Course Objectives: In this course you will. . .English 085 Calendar: Fall 2008what can we learn about racism, discrimination, responding to oppression? Level 3: your experiences with any kind of discrimination—as the one with either more or less power.Poetry Unit Test/Vocabulary TestShort Stories Unit /Vocab TestReviewing where we are in terms of our goals… What do we still need to address?Essays Unit Test /Vocab TestFinal ConferencesPersonal Reading Project Presentations Final Q’sExpository and Vocabulary Log TestPersonal Reading Project PresentationsJackson Community College Fall 2008English 085, College Reading Course SyllabusJCC@ LISD TECH Monday and WednesdayAnn Iseda, Foundation Studies CoordinatorJCC @ LISD TECH Rm. 206, Office Hours [email protected] 517-265-5515 ext 2206Dear Student,Welcome to college Reading Essentials. This introduction to reading course is a four credithour course that emphasizes reading comprehension and study strategies to help you prepare for college level classes. This class is set up as a workshop instead of as a lecture class. This means that we will work together to increase reading comprehension, as well as, strengthen study strategies and critical thinking skills. By the end of the term, it is myhope that you will read intelligently for information gathering and understanding, as well as, for pleasure. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns you may have during the term. I’m looking forward to working with you.Respectfully,Ann IsedaTextbooks:1. Introduction to Critical Reading, 6th edition by Barnwell and McCraney2. The Last Lecture, 3. A small portable dictionary (Must be carried daily)Supplies:1. 1 large Multi-subject wide line paper notebook with pockets2. 1 folder for the syllabus and calendar of assignments 1 folder for a personal reading project 3. Local Library CardClass Time:Each class meeting will include a variety of learning opportunities. This is not a class that relies on the instructor lecturing for the whole class period. Instead, the class meetings will include whole-class discussions, small-group discussions, limitedinstruction by me, quizzes, and some reading. My hope is that you will find the class to be challenging, fun at times, and worth our effort. Your active participation in class and group discussions will be expected and will make the class more effective for all participants.Course Objectives: In this course you will. . . 1. Improve your reading comprehension. 2. Make connections between what you read and your own experiences. 3. Write clear summaries of what you read. 4. Develop a range of study skills and strategies5. Combine information from several reading sources6. Read for pleasure and for information. Associate Degree Outcomes: The JCC Board of Trustees has developed a list of essentialskills that all graduates should develop. The Board has said:JCC’s goal is to prepare students to live productive and meaningful lives. Implicit in thisgoal are efforts to prepare students to: (a) live and work in the 21st century, (b) be employed in situations which will require retraining several times during a productive life, and (c) function in a rapidly changing international society.In support of these guidelines, ENG 085 students will develop critical thinking skills, including the ability to1. Generate questions about text before and while reading.2. Identify impact of emotion on thought.3. Distinguish between fact, opinion and inference.4. Recognize bias in a piece of writing.5. Incorporate new knowledge with old.Following are some methods we’ll utilize to address these goals and assess our progress:1. Nelson-Denny Reading Test, given at the beginning and end of the course.2. Reading journals—writing summaries about reading materials and making connections between what you read and your own life experience or observations.3. Expand vocabulary by creating your own Vocabulary Log and practicing methods to improve your contextual guesses.4. Learn and implement new study skills and habits by utilizing Cornerstone and completing a cornerstone journalAssessing your Reading SkillsAt the beginning and end of the semester, you will take the Nelson-Denny Reading Test. One of your personal goals should be to read a lot and work hard in order to improveyour comprehension test scores. I can almost guarantee your scores will improve if you attend class regularly, spend the necessary time doing homework, do all the assigned work, participate actively in class activities, and get assistance with any work you find confusing or difficult.Grades:Your final course grade will be assigned according to a 4-point scale. The assignments are weighted for this class as follows:Critical Reading Journal 15% Daily Quizzes 15% Comprehensive Unit tests w/vocabulary (5 each) 20%Vocabulary Log 10%Personal Reading (2) Fiction, Biography (choice) 5/ea 10% Reading Project and Presentation 20%Participation 10%Final course grades will be assigned as follows:A 4.0 94 - 100 B+ 3.5 88 - 93 B 3.0 82 - 87 C+ 2.5 76 - 81C 2.0 70 - 75 D+ 1.5 64 - 69D 1.0 60 - 63 D- .5 56 - 59F 0 <55Specific Course AssignmentsAssignments and time management:You will receive a calendar of readings and assignments. You are expected to read the assigned materials and do journal writing and other work before class begins. I suggest that you plan out your week, allotting enough time to complete the assigned work. Generally, you should plan to spend three or four hours preparing for every two hour class. If you have any questions about an assignment, please ask me about them. Pleasedon’t wait until it is time to hand in the assignment to tell me you did not understand it or for some other reason could not complete it.1) Reading Journal for Introduction to Critical Reading 15% of Grade: You are expected to read the assigned works and also to write about them in your Reading Journal before class on the date listed on the reading schedule. In your notebook, you will focus on three levels of meaning:a) Literal Level: Summarize, in your own words, what the words on the pages are saying. Here the focus is on the words of the text.b) Interpretive Level: Read between the lines. What are the author’s intentions in writing this? What lessons is she/he trying to convey? Quote from the text to support your interpretations. Here the focus is on the author’s ideas.c) Applied