Guided Studies (GUST)
Course Title: Introduction to Reading
Course Number: GUST 0339
Instructor: Professor Annie L Tsui
Phone Number: (713) 718-8418 (direct)
(713) 718-6070 (JBW207 Main Office)
Class Section: 81704 M-Th 9-12:15p JBW215 Email: annie.tsui@hccs.edu
Semester: Summer 2011
Office Location: JBW207C
Total Contact Hours: 64 (3 credits)
Office Hours: JBW207C
M-Th 8:30 – 9:00a and by appointment
Course Length: 5 weeks
Type of Instruction: Lecture/Laboratory
Course Purpose: A student who does not have adequate reading skills or the discipline one gains as a
mature, goal-oriented adult often has difficulty completing the rigorous requirements of college level
coursework. The transition from high-school to college can often be measured in the level of a
student’s attitude and responsibility toward his or her self-improvement as it relates to the
achievement of career or academic goals. GUST 0339 is designed to develop the reading skills,
discipline, and responsible attitudes necessary for the successful completion of college-level courses.
Course Description: Introduction to reading is designed for students who are planning to take
reading-intensive college courses in order to fulfill specific degree or career certification
requirements. It provides an overview as well as the application of basic reading skills and concepts.
(3 Credit Hours)
Student Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this program the student will successfully learn
how to:
1. Identify main and supporting details.
2. Identify relationships in a reading selection.
3. Add vocabulary.
4. Model use of library and resources.
5. Develop reading retention skills.
6. Acquire communication and learning skills.
7. Acquire technical, organizational and testing skills.
Textbook:
“Strategies for College Readers,” by Elaine Garcia Krieg
ISBN: 0205685757 (with access code for MyReading Lab)
Pearson Longman Publishers
www.MyReadingLab.com
Course ID Code: **TSUI00363071R**
Materials:
Thesaurus (a book of synonyms), Collegiate Dictionary, paper, pencil, pen
Notebook or binder to organize your work and develop good study skills:
1. class notes
2. handouts
3. homework
4. reading journal
5. vocabulary
6. loose leaf paper; pens; pencils; highlighter; scantrons
In addition, there will be supplemental readings and vocabulary building incorporated into the course.
Tutoring Help: www.hccs.askonline.net
Complete homework assignments before coming to class. In general, you should plan to spend 2 hours
studying outside of class for every hour spent in class. Late homework assignments are not accepted.
It will be the instructor's prerogative to make any changes deemed necessary in order to meet the
learning outcomes of the course. Students will be notified in writing of any change.
Course Requirements and Policies:
No Make-Up Exams: Students who are absent on the day of an exam will receive a grade of zero.
HCCS policy requires immediate withdrawal after 12.5% (approximately 2.5 days) of the total
class has been missed. Students will be dropped after their fourth absence. Students who are absent
are responsible for getting lecture notes from classmates, finding out what assignments are due, and for
completing assignments in a timely manner.
GUST 0339 Course Syllabus
Student will be notified of any additional course information or changes during class sessions.
Week 1
Monday, July 11
Welcome!
Overview of GUST 0339
Chapter 1: Motivation and Success pgs. 1-45
Introduction to MyReadingLab (Lab component)
Tuesday, July 12
Continuation of Chapter 1
Wednesday, July 13
Chapter 2: Word Wise pgs. 46-86
Thursday, July 14
Continuation of Chapter 2
Week 2
Monday, July 18
Chapter 3: Words in Context pgs. 87-119
Tuesday, July 19
Continuation of Chapter 3
Wednesday, July 20
Chapter 4: Main Idea and Paragraph Structure pgs. 121-166
Thursday, July 21
Continuation of Chapter 4
Week 3
Monday, July 25
Chapter 5: Supporting Details and Transitions pgs. 167-204
Tuesday, July 26
Continuation of Chapter 5
Wednesday, July 27
Chapter 6: Patterns of Organization pgs. 205-249
Thursday, July 28
Continuation of Chapter 6
Friday, July 29 Last Day for Student or Administrative Withdrawal (Receive a “W”)
Week 4
Monday, August 1
Chapter 10: Evaluating Arguments and Critical Thinking pgs. 359-408
Tuesday, August 2
Continuation of Chapter 10
Wednesday, August 3
Chapter 11: Recognizing the Author’s Purpose and Tone pgs. 409-454
Thursday, August 4
Continuation of Chapter 11
Week 5
Monday, August 8,
Chapter 12: Inference pgs. 455-488
Tuesday, August 9
Continuation of Chapter 12
Wednesday, August 10
Final Exam at 9:00am
Grades posted online by August 19
IMPORTANT NOTES
●American Disabilities Act Policy
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.)
who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the
respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office. Students who require
reasonable accommodations for disabilities are encouraged to report to Room 106, Learning
Hub/Science Building (LHSB) or call (713) 718-6164 to make necessary arrangements.
www.hccs.edu/hccs/current-students From the Student Support column, select the Disability Services
for further information.
