READ 50 SYLLABUS

READ 50 - READING IMPROVEMENT

COURSE SYLLABUS

Professor Thomson

Office: San Marcos Campus/RC-5

Office Hours: T/Th - 2 - 3 pm; M/W - 2 - 3:30 pm

Phone: 744-1150 Ext. 2792

Reading Center Phone: 744-1150 Ext. 2568

Email: cthomson@palomar.edu

Reading Services Department Homepage: http://www.palomar.edu/reading/

Thomson’s Web includes links of specific interest to your class.

Statement of Purpose:

Reading Improvement is a skills course designed to strengthen reading efficiency and effectiveness, improve comprehension and retention, and prepare students for college level reading and study.

Course Objectives:

Comprehension

Improve comprehension and retention skills

Improve concentration and memory

Increase critical reading skills

Identify the topic, main idea, and significant details in reading selections

Enhance reading enjoyment

Reading Rate

Develop flexibility of rate depending on purpose/material

Develop fluency in the reading process

Increase reading rate

Vocabulary

Develop strategies for decoding unfamiliar words

Increase ability to use context clues

Increase vocabulary awareness

Differentiate between the connotation/denotation of words

Study Skills

Take efficient lecture and textbook notes

Take objective and essay tests confidently

Read a textbook effectively and efficiently

Make efficient use of study time

Writing

Improve individual writing skills

Improve written expression in response to a variety of reading selections

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students will demonstrate significant growth on pre/post standardized reading tests.
Students will broaden and expand their ability to decode vocabulary from content area classes, including the use of phonetics, morphology and context.
Students will identify and utilize the appropriate college-level textbook reading and study techniques and apply them in content area courses across the curriculum.
Students will demonstrate their ability to read at least 3 books on an independent basis during the semester.

Methods:

Methods of instruction include lecture, demonstration of strategies, class participation, small group work, discussion, exercises in and out of class, individualized lab assignments, and testing.

Textbook: Breaking Through, 9th Ed., by Brenda Smith

Other Required Materials:

Lab Fee Receipt

Pocket Dictionary: By this stage in your college career you should own a

hardbound dictionary. A paperback dictionary is also useful in class.

Independent reading texts (to be announced)

Packet of scantrons

Highlighter

Grading Policy:
Classwork/Homework/Attendance/Participation Class participation, literary circles and other group participation, completion of homework and in class assignments, attendance	20%
Lab Graded lab assignments and attendance (30 hours minimum to pass with a "C") Students must pass lab to pass the course .	20%
Special Projects/Journals Group projects, literary journals, reading response projects, and study skills projects	20%
Vocabulary Weekly assignments and quizzes	20%
Concept Quizzes/Exams	20%
TOTAL POSSIBLE	100%

	90 - 100% = A
	80 - 89% = B
	70 - 79% = C
	60 - 69% = D
	0 - 59% = F

To earn an “A” in the course, a student must have:

earned an “A” in each of the above categories,
moved at least 2 years on standardized college level reading tests,

completed at least 45 hours work in reading lab,

and have missed no more than three hours of class.

To earn a “B” in the course, a student must have:

earned at least a “B” in each of the above categories,

moved at least 1.5 years on standardized college level reading tests,
completed at least 37 hours work in reading lab,

and have no unexcused absences.

Any one of the conditions for a grade may be waived at the instructor’s discretion.

Students must take the Nelson Denny posttest, turn in a final, and complete Read 50 Lab with a passing grade to pass the class.

Attendance/Participation Points: Attendance is mandatory for Read 500. Because of the nature of this course, regular attendance is essential for success. Students are expected to arrive on time, be prepared, and remain until the end of class. Students may be dropped at the discretion of the instructor for excessive absences (more than 6 hours or 3 class meetings), habitual tardiness, or repeated failure to complete assignments.

