James M. Michel
Lecturer
Academic Literacy and Linguistics
EMAIL: jamichel@bmcc.cuny.edu
Office: N-482
Office Hours:
Phone: +1 (212) 776-7858
James (Jamie) Michel is a Lecturer in the BMCC/CUNY Academic Literacy and Linguistics Department.
Michel is a member of BMCC’s Safe Zone and the Pride Planning Committee, and he is the founder of the BMCC’s Music Production Faculty Interest Group. He is also involved in the Open Educational Resources initiative at BMCC, which creates access to free, open-source classroom materials for students in courses including his own literacy and critical thinking classes.
Expertise
Degrees
- B.A. University of Wisconsin, Madison, Theatre Studies, with a Certificate in African Studies,
- M.S. Concordia University of Wisconsic, Madison, Education,
- M.A. New York University, Humantities and Social Thought,
Courses Taught
- This course is designed to help students understand a) how diverse children and adolescents learn, acquire, and utilize literacy skills and engage in literacy practices in varied contexts and b) how to support children's literacy and development through culturally relevant practices. Students will analyze how cultural values affect beliefs about what it means to be literate in childhood and adolescence, and students will examine the relationship between cultural values, literacy practices, families, and communities. Students will practice meaningful strategies that will help them understand how to integrate literacy into family and community-based settings.
- Critical Thinking (Same as CRT 100) is designed to develop the mind and help students learn to think clearly and effectively. Through substantive readings, structured writing assignments and ongoing discussions, students will examine concrete examples from their own experience and readings and contemporary issues in the media to learn how to analyze issues, solve problems, and make informed decisions in their academic, professional, and personal lives.
- 3 CRS.6 HRS.NULL LAB HRS.CRT 100.6 (Critical Thinking for ESL Reading & Writing Proficiency (Same as CRT 100))
- This course combines Critical Thinking (CRT 100) with the highest level of ESL. Critical Thinking is designed to develop the mind and help sharpen students' ability to think clearly, logically, thoroughly, critically, and effectively. Through substantive readings, structured writing assignments and ongoing discussions, students will learn to use analytical skills in reading, writing, oral presentations, researching, and listening. Students will examine concrete examples from their own experience and readings and contemporary issues in the media to learn how to analyze issues, solve problems, and make informed decisions in their academic, professional, and personal lives.
While studying Critical Thinking, ESL students will also study advanced level reading and writing to master and apply a full range of college-level reading and writing skills including critical comprehension, flexible rates of reading, essay organization, paragraph development, sentence structure, vocabulary and word choice, content, and study strategies. Students read and respond to a variety of texts and use argumentation, narrative, and description as modes of developing ideas in writing.
Students will receive an earned grade in CRT 100.6, which is equivalent to a grade earned in CRT 100.
This is an accelerated course that combines credit-bearing and developmental content. Passing CRT 100.6 meets the reading and writing proficiency milestone requirements. Students who pass CRT 100.6 are exempt from further ESL reading and writing courses. CRT 100.6 may not be taken by students who have passed CRT 100 or are exempt from reading and writing.
Please note: Tuition for this corequisite course is charged by the equated credit (hours) not per credit.
