READ 0097 COURSE SYLLABUS

NOTE: To obtain this document in an alternative format and/or to request accommodations, please contact Kristina Henderson in Disability Services, 770-358-5221/5056.

Should students find it necessary at any time to see their instructor or the Director of the Learning Support Program for clarification of any course related or departmental policy, to discuss their progress, or to request additional help, they should feel free to ask for an appointment.  Any student who is certified as disabled and who thus qualifies for special accommodations must provide the instructor with appropriate evidence of such certification immediately. Any student who intends to request special accommodations for this course because of a learning disability of any kind must immediately declare his or her intention to the college ADA officer.

 

NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS- Those students who do not speak English as a native language must be advised by the ESL coordinator before being enrolled in Learning Support classes. These students must schedule an appointment with Professor Denise Lowery immediately. Please call 678-359-5452 for further information.

           

GENERAL INFORMATION

Instructor: Mrs. Sandra Blythe

Office: Academics 216-C

Office Hours: M & W 12:30-2:00; T & R 12:30-3:00

E-mail: sblythe@gdn.edu

Phone: 678-359-5453

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Course content will focus on mid-level vocabulary development and remediation of basic reading skills to include literal comprehension, reorganization, inferential comprehension, and language-analysis skills. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better to exit this course.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Vocabulary                                                          Literal Main Idea                                               Inference

1. Dictionary/thesaurus                                 1. Topic                                                                 1. Drawing logical conclusions

2. Context vocabulary                                      2. Paragraph structure                                     2. Implied main idea

3. Prefixes, suffixes, roots                                3. Supporting details

 

Relationships                                                     Study Skills                                         Active Reading

1. Transitions                                                     1. Using context                                 1. Passive reading

2. Patterns of organization                             2. Mapping and outlining              2. Active reading

3. Note taking

                                                               

COURSE MATERIALS

1.      Text: Ten Steps to Building College Reading Skills/ 4th ed./John Langan.

     * You must purchase your own text by the 3rd class meeting, no sharing.

2.      College level dictionary and thesaurus

3.      Access to a  computer: Lab activities Online from Townsend Press

4.      A notebook with 5 dividers: syllabus/calendar & assignments/tests & quizzes/ vocabulary/ journal w/reading & writing responses

5.      Index cards

6.      A book of your choice: minimum 150 pages.

 

ATTENDANCE

Reading and English Learning Support students will be allowed no more than 8 absences for classes meeting four days a week and no more than 4 absences for classes meeting two days a week.  If a student exceeds the allotted amount of days, he/she will not pass the class. However, exceptions for extenuating circumstances will be handled on a case by case basis by the instructor. 

            You are expected to be in class on time and should not miss unless absolutely necessary. Attendance problems could cause you to fail even if you are passing your course work. Documentation of reason for absence is suggested but does not excuse your absence, i.e. doctor’s note or court appearance/jury duty.

 

CLASS DECORUM

            You are expected to be on time. Late arrivals are disruptive for your classmates and instructor. Please do not walk in front of your instructor; take your seat quietly. Three tardies (over 10 min. late) will be considered an absence.

            TURN OFF CELL PHONES/ELECTRONIC DEVICES. You will be asked to place your phone/electronic device on my desk if it rings or disrupts the class. You may even  be asked to leave the room if this simple courtesy is not observed and is a habit that continuously disrupts the class.

 

WRITING GUIDELINES

1.      Use blue or black ink.

2.      Skip spaces between each line.

3.      Observe right and left margins.

4.      Indent each paragraph.

5.      Writing must be legible.

** Failure to observe these guidelines will result in returned papers or even a failing grade on assigned work.

 

You are encouraged to type summaries assigned for homework; your book reports are required to be typed, also. You will have to obtain the instructor’s permission to submit legible handwritten papers.

 

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

Week 1 Aug. 17- Introduction/diagnostic testing/ Ch. 1 Dictionary Use

Week 2 Aug. 24- Ch. 2 Vocabulary in Context and Ch. 1 Vocab Online Short Version

Week 3 Aug. 31-  Major Test Ch. 1 & 2; Ch. 2  in Vocab Online plus Test on Voc./Ch. 1&2

Week 4 Sept. 7- Ch. 3/ Main Idea; Ch.3 Vocab Online

Week 5 Sept. 14-   Major Test Ch. 3; Vocab Ch. 4; Test on Vocab Ch. 3 & 4

Week 6 Sept. 21- Ch. 4 / Supporting Details

Week 7 Sept. 28-  Ch. 5/ Location of Main Idea;Vocab Ch. 6 plus Vocab Test Ch. 5& 6

Week 8 Oct. 5-  Major Test Ch. 4 & 5; Vocab Ch. 7     MIDTERM

Week 9 Oct. 14- Ch. 6 & 7/ Relationships I and II; Vocab Ch. 8 plus test Ch. 7 & 8

Week 10 Oct. 19- Major Test 6 & 7;  Vocab Ch. 9

Week 11 Oct. 26- Ch. 8/ Inferences; Vocab Ch. 10 plus test Ch. 9 & 10

Week 12 Nov. 2- Ch. 9 Implied Main Idea; Comprehensive Vocab Exam Ch. 1-10

Week 13 Nov. 9- Ch. 10 Basics of Argument

Week 14 Nov. 16- Active vs passive reading

Week 15 Nov. 23/24- Book Report           

Week 16 Dec. 1 Review for Final                                  Week 16  Dec. 7 Last Class

 

ASSIGNMENTS

            Your  assignments are due at class time on the date assigned; late assignments will receive a lower grade automatically, usually no higher than 70%. If you must miss a class, your work is still due on that day. Please call if you have a genuine emergency; you will possibly receive partial credit but not full credit.

