COURSE NAME: Skills for College English PAGE: 1
COURSE CODE: COMM 1003
COURSE OUTLINE
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
COURSE NAME: Skills for College English
COURSE CODE: COMM 1003
CREDIT HOURS: 42
PREREQUISITES: Admissions or Placement Test
COREQUISITES: none
PLAR ELIGIBLE: YES ( ) NO ( x )
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 2013
PROFESSOR: Sharon Small OFFICE #: 490F (mailbox)
PHONE: EMAIL: [email protected]
NOTE TO STUDENTS: Academic Departments at George Brown College will NOT retain historical copies
of Course Outlines. We urge you to retain this Course Outline for your future reference.
EQUITY STATEMENT: George Brown College values the talents and contributions of its students, staff and community
partners and seeks to create a welcoming environment where equity, diversity and safety of all groups are fundamental.
Language or activities which are inconsistent with this philosophy violate the College policy on the Prevention of
Discrimination and Harassment and will not be tolerated. The commitment and cooperation of all students and staff are
required to maintain this environment. Information and assistance are available through your Chair, Student Affairs,
the Student Association or the Human Rights Advisor.
George Brown College is dedicated to providing equal access to students with disabilities. If you require academic
accommodations visit the Disability Services Office or the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Office on your campus.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES: Students should obtain a copy of the Student Handbook and refer to it for additional
information regarding the grading system, withdrawals, exemptions, class assignments, missed tests and exams,
supplemental privileges, and academic dishonesty. Students are required to apply themselves diligently to the course of
study, and to prepare class and homework assignments as given. Past student performance shows a strong relationship
between regular attendance and success.
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
ORIGINATOR:__________________________________________________________________________
SIGNATURE DATE
CHAIR: _ ____________________________September 3, 2013______________
SIGNATURE DATE
DATE OF REVISION:__August 2013________________________________________________
COURSE NAME: Skills for College English PAGE: 2
COURSE CODE: COMM 1003
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
In English Skills, students develop reading and writing skills that are necessary for success in college-
level courses and in the workplace. The focus is on improving understanding of different types of
readings by learning to recognize common strategies that are used to organize and present messages in
written texts. Students also learn how to use those structures and strategies to improve the focus, clarity
and organization of their own writing. They plan, draft, write and revise several paragraphs as well as at
least one summary and one complete essay. They also learn basic research and documentation skills.
This non-credit course is a pre-requisite for College English and for other advanced COMM courses.
ESSENTIAL EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS:
As mandated by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities essential employability skills (EES) will
be addressed throughout all programs of study. Students will have the opportunity to learn (L) specific skills,
to practice (P) these skills, and/or be evaluated (E) on the EES outcomes in a variety of courses. The EES
include communication, numeracy, critical thinking & problem solving, information management,
interpersonal and personal skills. The faculty for this course has indicated which of the EES are either Learned
(L), Practiced (P) or Evaluated (E) in this course:
Skill L P E Skill L P E
1. communicate clearly, concisely and
correctly in the written, spoken and
visual form that fulfills the purpose
and meets the needs of the audience
X X X 7. locate, select, organize and
document information using
appropriate technology and
information sources
X X X
2. respond to written, spoken or visual
messages in a manner that ensures
effective communication
X X X 8. show respect for the diverse
opinions, values, belief
systems, and contributions
of others
X
3. execute mathematical operations
accurately
9. interact with others in groups
or teams in ways that
contribute to effective
working relationships and
the achievement of goals
X
4. apply a systematic approach to
solve problems
X X X 10. manage the use of time and
other resources to complete
projects
X X
5. use a variety of thinking skills to
anticipate and solve problems
X X 11. take responsibility for one’s
own actions, decisions and
consequences
X
6. analyze, evaluate, and apply
relevant information from a variety
of sources
X X X
COURSE NAME: Skills for College English PAGE: 3
COURSE CODE: COMM 1003
COURSE OUTCOMES:
Upon successful completion of this course the students will have demonstrated the ability to:
1) Accurately read college-level texts and summarize material using their own words and outline.
2) Locate information/resources in the GBC library and/or in other appropriate electronic and print
sources.
3) Use a standard documentation style (APA or MLA) to create in-text and full references for secondary
sources.
4) Create logical, cohesive introductory, body, and concluding paragraphs using outlines and drafts.
5) Compose an organized, coherent text (i.e., a short essay or report) with a distinct introduction, body
and conclusion.
6) Revise and edit their own writing to improve organization, sentence structure, grammar and mechanics.
