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WRITING READINESS COURSE SYLLABUS

English as a Second Language paired with Latin; A+ learning strategy

Part 1: Course Information
Instructor Information

Instructor: Jesse Murch
Office Hours: To Be Announced
Phone: 503-433-7733 / E-mail: presupalltheway@gmail.com

Course Description
For middle-school students or Asean professionals looking to refine their written ESL, this course is the first step. The Elements of Style by Strunk & White is an American classic. Though small, it covers basic principles of clarity, vigor, usage, punctuation, partsof-speech and structure. Addresses common abuses of words, phrases, punctuation; wordiness; and the need for supporting assertions and revision. Paired with our Latin I course it’s a powerful combination for covenant children to interpret, and enjoy the Word and the world God rules. Plus, It’s been said that study of Latin cuts time to master a profession by 50%. Simple writing exercises get you off on the “write foot.” For placement, send a sample of recent writing to the instructor.
  • Tuition:      $275 Premier       OR      Tuition: $25 Basic
  • Level:         7th Grade                           7th Grade
  • Mode:       Instructor                          Mode:   Self-taught
  • Offered:    Fall                                       Offered: Fall or Spring
  • Textbook: Elements of Style             Textbook: Elements of Style
Textbook & Course Materials
Required Text: Elements of Style by Strunk & White is available online in the course content.
  • Internet connection (DSL, LAN, or cable connection desirable)
  • Desktop or laptop computer

Course Structure

  • The course is delivered in 16 weekly modules, each covering a  topic related to basic elements of the English language required for effective written composition.
  • Each lesson consists of a chapter from Strunk & White and video recorded lecture with exercises and a quiz. The instructor is available during designated office hours to answer questions and/or interact with  groups of students.
Part 2: Student Learning Outcomes
  • Use basic English punctuation marks properly in sentences.
  • Recognize and use parts-of-speech to construct English sentences
  • Perform simple writing assignments according to the rules
  • Increase their English vocabulary and reading speed in accordance with a personally established goal
Part 2: Student Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of the course the student will be able to
  • Use basic English punctuation marks properly in sentences.
  • Recognize and use parts-of-speech to construct English sentences
  • Perform simple writing assignments according to the rules
  • Increase their English vocabulary and reading speed in accordance with a personally established goal
Student will meet the objectives listed above through a combination of the following activities in this course:
  • Attendance and participation in the class forum
  • Completion of practice exercises
  • Completion of simple writing exercises
  • Study of assigned text material online
  • Satisfactory completion of a weekly quiz
  • Completion of a term project specified for Week 16
Part 3: Topic Outline/Schedule
  • Details …In a series of three or more terms with a single  conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last.
  • Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas.
  • Daily 15-Minute Spreeder Practice: Speed & Vocab Builder
Week 02: Comma 2 Place a comma before a conjunction introducing an independent clause. Do not join independent clauses with a comma. Daily 15-Minute Spreeder Practice: Speed & Vocab Builder Week 03: Pronoun agreement with antecedent Number refers to whether the pronoun is singular or plural. An antecedent is the noun the pronoun refers to The number of the subject determines the number of the verb. Daily 15-Minute Spreeder Practice: Speed & Vocab Builder Week 04: Colons and dashes Use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a list of particulars, an appositive an amplification, or an illustrative quotation. Use a dash to set off an abrupt break or interruption and to announce a long appositive or summary. Daily 15-Minute Spreeder Practice: Speed & Vocab Builder Week 05: The semi-colon Details … use a semicolon to put together two (or more) independent clauses without Daily 15-Minute Spreeder Practice: Speed & Vocab Builder Week 06: Possessives Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding ‘s. Daily 15-Minute Spreeder Practice: Speed & Vocab Builder Week 07: Pronouns Use the proper case of pronoun Daily 15-Minute Spreeder Practice: Speed & Vocab Builder Week 08: Participial Phrases A participial phrase at the beginning of a sentence must refer to the grammatical subject. Daily 15-Minute Spreeder Practice: Speed & Vocab Builder Week 09: Commonly misused words and phrases This lesson is important because it provides specifics on style. Daily 15-Minute Spreeder Practice: Speed & Vocab Builder Week 10: The Noble Noun A person, place or thing Daily 15-Minute Spreeder Practice: Speed & Vocab Builder Week 11 The Veritable Verb A word that conveys action performed by the noun Daily 15-Minute Spreeder Practice: Speed & Vocab Builder Week 12: The Adorable Adjective A word that describes a noun Daily 15-Minute Spreeder Practice: Speed & Vocab Builder Week 13: The Amplifying Adverb A word that describes a verb and tells how, when or where. Daily 15-Minute Spreeder Practice: Speed & Vocab Builder Week 15: The Particular Preposition Under, between, out, close to, in, above, behind, on, in front of Daily 15-Minute Spreeder Practice: Speed & Vocab Builder Week 16a: The Connecting Conjunction Correlative, coordinating, subordinating Daily 15-Minute Spreeder Practice: Speed & Vocab Builder Week 16b: Term Project Things they didn’t teach you in school: Read a Book a Day Final Exam Part 4: Grading Policy Graded Course Activities The course grade is determined as follows

