Syllabus 3103 Semester I 2011-12

University of Puerto Rico Mayagez Campus College of Arts and Sciences Department of English Professor: Alison Torres Ramos Office: CH 010 Office Hours: 9:00-9:25 MWF or by appointment Class: CH 124 MWF 9:30-10:20 am Mailbox: Chardn Building Room 322 E-Mail: alison.torres@upr.edu

This document may be amended over the course of the semester in order to meet course objectives and correct unintended errors. General Information: Alpha-numeric codification: INGL 3101 Course Title: Basic English I Number of credits: 3 Contact Period: 3 hours of lecture per week Course Description (according to the 2008-2009 Undergraduate Catalogue of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagez Campus): This course is designed to improve students speaking, listening, reading, and writing abilities in English while also expanding vocabulary and increasing grammatical accuracy. The purpose is for students to build on their current knowledge so they can successfully use English. This course is a prerequisite for English 3102.
The course structure is 3 hours of lecture and workshops per week and 15 hours of laboratory work online.

Course Goals:
To address its purpose, INGL 3101 focuses primarily on developing students ability to understand written and spoken English by improving reading, writing, and speaking skills. Attention is also given to vocabulary learning strategies and grammar. The course is focused mainly on reading and writing for academic purposes. The following course goals are also addressed: Students will be able to: Communicate effectively when reading, writing, and speaking in English. Think critically. Work collaboratively with peers in small groups and as a class.

Course Objectives: This course follows a skills-based approach to reading, writing and speaking. 1

Syllabus 3103 Semester I 2011-12

At the end of the course, students should be able to: Reading Skills Preview (e.g. scan for specific information, skim to get main idea of a text) Highlight important or relevant information in a text Identify the main idea in a text Find evidence in a text Recognize text organization Understand information in graphics Interpret information in graphics Use graphic organizers to organize information when they read a text Explain the content of a reading to someone else Identify the writers purpose/audience Read independently and comprehend authentic materials in academic disciplines and various genres

Read and identify different genres (e.g. research article, newspaper articles, short stories, young adult novels, poems)

Vocabulary Learning Skills Use a monolingual dictionary Use and understand glosses and glossaries Understand common collocations and cohesive devices Understand and recognize polisemy (words that are spelled in the same way, but have several meanings) Find the definition of a word in the text Use strategies to increase vocabulary learning such as keeping a word bank to continue learning vocabulary independently or the use of conceptual maps

Writing Skills Use pre-writing strategies such as Venn Diagrams and graphic organizers Write a paragraph with a topic sentence and supporting details Use transition words appropriately Write coherent paragraphs Recognize different rhetorical modes such as narration and description Choose appropriate verb tenses and lexicon when writing simple and complex sentences in English

Speaking Skills Ask and answer informal questions in English Give 1-3 minutes informal presentations in English to classmates based on prompts Deliver a 2-3 minutes formal presentation to the class using notes

Grammar Points and Objectives Identify and use the following verb tenses when writing and speaking in English: Simple present Present progressive 2

Syllabus 3103 Semester I 2011-12

Simple past Past progressive using time clauses Future using will/be going to/if and time clauses Identify and use Wh and How questions in writing and speaking Identify and use comparatives and superlatives Monitor your own writing and speaking in English

Instructional Strategies The following instructional strategies will be incorporated in the class in order to assure proper understanding and application of the rhetorical, linguistic, and content-based knowledge/strategies needed to interpret, evaluate, analyze, and critique literary texts via writing: Lectures and Conference In-Class and Online Discussions Reading and Writing Workshops Independent and Guided Research Debates, Presentations, and Dramatic Performances Group Work and Analysis

Minimum or Required Resources Available: Materials, equipment, and physical facilities needed to fulfill the course objectives. Grading System:
The final grade for the course is broken down as follows: 10% laboratory 30% three partial exams* 20% final exam ** 10% writing assignments/journals 30% (quizzes, attendance, homework, group work, oral reports/presentations and other unannounced assessment)

The grading curve for INGL3101 is as follows: A = 90 100 B = 80 89 C = 70 79 D = 65 69 F = 0 64

*One partial exam at the end of Unit 1, one partial exam at the end of Unit 2, and one at the end of Unit 3 of WOR 2. These are not departmental exams. **The final exam is departmental. Students will not make up for these exams unless they have a valid excuse (medical excuse, military orders, and court orders are examples of valid excuses). The final exam also includes a writing component based on the novel that students read. They take this part of the exam the last week of class.

