Boston University CELOP

Semester: Fall, 2015

Course:

Core: English for Academic Purposes Low D

Course ID#: C4629
Monday - Friday: 9:00am - 11:50am

Instructors: Joey Nevarez and Mark Stepner

Contact Information:
Class Website: [email protected]
Joey Nevarez
Office: EOP 219
Email: [email protected]
Office Hour: Thursdays 12:00-1:00 or by
appt.

Classroom Schedule:
Monday
Tuesday
EOP 278

CGS 121

Mark Stepner
Office: EOP 247
Email: [email protected]
Office Hour: Wednesdays, 4:00 5:00 PM,
or
by appointment

Wednesday
EOP 255 MLL

Thursday
IEC B04

Friday
IEC B04

EOP 278
Textbooks:

To buy your books, go to the Barnes & Noble Bookstore at Kenmore Square. You must
show someone who works there the Course ID#: C4629 and the teachers names:
Joseph Nevarez and Mark Stepner.
Please purchase and bring to class:
Academic Encounters: Reading and Writing, 2nd Edition, Williams, Brown
& Hood. Rogers & Wilkin (Cambridge University Press) ISBN 978-1107-65832-5
Next Generation Grammar, Biesenback-Lucas, Branter-Artenie. (Pearson
Education, Inc.) ISBN 10: 0-13-276057-6
Leap, Intermediate: Listening and Speaking, Beatty, Dr. Ken (Pearson
Canada) ISBN 10: 2-76135563-6

Other Required Materials (daily):

At least one spiraled notebook
A 3-ring binder for various papers/photocopies
Writing utensils (pen, pencil, eraser)
A non-cell phone dictionary (hard copy or electronic)

Optional pocket folders

General Course Description:

In this course you will have an opportunity to improve your overall English language
proficiency, including your listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, with a focus on
English for academic purposes (EAP). You will be using several textbooks, along with
additional materials that the instructors will provide. In addition, you will become more familiar
with American culture and will gain more facility in English grammar. In this course you will
have regular homework, and there will be group and individual presentations. You are expected
to check your assignments on the class website and your email every day (using the email
address that you give to your instructors). Finally, we will have at least one class field trip that
will enhance your knowledge of English and of American culture.
Attendance: You are expected to attend all classes. All absences are counted, so there are no
excused absences. This includes all reasons for absence, such as illness, a religious holiday, an
appointment, or an emergency. In order to receive a Certificate of Attendance from CELOP, you
must attend 85% of your program hours. You are expected to contact your teacher if you are
absentin advance, if you know you have to be absent on a certain day such as for an important
medical appointment, or after (or during) class, for example, in case of illness. Please refer to
the CELOP Student Handbook for the complete attendance policy.
Lateness Policy: You are expected to be on time to class at the beginning of class and after the
break. If you arrive after 9:00 AM or late after the end of the break, you will be marked late, and
3 times late = 1 hour absent. In addition, if you arrive more than 10 minutes late, you will ALSO
be marked absent for the time you miss. Please refer to the CELOP Student Handbook for the
complete lateness policy. If you must be late, please enter the room quietly and take a seat.
Late work: All work must be handed in on time! If you are absent, it is your responsibility to do
all individual (non-group) in-class assignments and all assigned homework. You can contact
classmates about that, but you should also check the class website to keep up with homework
assignments and any missed work if you are absent.
Participation: Take part in small-group and whole-class work! Be respectful of your peers by
listening attentively, waiting your turn to speak, and being sensitive to others opinions and
beliefs. Value your own intelligence by sharing your own thoughts and ideas. Also, ask
questions, especially when you do not understand something. Your teachers are here to help and
want you to succeed in your learning.
Assessment and Evaluations:

You will be assessed and evaluated on the basis of your class participation, homework
assignments, oral presentations, tests, and attendance. Tests will usually be announced in
advance. You will receive midterm and final evaluations for this class.
Electronic Devices:
When students are using electronic devices in class, such as computers in the MLL, they are
expected to be engaged in course-related academic tasks (not informally checking favorite
websites, reading personal email, or doing other personal activities like texting or sending
photos).
Cell phones must be turned to silent (not vibrate) unless the class is using them for an inclass activity.
Students who do not follow this policy and use their cell phones or other electronic devices for
personal purposes in class will generally be told to put their electronic device on the front desk
until the end of class.
When students give a presentation using a computer, they are expected to bring their own flash
drives (USBs) and to notify the teacher in advance--at least a day before class--if they need any
other special electronic devices in their presentation.
Tablets or laptops may be used in class, but only for course-related academic purposes.

CELOP/BU Holidays (no classes):

Columbus Day:

October 12 (Monday)

Thanksgiving Day Break:

November 25-27

Veterans Day, November 1 (Thursday), is a U.S. holiday but not a B.U. holiday, so there will be
CELOP classes on that day.
Class Field Trip(s):
There will be at least one class field trip this semester. Further details will be announced later.

