ESL Reading III is an advanced level ESL course. Emphasis is placed on reading development and research. Students may re-register for this course in subsequent semesters as necessary until they complete the course objectives. If a student must repeat this course for a third time, he/she will have to obtain the signature of the Dean on his/her campus before registering.

This course requires competency in reading as indicated by the placement test or by teacher recommendation from a previous level.

Course Description
ESL 52 is designed to help students refine their reading skills and learn new reading strategies. It improves students' reading proficiency to a level which would allow the students to function adequately in ENG 111/09 and other college classes.

Using entry-level college reading materials, you will improve your comprehension skills, develop your vocabulary, and analyze reading selections.

Upon completing this course, you will:

1. Acquire the reading skills necessary to succeed in the reading related requirements of entry-level college credit courses. Using entry-level college reading materials, you will be able to:
   • Relate new information to prior knowledge.
   • Make predictions about the content of materials they are given to read.
   • Skim and scan for specific reading purposes.
   • Differentiate main ideas from major and minor supporting details in written materials.
   • Recognize text patterns.
   • Draw valid conclusions from a variety of graphic aids such as maps, charts, graphs, and diagrams.
   • Demonstrate increased word power on a continuous basis by successfully using context clues, the dictionary, and their knowledge of word parts.
   • Make inferences
2. Integrate your reading and writing skills to promote thinking and learning. Using entry-level college reading materials, you will be able to:
   • Define the reading processes.
   • Comprehend the literal meaning in different types of readings for different purposes.
   • Paraphrase and summarize text without plagiarizing or changing the substantive meanings.
3. Be active, independent learners able to apply integrated learning strategies appropriate to the reading-related task. Using entry-level college reading materials, you will be able to:
   • Differentiate among most facts, opinions, assumptions.
   • Understand inferences in reading and writing.
   • Identify the kind of information you need, locate the resources that have it, and retrieve it from them so that you can share it with others in an organized way when given a particular topic.
   • Demonstrate the ability to draw valid conclusions from a variety of reading tasks.
4. Increase your self-confidence in your ability to be effective readers. Using entry level college reading materials, you will be able to:
   • Contribute successfully as members of an academic learning-study group.
   • Develop goal-setting strategies for academic success.
   • Identify individual strengths in reading.
5. Understand the role of reading in your academic, professional, and personal lives.

The required textbooks for this course are:

1. A Writer's Reference
(with help for ESL students)
Bedford/St. Martin's ISBN: 978-0-312-47166-8

2. Visions Across the Americas,6th Edition (Harcourt Publishers) ISBN 1-4130-3066-1

3. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

Students will read the novel, The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan and selected essays in Visions Across the Americas. Students will also review selected chapters in A Writer's Reference.

In the novel, The Joy Luck Club, students will read about the lives of four Chinese-American families. Students will learn about the characters via flashbacks. Students will also discuss a variety of themes in this novel.

In the text, Visions Across the Americas, students will read short essays and discuss these essays on the Discussion Forums in short answer form (in complete sentences, please!) and with me in the E-mail Discussion Activities. Students will also work on their critical thinking skills.

The text, A Writer's Reference, will be used to help students write their annotated bibliography. Students should also use this textbook to review any grammar difficulties.

For information on how to order your textbooks, go to http://eli.nvcc.edu/books/

Call before going to a campus bookstore to make sure the materials are in stock. If you don't see what you need, ask for assistance. Each bookstore has a separate section for ELI courses. Print this page and take it with you to avoid confusion.

Academic Evaluation is based on the following criterion:

To pass this course, you must complete ALL assignments and achieve a minimum of 2231 of the 2860 points (78%). Simply receiving 2231 points will not be adequate if you do not complete all the assignments. Because course feedback is of utmost importance, you are also asked to complete the evaluation at the end of the course.

Because many of the assignments in this course involve discussion or collaboration with your classmates, it's important that everyone follow the same schedule. Assignments are due by the end of the week unless otherwise noted. I consider 11:59 pm on Sunday to be the end of a week for this course. Some assignments require completion on a specific day of the week. If your work is late (and you have not made prior arrangements with me), a grade penalty of 10% each day will be enforced.

Your final grade will either be "S" for "Satisfactory" or "R" for "Retake."

There are two (2) print-based proctored exams in this course. One is based on Chapters 6-8 in Visions Across the Americas. The other is the final exam which is based solely on The Joy Luck Club. They must be completed at one of the five NVCC Testing Centers.

Before you go, print the ESL exam passes and cut off the appropriate pass for the exam you want to take. When you go to the Testing Center, take along a photo ID and the appropriate exam pass. The Testing Centers have been asked not to give exams unless you have a photo ID and the appropriate exam pass.

For Testing Center locations, hours of operation and policies, click here.

For information on taking exams outside of the metropolitan area, click here.

I am here to help you succeed in this course. Although we will interact regularly on your assignments and exams, occasional questions or problems may arise. Here's how to contact me when they do.

If you have a general question, post the question on the Open Forum in the discussion board area of the course. I will check the discussion board five days a week - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.

E-mail : mwheeler@nvcc.edu
Campus (Woodbridge) telephone (also voice mail): (703) 878-5666
Cell Phone: (540) 455-3525
ELI telephone: (703) 323-3347
Online office hours: Monday - Saturday 6 - 7 AM; Sunday 7 - 9 AMce in Woodbridge. 

1. Use your web browser to connect to http://www.nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Access your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to Blackboard at http://learn.vccs.edu.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk. If you can log on to Blackboard, but your course isn't listed, please contact ELI or your instructor.