B2.1 Course Syllabus Overview
21 Setembro 2015, 08:00 • Hilda Alexandra Prazeres Eusebio
Students were introduced to the course calendar.
The aim of this B2.1 English class is to develop the students’ reading, writing and oral expression skills in several scenarios. Thus, the objectives and competencies to be acquired are: understand extended speech and complex factual or literary texts; speak fluently and effectively; and write clear, well-structured texts. In order to achieve these objectives we will attempt to give you the necessary confidence to express your views and improve fluency. Another focus will be a more detailed look at some of the fundamental basics of the language, i.e. grammar, in order to obtain more accuracy. Finally, there will be a particular emphasis on developing your reading (interpreting and discussing) and writing skills along with vocabulary acquisition.
By the end of the semester, students should be able to:
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Learning Objectives: |
understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation;
interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party;
produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
GRAMMAR
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Course content: |
REVISION:
VERB TENSES:
present perfect and present perfect continuous;
past perfect and past perfect continuous;
future perfect and future perfect continuous;
PHRASAL VERBS:
‘to bring’ + preposition, ‘to check’ + preposition, ‘to look’ + preposition, ‘to pass’ + preposition;
MODAL VERBS:
Can, Could, May, Might, Must, Ought to, Shall, Should, Will, Would;
ADVANCED ARTICLE USAGE;
ADJECTIVE AND PREPOSITION COMBINATIONS followed by GERUNDS;
‘BE’ + ADJECTIVE COMBINATIONS FOLLOWED BY INFINITIVES;
the CONDITIONAL:
to understand and be able to implement the PAST/PRESENT/FUTURE REAL and UNREAL CONDITIONALS and CONTINUOUS CONDITIONALS;
the SUBJUNCTIVE:
a.k.a. the SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD;
PHRASAL VERBS:
to understand and be able to implement phrasal verbs such as:
‘to get’ + preposition;
‘to go’ + preposition;
‘to keep’ + preposition;
‘to take’ + preposition;
‘to turn’+ preposition;
etc.;
IRREGULAR VERB USAGE.
COMPREHENSION:
reading and analyzing texts;
listening to and analyzing audio and film clips;
WRITING:
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Genre |
Purpose |
Possible Activities |
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Descriptive Writing |
Students observe carefully and choose precise language. They take notice of sensory details and create comparisons (metaphors and similes) to make their writing more powerful. |
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Expository Writing |
Students collect and synthesize information. This writing is objective; reports are the most common type. Students use expository writing to give directions, sequence steps, compare one thing to another, explain causes and effects, or describe problems and solutions. |
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Narrative Writing |
Students retell familiar stories, develop sequels for stories they have read, write stories about events in their own lives, and create original stories. They include a beginning, middle, and end in the narratives to develop the plot and characters. |
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Persuasive Writing |
Persuasion is winning someone to your viewpoint or cause using appeals to logic, moral character, and emotion. Students present their position clearly and support it with examples and evidence. |
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SPEAKING:
in-class reading;
Q&A;
peer teaching;
end of semester oral presentation;
etc.
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Grading policy and course requirements |
GRADE PERCENTAGES
Attendance and class participation – 5%
Completed Homework – 10%
Midterm – 20%
Writing project – 20% (5% first draft; 15% final draft)
Oral presentation – 20%
End of Term Exam – 25%
GRADES
These are determined primarily by your performance on one written test (midterm), an oral presentation, and a writing project, each of which will count 20% towards your final grade. 15% will include written/homework assignments throughout the semester along with your active participation in class discussion and attendance. The remaining 25% will consist of your End of Term Exam which everyone must sit.
Should you FAIL the course, you can sit the Final Exam which will be in January 2016.
HOMEWORK/ASSIGNMENTS
Homework/assignments must be EMAILED to me on the day that they’re due. You have until midnight on the day of the deadline – not emailing me the assignment on the day of the deadline will mean that your assignment will be marked as late and will lose 10% each day that it is late.
Reasons for lateness (other than illness or Worker Student Status) will not be accepted.
If you are ill, you must email me at the first available opportunity to let me know in advance and to request an extension. Extensions will only be granted in the event that a doctor’s note can be provided. Should this doctor’s note be unavailable for any reason, the extension will be cancelled and the work will be marked as ‘Late’.
WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Please note that the writing project will be divided into the two sections: the first draft which will be worth 5% of your final grade and the final draft which will be worth 15% of your final grade.
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Bibliography |
Material will be provided as needed and made available in the Green Photocopy Room (Reprografia Verde). Just ask for Hilda Eusébio’s B2.1 English Course Book and the ladies will give it to you. As for extra grammar exercises, these will be provided and archived in the Green Photocopy Room – file (ficha) to be confirmed.
Students are to check their emails regularly and come to class prepared.
Course Calendar
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Date |
Session |
Agenda |
Homework |
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21-09-2015 |
1 |
Go through syllabus.
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23-09-2015 |
2 |
Descriptive Writing · The basics · Went outside to do descriptive writing exercise. |
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28-09-2015 |
3 |
Descriptive Writing · Analyzing sample texts |
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30-09-2015 |
4 |
Descriptive Writing · Analyzing sample texts |
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05-10-2015 |
5 |
Descriptive Writing · Students to work in groups to analyze more advanced texts and present summary of descriptive techniques used in each text to class. |
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07-10-2015 |
6 |
Persuasive Writing · the basics · Analyzing audio/visual texts. |
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12-10-2015 |
7 |
Persuasive Writing · Analyzing texts and audio/visual texts. |
Descriptive Writing assignment Due. |
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14-10-2015 |
8 |
Persuasive Writing · Students to work on group piece (persuasive). Present Major Writing Assignment · Include success criteria |
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19-10-2015 |
9 |
Persuasive Writing · Students present assignment to Class. |
Persuasive Writing Assignment Due. |
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21-10-2015 |
10 |
Teacher returns Desc. homework. Review grammar. Present/Schedule oral presentation include success criteria Narrative Writing · the basics · analyzing texts |
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26-10-2015 |
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Narrative Writing · analyzing texts Teacher returns Persuasive pieces. Grammar review. |
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28-10-2015 |
11 |
Midterm Test |
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02-11-2014 |
13 |
Narrative Writing · analyzing texts |
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04-11-2015 |
14 |
Expository Writing · the basics · analyzing texts |
Narrative homework due. |
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09-11-2015 |
15 |
Expository Writing · analyzing texts |
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11-11-2015 |
16 |
Feedback from tests. Grammar revision |
1st Draft of Writing Project Due |
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16-11-2015 |
17 |
Feedback from 1st Drafts of Writing Projects. Grammar Review. |
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18-11-2015 |
18 |
Expository Writing · students to begin preparing their in-class expository piece. |
Final Draft of Writing Project Due |
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23-11-2015 |
19 |
Students to present their expository pieces to the class. |
Expository piece due. |
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25-11-2015 |
20 |
Oral Presentations |
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30-11-2015 |
21 |
Oral Presentations |
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02-12-2015 |
22 |
Oral Presentations |
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07-12-2015 |
23 |
Oral Presentations |
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09-12-2015 |
24 |
Revision for final test. |
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14-12-2015 |
25 |
Feedback from Writing Assignments. Revision for Test and any other business |
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16-12-2014 |
26 |
Written Test |
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