Spanish-American Institute

Course Syllabus for

503 Advanced Reading and Writing                                               120 hours

Prerequisite(s):   501 English VI or equivalent

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 advanced reading, writing, and oral presentation skills. 

Course Outline

·        LESSON 1                  Understanding the writing process.

·        LESSON 2                  Drafting, editing  and revising.

·        LESSON 3                  Writing based on personal observation and detail. 

·        LESSON 4                  Writing that describes. 

·        LESSON 5                  Writing that describes through clustering and organizing details.

·        LESSON 6-7               Writing that explains by specific examples.

·        LESSON 8                  Writing that narrates.

·        LESSON 9                  Writing that reports (drafting a personal, informal job description)

·        LESSON 10                Writing that reports objectively (drafting a formal, objective job description)

·        LESSON 11                 Writing that requests or complains (drafting letters asking for information or complaining)

·        LESSON 12                 Writing that narrows the topic by going from the general to the particular.

·        LESSON 13                 Writing that narrows the topic by going from the particular to the general.

·        LESSON 14                 Writing that compares.

·        LESSON 15                 Writing that evaluates advantages and disadvantages.    

·        LESSON 16                 Writing that analyzes causes with explanations and examples.

·        LESSON 17                 Writing that classifies.

·        LESSON 18-19            Writing that explores both sides of issues.

·        LESSON 20                 Gathering objective evidence: Using automated library catalogs and basic reference materials.

·        LESSON 21                 Using automated periodical databases.

·        LESSON 22                 Using the Internet wisely and well.       

·        LESSON 23-24            Writing and sharing short reports based on research from different objective sources.

Requirements: 

Students will read and analyze reading passages for meaning, ideas, content, and presentation.  Students will also write their own paragraphs, letters, short reports, resumes, short essays, etc.  Students will be expected to edit and rewrite their work through different drafts, to share their writing with others in the class and the instructor, and to collect their final versions in a portfolio.  Students will also be expected to base certain assigned writing on external objective sources.  

Evaluation:

The final grade will be based on a average of weekly grades consisting of class participation, assigned exercises, and writing assignments.

Textbook:

Richard Nordquist, Passages:  A Writer's Guide, 3^rd edition, Boston:  Bedford/St. Martin's, 1995, or comparable text. 

 

 

 

 

rev. 4/03