EL520/ 525 Writing 2a/ b (4 units, 0 credits)

Rachel Monn, Adjunct Instructor in ESL
Winter 2008 Pasadena

 

 

DESCRIPTION:

This High-Intermediate course is designed to combine theological and missiological content with the skills and strategies necessary for academic writing.  It builds upon the basic writing skills in the essay writing process --prewriting, organization, development, revision and editing--and advances writing strategies for the research paper.  

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

  1. Review and reinforce learning outcomes in Level 1a (Intermediate).
  2. Write with less grammatical errors
  3. Apply writing processes for academic purposes
    • Developing and shaping ideas, focusing purpose
    • Strengthening theses, topic sentences and arranging support
    • Analyzing, evaluating, and arguing issues
    • Summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting sources
    • Synthesizing information in essays and research papers
    • Revising and editing drafts
  4. Develop writing styles
    • Book reviews
    • Research papers, synthesizing information from readings and lectures
    • Gain experience writing a research paper using proper citations and formatting in three drafts


 COURSE FORMAT:

This class meets twice weekly for two-hour sessions.  This class adopts a workshop approach to learning.  Thus, students learn writing and research paper development through lectures, class discussion, small group work, mini-conferences between teacher and student, peer activities, and individual “hands-on” practice and will be expected to complete one research paper within the quarter. 

 

REQUIRED READING: If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.

Leki, Ilona.  Academic Writing: Exploring Processes and Strategies (2nd edition).  New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press, 1995.

 

RECOMMENDED READING:

1.  Byrd, Patricia and Beverly Benson. Problem/Solution:  A Reference for ESL Writers. Boston, MA:  Heinle & Heinle Publishers, 1994.

2.  Reid, Joy M.  The Process of Composition.  (2nd edition) Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall Regents, 1988.

3.  Turabian, Kate L.  A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (7th edition).  Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, 2007.

 

RECOMMENDED READING:

1.  Core, Deborah.  The Seminary Student Writes.  St. Louis:  Chalice Press, 2000.
2.  An English or bilingual college dictionary.
3.  An English thesaurus.

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

This noncredit course is “Satisfactory” or “Not Satisfactory.”  Students will sharpen their writing skills in essays and one research paper.  Students in this course will complete the course goals and assignments listed in the syllabus.  The following requirements are designed to strengthen English language fluency, particularly writing skills:
1. Class participation and preparation (weekly reading, oral and written assignments)
2. A minimum of 10 writing assignments.
3. A research paper of 2000-2500 words reflecting on a theological topic.  The paper must have a minimum of four references.  The research paper should contain proper notation for all cited sources and a complete bibliography.  There will be various due dates for the stages of research.  The production of the paper must be completed in three drafts.

 

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets partial requirements to advance within the ESL Program

FINAL EXAMINATION: ESL Exit Exam.

 

Note:  This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design, but is subject to modification.                              Last Date Edited: 10 October 2007