ESL 8 - Advanced Writing - Skill Level
ESL 8 - ADVANCED WRITING CLASS
ESL 8 is an Advanced Writing Class for students whose skill level is above other levels in the sequence of ESL classes at Pierce College. ESL 8 is the highest level of ESL classes before students move on to English 28 or English 101.
Many students who have advanced to ESL 8 level, have completed the other required courses - ESL 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A. Students could also have chosen to take the vocabulary and speaking classes like the B and C level classes, for example 3B and 3C, 4B and 4C, etc. If you have taken any of these classes, good for you. All of them will help you in this class.
Some students may have placed into ESL 8 through testing or other means. Whatever the case, please know that as your instructor, I expect better writing at this level than I would receive in the lower levels. I am assuming that at this top level ESL class, you have met the requirements as an advanced writer and know how to write a five paragraph essay with a minimum of errors.
If you are having some difficulty with your writing and reading skills, please know that both Azad and I will do everything we can to help sharpen your skills. We give constant feedback on writing, grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure.
We also highly recommend taking the workshops offered by CAS that can offer additional support in increasing your English level skills. Starting in Week Two on Feb. 17 will be ESL Voices. You can log on to that link in the second week.
ESL Voices Workshop - reading, speaking, and vocabulary study - very good workshop! Wednesdays, 5:00 to 6:30 pm.
I would hope that by the end of the sixteen week semester, you will have gained strength in writing, reading, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills to help you write and read better so that your skill level by the time you leave the class, will be sufficient to pass.
Finishing ESL 8 with a C or better means you are ready for English 28 or 101 class. I take this transition seriously and do not wish to pass a student who is not ready for those classes either in writing or reading level. Some students need to take a class twice to practice their skills for a whole year. There is nothing wrong with that. Better to get your skills improved at this level, than go on and not be prepared.
Critical Thinking - Critical Reading
Our two textbooks are perfect for this advanced level. Different rhetorical modes will be used throughout the semester as writing formats and students will be asked to use good critical thinking and reading skills when examining their topics for the four critical essays: Compare/Contrast, Cause and Effect, Reaction, and Argument. Student topics will relate to themes and characters in the novel, Hidden Figures:
Great Writing 5 textbook (GW5) has a number of grammar/sentence structure exercises to do, and where necessary, I will post additional grammar lessons for when those are needed. CAS (Center for Academic Success) has numerous online tutorials and workshops that are terrific. Both Azad and I can recommend certain sites for students who may need practice. GW5 contains chapters that cover the different writing modes (Compare/Contrast, Cause & Effect, Reaction, and Argument.) You will work with these modes in writing your four major papers.
Hidden Figures novel covers the amazing stories of four American black women who worked in the aerospace industry from 1940s through 1960s. Their stories involve discrimination, hard work, sacrifice, loss, determination, women's rights, civil rights, families and much more. Students very much enjoy reading about the history of these four brave women. In addition, you will learn a great deal about American history during this period.
Your critical thinking skills will be put to use with this novel. In the past, students were excited to learn of the struggles of black people in America and wrote some fine papers about this. Students identified with similar stories in their own past. Wonderful discussions ensued in our Discussion space and in student papers. I encourage you to dig in and get involved in reading and writing about these events.
If you do all the work that is required in this class - and that means both writing and reading - you should be able to pass with a C or better.
We also cover research writing and how to bring in outside material into your paper. By the end of the semester, you need to know how to include outside material into your paper and how to cite it properly. This will help prepare you for the normal 8-10 page research paper that is required in English 101. It is to your advantage that you understand how to correctly insert outside material. Are you ready to learn?
So, let's get to work and practice everything offered in this class to advance. Both our CET Azad and I will be here to help assist you write better, think more critically, and read smarter.
Good luck.
Professor Atkins
NEXT page will give you a chance to review the ESL 8 Syllabus. Review carefully as there is a QUIZ on the Syllabus later in the Module.