ESL 003A: Low-Intermediate Reading & Writing Skills

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2023
Credits: 5
Total Contact Hours: 90
Lecture Hours : 90
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 180
Transferable to CSU: No
Transferable to UC: No
Grading Method: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Catalog Course Description

A reading and writing course for high beginning/low-intermediate English language students. The course is designed to help students expand vocabulary, reading skills, idiom usage, and sentence writing skills. Emphasis is on reading comprehension, vocabulary and usage, sentence construction, and pre-paragraph writing. This is one of two courses in ESL Level 3. NOTE: THE UNITS EARNED FOR THIS COURSE MAY NOT BE APPLIED TOWARD THE 60 UNITS FOR GRADUATION. 90 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • Demonstrate a knowledge of low-intermediate American English vocabulary, grammar and spelling in written work
  • Write low-intermediate narrative and descriptive paragraphs in past, present, and future tenses
  • Use Reading Strategies that foster comprehension of longer reading selections
  • Use appropriate vocabulary and American idioms in college contexts
  • Write a variety of sentences including simple, compound, and complex sentences
  • Work in groups and/or pairs to make simple presentations reading topics

Major Course Content

Reading:

  1. Vocabulary
    1. Presentation of new vocabulary
    2. Practice of new vocabulary through readings, manipulative exercises, problem-solving activities, and open-ended communicative activities
    3. Expansion of vocabulary through discussion of related words, parts of speech, word building with prefixes and suffixes, and extended uses of words
    4. Discussion and practice in active vocabulary learning strategies and memory techniques
      1. vocabulary notebooks
      2. flashcards
      3. mind maps and visualization
  2. Reading
    1. Prereading exercises to aid in comprehension and introduce reading strategies
      1. previewing
      2. predicting
    2. Discussion of new vocabulary and cultural issues in context
    3. Discussion of organizational devices such as main idea, supporting details, topic sentences, transitions, and conclusions
    4. Postreading exercises to reinforce comprehension
    5. Reading strategies including scanning, skimming, using prior knowledge and reading for specific details
    6. Discussion and writing to personalize the ideas and themes presented
  3. Idioms
    1. Types of idioms
      1. Positive
      2. Negative
      3. Neutral
      4. Phrasal verbs
      5. Metaphors
      6. Slang
      7. Hyperbole
    2. Grammar
      1. Parts of speech
      2. Separable and inseparable verbs
      3. Irregular verbs
    3. Sociolinguistic features
      1. Appropriate register
        1. Casual
        2. Academic/professional
    4. Sociocultural expectations
      1. Age
      2. Gender
      3. Social position
      4. Attitude
      5. Familiarity

Writing:

  1. Writing
    1. Spelling rules and phonological applications

      1. -s suffix

      2. -ing suffix

      3. double letter rules

    2.  Capitalization, punctuation and paragraph formatting
    3. Sentences
      1. Simple
      2. Compound
      3. Complex 
    4. Narrative and descriptive paragraphs
      1. Present tense
      2. Past tense
      3. Future tense
  2. Reading
    1. Comprehension
      1. factual information
      2. sequencing of ideas
    2. Vocabulary
      1. vocabulary and idiomatic expressions
      2. common suffixes, prefixes, abbreviations, antonyms and synonyms
  3. Grammar 
    1. Verb tense review: simple present, present progressive, simple past, future
    2. Parts of Speech
    3. Articles
    4. Fragments, Run-ons, Comma splices          
  4. Academic preparation/Study skills
    1. Attendance, tardiness, homework, late papers, exams, grading policies
    2. Plagiarism, copying, cheating
    3. Course preparation and class participation
    4. Appropriate attitude and behavior
    5. Learning Center, Student Services
    6. Common college vocabulary and expressions

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Citrus College Clarion Newspapers or Magazines ESL websites

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

One-page paragraph about an important day in your life (past tense) One-page paragraph about your goals for the future (using "will" and "be going to")

Examples of Outside Assignments

Interview a classmate and introduce him or her to the class Write ten sentences using affirmative, negatives and question forms Write paragraphs with an emphasis on a verb tense (present, past, or future) Read a paragraph and answer the questions Read the paragraph and write your own about a similar topic Read the paragraph and write a response. Do you agree or not?

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture