ELCB COURSE DESCRIPTIONS & COURSE SYLLABI

ELCB 0870: ACADEMIC READING AND WRITING 
5 Credits

This course is designed to provide students with the foundation of academic reading and writing skills necessary for success at an American university. The class focuses on the writing process, development of essential writing skills, and the format and organization of academic writing in English. Throughout the course, students work on expanding their academic vocabulary and improving fluency, accuracy, and effectiveness in writing. The course also underscores effective reading strategies, reading comprehension, and critical thinking. The materials and ideas from readings serve as a springboard to writing assignments and tasks. 
 
ELCB 0880: COMMUNICATION ESSENTIALS FOR AMERICAN COLLEGE 
3 Credits

The class prepares students for active participation in American university classroom. It focuses on strategies for effective communication with peers, faculty, and staff. Students work on lecture comprehension and note-taking. The course also raises awareness of the distinction between formal and informal communication protocols and between social and academic registers. Students continuously work on spoken fluency development, overall intelligibility, and speech clarity. 
 
ELCB 0910: ADVANCED COMMUNICATION FOR AMERICAN COLLEGE 
3 Credits

This class focuses on elements of more formal public speaking assignments such as presentations and debates. Students also learn strategies, language, and cultural norms for communicating with peers in discussion groups or in group projects. In addition, the course focuses on choosing social or academic registers and employing appropriate formal or informal communication protocols. Students continuously work on spoken fluency development, overall intelligibility, and speech clarity. 
 
ELCB 0990: International Graduate Academic Writing  
5 credits

The primary focus of this course is on improving written academic discourse. Students learn how to evaluate sources and incorporate information from readings into their writing while avoiding plagiarism. Writing assignments include summarizing, paraphrasing, documenting sources, and writing a short research paper. Throughout the course, students continue to expand their academic vocabulary and writing fluency, accuracy, and effectiveness. 
 
ELCB 1020: RESEARCH PAPER WRITING 
2 Credits

This course helps students write well-researched, organized, and correctly documented research papers. Students learn how to find, evaluate, and document sources as well as incorporate information from research into their writing while following the principles of academic honesty. Throughout the course, students expand their academic vocabulary and writing fluency, accuracy, and effectiveness. This course is specifically designed for non-native speakers of English. 
 
ELCB 5000: GRADUATE SCHOOL SUCCESS 
1 Credit

The course is designed to assist international graduate students with meeting the rigorous demands of graduate programs by providing them with communication skills necessary for American graduate classrooms and academic skills needed for conducting and presenting graduate-level research. The course provides students with strategies for successful participation in graduate classroom such as leading discussions, challenging ideas politely, and being inclusive. Students learn how to avoid plagiarism and find and utilize research resources online and on campus. Finally, students learn how to prepare and deliver clear, compelling, and visually effective presentations in order to present their research at conferences or in class. Throughout the course, students increase their awareness of U.S. academic culture and expectations. The course accommodates a broad range of student research areas and fields of study. 
 
ENGL 1010: WRITING FROM SOURCES 
5 Credits

The class prepares students for the rigorous demands of reading and writing assignments in American university courses. Students practice effective reading strategies, summarizing, and paraphrasing academic texts. Students learn how to evaluate sources and incorporate information from readings into their writing while avoiding plagiarism. Throughout the course, students continue to expand their academic vocabulary and writing fluency, accuracy, and effectiveness.  
Note: ENGL 1010 counts toward undergraduate degree as an elective. 
 
Sample ELCB Course Syllabi 

ELCB-0990 Sample Syllabus
ELCB-0870 Sample Syllabus  
ELCB-0880 Sample Syllabus 
ELCB-0910 Sample Syllabus 
ELCB-1020 Sample Syllabus
ELCB-5000 Sample Syllabus 
ENGL-1010 Sample Syllabus