About HBAs

The hours-by-arrangement feature of our English and Reading courses was designed to help students take advantage of the free services available to them on campus as well as assist students in their development and success as readers and writers. Applying the literate behaviors taught in the classroom to activities outside of the classroom serves to strengthen one's abilities to read, write, and think critically.

Get a Folder

You can find HBA folders in the Skyline Bookstore . For ENGL 100, 105, 165 or 110, the folders are green. For ENGL/READ 826, 836 or 846, they are yellow.

Possible Activities

(Teachers have the ultimate say on what is appropriate for your class; check with them before acting on this list.)

For ENGL 100, ENGL 105, ENGL 165, ENGL 110

• Conferencing with your English Instructor
• Attending a writing and/or reading workshop in The Learning Center (5-100)
• Using software in The Writing and Reading Lab (need teacher advice for which activities)
• Participating in an on-campus group study/review session for your English class
• Doing research in the Skyline library (room 5-200)
• Doing off-campus library research (have branch librarian verify hours)
• Writing an article/letter to a newspaper (Skyline View, SF Chronicle, etc.)
• Reading the Skyline View or another newspaper and responding to a news item
• Submitting creative writing to a magazine/journal (Skyline's is called The Talisman )
• Using the Transfer Center (room 2-227)
• Attending Transfer Center workshops
• Using the Career Center (room 2-227)
• Setting up an “Educational Plan” with Counselor (2-200)
• Attending campus academic/literary activities and writing a summary/reaction
• Attending off-campus literary or cultural events (poetry readings, book releases, speakers, musicals, plays, performances, festivals) and writing a summary/reaction
• Filling out a college transfer application and writing a personal statement
• Writing scholarship application letters
• Reading a book (in addition to your assigned course readings) and keeping a journal
• Writing a film, book, play, poetry, and/or music review
• Keeping a writer's/reader's journal (writing about your growth as a reader/writer)
• Writing a letter to a politician/company demanding change or attention to an issue
• Reading a voter's guide and writing a summary/reaction to the propositions/candidates
• Volunteering at a campus event or non-profit organization

For: READ 826, ENGL 826, READ 836, ENGL 836, ENGL/READ 846

Reading

• Conferencing with your Reading Instructor
• Attending a reading workshop in The Learning Center (5-100)
• Participating in an on-campus group study/review session for your Reading class
• Reading The Skyline View or another newspaper and responding to a news item
• Attending an author's book or poetry reading on or off campus and writing a reaction
• Volunteering at a campus event or non-profit organization
• Reading a book (in addition to your assigned course readings) and keeping a journal
• Reading a film: watch a subtitled foreign film and write a summary/reaction
• Keeping a reader's journal (writing about your struggles/growth as a reader)
• Doing additional vocabulary building activities (e.g. study cards, vocabulary journal)
• Applying reading strategies to textbooks from other classes and presenting proof
• Reading a voter's guide and writing a summary/reaction to the propositions / candidates
• Other Instructor Approved Activities

English

• Other Instructor Approved Activities:
• Conferencing with your English Instructor
• Attending a writing workshop in The Learning Center (5-100)
• Using writing software in The Writing and Reading Lab (need teacher advice for activities)
• Doing research in the Skyline library (room 5-200) or off-campus library
• Writing an article/letter to a newspaper (Skyline View, SF Chronicle) or to a politician
• Submitting creative writing to a magazine/journal (Skyline's is called The Talisman)
• Using the Transfer Center (room 2-227) and/or attending Transfer Center workshops
• Using the Career Center (room 2-227)
• Setting up an “Educational Plan” with Counselor (2-200)
• Attending an on/off-campus cultural activity and writing a summary/reaction
• Filling out a college transfer application and writing a personal statement
• Writing scholarship application letters
• Writing a film, book, play, poetry, and/or music review
• Other Instructor Approved Activities