.  Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes.  Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester.

You are not alone! Free tutoring with ESOL tutors is available in the learning labs.  The tutors can advise you regarding supplementary materials designed to assist you in becoming more proficient readers.


A schedule of assignments will be provided by your instructor.  There will normally be a vocabulary quiz each week.



ESOL 0364: ADVANCED READING & VOCABULARY
COURSE SYLLABUS
(Subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.)

The following represents a general schedule of assignments. Specific homework pages and assignments will be written on the board prior to each class. It is your responsibility to prepare homework assignments BEFORE coming to class.

RC = Reader’s Choice       AVS = Advancing Vocabulary Skills

WEEK #        AVS    RC and/or SHORT STORY
1        Vocabulary Placement Test   
2        Chapters 1,2   
3        Chapter 3,4    short story or reading  from RC quiz # 1
4        Chapters 5,6   
5        Chapters 7,8   
6        Chapters 9,10       
7        Chapters 11, 12    short story or reading  from RC quiz # 2
8        Chapters 13, 14   
9        Chapters 15,16   
10        Chapters 17,18    short story or reading  from RC quiz # 3
11        Chapters  19,20   
12        Chapters 21,22
13        Chapters 23,24    short story or reading  from RC quiz #4
14        Chapters 25,26.27   
15        Chapters 28,29,30   
16         Final exam  

TEXTBOOKS (required):    Advancing Vocabulary Skills 

TEXTBOOKS (optional):    Reader’s Choice
 

RC = Reader’s Choice       AVS = Advancing Vocabulary Skills

WEEK #        AVS    RC and/or SHORT STORY
1        Vocabulary Placement Test   
2        Chapters 1,2   
3        Chapter 3,4    short story or reading  from RC quiz # 1
4        Chapters 5,6   
5        Chapters 7,8   
6        Chapters 9,10       
7        Chapters 11, 12    short story or reading  from RC quiz # 2
8        Chapters 13, 14   
9        Chapters 15,16   
10        Chapters 17,18    short story or reading  from RC quiz # 3
11        Chapters  19,20   
12        Chapters 21,22
13        Chapters 23,24    short story or reading  from RC quiz #4
14        Chapters 25,26.27   
15        Chapters 28,29,30   
16         Final exam 

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES
This class will help you:
continue to develop and refine skills presented in prior ESOL  reading courses;
learn literary terms and apply them to a text;
distinguish between main idea and supporting details;
distinguish between fact and opinion;
recognize an author's tone and point of view;
expand vocabulary using context clues to discover the meaning of unfamiliar words;
learn strategies for inferring meaning;
become independent readers.