The course grade is determined as follows

Participation in discussion

10%

Quizzes

Reading, Lectures: REVIEW Exercises

45% (15 x 3pts)

15% (15 x 1pt)

Learning Outcomes: Speech Prep

14%(7goals x 2pt)

Term Project

16%

TOTAL

100%

Late Work Policy: Be sure to pay close attention to deadlines—there will be no make up assignments or quizzes, or late work accepted without a serious and compelling reason and instructor approval. Your instructor will update the online grades each time a grading session has been complete—typically 2 days following the completion of an activity. You will see a visual indication of new grades posted in Moodle.Your instructor will update the online grades each time a grading session has been complete—typically 2 days following the completion of an activity. You will see a visual indication of new grades posted in Moodle. Letter Grade Assignment Final grades assigned for this course will be based on the percentage of total points earned and are assigned as follows:

Letter Grade Percentage Performance

Part 5: Course Policies Participate Instructor will be using a tracking tool, discussions, chat sessions, and group work, to monitor your participation in the course. Build Rapport If you find that you have any trouble keeping up with assignments or other aspects of the course, make sure you let your instructor know as early as possible. As you will find, building rapport and effective relationships are key to becoming an effective professional. Make sure that you are proactive in informing your instructor when difficulties arise during the semester so that they can help you find a solution. Complete Assignments Assignments must be submitted by the given deadline or special permission must be requested from instructor before the due date. Extensions will not be given beyond the next assignment except under extreme circumstances. All discussion assignments must be completed by the assignment due date and time. Late or missing discussion assignments will affect the student’s grade. Understand When You May Drop This Course It is the student’s responsibility to understand when they need to consider disenrolling from a course. After this period, a serious and compelling reason is required to drop from the course. Incomplete Policy Under emergency/special circumstances, students may petition for an incomplete grade. Inform Your Instructor of Any Accommodations Needed Commit to Integrity As a student in this course (and at this Academy) you are expected to maintain high degrees of professionalism, commitment to active learning and participation in this class and also integrity in your behavior in and out of the classroom. Academic Dishonesty Policy Academic dishonesty includes such things as cheating, inventing false information or citations, plagiarism and helping someone else commit an act of academic dishonesty. It usually involves an attempt by a student to show possession of a level of knowledge or skill that he/she does not possess. Course instructors have the initial responsibility for detecting and dealing with academic dishonesty. Instructors who believe that an act of academic dishonesty has occurred are obligated to discuss the matter with the student(s) involved. Instructors should possess reasonable evidence of academic dishonesty. However, if circumstances prevent consultation with student(s), instructors may take whatever action (subject to student appeal) they deem appropriate. Instructors who are convinced by the evidence that a student is guilty of academic dishonesty shall assign an appropriate academic penalty. If the instructors believe that the academic dishonesty reflects on the student’s academic performance or the academic integrity in a course, the student’s grade should be adversely affected. Suggested guidelines for appropriate actions are: an oral reprimand in cases where there is reasonable doubt that the student knew his/her action constituted academic dishonesty; a failing grade on the particular paper, project or examination where the act of dishonesty was unpremeditated, or where there were significant mitigating circumstances; a failing grade in the course where the dishonesty was premeditated or planned. The instructors will file incident reports with the Vice Presidents for Academic Affairs and for Student Affairs or their designees. These reports shall include a description of the alleged incident of academic dishonesty, any relevant documentation, and any recommendations for action that he/she deems appropriate.