Note: All work that is meant to be handed in should be given to the professor as a hard copy (typed, Times New Roman, 12 pt font, double spaced) unless otherwise specified. LATE WORK will lose 10% of the grade
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Syllabus 3103 Semester I 2011-12 for each late day (including weekends). All grading policies are subject to change according to the pace and performance of the students.
Vocabulary List The vocabulary list is on pages 175-176 of World of Reading 2. It is based on the vocabulary discussed in the readings. Students are responsible for studying these words and they will be included in the final exam. Writing assignments and journal entries

Writing is an integral part of this course. You will have to write journal entries on specific issues or topics. You will also have to hand in other types of writing assignments such as pre-writing activities and graphic organizers. Some of these you will do in class and some of these you will do as homework. Your professor will explain the instructions for each one of the written assignments and will also provide topics for the journal entries with their due dates. Laboratory instructions and policy Students need to buy the Tell Me More license. The policy and the instructions to use the online laboratory program will be explained in detail by Mr. Alberto Cruz (laboratory technician) during the first two weeks of class.

Bibliography/Required Course Texts:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Baker, J. & Blau, E. (2009). World of Reading 2. Pearson-Longman. Azar, B.S. & Hagen, S. (2010). Fundamentals of English Grammar, Fourth Edition. Pearson-Longman. Novel A monolingual dictionary (there are dictionaries available at Borders and at the university bookstore) Tell Me More card

The bulk of the texts used in this class will be drawn from the assigned course textbook. In addition, supplementary texts, handouts, and assignments may be distributed to the student via email. Students are expected to bring the assigned texts with them every day; they are also expected to download assigned electronic texts, print them out, and bring them to the class on the day they will be discussed. The student will gain a half ( ) of an absence each time he/she does not bring the assigned texts to the class. Students must bring hard copies of the assigned texts.

Additional Recommended Resources (These books may be accessed in The Writing Center) Axelrod, R., and Cooper, C. (2009). Axelrod and Coopers Concise Guide to Writing. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martens. Hacker, D. (2007). A Writers Reference with Extra Help for ESL Writers. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martens. Lunsford, A. (2009). The Everyday Writer. 4th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martens. McWhorter, K. (2009). Successful College Writing. 4th ed. Bedford/St. Martens.
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Syllabus 3103 Semester I 2011-12 Raimes, Ann. Keys for Writers. 5th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008.1 Rosen, L. (2009). The Academic Writers Handbook. 2nd ed. Boston: Pearson Longman. Wysocki, A., and Lynch, D. (2009). The DK Writers Handbook. Boston: Pearson Longman. Online Resources: Companion Website for Current Issues and Enduring Questions http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/barnetbedau8e/ This website offers students an extensive set of annotated links on argument and on the controversial topics in the book. It also includes a collection of resources on writing, grammar and research. To use this site you will need to register as a student. Registration is free and only takes a few moments. Companion Website for How to Write Anything http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/howtowrite1e This website offers students a guide and reference for materials and topics addressed in the book. To use this site you will need to register as a student. Registration is free and only takes a few moments. How to Recognize Plagiarism Tutorial http://www.indiana.edu/~istd/

This website provides a one to two hour tutorial created by the School of Education at the Indiana University Bloomington to help you to understand and recognize plagiarism. It also allows you to print a certificate upon passing a related test. Your professor may require you to turn in your signed certificate as evidence that you have confirmed your understanding of plagiarism and how to recognize it. The Internet Detective http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk/detective/ a free online tutorial that will help you develop Internet research skills for your university and college work. The tutorial looks at the critical thinking required when using the Internet for research and offers practical advice on evaluating the quality of web sites. The Longman Guide to Contemporary English Online http://wwsw.ldoceonline.com/index.html
Search any word in an online version of the CD-ROM of the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (updated edition). Includes selected

headwords pronounced in British and American English as well as selected example sentences pronounced, to help you improve your intonation. The Owl at Purdue http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue Universityhouses writing resources and instructional materials.Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist them with many writing projects, during any stage of the writing process. Thesaurus.com
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This text is available in the General Library rather than in The Writing Center.