Unit Theme/
Week Number
1
Unit 1: Belonging
to a Group
(9/21, 9/23, 9/25)

Reading/Writing Objectives

Grammar
Topics
Noun
clauses as
subjects,
objects,
and
complemen
ts
Noun
clauses
cont.

Assignments
Due
Student
conferences
Diagnostic
Writing
Sample

Reading for main ideas

Predicting
Understanding paragraph
structure

2
Unit 1 cont.
(9/28, 9/30, 10/2)

Skimming
Writing expanded definitions
Understanding essay structure
Summarizing writing
Paraphrasing
Expanding notes into summaries

Reported
Speech

The power
of the group
essay, final
draft

Summarizing cont.
Understanding plagiarism
Supporting main ideas

Past
perfect and
past
perfect
progressive

5
Unit 2 cont.
(10/19, 10/21,
10/23)

Showing contrast
Using the passive voice
Making a chart and short
answer-test questions

Yes, but
essay, final
draft

6
Unit 3: Media and
Society
(10/26, 10/28,
10/30)
7
Unit 3 cont.
(11/2, 11/4, 11/6)

Personalizing the topic

Linking ideas in a text
Road map sentences

Past
perfect and
past
perfect
progressive
cont.
Review

Midterm
conferences

Preparing for an essay test

Highlighting
Scanning

8
Unit 3 cont. / Unit
4: Breaking the
Rules
(11/9, 11/11,
11/13)
9
Unit 4 cont.
(11/16, 11/18,
11/20)
10
Unit 4 cont.
(11/23,
Thanksgiving
Break)

Comparing data
Increasing reading speed
Identifying tone

Surveyessay, final
draft

Signals of chronological order

Using data from a graphic
Presenting a claim

Causatives

Evaluating evidence
Identifying types of supporting
details
Using statistics

Modals of
prediction
and
certainty

Promptessay, final
draft

3
Unit 1 cont. / Unit
2: Gender in
Society
(10/5, 10/7, 10/9)
4
Unit 2 cont.
(no class on
Columbus Day,
10/14, 10/15)

Advanced
subject/ver
b
agreement
.
Dynamic
passives

11
Catch up week /
Field Trip
(11/30, 12/2,
12/4)
12
Final projects /
testing
(12/7, 12/9,
12/11)

TBD

TBD

Future
Time

Final
conferences

Joeys Reading and Writing Syllabus

Marks
Syllabus

Listening/Academic
Skills

Speaking/Academ Grammar
ic Skills

Week 1
9/22, 9/24

LIL/S: Ch. 1,
Thinking Business
Listening for the main
idea and key supporting
details

LIL/S: Ch. 1
Talking about
successful people

Week 2
LIL/S: Ch. 1
9/29, Oct. 1 Note-taking strategies
and organizing ideas
using graphic
organizers; symbols for
abbreviations
Week 3
LIL/S: Ch. 2A New
10/6, 10/8
World of Work
Active listening
strategies

LIL/S: Ch. 1
Managing
conversations,
asking questions
A speech about a
personal success
LIL/S: Ch. 1,
Group
presentation:
Creating and
presenting an
idea for an
application
Presentation on
your perfect job

Week 4
10/13,
10/15

NGG: Group
presentation
about a public
place
LIL/S: Ch. 2
(cont.)
Citing oral
sources and

LIL/S: Ch. 2 (cont.)

More listening
strategies

NGG: Ch. 4,
Traits of
Successful
People
Adj. clauses with
object relative
clauses; reduced
adjective clauses
NGG: Ch. 4
(continued)

NGG: Ch. 4
(cont.)
Ch. 8, Present
and future unreal
conditionals
Ch. 9, Adj.
clauses with
where, when and
why, and with
quantifiers
NGG: Ch. 8 and 9
(cont.)
Test on Ch. 4 and
9,
Adj. clauses, and
on Listening and
speaking
strategies in LI

referencing;
using intonation
and stress
LIL/S: Ch. 3
Interviewing skills
Individual speech
on a life-changing
experience

L/S, Ch. 1

Week 5
10/20,
10/22

LIL/S: Ch. 3People

in Motion
Listening for a purpose

Week 6
10/27,
10/29

LIL/S: Ch. 3 (cont.)

Review of listening
strategies

LIL/S:
Creating survey
questions
Conducting an
oral survey
NGG: Public
service
announcement
group work

LIL/S: Ch. 4
Building a Better
Brain
Inferring meaning from
context

LIL/S: Ch. 4
Keeping a
listeners
attention
Components of
an academic
presentation
Group
presentation:
Futuristic ideas
LIL/S: Ch. 4
(cont.)
Giving an
academic
presentation

NGG: Ch. 15
Anthropology
Body Art
Modals and
phrasal
expressions:
Degrees of
necessity

LIL/S: Ch. 5
(cont.)
Building schema
Developing
teamwork skills
Group work:
News reports

NGG: Ch. 11,

Current Viral
Threats
Adverbial time
clauses and time
phrases
Test on stative
passives

Week 7
11/3, 11/5

Week 8
11/10,
11/12

LIL/S: Ch. 4 (cont.)

