TSI 0304: Developmental Literacy II Refresher Course
Instructor: Osariemen Osaghae, M.Ed
Office : Holden Hall 78
Office Hours: By Appointment
Class: Online
Phone: 806-742-3242
e-mail: www.blackboard.ttu.edu
Course Syllabus and Expectations
I.
Textbooks And Other Materials:
A. REQUIRED: Fusion: Integrated Reading and Writing Book 2 by Kemper/Meyer/Van
Rys/Sebranek
(ISBN: 9781133803973)
B. REQUIRED: Aplia Login
C. Blackboard
II.
Course Goals:
A. Students will read critically to form opinions, exchange insights with others in
conversation, ask and answer questions, and develop ideas that can be further
explored in writing.
B. Students will react to visual text (a photograph, advertisement, diagram, graph, chart, or
art) to gain further understanding of the text and to aid with visualization of words and
ideas.
C. Students will demonstrate their use of critical reasoning to interpret and integrate new
concepts with prior learning/knowledge.
D. Students will interpret charts, tables, and graphs to condense, interpret, and/or
summarize written information at the college level.
E. Students will take notes using Marking and Annotating Skills for college students, or the
Cornell University Note Taking method and demonstrate listening, learning, and
reviewing related to the active processes of reading.
F. Students will apply study skills, content area reading strategies and test taking skills to
improve test-taking abilities.
G. Students will analyze and critically discuss writing contexts rhetorically identifying
audience, purpose, and situation.
H. Students will recognize and demonstrate writing as a step-by-step process that
improves with practice.
I. Students will write as a way of discovering, processing, and refining ideas.
J. Students will obtain skill and confidence in using writing conventions of standard and
written English, including grammar and punctuation by correcting fragments,
colloquialisms, and sentence complexities.
K. Students will write for varied tasks and audiences constructing both argumentative and
compare and contrast papers.
L. Students will not only understand the basic structure of a sentence, the basic structure
of a paragraph and how it fits into an essay, but also be able to explain and
demonstrate corrective actions/editing for improper writing.
*Please Note: These course goals are aligned with the College Readiness Standards of Reading, Writing,
Speaking, and Listening. For More information see
<www.thecb.state.tx.us/index.cfm?objectid=EAE69736-B39D-F3FF-EA777519F1F0348B >
III.
IV.
Learning Outcomes:
A. Identify and properly use the signal words that indicate directionality in Argumentative
Writing with the purpose of understanding reading and for the purpose of constructing
Arguments.
B. Demonstrate knowledge of the writing process by completing Aplia quizzes with an
average of 70% or above.
C. Demonstrate vocabulary understanding by completing Aplia quizzes with an average of
70% or above.
D. Demonstrate reading comprehension by completing examinations and quizzes with an
average of 70% or above.
E. Demonstrate Revising Skills on Aplia by completing Editing Quizzes and Activities with
an average of 70% or above.
F. Identify and properly use the signal words that Compare and Contrast for the purpose
of understanding reading and for the purpose of constructing Compare and Contrast
research papers.
G. Use, Define, and Apply at least three Content area reading strategies such as Exit
Slips, Mnemonic Devices, Reader Response, and Cornell University Methods of Notetaking on a weekly basis for the purpose of tracking and improving reading
comprehension, understanding the writing process, and critical literacy skills.
Grading Procedures:
A. Homework is worth 50% of your overall grade. Aplia is a self-grading application;
therefore, no late homework is accepted.
B. Major Exams and the completion of the Post Diagnostic assessments are worth
50% of the overall grade.
C. Extra credit: No extra credit will be given. Come to class ready to work.
D. Grading Scale: You must complete the course with a C or better to progress to the
next TSI Course or be declared College Ready.
90-100 = DA
80- 89 = DB
70- 79 = DC
60- 69 = DD
0 – 59 = DF
V.
