Class Description

This course will take a practical approach to the study of English as it pertains to life and the work place.  The content will cover several areas: reading for life, reading comprehension, writing skills from school to work,  communicating at work and in the world, vocabulary usage.

Questions:

• How is literature connected to my life?
  
• How is Siouxland unique and beautiful?
  
• Why is writing well important for my job?
  
• Why is communication important for my life?
  
• How do you run a meeting?
  
• What do I need to know about English to survive in the world?

Books used:

• Truck, Coop, Population 485  by Michael Perry
  
• Sign of a Promise, Pitcher’s Hands, Fifty-Five and Counting by Jim Schaap
  
• The work of Manfred. Presentation of Frederick Manfred
  
• A collection of short stories by mid-western authors.
  
• Writer’s Inc. from School to Work
  
• Write for Business

Class Expectations

1. The students will learn to analyze newspapers and magazine  articles critically.
   
2. The students will learn to judge on-line sources as credible sources.
   
3. The students will read a variety of mid-western authors, focusing on life, its quirks and struggles,in this area.
   
4. The students will write resumes, letters of complaint, emails, and letters of application. 
   
5. The students will learn vocabulary through context.
   
6. The students will practice communication skills needed in the workplace. 

Class Outline

• Week 1:
  Begin each Monday with Roberts Rules of Order. An agenda will be presented. The class will take turns running the Monday meetings.
  
• Week 1/2:
  Midwestern Authors: Short Story--the land
  Writing: Short writings about the land.
  Vocabulary
• Week 3/4:
  Schaap readings: The People
  Writing: Character sketches
  Vocabulary
  
• Week 5/6:
  Introduction to Manfred.
  Manfred--Siouxland
  
• Week 7/8:
  Dearfeld documentary
  Research a small town that died and report.
• Week 9/10/11:
  Who is Michael Perry quest.
  Michael Perry: living in a small town
  Critiquing our area.
  
• Week 12:
  Reading Newspapers, online sources and documents
  
• Week 13:
  Reading Newspapers, online sources and documents
• Week 14:
  Communicating for the job-have people from the community in to talk about job skills and the interview process.
  
• Week 15/16:
  Writing for the job.
  Writing memos, email messages, resumes, application letter, letter of complaint.
• Week 17/18:
  Reading comprehension of loan applications/insurance forms.