ENG 080-72 WINTER 2009 LEN 223 Tues and Thurs 12:30-2:26 pm Danella Small [email protected] IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS THAT CANNOT BE ADDRESSED IN CLASS, I WILL BE AVAILABLE 1 HOUR BEFORE CLASS Textbook and Supplies (1) Voices and Values by Janet M. Goldstein & Beth Johnson (2) Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Albom (3) Portable dictionary (required) and Thesaurus (optional) (4) 2 Spiral notebooks: must be single-subject, college rule, size 8” x 10½” (5) A folder for loose papers (6) Some books of your own choosing that you will read for pleasure and tell us about Course Goals: In this course you will. . . 1. Improve your reading comprehension and increase your vocabulary. 2. Make connections between what you read and your own experiences. 3. Write clear summaries of what you read. 4. Learn effective study strategies. 5. Combine information from several reading sources. (e.g., for culture project) 6. Read for pleasure and for information. (personal reading, culture project, text) Principles of reading skill development: 1) The more you invest time and effort in reading, the more your reading skills will develop. 2) Reading differs from watching TV in that it requires vigorous mental activity. Be alert and actively seek out what the author wants to say by asking questions, making guesses and predictions, reflecting on ideas, and drawing on your own knowledge and experience as you read. 3) Pay attention to how the author organizes ideas, noticing heading titles, bold or italicized words, central themes, patterns, etc. (Noticing how writers organize their ideas can also make you a better writer). Reading, and writing about what you have read increases comprehension. Assignments 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 starts. I suggest you plan out your week, allotting enough time to complete the assigned work. Generally, you should plan to spend 3-4 hours preparing for every 2-hour class (That means up to 8 hours per week doing reading and writing for this class.) If you have any questions about an assignment, please let me know. Do not waituntil it is time to hand the assignment in to tell me you didn’t understand it or for some other reason could not complete it. READING JOURNAL: Voices and Values ( 30% of grade) Your calendar tells you which essay to study for each class. You will read the assigned works and complete the assigned First Impressions as well as the exercises provided in your text. These must be completed before the class begins. Put this work in your workbook .In addition you will keep a journal recording your reactions to the reading assignment. Start every journal entry on the top line of the right-hand page of your notebook. Write to the end of each line and do not skip any lines. Do not copy the questions or long quotes from the book—write your words, not the author’s words, and not the words of a classmate. When we read Tuesdays with Morrie, you will have study guide questions to answer, and the same grading criteria will apply. PERSONAL READING (20% of grade): Find books that interest you. Read a book and tell us about it. If it is fiction, tell a little about the characters and the story, and why you do or don’t recommend that others read it. If it’s non-fiction, tell us some things you learned and why you do or don’t recommend that others read it. The more books you read and review, the better your grade. Write a brief review. One book = 2.0; two books = 3.0; three books = 3.5; four books = 4.0. VOCABULARY (20% of grade): We will be using the vocabulary text as well as words you collect to increase vocabulary, an essential part of reading enjoyment as well as understanding. Periodic tests will be given to assess progress. Yes, words can be fun! CULTURE PROJECT ( 20% of grade): You will spend this term learning about a culture, either your own family “roots,” or a culture you know little about. You’ll do research in the library and online, and you may also interview people to learn about their culture. Write down the information you learn, and a list of the sources—titles of books, articles, web sites, names of people interviewed, etc. Visual aids are encouraged. In a 3- to 5-minute presentation, share with the class what you learned. Grades: Grades will be assigned using a 4-point scale: Generally, 1 = unsatisfactory work; 2 = mediocre work; 3 = satisfactory work (assignment completed correctly and well); 4 = superior work (going beyond what was expected). If you ever have questions about your grade, please let me know. Your course grade will be based on the following: Reading Journal (30%) Personal Reading Book Reviews (20%), Vocabulary tests (20%), Culture Project Presentations (20%): attendance, and participation (10%). Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. If you miss a class due to an emergency, it is your responsibility to contact a classmate or the instructor before the next class meeting to find out what you need to do to prepare for the next class. You probably have a busy life and many things that compete for your time. Nevertheless, class attendance and school work should be high priorities if you are to benefit from courses and receive credit. 10 absences: no credit (Contact me, withdraw, and enroll next semester) 7 absences: highest possible grade is 2.0.4 absences: highest possible grade is 3.0. 3 absences: highest possible grade is 3.5. Late Work: Late work will not be accepted unless you and I have discussed the situation beforehand. Sorry—no exceptions. If you must miss a class, you will receive partial credit for work due that day, and you are expected to be caught up with all assignments when you return to class. Tutorial assistance is available for this course as well as most courses at JCC. If you would like to work with a tutor for this class or another class, please contact me. Assessing Your Reading Skill Progress: At the beginning and end of the semester, you will take the Nelson-Denny Reading Test. This will help in assessing your progress and determining whether you are ready to proceed into ENG 085 (College Reading) next semester or whether you will be better served by repeating ENG 080. The other means we use is your performance in class. One of your personal goals should be to read a lot and work