Course Description:
This course is designed to help students improve their
literal, interpretive, and critical comprehension and vocabulary skills. Emphasis is
placed upon structured vocabulary development and college level reading skills. The course
will begin as a traditional class, but by the 4th week of instruction will be
conducted entirely online. The instructor and student will communicate primarily through
email and the Internet.
Course Objectives: Through lectures, collaborative learning, paired
and individual online
assignments, small group discussion, text exercises, computer and Internet access, email
communication, and outside readings the student will be able to:
1. Recall details in a paragraph or reading passage.
2. Recognize main and subordinate ideas in paragraphs and longer works
3. Discover the meaning of words through contextual clues.
4. Sequence events in reading passages and other related selections.
5. Make inferences, draw conclusions, and make judgments either explicitly
or
implicitly in selected readings.
6. Recognize and give examples of figurative language.
7. Recognize the author's purpose, tone, and organization of the reading
selection.
8. Distinguish between fact and opinion
9. Unlock the meaning of words through the study of Greek and Latin roots,
prefixes, and suffixes.
Text: Ten Steps to Advanced College Reading Skills, 4th ed., by J. Langan
Advancing
Vocabulary Skills (short version), 3rd ed., by Nist & Mohr
Attendance: In an online class attendance is based upon the timely submission of your
weekly assignments, as well as emailing me once a week. Make-up exams are not permitted,
except for reasons due to unusual circumstances. If there is a legitimate reason for your
missing an exam, please contact me either by email or phone to arrange a time to make up
your work.
Grading: The grade distribution will be as follows:
| Classwork & Assignments | = | 30% |
| Journal Articles | = | 10% |
| Tests | = | 20% |
| Midterm | = | 20% |
| Final Exam | = | 20% |
Telephone: You can reach me at (562) 860-2451, Ext. 2840.
Office Hours: My office is located in the Santa Barbara Bldg., and office
hrs. are posted. Office hours will also be given to you at the first class
meeting.
** Nota Bene:
The instructor reserves the right to amend, adjust, or otherwise
modify this syllabus at any time during the semester.
** Important: It is the student’s responsibility to
withdraw himself/herself from any class that he/she decides not to
complete.