English as a Second Language 004 : COMPOSITION FOR AMERICAN ACADEMIC COMMUNICATION I
The thought of taking a writing course causes a great deal of anxiety. Writing is difficult work for many of us. And other people seem to have an easier time with it. Yet, the writer Anne Lamott notes, “I know some very greater writers, writers you love who write beautifully and have made a great deal of money, and not one of them sits down routinely feeling wildly enthusiastic and confident”. This course is intended to help you develop some enthusiasm and confidence in your writing by building on your understanding of reading and writing academic English as a multilingual user of English.
What will I learn in this course?
This is a composition course for beginning/intermediate level nonnative speakers of English. Students will become familiar with the various stages in the process of writing by participating in a variety of writing activities that will enable them to:
- gather ideas from their own experience as well as outside sources
- organize their ideas according to the purpose, audience and subject of written texts
- critically read and revise written texts
- edit written texts for grammatical accuracy, and
- communicate their ideas in well-organized and well-edited compositions.
This course may not be used to satisfy the basic minimum requirements for graduation in any baccalaureate degree program. See your advisor if you have questions about how this course can be used in your program of study.
Are there any prerequisites for this course?
There are no specific classes that you must take before taking ESL 004. This course is completely online. Students who are disciplined and motivated will be highly successful in ESL 004 because these qualities allow students to better assume a greater degree of responsibility for their own learning. To take this course, you should feel comfortable navigating on the Internet. You must also be a self-starter who feels confident about reading to learn and who is comfortable working independently.
I've never taken an online course before. What is it like?
By taking an online course, you can learn beyond the traditional borders of the classroom, and as part of a wider and more diverse audience. There are no preset meeting times, so this class will help those who are struggling with scheduling issues. We'll use Penn State's ANGEL system for ESL 004, and a combination of text and Web links as our class "lecture." You'll communicate with the professor and your classmates through e-mail, chat and threaded discussions within ANGEL.
An online course is not easier than a traditional resident course! You must be willing and able to commit the same amount of time as you would for attending class and studying for a traditional course. If you're wondering whether an online course is right for you, take this short survey to find out more about how online learning is different.
What are the technological requirements for this course?
This course is designed to work within the ANGEL technological requirements.
How is the course structured?
ESL 004 has 12 lessons. The course is organized around three major assignments. The beginning of the course focuses on the first essay assignment, writing from personal experiences. In mid-course we will focus on the second assignment, position papers. In the last unit you will learn to write an argumentative synthesis. These three formal essays will be worth 70% of your course grade. Other assignments include homework, online discussion, presentation of research findings, peer review and a personal journal, which together will be worth 30% of your course grade.
Where can I get more information?
For more information about ESL 004 Online, see a recent course syllabus. To register, visit the Office of the University Registrar. At the beginning of each semester, all enrolled students should access ESL 004 at the site of Penn State's course management system, ANGEL
"I am irritated by my own writing. I am like a violinist whose ear is true, but whose fingers refuse to reproduce precisely the sound he hears within."
Gustave Flaubert
"I was working on the proof of one of my poems all the morning, and took out a comma. In the afternoon I put it back again."
Oscar Wilde
"You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus."
Mark Twain