This course emphasizes speaking fluency and expressing ideas and opinions on a range of topics, including materials covered in the textbook and student research.
Objectives include improving listening and reading skills to comprehend ideas and details, expanding vocabulary, and developing speaking skills by learning how to effectively complete communicative tasks. Discussions will be conducted in pairs as well as small and large groups. Speaking strategies will be assessed throughout the semester. Furthermore, students will receive feedback on pronunciation, grammar, and use of language. Depending on the enrollment size, students may have the option to give an oral presentation to the class. This can either be related to one of the chapters from the textbook, offering critical responses to that chapter’s content, or on a topic of the student’s choice. By the end of the course, students will be able to communicate their views on issues with confidence and clarity.
*Please see uploaded syllabus for more details.
Week 1: Introduction; Unit 1: Enforcing the Law
Week 2: Unit 1; Unit 2: Better Dead Than Coed?
Week 3: Unit 2; Unit 3: The Global Child
Week 4: Unit 3; Unit 4: Beyond Darwin
Week 5: Unit 4; Unit 5: Sport for Sport’s Sake
Week 6: Unit 5; Unit 6: Drawing the Line on Immigration
Week 7: Midterm Presentation
Week 8: Unit 6; Unit 7: The Right to Die VS. The Right to Life
Week 9: Unit 7; Unit 8: The Global Village
Week 10: Unit 8; Unit 9: For Every Winner, There’s a Loser
Week 11: Unit 9; Unit 10: Alternative Energy
Week 12: Unit 10
Week 13: Discussion on Current Events
Week 14: Final Presentation and Paper
Week 15: Final Presentation and Paper
1. Numrich, Carol. 2010. Raise the Issues: Integrated Approach to Critical Thinking. 3rd Edition. White Plains, NY: Pearson Education. (ISBN-13: 978-0-13-700730-1)
2. Additional reading materials may be assigned throughout the semester.
Please come to class on time. Students are expected to come to class. More than two unexcused absences will affect your grade. Please come talk to me if you will be missing class for conferences, job interviews, medical reasons, etc.
Class Participation and Attendance, 25%
Homework and In-class Assignments, 20%
Midterm Presentation and Paper, 25%
Final Presentation and Paper, 30%