Classwork and attendance are vital for at least 20% of your grade. Credit is given for activities completed in class. If you miss class, you miss the credit.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to earn 10 attendance/participation points each class meeting. The following inappropriate behavior will result in loss of points:

Arriving late	Deduct 2 points
Leaving early	Deduct 5 points
Class interruption caused by cell phone, pager, or chatter	Deduct all points for the day
Non-participation in class activities or group work	Deduct 5 points

There will be no makeups of tests or quizzes without prior consent of the instructor. Such consent will be reserved for serious and documented circumstances. Tests cannot be made up unless the instructor is notified of the absence before the test. If you must miss a test, call before the day of the exam to arrange for a make-up. No shows, unless excused, will receive an “F” on the missed test or quiz.

If you are absent, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor about any assignments you may have missed and/or to arrange makeups, or exchange phone numbers with one or more classmates who can give you the assignments.

Weekly Work: Weekly assignments should be regarded as your ticket in the door; i.e., they are to be completed before class, not in class. The assignment may be collected (turned in to be graded), checked off for completeness (I walk around the room and check that yours is complete), or simply reviewed in class (I will call on you for answers). Each daily assignment that I choose to collect is assigned a point value based on the amount of work and difficulty. It is your responsibility to show me your completed homework before the next class if you have been absent.

All work is due at the beginning of class on the date specified by the instructor. If you are absent the day an assignment is due, the work will be marked late. Late work receives half credit and will only be accepted up to one week after a recorded absence. If you must miss class, let the instructor know before class. No late work will be accepted finals week.

Pagers and Cell Phones: Pagers will be allowed in the classroom and reading lab on vibration signal ONLY! Sound pagers and cell phones disrupt learning and distract focus and concentration. They are not allowed in the classroom or the reading lab. Students disrupting class or lab with such devices will lose their participation points for the day. NO WARNINGS WILL BE GIVEN.

Advice: If you should have to miss a class, arrange to borrow notes and check your exercise answers with a reliable classmate. Improving your reading efficiency and fluency depends upon your listening and participating in class, practicing the skills presented, and asking questions if you do not understand. You are strongly encouraged to see me whenever you encounter any difficulties or have questions about the class or a specific assignment.

You should be aware that the progress you make in this course is a direct reflection of the effort expended by you on your own, and on your readiness to take the course.

Students with disabilities who may need academic accommodations should discuss options with me during week 1

Study Partner: Phone #:

Late Add Policy: Only students who are officially registered may participate in this class. If you are given a permission code to add this class, you must officially add the class prior to the next class meeting. If you have difficulty using the eServices system to add, please notify the instructor immediately. The deadline for adding any class or using a permission code to add is Sunday, January 29. Under no circumstances will students be allowed to add this class after the add deadline.

READING SERVICES

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY CODE OF CONDUCT

Academic integrity is a code of conduct for students that requires honest and ethical academic endeavor

Violations:

Cheating.
Plagiarism or false representation of another’s work as one’s own.
Falsification of lab hours or work.

Consequences:

At the discretion of the instructor, a student who violates this code may receive any or all of the following:

Failing grade for the assignment or lab grade.
Failing grade for the course.
Short term suspension for the course (see section IV. A of the Rules and Regulations for Student Behavior).
Referral to the Department Chair of Reading Services Department and then the Dean of Languages and Literature for further action.

WELCOME TO YOUR LEARNING COMMUNITY

I am pleased that you have elected to participate in one of Palomar College’s many Learning Communities. In the past, response has been overwhelmingly positive from students participating in these linked courses. As we, students, tutors, counselors, and faculty, progress through the semester, our goal is to become a community of learners, sharing thoughts, questions and experiences, while providing exceptional support that should enhance learning this semester and beyond.

Important points to remember:

Students who participate in learning communities often complete more units and earn a higher GPA than students who do not.
Students in learning communities form relationships with instructors, tutors, counselors and other students that serve as a support system as they complete all their college classes.
Students complete the classes that are critical for college success early in their college careers.
To remain in the learning community you must maintain enrollment in the entire learning community. If you drop (or are dropped from) one class you will be dropped from the entire learning community.

Thomson's Web

Reading Services Department

Palomar College