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http://thesaurus.reference.com/ Rogets New Millennium Thesaurus includes a brief definition, synonyms, and antonyms (where appropriate) for each entry. Arranged in easy-to-use dictionary-style format, with more than 18,000 entries. Tomsimo http://www.tomisimo.org/dictionary/ TomsimoTM is an English-Spanish, Spanish-English Dictionary that makes finding words easy by automatically searching in both languages. Tomsimo aims to provide an unabridged, bilingual dictionary for the English and Spanish languages. According to Law 51:
All reasonable accommodations according to the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) will be coordinated with the Dean of Students (Prof. Teresita Cruz) and in accordance with the particular needs of the student. Any student needing such accommodations should contact the Office of the Dean of Students in the Decanato de Estudiantes building, Office DE-6 (in front of the Jos de Diego). For more information, please call (787) 265-3862 or (787) 832-4040, exts. 3258 or 3274. You may also email tcruz@uprm.edu or m_rosado@uprm.edu. Consult the Servicios a Estudiantes con Impedimentos website (http://www.uprm.edu/sei/index2.htm) for more details.

NB: The Dean of Students notifies the professor of accommodations that must be made for a student via a formal letter, however students disabilities are NOT disclosed to the professor. Departamento de Orientacin: On the first floor of the Decanato de Estudiantes (across from the Jos de Diego building), you can access counselors who can advise you on managing your stress, your time, and the various pressures that you might be confronted with in your first year (or future years) at the Colegio. Don't be timid about seeking help when you need it. Recognizing your need for help and actively seeking resources to support you is a sign of maturity. For further information, link to http://www.uprm.edu/orientacion/index.html or to schedule an appointment, call (787) 832-4040, extensions 2040, 3372, or 3864. This department is open Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Writing Center: Students should take responsibility for obtaining help as needed. In addition to the instructors office hours, the Arts and Sciences Writing Center, located in the Admissions Building, Room 5, is open (starting Tuesday, August 18, 2009) Mondays-Fridays from 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. It is closed from 11:00-12:00 on Thursdays. The Writing Center supports all reading and writing needs including the reading of texts, vocabulary development, pre-writing, drafting, content development, organization, and the preparation of final drafts. Contact Dr. Judy Casey (judithk.casey@upr.edu) if you have any questions or concerns about the Writing Center. Dr. Casey is the Writing Center Administrator.

Academic Honesty: As per Cert. 45, 2005-06, it is the institutional policy of the Mayagez Campus to observe the highest standards of intellectual and scientific integrity and to pursue the prosecution of all violations. Violations include plagiarism (using the work, processes, ideas, and results of others without proper credit). Moreover, Article 14(A)(2) of the UPR General Regulations for Students identifies cheating as a punishable conduct.
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Syllabus 3103 Semester I 2011-12

As such, a professor may present a formal complaint to the Campus Disciplinary Board if she or he believes a student has committed plagiarism. If the professor pursues this line of action, Article 15 of the UPR General Regulations for Students stipulates that the repercussions may be the following: A written warning which will be included in the students official record Probation for a determined period of time Suspension for a determined period of time Administrative permanent withdrawal from the UPR system Other sanctions provided by special regulation Requirements: Attendance Policy Daily attendance and participation: Students will have to attend the course and participate in the daily discussions of the material. Any absence will be reflected on the final grade of the student, this is only avoided by a reasonable excuse presented no later than a week from the day of absence if none is presented the mark stays. Class attendance is compulsory; therefore frequent absences will affect the final grade. o After the 5th unexcused absence = minus 10% of the total final grade. o More than 9 unexcused absences = an automatic F for the course. Attendance will be taken daily; being late or leaving early will count as an absence. If you are absent, any and all missed work can only be made up with a written medical excuse or written excuse for RUM activities. Without a written excuse, you cannot make up lost work. Papers handed in late (without written excuse) will lose points. ALL EXCUSES MUST BE GIVEN TO ME ON THE FIRST DAY BACK OR IT WILL BE MARKED AS UNEXCUSED. People who are not enrolled in the course may not be present during class session. Quizzes cannot be made up. General requirements and specific policies All students must: attend class regularly and punctually; participate in class, group, and pair tasks in class in English; complete on time all assignments in class and as homework; keep all graded assignments as a record of progress; take primary responsibility for learning (e.g., ask questions or get help when necessary); demonstrate (through class assignments) their knowledge of the topics covered in class. Classroom Policies 1. Maintain an environment of respect. Behavior in the classroom is extremely important. If a student is interrupting the class on more than two occasions in one class session, the instructor has authority to tell the student to leave the classroom and will have an absent put to his record. 2. If a student is gone from the classroom for a period longer than usual, they will be marked as absent for the class. If a student has an appointment or a special need, he will need to notify the instructor before the class starts.
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Syllabus 3103 Semester I 2011-12

