ENGLISH 8085

Basic Reading

Fall 2003

Tuesday, Thursday 2-3:15

One additional lab hour is required Rm. 6534

_____ _______________________________________________________________________

Professor: Office Hours: M: 11;

Dr. Jean A. Dietrich T: 11-1, W: 10-12, R 11.

Room 3246, 825-2361 Virtual Office Hour: TBA

jdietrich@ccri.edu

Required Texts:

Guide to College Reading. Kathleen T. McWhorter, 2003 and Tell No One, Harlan Coben, 2001

Required Supplies:

Three-ring binder, paper, and writing instruments

Dividers with pockets or folder with pockets

Three-hole punch and stapler

Planner

Post-it notes (one pad 3 x 3" size and one pad 1 ½ x 2" size)

Floppy disk for use in Reading Lab

Course Description and Objectives:

Students who need to improve their ability to read college level material, as indicated by their reading placement test score, are required to enroll in this course. At the completion of this course, the successful student will:

Improve their ability to comprehend text materials by gaining an understanding of the reading process and the importance of recognizing the main idea, supporting details, and patterns of organization.

Increase their reading vocabulary.

Learn how to pronounce new words and to use a dictionary and thesaurus (linguistics).

Use technology to gather information, communicate with others, and practice reading skills.

Grading*:

In-class assignments, quizzes and homework..…..………40%

Additional lab hour……………………..………………..10%

Three exams …………….…………………..….…..……35%

Final exam………………..…………………….………..15%

A grade of C or better is required for advancement into English 8090.

*Students with documented disabilities, please make an appointment with me before the second class meeting so that we may discuss accommodations needed and work out an equitable method for evaluating your class performance.

The Fine Print:

Reading is a skill that improves with practice. Class time will be spent practicing reading skills and collaborating with others. Attendance will be taken at the start of class. Please arrive on time and stay until the end of class. Being late or leaving early three times equals one absence. Being more than 10 minutes late or leaving more than 10 minutes early results in an absence. If you are absent more than 6 times you will not pass the class.

Assignments are due at the start of class. As the three lowest assignment grades will be dropped, no late assignments will be accepted. You must bring your text to class everyday.

Make-up tests are generally not allowed. With a doctor’s note, make-ups will be considered, but not guaranteed. If class is cancelled due to inclement weather or other emergency, assignments and exams will be automatically scheduled for the next class meeting.

Treat me and your fellow students with courtesy and respect. If you are disruptive, discourteous, sleeping or inattentive, I will ask you to leave.

 

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Date Topic/Activity
Week 1 9/4 Thurs.

 

Syllabus, introductions, reading model

Assignment for next class: Get text and supplies, Pipeline PIN.

Week 2 9/9 Tues.

9/11 Thurs.

Introduction to technology, assessments

Ch. 1, vocabulary, novel

Week 3 9/16 Tues.

9/18

Check-in, Ch. 1, vocabulary

Ch. 2, vocabulary, novel

Week 4 9/23 Tues.

9/25

Check-in, Ch. 5, vocabulary

Ch. 5, vocabulary, novel

Week 5 9/30

10/2

Check-in, Chapter 6, vocabulary

Ch. 6, vocabulary, novel

Week 6 10/7

10/9

Check-in, prepare for exam, vocabulary

Check-in, EXAM # 1

Week 7 10/14

10/16

Review exam, Ch. 7, vocabulary

NO CLASSES

Week 8 10/21

10/23

Check-in, Ch. 7, vocabulary

Ch. 8, vocabulary, novel

Week 9 10/28

10/30

Check-in, Ch. 8, vocabulary

Ch. 9, vocabulary, novel

Week 10 11/4

11/6

Check-in, Ch. 9, vocabulary

Check-in, review for exam, vocabulary

Week 11 11/11

11/13

NO CLASSES

Check-in, EXAM # 2,

Week 12 11/18

11/20

Check-in, Ch. 10, vocabulary

Ch. 10, vocabulary, novel

Week 13 11/25

11/27

Check-in, Ch. 11, vocabulary

THANKSGIVING

Week 14 12/2

12/4

Check-in, Ch. 11, vocabulary

Ch. 12, vocabulary, novel

Week 15

12/9

12/11

Check-in, prepare for exam, vocabulary

Check-in, EXAM # 3

Final Exam Week 12/16-12/19 Final Project and exam – Date to be announced

This syllabus is subject to change and may be amended at any time during the semester.