Contra Costa College
Course Outline
Department & Number
Course Title
Prerequisite
Co-requisite
ENGL139
Developing Reading and Writing Skills
NONE
NONE
18
54
and/or Composition Hours 54
Hours By Arrangement 0
Number of Weeks
Lecture Hours
Activity Hours
Units
3.0-6.0
Hours per term.
*HOURS BY ARRANGEMENT:
ACTIVITIES: (Please provide a list of the activities students will perform in order to satisfy the HBA requirement):
COURSE/CATALOG DESCRIPTION
This course prepares students for college level work by developing their skills in reading, writing, and
critical thinking with an emphasis on reading comprehension, vocabulary development, writing
paragraphs and short essays, and study skills.
COURSE OBJECTIVE
At the completion of the course the student will be able to:
Read and comprehend short expository essays, short stories, and a full length work of fiction or nonfiction.
Demonstrate competent vocabulary skills
Locate thesis statements, main ideas, and supporting details
Use pre-writing and revision strategies
Use standard American English when writing.
Write substantive essays on subjects of general interest with clear introductions, thesis statements,
relevant support paragraphs, and conclusions in both timed and out of class settings.
Use effective study skills.
COURSE CONTENT: (In detail; attach additional information as needed and include percentage breakdown)
50
50
% 1. Reading:
Exercises and activities designed to improve the student’s ability to
 Comprehend what s/he reads
 Recognize and use a college-level vocabulary
 Recognize levels of specificity
 Annotate textbooks
 Write brief summaries of non-fiction readings
 Use effective study skills
% 2. Writing:
Exercises and activities designed to improve the student’s ability to
 Write grammatically correct sentences using standard American English
 Write coherent paragraphs


Write essays of approximately 350- 750 words
Use effective study skills
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
Lecture
Small-group work/cooperative learning
Text Reading and discussion
Individual conferences as needed
Tutorials
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Real Writing with Readings, Susan Anker
A full-length novel/work of non-fiction selected by theENGL139 instructors
COURSE EXPECTATIONS (List estimated average number of hours per week)
Reading Assignments: 6 hours per week.
Writing Assignments: 6 hours per week
STUDENT EVALUATION: (Show percentage breakdown for evaluation instruments)
10
30
15
15
15
15
10
30
20
10
30
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
READING PORTION
Participation
Homework and in-class assignments
Summaries
Research Report
Quizzes
Midterm and final presentation
%
%
%
%
%
WRITING PORTION
Participation/In-class assignments
Formal writing assignments (4 to 5 essays with drafts and revisions)
Homework
Checkpoint #1 (In-class essay)
Checkpoint #2 (In-class essay)
GRADING POLICY (Choose LG, CR/NC, or SC)
90% - 100% = A
80% - 89% = B
70% - 79% = C
60% - 69% = D
Below 60% = F
Prepared by:
Date: Semester/Year
Revised 10/13
X
70% and above = Pass
Below 70% = No Pass
Elvia Ornelas-Garcia
Fall 2013
90% - 100% = A
80% - 89% = B
7 0% - 79% = C
6 0% - 69% = D
Below 60% = F
70% and above = Pass
Below 70% = No Pass