Student: Instructor:
Office: email address: Phone: _____
Office Hours: Posted near office door
Required Materials: Textbook: Reading Skills Handbook (8th edition) by Wiener and Bazerman, yellow file folder, Improving Vocabulary Skills (Second Edition), dictionary (American Heritage preferred); 6 Scantron sheets.
Course Description: Basic Reading is designed to provide the foundation necessary for successful comprehension of reading materials at this level. Emphasis is placed upon vocabulary development, basic reading skill development and critical reading. Required of all students scoring below designated level on the placement exam.
Course Goals:
1. Identify main idea and supporting details.
2. Utilize objective reading skills such as locating facts, sequencing information, recognizing
cause and effect, and following directions.
3. Apply vocabulary skills such as context clues, the dictionary, and/or common word parts
(roots, and affixes) to decode and comprehend unfamiliar words.
4. Apply critical reading skills such as conclusions, inferences, and figurative language.
5. Identify literary concepts such as mood, persuasion, as well as differentiating between fact
and opinion.
6. Apply knowledge of reading skills and Standard English to summarize information.
Instructional/Learning Methods: This course is an intensive individualized reading course which incorporates the use of selected readings, textbook assignments, audio and videotapes, and computer software.
Attendance Policy: Class attendance is necessary for your success. Students are expected to attend every class, be on time, and remain for the entire class. The instructor will keep a permanent record for each class, and the class roll will be called at the beginning of class. Remember absences/tardies/leaving early will affect your grade (points will be deducted). TBR policy allows students to miss no more than 10% of the total number of class meetings and pass the course. Attendance verification will be submitted to the Records Office throughout the semester. The attendance policy will be distributed and discussed by the instructor.
Classroom Management: The instructor has the primary responsibility for control over classroom behavior. Any student engaged in disruptive conduct or conduct violating the general rules or regulations of the College will be ordered to temporarily leave the classroom. Students are required to turn off cell phones and pagers during class time.
Makeup Policy: Assignments are due on the date designated in the syllabus. Students are responsible for submitting assignments and taking tests on time. Makeup tests are scheduled for each assignment and/or test. No test will be given after the scheduled makeup date.
Developmental Studies Policies: The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) requires students to enroll in and complete remedial and developmental courses according to their placement test scores. These courses are considered prerequisites to college-level courses and students are required to enroll in these courses as part of their course load. TBR policy does not allow students to drop courses in the Developmental Studies Department and allows only two attempts to successfully complete each Developmental Studies course or face suspension from the college.
Misuse of Computers: Computer located in classrooms and laboratories on the STCC Campuses are for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
ADA: If you feel you have a disability, learning or physical, you may make an appointment at the Comprehensive Counseling Center to talk to the counselor for disabled students regarding accommodations.
Skill Work Sequence: For each skill with a score below 80% on the diagnostic test:
1. Use green card to check out and watch video
2. Check out skill book
3. Listen to audio tape and complete all sample exercises
4. Work practice exercises as assigned by instructor
5. Teaching Assistant will check exercises
6. Correct exercises
7. Show completed work to instructor
8. After consultation with instructor, student will either be administered the test or continue
with practice exercises
9. Complete test with 80% or higher and begin with another skill from the diagnostic test
Need Extra Help? There are several ways that students can receive assistance with the required work in Basic Reading: 1. See your instructor! Your instructor is available and willing to assist you. 2. Check out homework books. A homework contract must be on file for students to check out ALS homework books. 3. Come to the reading lab outside of class for tutoring and supplemental computer practice. 4. Go to the library. Look for supplementary material, books, or tapes.5. Use your textbook, Reading Skills Handbook: Skill 1-Main Idea on pages 130-157; Skill 2-Supporting Details on pages 163-168; Skill 3-sequence on pages 173-183; Skill 4-Locating Facts on pages 158-163; Skill 5-Context Clues on pages 25-38; Skill 6-Drawing Conclusions on pages 248-259; Skill 8-Inferences on pages 219-237; Skill 10-Figurative Language on pages 238-247.
Course Exit Requirements: To be eligible to take the final examination, you must have an 80% score on all ALS skills, including Reading Longer Selections. You must have satisfactorily completed all vocabulary and textbook quizzes, including the newspaper and writing assignments. The final examination is the Nelson-Denny Reading Test, Form D. The scores needed to earn your final grade are A= 329, B= 295, C= 272, N= Below 272, F= Little or no progress. The grade will be determined by adding the total score on the Nelson-Denny, the score on the Reading Longer Selections test, the vocabulary quizzes average, and the textbook quizzes average.
Basic Reading Course Outline
Spring 2001 Homework Assignments/Quizzes
Jan. 24: Newspaper Assignment Due. (5 points on time) Choose any 2.
1.Choose a newspaper story, which has a clear main idea and at least two
supporting details. Clip out the article and underline the main idea and supporting details. Attach the news article.
2. Choose a newspaper story that has a clear sequence of events. Write the sequence in
chronological order on a separate piece of paper. Attach the news article.
3. Choose an editorial from the editorial page. Summarize the writer's opinion. Then give
your own opinion. Attach the article.
Jan. 30: Late newspaper activities; do all three activities.
Jan. 31: Vocabulary Test #1: Chapters 1-2 (Scantron)
Feb. 6: Makeup Vocabulary Test #1
Feb. 7: Fact, & Opinion Unit Due: Read pages 278-284. Do exercises 13.1, 13.2, & 13.3 (+5
points on time). Fact, & Opinion Test
Feb. 13: Makeup Fact & Opinion Test
Feb. 14: Vocabulary Test #2: Chapters 3-4 (Scantron)
Feb. 20: Makeup Vocabulary Test #2 (Scantron)
Feb. 21: Dictionary Unit Due: Dictionary Unit Due: Read pages 61-73. Do exercises. 3.1, 3.3, 3.8,
& 3.9 (+5 points on time) Dictionary Test
Feb. 27: Makeup Dictionary Test
Feb. 28: Vocabulary Test #3: Chapters 5-6
March 6: Makeup Vocabulary Test #3
March 7: Cause & Effect Unit Due: Read pages 195-199. Do exercises 8.17 & 8.18. (+5 points on
time) Cause and Effect Test
March 12 - 18 Spring Break
March 20: Makeup Cause and Effect Test
March 21: Vocabulary Test #4: Chapters 7-8 (Scantron)
March 27: Makeup Vocabulary Test #4
March 28: Word Meaning Unit Due: Read pages 39-44. Do exercises 2.8 & 2.12 (+5 points on
time). Word Meanings Test
April 3: Makeup Word Meaning Test
April 4: Vocabulary Test #5: Chapters 9-10 (Scantron)
April 10: Makeup Vocabulary Test #5
April 11: Paragraph Writing Assignment Due: Choose 2 selections from pages 361 - 593 in text.
Complete the comprehension questions and write a paragraph based on #2 in the
Writing Practice. (+5 points on time).
April 17: Late Paragraph Due
April 18: Vocabulary Test #6: Chapters 11-12 (Scantron)
April 24: Makeup Vocabulary Test #6
April 25: Following Directions Unit Due: Check out homework from materials room (+5 points on
time) Following Directions Test
April 27: Makeup Following Directions Test
May 2 - 8 Final Examination Week: see instructor for eligibility