Oral Skills Content Course: Milestones in U.S. History   
Summer 2004 

Prof. Pat LaRose                                                                    Prof. Amy O'Shea
Office: CH111                                                                          Office: CH111
Classroom: SE121                                                                    Classroom:
Phone: 654-                                                                              Phone: 654
Office Hours:                                                                            Office Hours:
e-mail: plarose@smcvt.edu                                                        e-mail: aoshea@smcvt.edu

Class Time:    MWF   1:00-2:20
Lab Time:       MWF   2:20-3:00

Class Text:     Connerton, P. & Reid, F. (1993).   Linkages.  Heinle & Heinle.
                         handouts

Materials:      available for checkout through the LLRC, SE 215

Computer Applications:        

  • MS-PowerPoint (for oral presentations), MS-Outlook (for e-mail), MS-Explorer (for the WorldWideWeb)

  • Recommended:  Pronunciation Power                      

COURSE OUTLINE

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The purpose of this course is to enhance the cultural background knowledge and academic skills of international students who plan to continue their education at an American college or university or who want an emphasis on academic preparation.  Students who plan to enter the Academic English Program (AEP) of Saint Michael's College are strongly encouraged to take this eight-week course, particularly since it focuses on content areas that may be the subject of future undergraduate courses.  Skills that are practiced in this course intensively include notetaking of lectures, reconstruction and summaries of notes, paraphrasing, studying for tests, methods of objective and subjective testing, and techniques for answering essay questions, utilizing research tools (library, Internet) to support the information read (or heard) in class, and using technological tools (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Explorer) to enhance class performance. 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

By the end of this course students will be able to

  • take well-organized notes on relevant spoken information;

  • reconstruct their notes to answer essay or discussion questions or to write summaries

  • answer questions that require factual recall, analysis, or synthesis of material learned in class

  • understand and use some concepts and vocabulary germane to particular content areas

  •  utilize research tools (e.g. the library, the Internet) to find supporting information

  • present information to the class in a well-organized, clear, and visually attractive manner

  •  incorporate a reference to an author and a source into written or spoken text

  •  utilize technological tools to support in-class and out-of-class work.

COURSE STRUCTURE/EXPECTATIONS:

General:

1.     American professors expect promptness and alertness in class; therefore, tardiness and absences will be penalized (see IEP policies).  3x tardy = 1 absence.  Attendance of all classes and labs is required, and students must be present for all quizzes and tests.  No make-up tests or quizzes will be given except in cases of documented illness.  Assignments will NOT be accepted after the instructor has returned the graded assignment, and a grade of "F" will automatically be assigned for this component of the course.

2.     Come to class prepared: Review your previous work the night before and have all necessary materials present, homework done, assignments stapled and identified by name).

3.     In case of illness (absence), it is your responsibility to check with a classmate or the instructor for assignments and material covered.

4.     See the professor during office hours or make an appointment for a convenient time to review material that you did not understand or had trouble understanding.

5.     Type all written assignments on the computer; check them for spelling and grammar on the computer.  Hand in assignments stapled together, with your name, the date, the class in the top right (or left) - hand corner.

Listening Lab:
Students are expected to add to their background information about certain events in U.S. history by listening to various selections of audio/video material.  Attendance of the the lab is required. 

Pronunciation Lab:
Students are expected to work on pronunciation exercises and work through exercises to improve their articulation, stress, and intonation  Attendance of the lab is required.

Materials:

1.      An English-English dictionary (Longman's Dictionary of Contemporary English) and a Thesaurus (dictionary of synonyms and antonyms; buy one with alphabetical order; Roget's Thesaurus is recommended).  It's also not a bad idea to get a college dictionary, such as Webster's, Random House, or The American Heritage Dictionary.

2.       A 3-ring binder for class notes and handouts

3.        A small holepunch is necessary in order to add handouts to the binder.

4.        A highlighter pen.

5.        A stapler and staples.

GRADING:

Course grades will be based on achievement, not on attendance and will be given after 4 and after 8 weeks.  They will be based on skills, techniques, and material taught in class as well as material learned through reading and lectures.  Grades will be lowered 10% for each day an assignment is turned in late.  All grades will be averaged, and the lowest quiz grade will be dropped.  However, if one was missed, all remaining quizzes count.  Further quizzes, tests, or homework assignments missed will receive a grade of "0" and be calculated into the average.

Grades will be calculated according to the following composition:

Listening/Speaking class:

                10%  Class Participation
                30%  Quizzes
                40%  Tests and Written Assignments
                20%  Presentation

Grading system: 

                 100-93%  A; 92-90%  A-; 89-87%  B+; 86-83%  B; 82-80%  B-; 79-77  C+; 76-73  C; 72-70  C-;
                 69-67  D+; 66-63  D; 62-60  D; 59 and below: F

NOTE:  Adjustments to the grading scales and course expectations may be made if it is in the interest of the class.