 

 

ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES:

  1. Unexcused late assignments will not be accepted. You must show a documented emergency excuse or make arrangements in advance. A late assignment usually receives no higher than a 70, dependent upon the quality of the work. After one week the assignment will not be accepted at all and a zero will be assigned.
  2. Homework is due at the beginning of each class.
  3. Tests are announced; however, quizzes may or may not be announced. Quizzes usually are not made-up, and a grade of zero will be assigned for a missed quiz.Tests made-up within one week of your return will receive  a zero.
  4. If you arrive late for a quiz, you will be allowed to start at that point but will not be allowed extra time to make-up missed work from the beginning of that class.
  5. From time to time, your assignments, in-class and homework, will be collected for a grade.

 

BOOK REPORTS

            You are required to read a variety of short stories and books that the instructor will select and provide activities. Also, you must choose one book which must be approved by your instructor; it must be at least 150 pages and not read before coming to this class. An in-class book report is due tentatively Tues., Nov. 24. You may be asked to do an oral presentation on this book. You must do a project with this book, such as a poster, puzzle,  letter to the author, internet research, or even dress up as your favorite character. Use your creativity.

 

DIAGNOSTIC  TESTING

            Each student is tested at the beginning of the semester. One assessment is a written paragraph to give the instructor some idea of one’s written proficiency; there has been research to support a strong connection between reading and writing skills. You will also be taking tests to determine specific areas of weakness. The instructor will make appropriate recommendations which will focus on specific areas of difficulty. A post test will be given at the end of the semester to assess progress.

 

GRADES

            Your grades are composed of daily/weekly assignments, lab, vocabulary, and test scores.

 

Homework/Class/Lab                      25%

Chapter tests/Book Reports              25%

Vocabulary                                           25%

Final Exam                                           25%  Departmental Requirement

 

A= 90%-100%    B= 80%-89%   C= 70%-79%    Below 70%= F% for the final grade

A daily grade of 60%-69%= D, lowest acceptable daily grade

 

IP%= Average below 70, good attendance, and some progress

F %= Average below 70, poor attendance, lack of effort, or no progress

W %= Withdrawn before midterm

WF%= Withdrawn after midterm

 

 EXITING  READ 0097 REQUIREMENTS

            A student who passes the class with a C average (70 %) or higher  will be allowed to take the READ 0097 final exam. Also,  you must make 65% or higher on the departmental final in order to pass the class with a C and qualify to take READ 0099. The time for the final exam will be announced later.

 

NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS

            When you pass READ 0097 with a C or better, you will proceed to READ 0099. If you do not pass READ 0097 on your first attempt, you will get one additional semester to pass the course. All students who do not pass READ 0097 after their second attempt will be suspended with no right to appeal. If suspended, you cannot be considered for readmission for three years.

 

RESOURCES

1.      Your instructor

2.      Writing and computer labs

3.      Your textbook

4.      Internet sources provided by your instructor

 

ACADEMIC HONESTY

            You expected to submit your own work that has been completed for this course during this semester. Plagiarism and/or cheating will have serious consequences; it is your responsibility to consult the Gordon College Academic Catalog for explicit details.

 

IMPORTANT DATES

Non-fiction book (instructor’s choice) report due Thursday, Oct. 1

Mid-term Thurs, Oct. 8 --- Last day to withdraw without penalty

FALL BREAK: Oct. 12 & 13

Book report due Tues., Nov. 24. Tentative

READ 0097 FINAL EXAM: To Be Announced

 

Registration information as of Spring semester, 2009

Effective spring semester, 2009 Learning Support students will not be allowed to register for courses for which you are not currently eligible (the courses prohibited by your current Learning Support requirements).  Students will also not be allowed to register for the next level of Learning Support or for the next college credit course in that area.  After your final exam (in 0097) or the COMPASS (in 0099/0098) grades will be reported and your Learning Support status will be updated in BANNER.  If you were eligible to self register during early registration and have been advised, you may then adjust your schedule to include the next level of learning support or the next college credit course in that area.

 

During early registration, if you have 2 or 3 Learning Support requirements, your adviser will register you for at most 11 credit hours of coursework.  After grades are reported and your Learning Support status is updated, if you then have only one or no Learning Support requirements and have been advised, you will be able to complete your own schedule in BANNER.  If you still have 2 or 3 Learning Support requirements, you will schedule a follow-up appointment with your adviser to complete your schedule.  Advisers will be available by appointment until 5:00 on the third day of the final exam schedule.