Critical Literacies for ELL (English Language Learners)
This course satisfies one Hub requirement: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
WR 112 is a pass/fail course but still requires substantial academic work. We hope that the pass/fail designation allows students to take risks in their writing, try new strategies, and adapt to college-level writing, reading, and speaking needs without worrying about the effects on their GPA.
WR 112 teaches ELL students to read, analyze, and discuss written and visual texts of varied genres on global and intercultural topics with intellectual discernment and cultural sensitivity; to recognize and critically employ the culture-specific conventions of expository and argumentative discourses in speech and in writing; express themselves orally with greater comfort and confidence in diverse contexts, and with a focus on intelligibility, register, and the power dynamics of oral communication in English; to plan, draft, and revise academic papers and other genres (both written and visual/multimodal) for clarity and coherence in different rhetorical situations, with attention to and reflection on concepts and controversies in syntax, diction, and style; and to critically reflect on how academic language norms, world Englishes, and existing power structures intersect with multilingualism, racial identity, and linguistic choices in global and academic communities.
Course Objectives
All WR 112 sections follow the same curriculum, draw from the same designated texts, and aim to achieve the common goals for this level. You will develop your abilities to:
- read academic texts on varied global subjects with accurate comprehension, intellectual discernment, and cultural sensitivity
- recognize and use the cross-cultural conventions of expository and argumentative discourse
- express oneself with fluency, linguistic accuracy, and diction appropriate to diverse cultural contexts, both inside and outside the classroom
- explore and practice multi-modal forms of writing
- plan, write, and revise academic papers for clarity and coherence, and with
- attention to grammar and the stylistic features of academic English
- develop and use effective strategies for finding and correcting errors in one’s own work
- critically reflect on how one’s position as a global citizen informs one’s choices and performance as a writer, reader, and speaker
Instructional Format and Course Pedagogy
The work you are assigned in this course will not be graded, but that does not mean it is unimportant. Students who prepare diligently for class, participate actively, and take the homework exercises and drafts seriously generally learn more and write better final papers than those who do not.
Experienced writers routinely share their work with others, because they understand that the best way to improve a piece of writing is to test it out with actual readers. In this class, you will learn how to respond productively to the writing of others and how to use feedback from others to improve your own work. All students in the class are expected to share pre-writing exercises, drafts, homeworks, and in-class writing. If you are concerned about sharing your writing, please talk with me about your concerns.
Although this is primarily a writing class, the oral presentations and class discussion components are designed to help you practice fluency and improve confidence in public speaking. Active class participation is expected throughout the semester.
Course Requirements
- Assigned short readings/viewings in multiple genres and modes (including essays, articles, and texts that are visual and/or multimodal in nature, such as TED talks, ads, infographics, etc.)
- Regular written homework such as reflections, annotations, reading journals, basic summaries,analytical summaries, discussion questions, short multimodal assignments, etc.
- Creation of and/or contribution to WR cumulative portfolio
- Two formal projects, each with multiple drafts and peer review, including an academic analysis/synthesis paper and a multimodal project
- Two group oral presentations
- Two (or more) instructor conferences
- Regular class attendance and active class engagement
Note: Students register for WR 112 after taking the Multilingual Writer Placement, or by passing WR 111. After successfully passing WR 112, most students continue straight on to WR 120.