Course Description
In this seven week program, students will take classes that integrate critical reading, analytical writing and listening & speaking. Students will also gain practical experience by applying their acquired knowledge outside of the classroom in authentic settings. More details will be provided on the first day of classes.
Integrated Skills: Critical Reading
This class will prepare you for the critical reading in English that will be expected of you as a Brandeis student. Students will read short fiction, non-fiction, and a novel as well newspapers and various academic texts. As a reader, you will learn effective strategies for tackling difficult material as well as how to unpack a text for meaning through analysis and close reading. In the process, you will increase your academic vocabulary, your capacity to develop your own reading of a text and reach a greater understanding of American cultural values and controversies.
Integrated Skills: Analytical Writing
This class will prepare you for the analytical writing that will be expected of you as a Brandeis student. You will learn how to summarize a text effectively, recognize the elements of good academic writing, evaluate evidence and analysis in expository texts, and construct a convincing argument of your own in a 3-4 page paper. You will learn effective writing strategies which will prepare you for undergraduate work at Brandeis.
Integrated Skills: Listening & Speaking
This class will focus on strategies for effective classroom interactions, impromptu speaking, and interacting with instructors and advisors. Emphasis is on functional language used in typical university settings. Class instruction is highly interactive with frequent opportunity for student input. Listening strategies will be taught in order to prepare you for academic lectures. American culture issues will also be incorporated through course reading and listening material. Considerable amount of out-of-class assignments will be given to accelerate adaptation to Brandeis.