UoPeople Online Syllabus Repository (OSR)
ENGL 0005: Pre-Intermediate English 1
ENGL 0005: Pre-Intermediate English 1
Course Description
In this course, students will be introduced to reading strategies with an emphasis on short readings on argumentative topics (e.g., agree/disagree format). They will give short answer feedback in the form of a short cohesive paragraph, create mixed-length sentences and start formulating paragraphs on personal experience. Students will also learn about applied grammar and paraphrasing. This course is entirely in English.
Prerequisites
None
Required Textbook and Materials
UoPeople courses use open educational resources (OER) and other materials specifically donated to the University with free permissions for educational use. Therefore, students are not required to purchase any textbooks or sign up for any websites that have a cost associated with them. The required and recommended readings, supplemental materials, or other resources and websites necessary for lessons will be provided for you in the weekly course Unit areas and the Learning Guides.
Software Requirements/Installation
- Chrome browser
- Students who cannot use the technology because of accommodations or other reasons, should contact their Instructor directly.
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Language Objectives
- Exposure to simple analysis review of the text.
- Understand the concept of paraphrasing.
- Understand advanced applied grammar.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to write a short essay.
- Students will be able to give short answers verbally and orally to questions.
Course Schedule and Topics
This course will cover the following topics in eight learning sessions, with one Unit per week. The Final Exam will take place during Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time). The following is an outline of how this course will be conducted, with suggested best practices for students
Unit 1: Argumentative Texts.
- Read and practice using the Learning Guide lessons
- Review and complete all interactive vocabulary assignments
- Review and complete the Written Assignment
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment
- Make entries to the Learning Journal
- Take the Self-Quiz
Unit 2: What Makes a Good Source?
- Complete the Peer Assessment from Unit 1
- Read and practice using the Learning Guide lessons
- Review and complete all interactive vocabulary assignments
- Review and complete the Written Assignment
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment
- Make entries to the Learning Journal
- Take the Self-Quiz
Unit 3: Paraphrasing Short Fiction Texts
- Complete the Peer Assessment from Unit 2
- Read and practice using the Learning Guide lessons
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment
- Make entries to the Learning Journal
- Take the Self-Quiz
- Take the Graded Quiz
Unit 4: Short Replies and Numbers
- Read and practice using the Learning Guide lessons
- Review and complete all interactive vocabulary assignments
- Review and complete the Written Assignment
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment
- Make entries to the Learning Journal
- Take the Self-Quiz
Unit 5: Applying Grammar Rules to Your Writing
- Complete the Peer Assessment from Unit 4
- Read and practice using the Learning Guide lessons
- Review and complete all interactive vocabulary assignments
- Review and complete the Written Assignment
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment
- Make entries to the Learning Journal
- Take the Self-Quiz
Unit 6: Writing About Your Personal Experiences
- Complete the Peer Assessment from Unit 5
- Read and practice using the Learning Guide lessons
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment
- Make entries to the Learning Journal
- Take the Self-Quiz
- Take the Graded Quiz
Unit 7: Analyzing Short Non-fiction Texts
- Read and practice using the Learning Guide lessons
- Review and complete all interactive vocabulary assignments
- Review and complete the Written Assignment
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment
- Make entries to the Learning Journal
- Take the Self-Quiz
Unit 8: Self-Reflections
- Complete the Peer Assessment from Unit 7
- Read and practice using the Learning Guide lessons
- Review and complete all interactive vocabulary assignments
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment
- Take the Self-Quiz
Unit 9: Course Review and Final Exam
- Read the Learning Guide and take the Review Quiz, if you haven't already done so
- Prepare for, take, and submit the Final Exam
- The Final Exam will take place during the Thursday and Sunday of Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time); exact dates, times, and other details will be provided accordingly by your instructor
Course Requirements
Discussion Assignments & Response Posts/Ratings
Most units in this course require that you complete a Discussion Assignment. You are required to develop and post a substantive response to the Discussion Assignment in the Discussion Forum. A substantive response is one that fully answers the question that has been posed by the instructor. In addition, you must extend the discussion by responding to at least three (3) of your peers’ postings in the Discussion Forum. Discussion Forums are only active for each current and relevant learning week, so it is not possible to contribute to the forum once the learning week has come to an end. Failure to participate in the Discussion Assignment by posting in the Discussion Forum and responding to peers as required may result in failure of the course.
Written Assignments
Some units in this course require that you complete a Written Assignment. You are required to submit your assignments by the indicated deadlines and, in addition, to peer assess three (3) of your classmates’ assignments according to the instructions found in the Assessment Form, which is provided to you during the following week. During this peer assessment period, you are expected to provide details in the feedback section of the Assessment Form, indicating why you awarded the grade that you did to your peer.
Learning Journals
Your instructor may choose to assign specific topics and/or relevant questions as a weekly Learning Journal entry for you to complete. The Learning Journal must be updated on a weekly basis, because its entries will be assessed by your instructor directly as a part of your final grade. The Learning Journal will only be seen by your instructor.
Vocabulary Assignments
Some units have interactive vocabulary assignments. These assignments may take the form of flash cards, word searches, definitions, dictation, and fill in the blanks. You will have unlimited attempts during the learning week to finish these assignments and your highest score will be the one recorded in the grade book.
Quizzes
This course will contain three types of quizzes –Self-Quizzes, Graded Quizzes, and the Review Quiz.Self-Quiz
Self-quizzes may contain multiple choice, true/false (yes/no), or short answer questions. The results of the Self-Quiz count towards your final grade. Along with the Reading Assignments, the results of the Self-Quiz should be used as part of an iterative learning process to thoroughly cover and test your understanding of course material. You should use the results of your Self-Quiz as a guide to go back and review relevant sections of the Reading Assignments. Self-Quizzes will remain open until the end of the term and allow unlimited attempts. The results of the Self-Quiz count towards your final grade.
