Syllabi for Shultz
College Prep Reading II (REA0002) SyllabusInstructor: Megan Shultz Term/Year: Full Summer 2011Meeting Location: Building 8 room 245 E-mail: mshultz1@valenciacollege.eduCOURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed for students who score below 83 on the CPT or an equivalent score on another state approved test. Course content includes:
• Review and reinforcement of reading comprehension strategies
• Emphasis on critical reading, thinking, and writing skills
• Strategies for vocabulary development
• Introduction/utilization of computer skills for written assignments
• Effective study skills for college success
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Textbook: Reading Across the Disciplines by McWhorter (bookstore building 5)Thinking Through the Test, 3rd. Ed., D.J. Henry, Mimi Markus (bookstore
building 5)
Lab portfolio – Personalized Learning Plan (bookstore building 5)Supplies: folder/binder, highlighter, index cards (optional), mini-stapler (optional)
COURSE OBJECTIVES:This course has been designed to offer opportunities to improve those reading skills essential to meaningful, effective textbook study. The following course objectives are also CLAST competencies. They are indicated by the numbers in parentheses following each skill.
I. Comprehension Improvement:
Reading is the process of receiving and assimilating ideas and information from written material. Effective reading includes both literal and critical comprehension of sentences, paragraphs and longer passages. Since literal comprehension is a requirement for critical comprehension, students’ highest priority will be to develop literal comprehension skills. Numbers in parentheses indicate level reading competencies that correspond to objectives.
A. Literal Comprehension Skills
1. Recognizing main ideas in a given passage (a. l)
2. Identifying supporting details (a.2)
3. Determining the meanings of words on the basis of context (a.3)
B. Critical Comprehension Skills
1. Recognizing the author’s purpose (b.1)
2. Identifying the author’s overall organizational pattern (b.2)
3. Distinguishing between statement of fact and statement of opinion (b.3)
4. Detecting bias (b.4)
5. Recognizing author’s tone (b.5)
6. Recognizing explicit and implicit relationships within sentences (b.6)
7. Recognizing explicit and implicit relationships between sentences (b.7)
8. Recognizing valid arguments (b.8)
9. Drawing logical inferences and conclusions (b.9)
II. Vocabulary Development
A. Using the context to understand the meaning of a new or unfamiliar word (a.3)
B. Learning and using common word parts to determine the meaning of new words
C. Recognizing that every word represents a concept and serves as a graphic symbol of that concept
D. Recognize the connotation of words
CORE COMPETENCIES:
Core Competencies: Valencia faculty has defined four interrelated competencies that prepare students to succeed in the world community. In this course, through classroom lecture and discussion, group work and other learning activities, you will further develop your mastery of these core competencies.
VALUE: make reasoned value judgments and reasonable commitments
A. Recognize values as expressed in attitudes, choices and commitments.
B. Distinguish among personal, ethical, cultural and scientific values.
C. Employ values and standards of judgment from different disciplines.
D. Evaluate your own and others’ values from individual, cultural and global perspectives.
E. Articulate a considered and self-determined set of values with empathy and fair-mindedness, individually and in groups.
THINK clearly, critically, and creatively. Analyze, synthesize, integrate and evaluate in many domains of human inquiry
H. Analyze data, ideas patterns, principles, perspectives
I. Employ the facts, formulas, procedures of the discipline
J. Integrate ideas and values from different discipline
K. Draw well-supported conclusions
L. Revise conclusions consistent with new observations, interpretation, or reasons with curiosity and consistency, individually and in groups
COMMUNICATE with varied audiences using varied means
A. Identify your own strengths and need for improvement as communicator
B. Employ methods of communication appropriate to your audience and purpose
C. Evaluate the effectiveness of your own and others’ communication by speaking, listening, reading and writing, verbally, non-verbally and visually with honesty and civility in different disciplines and settings.
ACT purposefully, reflectively and responsibly
A. Apply disciplinary knowledge, skills and values to educational and career goals
B. Implement effective problem-solving, decision-making, and goal-setting strategies
C. Act effectively and appropriately in various personal and professional settings
D. Assess the effectiveness of personal behavior and choices
E. Respond to changing circumstances with courage and perseverance, individually and in groups in your personal, professional and community life COURSE REQUIREMENTS:This course meets 150 minutes per week. Each student is expected to read and complete all assignments. In addition, all supplemental exercises prescribed by the instructor must be completed successfully and turned in at a specified time. Students are expected to maintain an accurate, up-to-date folder of assignments. Students are also expected to check their Atlas e-mail and/or the Atlas class message board daily.
ATTENDANCE:
Students are expected to attend all class sessions for which they have registered. Class attendance and participation are significant factors that promote college success.
