7-Week Teaching Plan for General V
Reading/Writing, Level V, General Track
English Language Institute, University of Delaware
Course design by Russ Mason, Assistant Professor (plan updated May 7, 2012)
Teaching Plan: Overall
Raise The Issues – Carol Numrich
Understanding and Using English Grammar – Betty Azar
Two readings or more each week (with associated exercises)
One writing assignment or more each week
Four grammar quizzes (weekly or every other week)
Three or four vocabulary quizzes (in coordination with reading text units)
Teaching Plan: Specific
Week 1:
Diagnostics: timed reading – for speed & comprehension
In-class written essay –for organization/expression/grammar (narrative
and/or descriptive)
Grammar review of verb tenses (especially perfect tenses & time clauses: Azar 1-5)- quiz
Raise The Issues (RI), (alternating starting unit as prescribed by Course Mentor) –
Background reading, new vocabulary, summarization; NPR “reading” + exercises
Week 2:
Complete RI Unit assigned by Course Mentor
Vocabulary Quiz on RI Unit
Paragraph Essentials review
Format Guidelines
Writing assignment: a well-developed, properly formatted Cause or Effect paragraph
Peer Editing exercise (with Rubric)
Grammar instruction on modal verbs -- review Azar Chapter 9, study Chap. 10
(especially “unfulfilled past” was going to)
Week 3:
Introduce RI Unit 5
Writing assignment: Summary Writing
Test on Modal Verbs
Grammar instruction on Passive Structures (Azar Chap. 11 and RI pp. 98-99)
In-class Reading Exercise
Prefixes and Suffixes
Finish RI Unit 5, if possible
Week 4:
Vocabulary quiz on Unit 5
Introduce new reading unit – students select a Unit from session options
(per Course Mentor).
Grammar instruction on passives (especially past passive with modal verbs; also note
prepositions & stative passive p. 229) -- quiz on passive structures
Introduce Argumentation (see RI pp. 100-101 and handout materials from Master Packet)
In-class writing assignment: first argumentative essay (include in Mid-session grade)
Distribute Mid-Session Grade Reports/meet with students
Grammar instruction: overview of clause structure and English sentence patterns
Punctuating clauses
Quick review of noun clauses (especially with wish, whatever)
Week 5:
Grammar instruction: review adjective clauses/teach reduction of clauses to phrases
Quiz on reducing adjective clauses to phrases
Major Writing Project: Begin two-week multi-draft argumentative essay
Grammar instruction: Gerunds and Infinitives, Part I (Azar Chap. 14;
note preposition combinations, p. 302)
Week 6:
Finish reading unit
Vocabulary quiz on current reading unit
Introduce new reading unit – Students select a preferred unit (from prescribed options).
Continue Writing Project: Final drafts (along with all previous drafts) due on Friday
Grammar instruction: Gerunds and Infinitives, Part 2 (Azar Chapter 15)
Grammar Review
Submit predicted grades for graduating students by Friday; prepare for major faculty
meeting regarding graduating students, Monday of Week 7
Week 7:
Return Essays and discuss; final writing instruction and examples
Final Writing Test: In-class argumentative essay
(topics TBA by Course Mentor/Level Coordinator)
Final Reading Test (standard ELI test, usually given on Tuesday)
Final Grammar Test: comprehensive exam (usually given on Wednesday)
Attend Student Retention Meeting with all final grades/effort scores/attendance (Wed.)
Post-test grammatical study
Common English Metaphors, Cliches, Proverbs, etc.
Calculate and post all final grades/enter data into computer/turn in final in-class essays
Return all textbooks, CDs, teacher’s guides, etc. to the Course Mentor or appropriate ELI
staff person/officer