Leigh Somerville
Lecturer
Academic Literacy and Linguistics
EMAIL: lsomerville@bmcc.cuny.edu
Office: N-481
Office Hours:
Phone: +1 (212) 776-6318
Leigh Somerville has taught at the college level for nearly 15 years. She teaches English as a Second Language, Critical Thinking, and Co-requisite classes. Prior to joining the faculty at BMCC, she taught at Queens College and Columbia University. She is particularly interested in finding new approaches to the editing process in academic writing, helping students to develop better reading habits outside of the classroom, and the use of collective efficacy within a higher education learning environment.
Expertise
Degrees
Courses Taught
- 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. - 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.
- This course is designed to improve the reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills of beginning and low-intermediate level students. It is obligatory for one semester for all incoming ESL students whose placement shows a need for instruction at this level.
Corequisite: ESL 49