DELIVERY METHODS / LEARNING ACTIVITIES:
Teaching and learning strategies used in this course include interactive lectures, group discussions,
demonstrations, group work, in-class assignments and exercises (skill-building and writing), homework
exercises and assignments (reading, writing and skill-building), on-line learning, library
orientation/workshop, peer feedback.
LIST OF TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER TEACHING AIDS:
Required: The Canadian Writer’s Workplace, Lipschutz, Scarry, &Scarry (2013). Seventh Edition
Recommended / Optional:College-level dictionary
TESTING and ASSIGNMENT POLICY:
1) Some writing assignments and skill-building exercises must be completed in class. If you know ahead
of time that you will miss the assignment, you must inform the professor in person or by email to arrange
for alternate arrangements. If you do miss an in-class assignment, please contact your professor as soon as
possible to make alternate arrangements.*
2) Take-home assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date indicated on the schedule. If you
know in advance that you will be unable to complete a particular assignment by the scheduled due date,
contact your professor before the due date to request an extension. If you miss a deadline due to
unforeseen circumstances, it is your responsibility to contact your professor as soon as possible to explain
the situation. If the reason for missing the deadline is valid, an extension will be granted.* Otherwise,
late assignments will be penalized at a rate of 10% per day and may not be accepted beyond one week
after the original deadline.
3) The final exam must be written during class time on the scheduled day. If you are unable to complete
the exam as scheduled, notify the professor well in advance so alternative arrangements can be made.*
Failure to follow this procedure may result in a zero grade.
COURSE NAME: Skills for College English PAGE: 4
COURSE CODE: COMM 1003
* Important: When an assignment deadline or in-class test or assignment is missed, you may be required
to provide documentation (medical or legal) to confirm eligibility for an extension or a re-write.
4) Paper dictionaries can be used as aids for in-class essays/exams; electronic dictionaries and other
devices including cell phones and PDAs cannot be used.
5) Assignments completed outside class should be word-processed and double-spaced in 12 pt font.
6) You are advised to keep all marked assignments, feedback on workshop/labs, and the course outline. In
cases of disagreement over marks or work completion, you must produce the graded assignments.
Important: Students with special needs or accommodations are encouraged to discuss any necessary
accommodations with their professors as soon as possible.
EVALUATION SYSTEM:
Assessment
Tool:
Description: Outcome(s)
assessed:
EES
assessed:
Due Date
/ Week:
% of Final
Grade:
Writing
Assignments
Paragraph
Summary
Essay Components-Intro,
Body
Essay (Complete Rough
draft)
Essay (Final draft)
1,4,5,6 1,2,4,5,6,9,10,11 4
5
7,9
11
13
5
10
25
5
15
Exercises,
Assignments,
Quizzes
Reading Comprehension
Library assignment
APA assignment
1,2,3,6 1,2,4,5,6,10,11 3
5
6
5
10
5
Final Exam During the final class,
construct a point-form
outline and write (at least)
a 500 word essay.
1,4,5,6 1,2,6,10,11 15 20
TOTAL: 100%
GRADING SYSTEM
This is a Pass/Not pass course.
The passing grade for this course is: ___60%___
P 60-
100
NP <60
Excerpt from the College Policy on Academic Dishonesty:
The minimal consequence for submitting a plagiarized, purchased, contracted, or in any manner
inappropriately negotiated or falsified assignment, test, essay, project, or any evaluated material
will be a grade of zero on that material.
To view George Brown College policies please go to www.georgebrown.ca/policies
For information on withdrawing from this course without academic penalty, please refer to the College
Academic Calendar: http://www.georgebrown.ca/Admin/Registr/PSCal.aspx
COURSE NAME: Skills for College English PAGE: 5
COURSE CODE: COMM 1003
TOPICAL OUTLINE:
Class Topic / Task
Outcome(s)
Content /Activities Resources /
1 Introduction: Overview
of outcomes and
expectations
The Writing Process:
Overview
Getting started with the
paragraph: focus and
flow
Brief In class
diagnostic:
brainstorming and
paragraph writing.
Language Skills:
Overview of key
sentence parts
1,2,58,9 Group discussion:
Teacher and student
Introductions
Lecture: paragraph
structure. Evaluate 1
paragraphs using rubric
In-class writing:
Using brainstorming
strategies to generate
ideas
Develop ideas into a short
written piece to be handed
in before end of class.
In-class exercise: 4.
Recognizing parts of
speech. Crossword Puzzle
(Text pages, from The
Canadian Writer’s
Workplace (Ed. 7), handouts, etc. to be
announced before each
class)
Link to George Brown
page on plagiarism.
