College ReadingClass: English 085-09Class days and time: Monday and Wednesday 6:00p.m. - 7:56p.m.Location: BW 104Instructor: Elise Fish E-mail: [email protected] Materials:1. Cornerstone: Building on Your Best, concise 5th edition, by Sherfield, Montgomery, and Moody.2. An Introduction to Critical Reading, 6th edition, Leah McCraney3. 2 Spiral notebooks: single-subject, college rule, size 81/2 inches x 11 inches4. Index cards5. Highlighter6. Sticky notes7. Dictionary pocket sizeCourse Objectives: 1. Improve reading comprehension2. Improve vocabulary 3. Write summaries demonstrating understanding of reading selections 4. Create connections between texts and personal experiences5. Combine information from several sources6. Read for enjoyment and information7. Develop a range of study skills and strategiesThese components of the course address and/or measure achievement of the above objectives:1. Nelson-Denny Reading Test- beginning and end of course.2. Reading journals-writing summaries about texts.3. Reading journals-writing about connections between texts and your life.4. Reading selections from Critical Reading, discussing works in the texts.5. Working through the study skills text, Cornerstone: Building on Your Best.Journal for Introduction to Critical Reading:You are expected to read the assigned works and also to write about them in your reading journal(spiral notebook). Unless it is otherwise specified you should write about the works, concentrating on:● identifying and describing your thoughts and questions as you read (metacognition)● determining the author’s purpose and/or key points in the text (notes)● telling your related stories, using background knowledge and life experiences (application)You will find a detailed outline on following page.Your handwriting must be legible. Otherwise, your paper should be typed and attached into your notebook. Journals count as 40% of your grade. ●Metacognition:Being aware of your own thinking. Record your thoughts, questions or difficulties (andwhat you did to resolve them) that occur as you’re reading. Hold your thoughts on sticky notes. You should have at least one sticky note per page.You may use the following prompts to start your writing:In my mind I can picture/visualize…I think this means…I wonder…I infer…I’m confused by…The confusing part was…This term caused me to be confused…I didn’t understand this sentence…I will help myself by…Also, from your sticky notes, you will need to record the following prompts and respond toboth sentences for each reading assignment. Be prepared to share at the beginning of class:I’m sure that…I’m confused by…●Notes:Using your own words present the author’s intent for writing the work. What does the author want you to know? What seems to be the main idea, focus, or purpose of the work? Give evidence from the text to defend your thinking. Also, include how the work is organized. Does the work begin in the middle of the action, at the end? In what sequence does the work describe/discuss the setting, characters and events. Who is the speaker of the work? What is the tone of the work? Happy, energetic, sad, confused, frustrated, optimistic, ashamed, guilty, weak, proud, hopeful, satisfied, content, annoyed, bitter, hostile, jealous, critical, worried, unsure, hurt, etc. What words (evidence in the text) make you believe your conclusions?You may use the following prompts to start your writing:This is important because…The author wants me to know…The author’s message is…I believe the purpose of this work is…The focus of this work is…●Application:What stories from your own or another person’s experiences come to mind as you read? Write about how some part of the text relates to you, another text or the world (movies, music, plays, poetry etc.).You may use the following prompts to start your writing:This reminds me of…I once saw a movie similar to…This character reminds me of…In another class we discussed…I saw an article in a newspaper/magazine that discussed this same issue…This reminds of the lyrics from a song…The Reading Journal will be graded by the following measures:- The sections are clearly labeled 1, 2 and 3 and the areas of focus are addressed. - The writing has been thoroughly thought through (minimum of one full page).- Long quotes from the text are not included.- The words are your own and not the authors.Your journals will be graded as credit/no credit. If your response is incorrect, too short or difficult to follow you will receive a no credit grade, I expect your responses to be well thought out and carefully written using the 3 levels outlined above. I will not accept a response that includes: “I cannot relate to this piece”.Journal for Cornerstone, Building on Your Best:You will be responsible for reading each chapter and responding, in your second journal (spiral notebook) to the questions at the end of each section, unless otherwise instructed by me. This will count as 20% of your grade.Vocabulary: Throughout the semester you will be given sixty vocabulary words (3 lists of 20 words).We will be writing each vocabulary word on an index card with a class definition on the back. Be sure to bring the cards to each class. In addition you will need to provide for each word:● Dictionary definition ● Synonym/an example of the word that you understand At the conclusion of study of each vocabulary word list, a test will follow. Prefix, suffix and root word study will also be a component of course vocabulary development andwill be assessed.Vocabulary, prefix, suffix and root word assignments and tests will count as 20% of your grade.Written papers:You will be required to write a few selected pieces from our text including some papers done in groups. This will count as 20% of your grade.Grading Scale:100-93 = 4.092-88 = 3.587-83 = 3.082-78 = 2.577-71 = 2.070-64 = 1.563-56 = 1.055-48 = 0.5Late Work:I will accept late work for one class period after the original due date. Please see me if you are unable to finish an assignment, I offer extra assignments on occasion for students who have a legitimate excuse for unfinished work.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