In the event that you need to miss class, please be aware of the following policies:
Classes that meet Monday/Wednesday/Friday:3 Absences (150 minutes) = an excessive absence notice (withdrawal warning) will be sent via Atlas e-mail 4 Absences (200 minutes) = automatic withdrawal from the course Arriving late to class is unacceptable. You are expected to arrive on time to every class session. Any tardy of 10 minutes or more will be counted as an absence. Classes that meet Monday/Wednesday: 2 Absences (150 minutes) = an excessive absence notice (withdrawal warning) will be sent via Atlas e-mail 3 Absences (225 minutes) = automatic withdrawal from the course Arriving late to class is unacceptable. You are expected to arrive on time to every class session. Any tardy of 10 minutes or more will be counted as an absence. Classes that meet Tuesday/Thursday: 2 Absences (150 minutes) = an excessive absence notice (withdrawal warning) will be sent via Atlas e-mail 3 Absences (225 minutes) = automatic withdrawal from the course Arriving late to class is unacceptable. You are expected to arrive on time to every class session. Any tardy of 10 minutes or more will be counted as an absence. MAKE UP AND LATE WORK POLICIES: If you arrive to class unprepared, late work will NOT be accepted. “My printer broke” or “My computer was down” or “I did the wrong assignment” are not valid excuses and do not warrant the acceptance of late or missed work. Late work will only be accepted on the day following an absence. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to check the class message board on Atlas for missed assignments and class work to ensure you are prepared for the next class meeting. This means you must return to class following an absence prepared with both the work that is due that day, and the work that was due the day you were absent. “I was absent” is not an excuse for returning to class unprepared. YOU MUST CHECK THE MESSAGE BOARD AND/OR ATLAS E-MAIL (depending on instructor’s preference.)! If you know you’re going to be absent, you are welcome to submit an assignment in advance. To access the message board:-Log-in to Atlas
-Go to your current class schedule
-Select the REA02 course
-Go to the message board
ASSIGNMENTS: Class assignments, textbook assignments, assigned Readings, and other homework will be expected at the beginning of the class period. TESTING:All tests are to be taken during the designated time identified by the instructor. Any exceptions are at the discretion of the instructor. It is the students’ responsibility to contact the instructor concerning a missed test or quiz. If no contact is made within the assigned week of the test, a “0” will automatically be recorded.
GRADING:
Grades in REA 0002 are based on successful completion of all assignments enumerated in Grade Weight Distribution.
Grading Scale:90 – 100 = A
80 – 89 = B
70 – 79 = C
Below 70 = F
NOTE: In order to pass College Prep Reading II (REA0002), you must have an overall grade of 70% or higher in the class, 70% or higher in the lab, AND you must pass the State Exit Exam. Grade Weight Distribution:| Text Assignments: Assigned readings, Practice Exercises, Review Tests, Mastery Tests, Combined Skills Mastery Tests, Class Participation, Collaborative Activities, and Other Course Assignments | 40% |
| Unit Tests | 40% |
Lab (You must complete AND pass lab to pass REA 0002.) Complete all lab assignments online, as assigned by the instructor. (Labs can be done anywhere you have access to the Internet.) Lab assignments must be completed by the due dates announced in class and/or on the message board or Atlas e-mail. | 20% |
| Portfolio (Folder/Notebook) – You will be required to submit a portfolio of all your course work, as well as textbook pages completed during the semester. It is mandatory that you submit this portfolio on final exam day. Failure to submit the portfolio will result in automatic failure of the course regardless of your course grade. | Pass/Fail |
FINAL EXAMINATION:
All students are required to attend class on final exam day.
Final Exam Date: _________________________ Time: ______________
Failure to attend class on final exam day (on time) will result in automatic failure of the REA02 course, regardless of your overall grade. State Exit Exam:Students enrolled in REA 0002 must pass the competency exam (State Exit Exam) with a score of 70% (scoring 26 out of 36 questions correctly) in order to pass College Prep Reading II.
All students are required to attend the State Exit Exam.
