AESL081 Writing Fundamentals for International Students
Department of Language & Literature: American English as a Second Language
- I. Course Number and Title
- AESL081 Writing Fundamentals for International Students
- II. Number of Credits
- 6 credits
- III. Number of Instructional Minutes
- 4500
- IV. Prerequisites
- AESL placement score of 2 or permission of the Department of Language and Literature
- Corequisites
- None
- V. Other Pertinent Information
-
This course will not satisfy the general elective category for students who entered their program or study in or after the 2007 Fall semester.
- To meet course objectives, students are expected to spend a minimum of twelve hours a week completing homework assignments. These twelve hours are in addition to the six hours class time.
- Students will write a minimum of 2,000 words in various writing assignments, including paragraphs, journal entries, and other writing as assigned by the instructor.
- Students are expected to visit the Tutoring Center as needed.
- Approximately eighty-to-ninety percent of the final grade for the course will be based upon a student's performance on in-class and out-of-class writings, tests of English grammar, and other written assignments. Class participation and attendance will account for the remaining ten-to-twenty percent of a student's overall grade.
- Transferability is determined by the transfer institution.
- VI. Catalog Course Description
- This course is designed for international students who need to learn the fundamentals of writing. Students will develop the proper use of American English grammar, syntax, and skill in writing sentences and basic developmental paragraphs.
- VII. Required Course Content and Direction
-
-
Course Learning Goals
Writing: In this AESL course, students will be able to:
- write sentences with correct grammatical structures, spelling, punctuation, and mechanics;
- write developmental paragraphs using topic sentences and supporting details;
- develop basic writing skills in order to earn a C or better in the course and subsequent enrollment in AESL101; and
- demonstrate their knowledge of the different learning resources available at BCCC, such as the Tutoring Center.
Reading: Students will be able to:
- read and develop vocabulary to express ideas in written communication; and
- read and identify content of several prose passages.
Academic Integrity: Students will be able to:
- describe plagiarism and academic integrity.
-
Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities
In order to learn the above skills, students will:
- engage in various pre-writing activities, including brainstorming, graphic organizing, and outlining;
- compose developmental paragraphs, using the basic paragraph pattern of a topic sentence and supporting details;
- develop the qualities of good exposition, including unity, development, organization, coherence, mechanics, and proper usage;
- write journal entries in response to readings and class discussions;
- use writing aids to compose, edit, and increase vocabulary, such as the dictionary, thesaurus, grammar, spell checks, and prose passages;
- critique the works of classmates through peer review;
- develop the accurate usage of American English verb systems, including the form, meaning, and use of regular and irregular verbs in present, past, and future time;
- master the subject, verb, and predicate construction of a simple declarative sentence with appropriate punctuation; and
- participate in a teacher-directed activity that clarifies plagiarism and academic integrity.
Other class activities may include, but not be limited to, the numerous in-class collaborative activities, such as interviews, surveys, and small group or paired discussions.
-
Assessment Methods for Course Learning Goals
Practice paragraphs: Early in the semester, students will write practice paragraphs that they will revise and edit based on the instructor's oral and written comments.
Graded papers: Students will write approximately 2000 words in various writing assignments, including a minimum of eight formal paragraphs; at least three of these must be written in class. Students will complete numerous grammar and vocabulary exercises in their textbook and/or workbook. These exercises will be evaluated on a consistent basis.
Students will be given opportunities to demonstrate what they have learned through numerous quizzes, in-class writings, tests of English grammar, and other written assignments, including journal entries, documentation of their visits to the Tutoring Center, and a quiz on plagiarism.
At semester's end, students will produce a department-mandated in-class writing to help determine placement in the next composition course.
-
Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Student:
Departmentally-selected textbook(s) and/or workbook(s). See individual instructor course syllabus for specific information.
-
Review/Approval - 5/06; New Core 8/2015