Contra Costa College
Course Outline
Department &
Number
Course Title
ENGL 110A
Developing College Level Reading Proficiency
Number of Weeks
18
Lecture Hours
54
Lab Hours
Prerequisite
NONE
Co-requisite
NONE
Hours By
Arrangement
Activity Hours
Units
3
COURSE/CATALOG
DESCRIPTION
This course prepares students for college level work by developing skills in reading with an emphasis
on comprehension, vocabulary development, study skills, and critical thinking.
COURSE OBJECTIVE
At the completion of the course the student will be able to:
1. Read and comprehend short expository essays, short stories, and a full-length work of fiction or
non-fiction. This includes the ability to predict concepts to be covered in a reading selection;
make inferences and draw conclusions from the selection; identify rhetorical principles of
organization; use information in the selections as the basis for expressing personal views, both
orally and in writing; and interpret graphic materials.
2. Demonstrate competent vocabulary skills. This includes the ability to identify contextual clues;
infer meanings of unknown words; recognize and apply knowledge of parts of speech, stems, and
affixes to write grammatically correct sentences; and utilize basic dictionary skills.
3. Locate thesis statements, main ideas, and supporting details. This includes the ability to
distinguish between general and specific words and ideas; recognize levels of specificity;
categorize ideas; identify major and minor details; and write the main idea, whether explicit or
implied, in one’s own words.
4. Use effective study skills. This includes recognizing and utilizing textbook features to full
advantage, underlining and annotating textbook material effectively, demonstrating efficient time
management, having an organized notebook, and using effective note taking and test-taking
strategies.
COURSE CONTENT: (In detail; attach additional information as needed and include percentage breakdown)
35
25
25
15
%
%
%
%
METHODS OF
INSTRUCTION
Reading Comprehension
Vocabulary Development
Study Skills
Critical Thinking Skills
Lecture
Small-group work/cooperative learning
Text Reading and discussion
Individual conferences as needed
Tutorials
Computer-based instruction.
INSTRUCTIONAL
MATERIALS
New Worlds, An Introduction to College Reading, Joe Cortina and Janet Elder
A full-length novel/work of non-fiction selected by instructor
COURSE EXPECTATIONS (List estimated average number of hours per week)
Reading Assignments: 6 hours per week.
STUDENT EVALUATION: (Show percentage breakdown for evaluation instruments)
10
40
25
25
%
%
%
%
Participation
Homework and in-class assignments
Quizzes
Midterm and final exam
GRADING POLICY (Choose LG, CR/NC, or SC)
90% - 100% = A
80% - 89% = B
70% - 79% = C
60% - 69% = D
Below 60% = F
70% and above = Credit
Below 70% = No Credit
Prepared by:
Elvia Ornelas-Garcia
Date: Semester/Year
Fall 2013
Revised 10/13
X
90% - 100% = A
80% - 89% = B
70% - 79% = C
60% - 69% = D
Below 60% = F
70% and above = Pass
Below 70% = No Pass