EAC139 - Basic English and Communications
| Semester | |
| School | |
| Last revision date | Jan 26, 2026 1:19:49 AM |
| Last review date | Mar 16, 2026 12:15:16 AM |
Subject Title
Basic English and Communications
Subject Description
EAC139 is a developmental course in English that focuses on grammar, vocabulary, critical reading, and writing which prepares students for EAC149. In this course, students apply principles of vocabulary and grammar to reading and writing assignments at the paragraph level.
Credit Status
EAC139 is a non-credit course in English
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject the student will be able to:
- Identify and understand basic sentence structure patterns
- Apply the proper usage of various parts of speech, tense, agreement, pronouns and punctuation in sentence and paragraph composition
- Create paragraphs that are clear, focused and well-supported
- Integrate writing skills to create structured paragraphs that are logical, coherent and well-organized
- Analyze various fiction and non-fiction passages, explain their meaning and significance, and assess the effectiveness of the writing
Academic Integrity
Seneca upholds a learning community that values academic integrity, honesty, fairness, trust, respect, responsibility and courage. These values enhance Seneca's commitment to deliver high-quality education and teaching excellence, while supporting a positive learning environment. Ensure that you are aware of Seneca's Academic Integrity Policy which can be found at: http://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/academic-integrity-policy.html Review section 2 of the policy for details regarding approaches to supporting integrity. Section 2.3 and Appendix B of the policy describe various sanctions that can be applied, if there is suspected academic misconduct (e.g., contract cheating, cheating, falsification, impersonation or plagiarism).
Please visit the Academic Integrity website http://open2.senecac.on.ca/sites/academic-integrity/for-students to understand and learn more about how to prepare and submit work so that it supports academic integrity, and to avoid academic misconduct.
Discrimination/Harassment
All students and employees have the right to study and work in an environment that is free from discrimination and/or harassment. Language or activities that defeat this objective violate the College Policy on Discrimination/Harassment and shall not be tolerated. Information and assistance are available from the Student Conduct Office at student.conduct@senecapolytechnic.ca.
Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
The College will provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities in order to promote academic success. If you require accommodation, contact the Counselling and Accessibility Services Office at ext. 22900 to initiate the process for documenting, assessing and implementing your individual accommodation needs.
Camera Use and Recordings - Synchronous (Live) Classes
Synchronous (live) classes may be delivered in person, in a Flexible Learning space, or online through a Seneca web conferencing platform such as MS Teams or Zoom. Flexible Learning spaces are equipped with cameras, microphones, monitors and speakers that capture and stream instructor and student interactions, providing an in-person experience for students choosing to study online.
Students joining a live class online may be required to have a working camera in order to participate, or for certain activities (e.g. group work, assessments), and high-speed broadband access (e.g. Cable, DSL) is highly recommended. In the event students encounter circumstances that impact their ability to join the platform with their camera on, they should reach out to the professor to discuss. Live classes may be recorded and made available to students to support access to course content and promote student learning and success.
By attending live classes, students are consenting to the collection and use of their personal information for the purposes of administering the class and associated coursework. To learn more about Seneca's privacy practices, visit Privacy Notice.
Prerequisite(s)
Placement via the EWP/ELL assessment (formerly EAP100)
Topic Outline
Students will be given classroom instruction and exercises in the following areas: the writing process, parts of speech, sentence structure, paragraph structure, editing and revision, and critical reading.
Mode of Instruction
To ensure that students are engaged as much as possible in the learning process, instructors can use such teaching methods as class and small group discussions, reading and writing tasks, individual and group presentations, readings, lectures, workshops, in-class exercises, and /or computer-aided instruction. The mode of delivery will dictate the most appropriate teaching methods available to an instructor.
Prescribed Texts
No Text required. Resources/material will be available online.
To find out the cost of books and learning material go here.
Any courses not listed on the bookstore webpage do not require any resources for purchase. All resources will be provided by your instructor.
Reference Material
Maimon, Elaine, et al., A Writer's Resource: A Handbook for Writing and Research. McGraw-Hill Ryerson
Students should possess an appropriate college-level dictionary and thesaurus.
Students are referred to the following web site for the Seneca College Library MLA Style Guide and Guide to Integrating Quotations (MLA Style).
https://library.senecapolytechnic.ca/
Student Progression and Promotion Policy
http://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/student-progression-and-promotion-policy.html
Grading Policyhttp://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/grading-policy.html
| A+ | 90% to 100% |
| A | 80% to 89% |
| B+ | 75% to 79% |
| B | 70% to 74% |
| C+ | 65% to 69% |
| C | 60% to 64% |
| D+ | 55% to 59% |
| D | 50% to 54% |
| F | 0% to 49% (Not a Pass) |
| OR | |
| EXC | Excellent |
| SAT | Satisfactory |
| UNSAT | Unsatisfactory |
For further information, see a copy of the Academic Policy, available online (http://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/academics-and-student-services.html) or at Seneca's Registrar's Offices. (https://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/registrar.html).
Modes of Evaluation
Students must complete all course work as specified and achieve an overall grade of 60% or higher in order to receive a passing grade in this course. For further information on evaluation and academic standing, see a copy of the Academic Policy available at Seneca registration offices.
Term Work:
The term work will constitute 75% of the final grade. The professor's class schedule will indicate the nature of the weekly activities as well as the assignments, their due dates, and their value.
All term work assignments must be completed prior to the time of the examination. Unless students have been granted an extension in advance, late take-home assignments will be penalized accordingly. There is no provision for rewriting late assignments, regardless of the grade awarded. Students must contact faculty in advance of due date to discuss extensions.
Make-up opportunities for assignments must also be made in advance of the scheduled due date. If an assignment is missed due to class absence, any official documentation that might be grounds for arranging a make-up opportunity must be submitted to the faculty member on or before the next scheduled class. Make-up opportunities do not apply to all graded assignments.
Final Examination:
The final examination will constitute 25% of the final grade. To pass the exam, students must demonstrate the ability to read and comprehend prose and to respond with coherent, relatively error-free paragraphs which communicate effectively.
Grading scheme:
| Written assignments | 60% |
| Reading comprehension | 15% |
| FINAL EXAM | 25% |
Grading Policy for EAC139:
- EXC: A grade of EXC will be issued upon achievement of 85% in the course.
- SAT: A grade of SAT will be issued upon achievement of 60% in the course.
- UNSAT: A grade of UNSAT will be issued if students do not achieve a grade of 60%.
Student Success:
Please come prepared to participate in class. Make sure you bring your course text to each class, participate in class discussions, hand in any assigned work on time, and attend each and every class. Following these suggestions will increase your chances of success.