State Exit Exam:Date: _______________ Time: _______________ Location: _Classroom_ State Exit Exam Retake: Date: ________________ Time: _______________ Location: ___________________ WITHDRAWAL POLICY: Valencia has a withdrawal policy (effective Session 1-97/98) that may affect cost of classes. Through July 2, 2011, students will be able to withdraw from any class without attempt penalty (They will receive a W). After that date, if students withdraw, it will count as an attempt which will affect the cost of repeat classes. The Florida Legislature passed a bill which states that for the third attempt of a college-level class, the cost will be the same as out of state tuition. The WP/WF grade withdrawal deadline is still in effect. The Withdrawal Deadline is August 2, 2011. After that date if students withdraw, they will receive a WP (withdraw passing) or a WF (withdraw failing) through August 2, 2011 (the last day of classes). If students do not take the final examination and have not withdrawn themselves, they will receive an F for the course. Students can withdraw through ATLAS. There will also be midterm assessments and excessive absence notices that students will receive through ATLAS before the deadline date. It is the students’ responsibility to check ATLAS periodically for these notices. CLASSES WILL NOT MEET: Monday, July 4th 2011 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Students requiring special accommodations must provide official documentation from the Office of Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss special needs with the professor, preferably in the first week of class. STUDENT ETHICS:Students are expected to abide by the college’s honesty policy and code of conduct as stated in the catalog. Cheating is NEVER acceptable. Submitting someone else’s work as your own, plagiarism, copying another student’s answers, and giving your answers to other students are all forms of cheating. Any student involved in cheating will receive a “0 for that assignment. Any additional action deemed necessary will be taken at the discretion of the instructor.
CLASSROOM CONDUCT:The culture of the college classroom requires individual responsibility and accountability for learning and classroom participation. Achievement in the reading process is grounded in a positive attitude and mastery of various reading strategies in order to ensure success. All students are expected to engage in classroom and out-of-class learning activities in order to show proficiency in such skills at the college level. It is therefore necessary and expected that all students will have a positive attitude toward and participate in all classroom activities in a manner that is conducive to the learning process for themselves and others. Your presence, participation, and success in this class will be viewed as a partnership in the learning process. If, for any reason, a student’s classroom conduct interferes with the teaching process or the learning of others, the student will be requested to leave the classroom and an absence for the day will be recorded. Any subsequent disruption will be processed according to Valencia Community College Code of Student Conduct procedures.
CELL PHONES AND ANY OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES MUST BE INACTIVE (TURNED OFF) DURING CLASS TIME. LAPTOPS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THIS COURSE. CAMPUS INFORMATION: To contact one of the following VCC centers via phone, dial 407-582 + the extension.Instructional Media Center (IMC) Bldg. 4, Room 101, Phone ext. 2337
Learning Resources Center (LRC) Bldg. 4, Room 201 (2nd floor), Phone ext. 2459
Microcomputer Learning Center Bldg. 4, Room 101, Phone ext. 2430
Reading/Writing Center Bldg. 4, Room 120, Phone ext. 2795
Testing Center Bldg. 4, Room 122, Phone ext.2704
DISCLAIMER: The instructor reserves to the right to make changes to the syllabus and course outline at any time during the semester. Any changes will be announced in the form of a revised syllabus or verbal announcement in class. If you are absent when important announcements or changes are made, you are still responsible for the information. It is your responsibility to communicate with your instructor, and check the class message board and/or Atlas e-mail, to ensure you don’t miss critical information. I, _________________________ agree to the terms of this syllabus. I understand about absences and late assignments.Signed: ___________________________________________________________________
REA2 AGENDA: READING ACROSS THE DISCIPLINES (TTTT) THINKING THROUGH THE TEST (BRING BOTH TO CLASS ON A DAILY BASIS)
*Ongoing Reading and Discussion from the Academic Disciplines*
****TO BE ANNOUNCED IN CLASS EACH WEEK****
Week 1: Introduction to the Course & Textbook: “Introduction” Ice Breaker, Diagnostic
Week 2: Chapter 7 – Organizing Ideas- Highlighting, Annotating
Week 3: Chapter 2 – Vocabulary Development & Learning Module (LM)
Week 4: Chapter 2 – Vocabulary Development, Word Parts, TTTT
Week 5: Chapter 3 – Thesis, Main Idea, Supporting Details, Transitions, TTTT &
***UNIT TEST 1 COVERING CHAPTERS 2 & 7 AND CLASS NOTES
Week 6: Chapter 3 - Thesis, Main Idea, Supporting Details, Transitions & LMs
Week 7: Chapter 4 – Organizational Patterns & LM
Week 8: Chapter 4 – Organizational Patterns, TTTT & ***UNIT TEST 2 COVERING
CHAPTER 3 AND CLASS NOTES
Week 9: Chapter 5- Making Inferences & LM
Week 10: Chapter 5 – Making Inferences, TTTT
Week 11: Chapter 6 Critical Reading (Subjective, Objective) & LM
Week 12: Chapter 6 Critical Reading, TTTT, ***UNIT TEST 3 COVERING CHAPTER
4 & 5 AND CLASS NOTES
Week 13: BIAS & Practice & Review for Exit Exam
Week 14: TTTT, Practice State Exit Exams,***UNIT TEST 4 COVERING CHAPTER6,
BIAS AND CLASS NOTES
Week 15: State Exit Exams & Retake (Classroom to be announced)
Week 16: Final Exam (Follow Atlas final exam schedule)