Putting Your Ideas Into Words

Course Description

This course is designed specifically for English Language Learners interested in further developing their English skills in a challenging college-level academic setting.

Do you ever wish you could express your thoughts in a clearer and more compelling manner? Do you have convincing arguments and brilliant insights in your mind that just don't seem to translate into your writing? This course will help you get those great ideas onto paper and communicate them effectively to your intended audience, whether that is a high school teacher, college professor, or even your peers.

This course will familiarize students with some of the most common forms of academic writing in introductory American college courses. Modes of writing will include personal, persuasive, comparison/contrast, and analysis. Students will learn about the expectations for college-level writing and how to craft well-developed essays that demonstrate strong critical thinking. With a diligent effort, students will become better prepared to excel in any course requiring writing.

We will approach writing as a process, and work on strategies for prewriting, writing, and revision. Students will be expected to write both in class and out of class and to be willing to accept and provide constructive criticism in small groups. Most assignments will require two or more drafts.

The focus will be on quality over quantity: typical assignments will range from 1-5 pages, but finished products are expected to be coherent, well-developed, and polished. We will read and discuss outstanding writing selections, both to serve as models and as catalysts for student writing. In some assignments, students will have a choice of content, in order to write about topics of interest to them. Assessment will emphasize making improvement, both on successive drafts as well as overall progress throughout the course.

Students will become more effective writers, specifically on the types of academic tasks that are important to them as they complete high school and move on to college. They will craft personal essays that may be suitable for college applications and work on timed essays typical of standardized tests such as the TOEFL, ACT and SAT. Students will be able to formulate a clear point and provide strong support for the point in a coherent, well developed essay.

Prerequisites: Students are expected to have the working vocabulary and grasp of grammar and mechanics typical of an American high school student. Students should feel comfortable in an all-English academic environment and have strong English speaking and listening skills to participate fully in class discussion.