Homework Assignments:
A. General Note: Each assignment is a tool to reinforce skills and material you should
have learned after completing the reading assignments for each chapter on Aplia. The
amount of homework is carefully considered. Homework is not assigned busy work, but
rather it is assigned because of its vital importance to the learning process. Therefore,
students are expected to complete all assignments by the due date. Homework will be
posted on Aplia. Students have the option to complete the Aplia homework
assignments within the TWO week minimester. If assignments are not completed in
two weeks (the latest day being the day before the final exam) they will be recorded as
zeros. Please note assignments are subject to change if the instructor deems it
necessary.
B. Due Dates and Late Penalties: Assignments are due at the cutoff time specified by
Aplia. Any late assignment(s) will result in a grade of zero.
C. End of the Semester: There will be no curve at the end of the semester. You must
earn your grade.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
Final Assessment
A. The other 50% of your grade in this course is going to be an Aplia assessment specific
to the content areas in which remediation is needed. This assessment will be built from
the Aplia pre-diagnostic assessment so it is imperative to complete this at the beginning
of the minisemester. The date of the final assessment is August 21st, 2015 in Holden
Hall room 105 from 10:00am-12:00 pm. You must be present to take this assessment
or you will not pass the course. Plan accordingly.
Office Hours
A. I encourage you to come see me in my office during these hours. These hours are
reserved for you and your concerns, so please make use of this time. If you cannot
meet during these times because of work or another class, contact me to set up an
individual appointment at a different time.
Email
A.
I check my e-mail regularly. Please allow at least 24 hours for a response. Typically, I
do not check email between Friday and Sunday. I will respond to any emails that I
receive over the weekend on Monday afternoon. Remember that all emails should be
sent via Blackboard, TTU emails will not receive a reply.
B. I expect students to use professional language and tone in all communication with me,
including email correspondence. My office hours or appointments are the best way for
us to address more complex questions and concerns about the course.
Supplies:
A. BE PREPARED FOR CLASS. Although you are not having a formal class meeting, you
should still be prepared with these things in case you need them:
1. Textbook
2. Notebook paper
3. One highlighter, any color.
4. Pen or Pencil
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
a. Texas Tech University aims "to foster a spirit of complete honesty and a high standard of integrity.
The attempt of students to present as their own any work that they have not honestly performed is
regarded by the faculty and administration as a serious offense and renders the offenders liable to
serious consequences, possibly suspension" (Undergraduate Handbook 49).
b. Although the university broadly defines the types of "dishonesty" that compromise academic
integrity, the most common offense for this course is plagiarism. Plagiarism includes, but is not
limited to, "the appropriation of, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means material that
is attributable in whole or in part to another source, including words, ideas, illustrations, structure,
computer code, other expression and media, and presenting that material as one's own academic
work being offered for credit" (Onsite Politics xxviii).
c. Students who are found guilty of plagiarism will receive a 0 for the assignment, as well as further
consequences at the discretion of the student’s Academic Dean and/or the Assistant Director of the
TSI program at Texas Tech University. For more information on Academic Integrity visit:
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/studentjudicialprograms/AcademicIntegrity.htm.
*****NOTE: Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner conducive to learning and are prohibited from
engaging in distracting behavior or inappropriate behavior. Comments or actions promoting discrimination of any sort
will result in serious disciplinary action, and or possible loss of credit for the course.
XI.
XII.
Disabilities
a. “Any student who, because of a disability, may require special arrangements in order to meet the
course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make any necessary
arrangements. Students should present appropriate verification from Student Disability Services
during the instructor’s office hours. Please note instructors are not allowed to provide classroom
accommodations to a student until appropriate verification from Student Disability Services has
been provided. For additional information, you may contact the Student Disability Services office in
335 West Hall or 806-742-2405.
b. “No requirement exists that accommodations be made prior to the completion of this approved
university process" (TTU OP 34.22, p.2). For more information call Student Disability Services at
742-2405 or visit http://www.depts.ttu.edu/studentsaffairs/sds/.
CHANGES TO THE SYLLABUS: I reserve the right to change the dates on this syllabus.
All changes will be made accessible to students via Blackboard e-mail and/or through
Aplia.