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 combines Literacy in American Society: Contexts & Practices (ACR 150) with Academic and Critical Reading. Literacy in American Society asks students to investigate the varieties of literacy behaviors in American society as sociocultural phenomena. Students will be exposed to the research of major scholars in the interdisciplinary field of literacy research (e.g., New Literacy Studies) as a means of considering the role literacy and literacy behavior plays, both historically and in a contemporary context, in a diverse American society. Students will analyze the various definitions of literacy and track the development of multiple literacies in American society, specifically studying the transmission of literacy as a cultural value, particularly in oppressed communities. The course will provide the students with the opportunity to analyze and reflect on their personal relationship with literacy and opportunities for upward mobility in a stratified United States. Students will receive an earned grade in ACR 150.5 that is equivalent to a grade earned in ACR 150.
This is an accelerated course that combines credit-bearing and developmental content. Passing ACR 150.5 meets the reading proficiency milestone requirement; students who pass ACR 150.5 are exempt from further developmental reading courses. ACR 150.5 may not be taken by students who have passed ACR 150 or ACR 95 or are exempt from Reading.
Please note: Tuition for this corequisite course is charged by the equated credit (hours) not per credit. - 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 100.5 (Critical Thinking for Reading and Writing (Same as CRT 100))
- This course combines Critical Thinking (CRT 100) with Academic and Critical Reading and Writing. 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 their academic, professional, and personal lives. While studying Critical Thinking, 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 will receive an earned grade in CRT 100.5 which is equivalent to a grade earned in CRT 100.
This is an accelerated course that combines credit-bearing and developmental content. Passing CRT 100.5 meets the reading and writing proficiency milestone requirements; students who pass CRT 100.5 are exempt from further developmental reading and writing courses. CRT 100.5 may not be taken by students who have passed CRT 100 or ACR 95 or are exempt from Reading and Writing.
Please note: Tuition for this corequisite course is charged by the equated credit (hours) not per credit. - This course combines CRT 100 and ESL 95. As a CRT 100 course, this class 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. As an ESL 95 course, this is an intensive writing class for ESL students, which focuses on basic components of effective writing, including essay organization, paragraph development, sentence structure, word choice, and content. Students read and respond to a variety of texts and use argumentation, narrative, and description as modes of developing ideas in writing. To pass this course and continue on to English 101, students must receive a passing score on the CUNY Assessment Test in Writing (CATW).
CRT 100.6 may not be taken by students who have passed CRT 100 or ESL 95 or are exempt from Writing.
Please note: Tuition for this corequisite course is charged by the equated credit (hours) not per credit.
