Day1 Introduction and Orientation

ESL 115: Principles of Academic Writing

Spring 2014

Class: ESL 115 K                                                                              Instructor: Eunice Yunjung Nam

Time:  12:00-12:50 MWF                                                                 Office: 3050 FLB

Website: Compass 2g, http://esl115eunice.blogspot.com                  Office hours: MW 1-2

Overview: This course is designed to introduce undergraduate international students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to the practices of research-based writing for American academic audiences, such as developing a research question, searching library databases, creating an annotated bibliography, synthesizing sources, and drafting and revising research papers. Strategies for avoiding plagiarism will also be introduced and practiced in this process. General principles of academic writing, such as awareness of audience and purpose, coherence and unity, clear thesis statements, PIE structure, and formal academic style, will be also discussed. Readings are used as a stimulus for discussion of a topic and/or as a source of support in writing assignments. Although oral skills are not the main component of this course, students can expect to practice oral English through group discussions, collaborative writing tasks, and peer review.

Grade Policy for the ESL Writing Service Courses:

Undergrads must receive a D- (60%) or above in order to receive the proficiency required for graduation. If you do not get above those marks, you have to retake ESL.

Your grade will be made up of the following components:

Diagnostic Essay Revision Assignment	20%
Pre-research Portfolio	15%
Annotated Bibliography (5 sources)	15%
Individual Research Paper (5-7 pages)	20%
Participation & Homework	10%
Attendance	10%
2 Reflective Assignments	5%
Writer’s Help eBook Exercises (15 exercises minimum)	5%

Required textbook: Writer’s Help eBook

The required textbook for this course is an eBook (online textbook) called Writer’s Help. This handbook will be used throughout the course and will serve as a significant resource in three ways: to help you prepare for class, to provide you with extra help, and to offer you practice exercises for independent study. Because it’s an online textbook, you can access it on any computer with your individual username and password.

Please purchase the “access code” for this book by the 2^nd day of class. You can purchase a physical access code card with a free student guide at the UIUC Bookstore, OR you can purchase a virtual access code on the Writer’s Help website at: http://pages.mail.bfwpub.com/WritersHelp/Student_Ordering_Info/ Please note that you may purchase either 2-year or 4-year access at your own preference.

Student Assessment: There will be no final exam for this course. Your written assignments will be graded on organization, content, conventions and vocabulary/style. All writing assignments are due at the assigned time, and late papers will be penalized. We will employ a process method for completing papers, and you can expect to revise your drafts one or more times before it is considered “done” and ready to be graded.

Course Management System: The course website can be found in Compass 2g. All assignment and homework information will be posted here. This is also the place that you will submit all of your own work electronically. All essays will be due electronically on the due date by 11:59 p.m. on the course website.

Student Participation: This is an ENGLISH language class. Everyone is here to improve his/her language skill. You must therefore stick to speaking in ENGLISH at all times in the classroom. You are also not allowed to use any electronic devices (e.g. laptops, cell phones) while lectures or activities are in progress. Violating this rule will result in confiscation of your device until the class is over. Violation of these classroom policies will result in a 0-point mark for your participation grade.

Homework and reading assignments may be given daily. Students are expected to come to class prepared to discuss homework and readings. Participation in class discussions and activities is expected and will contribute to the final grade—this includes encouraging the participation of others. A grade of zero will be given to all work missed due to an unexcused absence. Late homework may not be accepted or will be marked down.

Attendance Policy for the ESL Writing Service Courses:

Students are required to attend all classes. If, for some reason, you must be absent, please contact the instructor before class. IF YOU ARE ABSENT, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL NOTES AND ASSIGNMENTS. Two tardies (times late) count as one absence, no matter if it's 1 minute or 10. If you are tardy more than 20 minutes, it counts as an absence. After three absences, you will receive a verbal warning from the instructor. After four absences, the ESL Writing Director will be notified and you will receive a formal probation warning. After 5 absences, you may fail the course. Remember, students who are chronically absent or late are in danger of failing the course at the director’s discretion.

Plagiarism Policy for the ESL Writing Service Courses:

One of the main goals in this course is to teach you how to avoid plagiarism and how to uphold academic integrity principles. As you know, the consequences of plagiarism are serious. Plagiarism is one type of academic dishonesty which may result in a student’s suspension or dismissal from the University. At the very least, it will result in a failing grade in the course at the director’s discretion. Therefore, the work you turn in for this class MUST BE YOUR OWN. Do not plagiarize or you will receive an F on the assignment and in the course!

All students will be required to submit their major assignments to the Compass 2g UIUC SafeAssignment database in accordance with campus policies and procedures regarding academic integrity, which are set forth in the Student Code at Article 1, Part 4 (http://admin.illinois.edu/policy/code/article1_part4_1-401.html).

Atlas Computer Lab Policy:

Atlas is the campus service that provides the ESL Writing Service Courses with computer labs on the basis that we comply with the following policies:

1)    You must have a reservation to use a room, and an instructor must be present for the duration of every class meeting.
2)    Classes are expected to leave on time, and those in FLB must leave at least 5 minutes before we close (M-Th 8pm, F 5pm).
3)    We do not permit food or drinks without lids in our classrooms.

Finally,

Communication and understanding are important elements of this class. If at any time you have questions about the course content or about your papers, please ask in class, communicate with me by email, or make an appointment to see me. I will do my best to be available and responsive.

To obtain disability-related academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the course instructor and the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) as soon as possible. To contact DRES you may visit 1207 S. Oak St., Champaign, call 333-4603 (V/TDD), or e-mail a message to disability@uiuc.edu