Self-quizzes
- There are eight self-quizzes
- Quizzes contain 5 multiple choice and true/false (yes/no) questions.
- You have unlimited attempt(s) at each quiz.
- You have 20 minutes to take the quiz.
- The score will be available after submission.
Graded quizzes may contain multiple choice, true/false (yes/no), or short answer questions. The results of the Graded Quiz will count towards your final grade.
Graded Quiz
- There are two graded quizzes
- Quizzes contain 10 multiple choice and true/false (yes/no) questions worth 10 points each.
- You have 1 attempt at each quiz.
- You have 30 minutes to take the quiz.
- The score will be available after submission.
The review quiz may contain multiple choice, true/false (yes/no), or short answer questions. The Review Quiz will assist you in a comprehensive review and full understanding of all course material, in preparation for your Final Exam.
Review Quiz
- There is 1 review quiz
- The quiz contains 25 multiple choice and true/false (yes/no) questions.
- You have unlimited attempt(s) at each quiz.
- You have 90 minutes to take the quiz.
- The score will be available after submission.
Final Exam
The Final Exam will take place during the Thursday and Sunday of Week/Unit 9, following the completion of eight units of work. The format of the Final Exam is similar to that of the quizzes, and may contain a combination of different question types. You
will have one attempt to take the exam, and it will be graded electronically. Specific instructions on how to prepare for and take the exam will be provided during Week/Unit 8.
- Final Exam contains 20 multiple choice and true/false (yes/no) questions worth X points each.
- You have 1 attempt.
- You have 60 minutes to take the quiz.
- The score will be available after the final examination period.
- Feedback is available after the exam period has finished
Course and Announcements Forums
The Course and Announcement Forums are the place to raise issues and questions relating to the course. It is regularly monitored by the instructors, and is a good place to meet fellow students taking the same course. While it is not required to participate in the Course and Announcement Forums, it is highly recommended.
Course Policies
Grading Components and Weights
Each graded component of the course will contribute some percentage to the final grading scale, as indicated below:
| Course Requirements | Number of Items | Points for Each | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discussion Assignments | 8 | 10 | 15% |
| Written Assignments |
5 | 10 | 15% |
| Learning Journal |
7 | 10 | 20% |
| Vocabulary Assignments |
15 |
10 | 15% |
| Self Quizzes |
8 | 10 | 8% |
| Review Quiz |
1 | 25 | 2% |
| Graded Quiz 1 |
1 |
100 | 5% |
| Graded Quiz 2 |
1 | 100 | 5% |
| Final Exam | 1 | 100 | 15% |
| Total | 100% |
Grading Scale
This course will follow the standard 100-point grading scale defined by the University of the People, as indicated below:
| Letter Grade | Grade Scale | Grade Points |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 98 - 100 |
4.00 |
| A | 93 - 97 |
4.00 |
| A- | 90 - 92 |
3.67 |
| B+ | 88 - 89 |
3.33 |
| B | 83 - 87 |
3.00 |
| B- | 80 - 82 |
2.67 |
| C+ | 78 - 79 |
2.33 |
| C |
73 - 77 |
2.00 |
| C- |
70 - 72 |
1.67 |
| D+ |
68 - 69 |
1.33 |
| D |
63 - 67 |
1.00 |
| D- |
60 - 62 |
0.67 |
| F |
Under 60 |
0.00 |
Grade Appeal
If you believe that the final grade you received for a course is erroneous, unjust, or unfair, please contact your course instructor. This must be done within seven days of the posted final grade. For more information on this topic, please review the Grade Appeal Procedure in the University Catalog.
Participation
Non-participation is characterized by lack of any assignment submissions, inadequate contributions to the Discussion Forums, and/or lack of peer feedback to Discussion/Written Assignments. Also, please note the following important points about course participation:
- Assignments must be submitted on or before the specified deadline. A course timeline is provided in the course schedule, and the instructor will specify deadlines for each assignment.
- Any student showing non-participation for two weeks (consecutive or non-consecutive) is likely to automatically fail the course.
- Occasionally there may be a legitimate reason for submitting an assignment late. Most of the time, late assignments will not be accepted and there will be no make-up assignments.
- All students are obligated to inform their instructor in advance of any known absences which may result in their non-participation.
Academic Honesty and Integrity
When you submit any work that requires research and writing, it is essential to cite and reference all source material. Failure to properly acknowledge your sources is known as “plagiarism” – which is effectively passing off an individual’s words or ideas as your own. University of the People adheres to a strict policy of academic honesty and integrity. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in sanctions by the University, including dismissal from the University or course failure. For more information on this topic, please review the Academic Integrity Policy in the University Catalog.
Any materials cited in this course should be referenced using the style guidelines established by the American Psychological Association (APA). The APA format is widely used in colleges and universities across the world and is one of several style and
citation formats required for publication in professional and academic journals. Refer to the UoPeople's APA Tutorials in the LRC for help with APA citations.
Code of Conduct
University of the People expects that students conduct themselves in a respectful, collaborative, and honest manner at all times. Harassment, threatening behavior, or deliberate embarrassment of others will not be permitted. Any conduct that interferes with the quality of the educational experience is not allowed and may result in disciplinary action, such as course failure, probation, suspension, or dismissal. For more information on this topic, please review the Code of Conduct Policy in the University Catalog.