Week 9
11/17,
11/19

LIL/S: Ch.5,
Inventing the Future
Using register and tone

NGG: Ch. 8
(cont.)
Ch. 12
Past unreal
conditionals
Mixed
conditionals
NGG: Review of
conditionals
Test on
conditionals and
on L/S strategies
in Ch. 2 in LIL/S

NGG: Ch. 9
(cont.)
Stative passives

Week 10
11/24,
11/26

LIL/S: Ch. 7, New

Ways to Learn
Listening for rhythm

Week 11
12/1, 12/3

LIL/S: Ch. 7 (cont.)

LIL/S: Ch. 8, Finding
Justice
Distinguishing factor
from opinion

Week 12
12/8, 12/10

LIL/S: Ch. 8 (cont.)

Review of listening
strategies
Test on listening skills

LIL/S: Ch. 7
Using to nonverbal
communication
to enhance
communication
Starting a
discussion with a
thesis statement
Participating in a
group discussion
Constructing an
argument
Giving a
persuasive
presentation

Review of
speaking
strategies
Group work:
A commercial
Note: This syllabus schedule is subject to change.

NGG: Ch. 16,

Community
Identity through
Body Art
Conjunctive
adverbs of
exemplification,
emphasis, and
clarification
NGG: Ch. 2,
Marketing
Company Logos
Noun clauses
with the
subjunctive
Review
Test on noun
clauses and
conjunctive
adverbs

Listening Outcome

Curriculum

Level Low D

When listening to unadapted language delivered at moderate speed,

understand moderately complex social conversations,
academic/professional discussions, presentations and narration.

Components

Content Topics
English for Academic Purposes
Anthropology
Biology
Business
Communication/Language
Economics
Health

Literature
Philosophy
Physical Science
Political Science
Psychology
History

English for International Business

Ethics in Business
Management
Cultural Awareness
Marketing
Current Events/Issues
Business & the Environment
Issues in Global Commerce

Entrepreneurship
Major Players
Banking & Finance

Speaking Outcome
Interact in conversations and discussions, explaining and supporting
personal views, giving clear, detailed descriptions and explanations.

Components

English Language and Culture

Education
Gender
Popular Psychology
The World of Work & Careers
Conflict & Resolutions

Language
Popular Science
Politics
Diet & Health
Art & Entertainment

English for Science & Technology

Computers
Ecology & the
Technology & Engineering Environment
Achievements
Human Body
Lives of Scientists
Physical Science
& Inventors
Earth & Space
Life Sciences
Language for
Ethics in Science
Quantitative
Science News
Measures

Grammar Verb Tenses

Understand a range of functional language used in social

settings, and in a limited range of professional and academic
settings
Understand social conversations on a moderate range of topics.
Understand extended, moderately complex discussions with
several participants.
Praesent
Understand
a range of vocabulary.
congue
sapien
Understand
main
points and many significant details from
lectures
and
presentations
sit amet justo. on topics from Low D content areas.

Pronounce phrases and sentences intelligibly.

With concentration, speak with rhythm and intonation that
support the message
Use a range of functional expressions appropriately.
Speak about a range of concrete and abstract topics.
Produce sequences of sentences using Low D grammar.
Speak with a level of fluency that allows a flow of ideas.
Express relationships between ideas.
With concentration, adjust vocabulary and rate of speech to
maximize listener comprehension and involvement.
Adjust register and tone from formal to informal appropriately.

Reading Outcome
Understand moderately complex, unadapted texts of medium length
written in a moderate range of styles.

Components

Read under timed conditions and demonstrate comprehension.

Understand a range of general vocabulary, including form,
meaning, use, related forms and collocations.
Identify the authors register, purpose and tone.
Retell main ideas and significant details.
Respond to moderately complex questions about content.
Understand relative importance of ideas.

Understand texts from a moderate range of disciplines.

Tense Review

Passive Voice
Modal Perfect Forms
All tenses (except Future Perfect)

Writing Outcome

Causative Verb Patterns

Components

Write a clear, adequately developed essay.

Adverb Related

Conditional Review
Conditional Mixed Time

Make, let, have, get, see, hear

Adjective Clauses
Restricted vs. Non-restrictive clauses

Noun clauses

Subject: (What I said is none of your

business.)
Object: I think that is a good idea.
Reported Speech: Commands, yes/no
questions, information questions.

Use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and formatting.

Convey meaning through accurate and appropriate use of
words, expressions and some idiomatic phrasing.
Convey meaning through accurate and appropriate use of Low
D grammar.
Use connectors to link ideas from sentence to sentence.
Revise work based on teachers suggestions and corrections.
Edit own work for known grammatical structures.
Organize and support themes.
Write under time pressure.
Paraphrase for basic meaning.
Write a summary of an unadapted passage of moderate length.