Spanish-American Institute

503 Advanced Reading and Writing 120 Classes

Prerequisite(s): ESL 501 (Level VI) or equivalent

Textbooks: Richard Nordquist, Passages: A Writer's Guide, Bedford St. Martin's, 1995 (or comparable text).

Course Description: Advanced Reading and Writing develops advanced English language skills through close examination of reading passages, through objective discussion of reading, and through paragraph and short essay writing. The course develops personal and workplace advanced English reading, writing, and oral presentation skills at the multi-paragraph and document level.

Objectives: By the end of the course, students should be able:

• to understand and to implement the various stages of the writing process, including rough drafts and revision;
• to understand the difference between correct writing and effective writing;
• to understand how context affects meaning, grammar, and other writing choices;
• to manipulate sentence structure in ways that achieve clarity, variety, and coherence;
• to eliminate the most common types of errors;
• to recognize and solve common sentence problems in English
• to write examination essays responding clearly to the essay question;
• to write a multi-paragraph essay with a clearly identified thesis, development, and conclusion; and
• to read in ways that reflect attention to the effective writing process.

Instructional Methods: Students will be guided through the writing process, followed by practice in context activities that allow them to apply each new writing concept to their own writing. Classes will include analysis, grammar, reading, and writing practice.

Grading: Each student's grade will be based on an average of grades for class participation, for assignments, and for tests.

Course Outline:

Weeks	Topics	Assignments and Tests
1	Using the text: parts of the book, glossaries, profiles, visuals, charts, margin information, objectives, summaries, key terms, and other learning aids. Developing a weekly vocabulary log with complete sentence definitions and illustrations. Vocabulary guidelines: write two complete sentences for each word, one that describes its meaning and one that gives an example of its use. Putting details into complete sentences. Revising and proofreading. Basic sentence structure: basic sentence elements; adjectives and adverbs; combining sentences with adjectives and adverbs. Reading for details: "Traffic Jam"	Vocabulary log: begin a weekly vocabulary log, following guidelines provided by the instructor. Chapter 1 exercises. Chapter 1 reading passage questions 1-5, using one or more complete sentences for each answer. Chapter 15 exercises, as assigned.
2-3	Drafting, organizing/reorganizing, and revising, and proofreading a descriptive paragraph. Basic sentence structure (continued): prepositions, prepositional phrases, arranging prepositional phrases. Coordinating words, phrases, and clauses with punctuation. Reading for description: "The Blond Guitar" and selections from "Shaman."	Vocabulary log. Chapter 2 exercises. Chapter 2 reading passage questions, as assigned, using one or more complete sentences for each answer. Chapter 15 exercises, as assigned.
4-5	Discovering and developing a topic through clustering. Drafting and revising a place description. Additional sentence structures: adjective clauses and appositives; combining sentences with adjective clauses. Reading for place details: ""River Street" and "A Goody Bag in a One-Room House."	Vocabulary log. Chapter 3 exercises. Chapter 3 reading passage questions, as assigned, using one or more complete sentences for each answer. Chapter 16 exercises, as assigned
6-7	Developing examples through listing, probing, and clustering Additional sentence structures: adverb clauses and participle phrases. Reading for exemplification: "Worrying Myself to Death" and "The Sentimentalist."	Vocabulary log. Chapter 4 exercises. Chapter 4 reading passage questions, as assigned, using one or more complete sentences for each answer. Chapter 16 exercises, as assigned
8-9	Drafting and revising a narrative paragraph. Absolutes; further practice in developing paragraphs. Reading narratives: "A Sweet Magnolia Leaf" and "Cut." Review for test	Vocabulary log. Chapter 5 exercises. Chapter 5 reading passage questions, as assigned, using one or more complete sentences for each answer. Chapter 16 exercises, as assigned Test
10-11	Drafting and revising a personal, informal and an objective job description. Writing clear, complete sentences; recognizing and correcting phrase fragments and subordinate clause fragments; recognizing and correcting run-on sentences. Reading work experience passages: "Teacher's Aide" and "On Waitressing."	Vocabulary log. Chapter 6 exercises. Chapter 6 reading passage questions, as assigned, using one or more complete sentences for each answer. Chapter 17 exercises, as assigned
12-13	Drafting and revising formal letters of complaint. Subject-verb agreement: agreement principles and rules; making "have/do/be" agree with their subjects. Reading letters and descriptions of complaints: "Complaint against Dr. Legree" and "Open Letter to the A.S.P.C.A."	Vocabulary log. Chapter 7 exercises. Chapter 7 reading passage questions, as assigned, using one or more complete sentences for each answer. Chapter 18 exercises, as assigned
14-15	Discovering and narrowing a process analysis topic. Preparing an instructional outline. Drafting and revising the instructional process skills paragraphs. Subject-verb agreement: words between the subject and verb; agreement with indefinite pronouns as subjects. Reading instructional process passages: "How to Catch Crabs" and "Making the Grades: How to Cram."	Vocabulary log. Chapter 8 exercises. Chapter 8 reading passage questions, as assigned, using one or more complete sentences for each answer. Chapter 18 exercises, as assigned
16-17	Writing "then" and "now" comparisons of change. Drafting two paragraphs (then/now) and rewriting as an essay. Verbs: regular and irregular verbs and tenses; showing future time with "will/would" Reading passages of comparison: "From Mullett's to IGA" and "They Also Wait Who Stand and Serve Themselves" Review for test.	Vocabulary log. Chapter 9 exercises. Chapter 9 reading passage questions, as assigned, using one or more complete sentences for each answer. Chapter 19 exercises, as assigned. Test.
18-19	Listing and illustrating advantages and disadvantages to evaluate effects. Drafting several short paragraphs. Pronouns: using different forms of pronouns and making them agree with their antecedents. Reading passages evaluating effects: "Learning at a Distance" and "Living With My VCR"	Vocabulary log. Chapter 10 exercises. Chapter 10 reading passage questions, as assigned, using one or more complete sentences for each answer. Chapter 20 exercises, as assigned
20-21	Developing reasons (causes) with explanations and examples. Drafting an essay of explanation. Pronouns: making pronouns refer clearly to their antecedents. Reading passages explaining causes: "Learning to Hate Mathematics" and "Women and Science."	Vocabulary log. Chapter 11 exercises. Chapter 11 reading passage questions, as assigned, using one or more complete sentences for each answer. Chapter 20 exercises, as assigned
22-23	Listing (classifying) approaches to an activity. Drafting a classification essay. Punctuation and mechanics. Reading passages that classify an activity: "Shopping At The Pig" and "You Are What You Eat."	Vocabulary log. Chapter 12 exercises. Chapter 12 reading passage questions, as assigned, using one or more complete sentences for each answer. Chapter 21 exercises, as assigned
24	Exploring both sides of an issue (argument) Drafting paragraphs in support of an argument Drafting an essay in support of an argument. Some commonly misspelled words. Review for test.	Vocabulary log. Chapter 13 exercises. Chapter 22 exercises, as assigned Test (includes revising essay in support of an argument)

rev. 5/03