Course meeting time : TTH 11:10 - 12:25

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Reading 826 is designed to improve your vocabulary, reading, and study skills to prepare you for college-level courses. You will be working on specific reading techniques, such as understanding and remembering what you read and adjusting your reading style for different purposes. You will also work on study skills to improve vocabulary, memory, concentration, test preparation and test taking techniques, note taking, and time management. Course activities include individual assignments, small group work, and full-class activities.

Reading 826, for those students who place at that level, is a co-requisite for English 826. That means that Reading 826 and English 826 should be taken together if you place in those two courses. If you are unable to take both at the same time, Reading 826 should be taken first.

A C or better in Reading 826 is a prerequisite for Reading 836, the Associate degree reading course.

A C or better in Reading 826 is also a prerequisite for English 836, the Associate degree composition course.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the completion of Reading 826, students should be able to accomplish the following:
o Demonstrate a literal comprehension of the text: understand key vocabulary, distinguish between main ideas and supporting details, and recognize common organizational patterns.
o Critically analyze and evaluate developmental readings: distinguish between fact and opinion; make inferences; determine purpose, tone, and bias; interpret connotative and figurative language.
o Determine and apply appropriate study-reading strategies: e.g., memory techniques, previewing/reviewing, annotation, note taking, mapping, outlining, summarizing, and test-taking.
o Perceive yourself as an improved reader.

REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS: Breaking Through College Reading, 9th edition, Brenda D. Smith Warriors Don't Cry, Melba Pattillo Beals American Heritage Paperback Dictionary or other approved paperback dictionary Reading 826 Supplements, Lindgren-Young (packet of three-hole punched worksheets) a planner/calendar (Get one free from ASSC with student ID. ) OTHER SUPPLIES NEEDED: Three-ring loose-leaf binder and paper for class hand-outs and note taking 3" x 5" index cards for vocabulary study cards One overhead transparency pen, any color Pens, pencils, highlighters, erasers, corrections fluid, paper clips, rubber bands Recommended: a small stapler and three-hole paper punch . ATTENDANCE: Absences seriously hinder your ability to succeed in your classes, and they will affect your final grade in Reading 826 (see below). Students with more than 2 unexcused absences will receive Academic Warning notices; students with more than 4 such absences may be asked to withdraw from the course, unless there are legitimate and documented reasons for the absences (jury duty, illness). Attendance is taken at the beginning of the class hour each day. If you are late to class, assume you have been marked absent; it is then your responsibility to speak with the instructor after class to clear the absence. Frequent instances of tardiness add up to absences at the rate of one absence for every two times you are late. LATE HOMEWORK: You are responsible for getting your homework in at the beginning of the class hour on the assigned due date; however, there are legitimate occasions when that is not possible. You will be given three late tickets to use during the course of the semester. Attach a late ticket to the assignment when you submit it to your instructor. If two homework assignments are due in one class period, you may use one late ticket to cover both of them. Late assignments are due the next class period after the due date or the day when you return to class from an absence. ONCE YOU HAVE USED UP THE THREE LATE TICKETS, ALL LATE HOMEWORK WILL BE REDUCED IN POINTS BY 50%, no exceptions. MAKE-UPS: QUIZZES, POP-QUIZZES and IN-CLASS GROUP PROJECTS: NO MAKE-UPS--you lose the points entirely. These small assigned quizzes, pop quizzes and in-class group activities are treated as homework points, not test points. They are based on recent homework. MAKE-UPS: CHAPTER TESTS: These three larger tests may be made up only for legitimate reasons and with the instructor's permission. Notify your instructor in person, by phone or by e-mail, and leave your contact information so the instructor can reply to your message. You must make up the test within one week of the test date by appointment during one of the instructor's office hours or in The Learning Center with the instructional aide, Chuck Leach. EXTRA CREDIT: Up to 100 extra credit points will be allowed. If you earn all 100 points, they can bump up your final grade by 2%, 50 points by 1%, etc. Listed below are examples of extra credit activities: ***Extra reading selections in Breaking Through--up to 10 points ***Articles from a magazine or newspaper with report sheet--up to 10 points ***Extra vocabulary cards--up to 1 point per card, submitted in packs of 10 ***A book log documenting the reading of an approved book--up to 100 points ***Assignments from texts available in The Learning Center--points to be determined ***Activities on MyReadingLab website--up to 10 points per documented hour ***Learning Center workshops--10 points each with attendance verification slip ***Announced campus events--10 points each with attendance verification slip ***Other activities as approved by instructor, points to be determined FINAL GRADES: Your final grade will be calculated as follows: Text assignments, journal writing, vocabulary cards, and other homework, including pop-quizzes based on homework and in-class group work: 40% Chapter tests (3 tests, worth 10% each): 30% Final Exam: 20% Attendance and participation: 10% Note: The attendance and participation grade is awarded at the discretion of the instructor at the end of the semester. Factors considered include the following: attendance, arriving to class on time, homework completed and on time, participation in group work and class discussions, attention during lectures and presentations, appropriate classroom behavior, contact with the instructor for tutoring or to keep instructor informed of class-related and personal problems and issues, use of the Learning Center and tutorial resources if needed, improvement in your work in the course of the semester. GRADING: You have the choice of being graded on a letter-grade system or a credit/no credit system. Grades are assigned as follows: A or Credit: 90-100% average on tests and assignments B or Credit: 80-89% average on tests and assignments C or Credit: 70-79% average on tests and assignments D or No Credit: 60-69% average on tests and assignments F or No Credit: below 60% average on tests and assignments W (withdrawal): a requested grade that can be assigned only if requested before November 18th . Use college withdrawal procedures. Note: the "W" is a requested grade. A "W" will not be assigned unless you follow the official college withdrawal procedures (Registration, Building 2 or WEBSMART, or ask instructor to withdraw you). If you simply disappear from class without going through the withdrawal process, you will receive whatever letter grade you deserve at the end of the semester, probably an F. If you wish to be graded on the Credit/No Credit grading system, you must go to WEBSMART to change the course to the Credit/No Credit system before 30% of the semester is over (date to be determined). GRADING STANDARDS: When paragraph and essay or other types of written responses are required, the following guidelines will be used for grading: A: accurate response to the prompt or question asked; thorough analysis and discussion including use of specific examples from the text read; effective organization of the response; ability to apply, where appropriate, the material read to other situations, including other material read in class or one's own life and experiences. B: generally accurate response to the prompt or question asked; reasonably thorough analysis and discussion, though maybe not as specific as an A response; somewhat less effective organization of the response; less clear ability to connect text read to other situations. C: response shows understanding of the material read but may be somewhat off topic for the prompt or question asked; the analysis may be incomplete or very general rather than specific; the response may be poorly organized; the response shows only minimal connection to other situations. D: response shows evidence of having read and understood the text to some degree, but is generally superficial, disorganized, incomplete or shows no ability to connect with other situations. F: response is off topic for the prompt or question asked; the response shows no evidence of understanding of the material read. SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS: Students with documented special needs will be accommodated through the Disabled Students Office or the Learning Disabilities Program. Inform your instructor at the beginning of the semester and provide necessary documentation. If you do not yet have anaccommodation letter, please contact the DSPS office, Room 2350, telephone (650) 738-4280. You will need to have your instructor sign a form for each test during the semester to receive test accommodations. RESOURCES: Learning Skills 853, Supplemental Assistance in Reading and Writing is available in the Writing and Reading Lab of The Learning Center, open from 8 a.m to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday. To receive tutorial assistance, you must sign up for LSKL 853 or one of the other tutorial assistance classes offered through the Learning Center, .5 units for each 24 hours of assistance. The Learning Center has a wealth of materials for the improvement of reading, vocabulary, and study skills. Get specific recommendations from your instructor if you are interested in working on any of these materials or activities. You may use these activities and materials for HBA time. The college library is located on the 2nd floor of Building 5. Use the library for book choices and also for copies newspapers and magazines that can be used for HBA reports and credit. The Skyline College website, www.skylinecollege.edu, is available for adding and withdrawing from courses, for checking your grades, (WEBSMART), for counseling advice, and for finding information about other Skyline, CSM, and Canada courses, programs, and activities. The Language Arts Division Office, 8110. Dean Connie Beringer. Staff Assistant Kathy Fitzpatrick. This office and its staff are resources for information and difficulties related to English and reading prerequisites, classes, and instructors. One-Stop Student Services Center-Building 2, floor 2. Financial aid, EOPS, counseling, assessment, registration, Career Center, Transfer Center, Health Center, etc. GENERAL BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS: * Be on time each class period. *Be prepared for each class. Have your homework done and all your books and classroom supplies with you. Remember that homework is due at the beginning of the class hour. * Be mentally and physically ready for class-for lectures, for group work, for class discussions, for pop quizzes and other in-class writing. If you prefer to listen to music, sleep, or chat rather than participate in class, you will be asked to leave and marked absent; evidence of alcohol or drug use will also be cause for dismissal and a recorded absence for the day. * Turn off all cell phones and watch alarms. *Remove all earphones and listening devices. * Listen respectfully when the instructor or a classmate is speaking. If you are creating problems with inappropriate chatting or other distracting behavior, you will have your seat placement changed permanently. Continued problems will be referred to the Dean of Language Arts. *Use your laptop computer for taking class notes, but if you are spending class time by e-mailing, checking out social networks, playing games, etc., you will be asked to stop bringing your laptop. *Do not walk around the classroom or leave the classroom once class has begun except in an emergency. When a test is in progress in the classroom, you must complete the test before leaving the room. If you have a medical condition that requires such movement, please inform your instructor. PLAGIARISM/CHEATING: Reading 826 is a college course and follows the college policies on plagiarism and cheating. You are expected to do your own written homework and not copy from another student or another source, such as magazines, books, or on-line resources. On tests, you are also expected to do your own work. A first instance of plagiarism or cheating will result in an F on that assignment or test; a second instance will result in dismissal from the course and referral to the Dean of Students. Some activities in Reading 826 involve partnering or group work. Directions for these activities will make clear that working together is not only appropriate, but required. Tests in this class also may include take-home sections on which it is allowable to get assistance from classmates, family members, and the learning center instructional aide. Again, directions will clearly state that possibility. IMPORTANT DATES: Sept. 1: Last day to ADD semester-length classes (check WEBSMART for short courses) Sept. 1: Last day to DROP semester-length classes with eligibility for partial refund Sept. 7: Labor Day recess Sept. 11: Last day to DROP semester-length courses without appearing on transcript Nov. 11 - 12: No classes, Faculty in-service days November 13 - 14: Veteran's Day recess November 18: Last day to WITHDRAW from semester-length classes November 26 - 28: Thanksgiving recess December 10: Last class day of Reading 826 December 13 - 19: Final exam week READING 826 FINAL EXAMINATION: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15TH, 11:10 - 1:40 You will receive printed assignment sheets every two to three weeks that will list day-to-day activities and homework. Updates to these assignment sheets will be announced in class and posted on the Announcement and Assignment web pages for this class. Especially if you are absent, be sure to check the web site or contact the instructor or a classmate for homework changes. Remember that you are responsible for homework deadlines even if you are absent. Other changes to the course requirements will be announced in a similar fashion.