How to Use
- Page ID
- 358696
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)About College Success and Advanced ESL Writing
College Success and Advanced ESL Writing is an Open Educational Resource (OER) that helps students build confidence in reading and writing in preparation for (pre-) first-year college writing. Starting with strategies for active reading and note-taking, it walks learners step by step through the writing process. With adaptable materials for teachers and clear supports for students, the textbook connects practical skills with a deeper understanding of the learning process.
Materials Provided
- Printable worksheets for essay planning and peer-editing
- Example essay in Google Docs (MLA 8th edition)
- Reflection exercises (Unit 9)
- Additional resources (Unit 10)
How to Use
College Success and Advanced ESL Writing is designed to be used alongside assigned readings and essay-writing projects, giving students practice in analyzing, responding to, and building on other authors' ideas through academic writing. This textbook include worksheets that guide learners step by step as they summarize key points, organize evidence, and construct clear arguments -- skills essential for success in college-level coursework. Students build resilience and learn to incorporate feedback through multiple-draft revision, supported by self-editing checklists, peer feedback, and writing conferences with the instructor. Along the way, students also build technical skills in Google Docs, examine model student essays, and practice using rubrics to guide and strengthen revision. Reflection is integrated into process, encouraging students to think about how they learn, recognize their progress, and apply new strategies to future writing tasks.
Major Source Material
This guide is a pared-down version of Winer and Waddell's Reading, Writing, Research, and Reasoning: An Advanced ESL Text (2022). I've intentionally kept it concise to help teachers go deeper with a few essential writing practices. If you want a more in-depth version, I highly recommend checking out their textbook.
If you would like more details on how to guide students through learning process, reading and note-taking, and study skills - check out OpenStax: Preparing for College Success (2023).
Teaching Tips
These tips are for both English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) teachers and faculty who teach writing in any discipline, especially those without formal training in supporting multilingual learners. The strategies below are organized into three areas: supporting real-time communication, improving accessibility and comprehension, and fostering lifelong learning.
Supporting real-time communication
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Speak slowly and clearly so students can follow. Use shorter sentences.
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Allow for wait time (pause for longer) after asking questions so learners can process.
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Check for understanding by asking students to restate instructions.
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Encourage peer support, even in languages other than English.
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Be direct. Avoid (or least, explain) idioms, jargon, and/or colloquial expressions.
Improving accessibility and comprehension
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Read aloud together during class (one speaker at a time) to check comprehension.
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Pronounce key vocabulary words as a group for practice (teacher speaks, then students as class).
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Write legibly and in large print for all students can see.
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Create a shared "class notes" Google Doc for readability (screen projection) and review.
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Use visual and examples (charts, diagrams, sample sentences) to reinforce meaning.
Fostering lifelong learning
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Demonstrate online tools (e.g., Merriam-Webster, YouGlish) for independent study.
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Break tasks into smaller steps to reduce overwhelm.
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Model experimentation to show that trying new strategies is part of learning.
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Measure and celebrate progress to build confidence and resilience.
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Encourage student reflection (e.g., ask students what strategies help them most).
This is an Open Educational Resource - please use, adapt, and remix!
This OER was developed with the support of the ZTC Grant Program funded by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. It is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0), which means it’s free to use, adapt, and share for educational purposes.