Chapters 1, 15
2 Active Reading
Strategies: Reading to
learn
Sentence Skills:
Review basic sentence
structures
Compound sentences
Writing and intro to
editing:
Review paragraph
structure for focus and
flow
1,2,4,6,8,9
Pre-reading strategies
Annotating texts
Comprehension
Identifying main and
supporting details.
In-class exercise:
Analyzing and
constructing complete
sentences; varying
sentence structure.
Ordering sentences to
make a paragraph
Paragraph Writing circle-
in groups
Peer group evaluation and
editing with error codes
Chapter 15
Homework: Reading and
questions
3
Homework discussion
In-class Reading Test
5%
Paragraph Review
Paraphrasing
1,2,4,5,8,9
Homework group
discussion and
presentation
Reading Test
Writing a paragraph from
a given outline
Lecture on Paraphrasing
and examples
Individual sentence and
short paragraph
paraphrasing
Chapter 18
COURSE NAME: Skills for College English PAGE: 6
COURSE CODE: COMM 1003
4 In-class paragraph 5%
Summarizing Skills :
Analyzing structure of
paragraphs and texts
Steps in summarizing
Plagiarism
Documentation APA
Style- in-text citations
and references list entry
Sentence Skills:
Complex sentences
Annotate
Identifying main and
supporting details.
Summarize the article
GBC link on plagiarism
Lecture on
Documentation
Group exercise:
documenting various
sources
In-class exercise:
Analyzing and
constructing complete
sentences
5 Summarizing Skills
Paraphrasing
In-class assignment:
Summary Assignment
10%
Writing Skills: concise
language
Library visit and
assignment 5%
1,2,6,8,9 Class summary- each
group does one paragraph
and class combines
sentences using
transitions
In-class exercise:
Identifying and correcting
wordiness, redundancy
and vague language
Homework APA
assignment
6 APA assignment due
5%
Essay Overview-
organization and
structure
Types of essays-
argumentative, compare
and contrast, process,
narration
Introduction
Thesis Statements
Parallelism
2,3,6,8,9
Lecture on essays
Group exercise and
presentation- groups read
one essay and identify
essay type, make an
outline and present to
class
Groups create different
types of hooks and
present
Quizz in text, Analyze
sample thesis statements
and make corrections
Chapters 8 and 16
7 Review Introductions
In-class intro 10%
Developing Body
Paragraphs- types of
supporting evidence
2,4,5,6,8,9 Group discussion: choose
the best introduction from
3 samples and support
your choice
In-class exercise: Label
the parts of a body
paragraph. Number the
COURSE NAME: Skills for College English PAGE: 7
COURSE CODE: COMM 1003
Topic sentences, support
and concluding sentence
supporting evidence
Group brainstorm
supporting evidence for a
given topic sentence
Write the body paragraph
8 INTERSESSION
9
Review Body Paragraph
In-class body
paragraph 15%
Conclusion –structure
Overview of Process
Essays
4,5,6
Writing a body paragraph
and peer evaluation
Read an essay without a
conclusion. Write the
conclusion and share
within a group.
Group brainstorm of
process topics for Child
and Youth Worker
Program. Choose one and
all groups brainstorm the
steps, group steps and
compare answers
Chapter 23
10 Process Essay continued
Analyis of a sample
Review structure: topic
sentences, steps,
transitions between and
within paragraphs.
Writing a short process
essay
2,5,6,8,9 Ordering paragraphs of a
process essay
Reverse outline
Group discussion:evaluate
introduction, body and
conclusion. Identify topic
sentences and transitions
Groups of five write essay
for steps brainstormed in
previous class. Each
person writes a paragraph
and students put it
together and give each
other feedback.
11
Rough Draft Due 5%
Revising Essays
Strategies
Punctuation
Essay revision
Organization, editing
4,5,6
Powerpoint demonstation
Powerpoint
Revise an essay with
checklist and compare
with a partner. Then, do it
as a class.
Chapter 11
Chapter 17
COURSE NAME: Skills for College English PAGE: 8
COURSE CODE: COMM 1003
12 Review Process essays
Questionnaire
Review based on need
Fragments and
Misplaced Modifiers
5,6 Students complete needs
survey and tabulate as a
class
Review excersises
Powerpoint, Fragment
Umbrella handout,
Drawing misplaced
modifier pictures and
correct sentence
13 Final Essay due 20%
Practice for final
5,6
Write a 5 paragraph
process essay
Peer evaluation
Read some process
essays before the final
14 Final Exam 5,6 In-class writing:
Final Exam: 20%
Construct an outline and
write a 5 paragraph essay
Please note: This schedule may change as resources and circumstances require.