3. Violence is not tolerated. If two students or more are to be fighting the matter will go directly to the deans office. 4. Phones, Blackberries, Ipod or any type of smart phones or computer laptops will not be allowed to be on during the period of class. If a person receives a call or text message they will get a warning. If a second time occurs he will be asked to leave the classroom and have an absent for that day. 5. Proper dress attire is required for classroom. If a student is in clothes which are not appropriate for the class, he or she will be forced to leave the classroom and they will be marked absent for that day. 6. All assignments must be turned in personally by the established due date and in the requested format (hard copy,
electronic, etc.). In terms of late essays/papers, ten (-10) points will be deducted for every day of lateness that passes, including weekends. The instructor will only accept hard copies of essays and papers; essays or papers will NOT be accepted if sent via email. Keep in mind that students will only receive credit for informal presentations, online discussions, and quizzes if they are taken, presented, or posted on the established due date. In addition, students should check their UPR email accounts on a daily basis in order to verify whether class announcements, tasks, or handouts were sent by the instructor. All work for the course will be word-processed on a computer. No hand-written work will be accepted. 7. Failure or refusal to participate in class activities such as writing workshops, informal presentations of essays and papers, drama performances, and informal debates will result in the application of a full absence penalty and possible loss of points.

Disruptive behavior: According to The Mental Health Association of Westchester, disruptive behavior is a conduct that involves patterns of behaviors that break the rules. If the instructor identifies an inappropriate classroom conduct she might be able to dismiss the student from the classroom. This will count as an absence. Tolerance and respect are of outmost importance in the classroom. If the instructor thinks someone said or did something disrespectful to herself or their peers, the instructor has authority to ask the student to immediately leave the classroom. Hot topics and controversial readings will be discussed in the classroom. These topics should be debated in respectful way, supporting our opinions with evidence. Students should deal with the topics discussed in class with maturity, sensibility, rationality and open- mindedness, expected characteristics of a College Level student. If you are unable to approach controversial/charged topics, discussions, and language usage in a sensible and open-minded fashion, then you are advised to enroll in a section of INGL 3104 offered by another instructor. Department Policies Special examination: Absence from examinations: Students are required to attend all examinations. If a student is absent from an examination for a justifiable reason acceptable to the professor, he or she will be given a special examination. Otherwise, he or she will receive a grade of zero or F in the examination missed. (Bulletin of Information Undergraduate Studies, p 39, 1995-96). Final examinations; Final written examinations must be given in all courses unless, in the judgment of the Dean, the nature of the subject makes it impracticable. Final examinations scheduled by arrangements must be given during the examination period prescribed in the Academic Calendar, including Saturdays. (See Bulletin of Information Undergraduate Studies, p 39, 1995-96).
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Syllabus 3103 Semester I 2011-12 Partial withdrawals: A student may withdraw from individual courses at any time during the term, but before the deadline established in the University Academic Calendar. (see Bulletin of Information Undergraduate Studies, p 37, 1995-96).

Complete withdrawals: A student may completely withdraw from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagez Campus, at any time up to the last day of classes. (see Bulletin of Information Undergraduate Studies, p 37, 1995-96) Ethics: Any academic fraud is subject to the disciplinary sanctions described in article 14and 16 of the revised General Student Bylaws of the University of Puerto Rico contained in Certification 018-199798 of the Board of Trustees, The professor will follow the norms established in articles 1-5 of the Bylaws.