●Academic Honesty Policy
Academic dishonesty (cheating of any kind) is a serious offense and will be dealt with accordingly. If
a student copies sentences from another person's work without giving credit to the writer by naming
the writer as the source of the ideas and words, it is called "plagiarism." This is a serious offense in
American colleges, and it is unacceptable. Academic honesty is expected of all college students. Any
homework, journal entry or composition that is not a student's own work will be given a grade of 0.
The student may receive an F for the course when plagiarism occurs repeatedly.
http://www.hccs.edu/hccs/current-students From the Student Support column, select Student
Handbook for further information (reference pgs. 34 - 36.)
●Attendance Policy
Attendance and punctuality are mandatory. Parking is a continuous problem, so leave early for class
and avoid excessive absences. H.C.C.S. policy states that you can be withdrawn by your instructor
after missing 12.5% of the course; in this course that is equal to 8 hours (2.5 classes) of absence
for the summer session. A student who is withdrawn from a class for excessive absences will
receive a grade of “W” before or by the student/administrative withdrawal date. This is not
negotiable and cannot be changed for a letter grade. A student who is withdrawn from a required
developmental course will also be withdrawn from all other courses during that semester. Students on
Financial Aid could forfeit their Financial Aid and F1 students (international) be out of compliance and
have their F1 status revoked. These are serious consequences, and it is the student’s responsibility to
maintain required attendance. Check with your instructor about specific attendance policies.
●Six Drop Rule http://imc02.hccs.edu/gcac/drop.htm
Important information you need to know about dropping courses. Effective 2007, section 51.907 of the
Texas Education Code applies to first-time in college freshman students who enroll in a Texas public
institution of higher education in the fall semester of 2007 or thereafter. High school students currently
enrolled in HCC Dual Credit and Early College are waived from this requirement until they graduate
from high school. Based on this law, HCC or any other Texas Public institution of higher
education may not permit students to drop after the official day of record more than six college
level credit courses for unacceptable reasons during their entire undergraduate career.
●Third Attempt Enrollment Information
Houston Community College charges a higher tuition to students who are registering for a class for the
third or subsequent time. www.hccs.edu/hccs/current-students From the Student Support column,
select Admissions & Records, then Third Attempt Enrollment for further information.
●Withdrawal Deadline
Last Day for Student/Administrative Withdrawal Friday, July 29 by 12 Noon
After the official date of record and prior to the last day for student or administrative* withdrawal, a
final grade of “W” will be recorded on your transcript. YOU must take the responsibility to withdraw
from the class. Do NOT depend upon your professor to do it for you. If you do not officially
withdraw from this course, you will earn an “F” for the course.
(*At the instructor’s discretion, he/she have the option to withdraw students for excessive absences
before the official withdrawal date.)
●Other Important Notes
Cellular phones and pagers create annoying and unnecessary interruptions during class. Please
switch them to vibrate. No laptops will be used during class sessions unless agreed upon by the
instructor. Also, no text messaging or listening to mp3 players will be allowed.
According to the Texas Education Code 37.123:
“No person or groups of persons acting in concert may willfully engage in disruptive activities or
disrupt a lawful assembly on the campus or property of any private or public school or institution of
higher education or public vocational and technical school or institute.” Hindering other students'
learning or deterring an instructor from effective teaching will not be tolerated. The student who is
unprepared, sleeps in class, or is disruptive will be asked to leave the class and be counted
absent. http://www.hccs.edu/hccs/current-students From the Student Support column, select Student
Handbook for further information (reference Disruptive Behavior pgs. 35-37).
●College Grading System
Grade Legend: A= 90-100
B= 80-89 C=70-79
IP*= 60-69 (must repeat class)
Students in GUST 0339 classes may receive a letter grade of A, B, C, or IP. IP means "in progress."
This is not a failing grade, but it is given to students who complete the course but who are not yet
ready for the next course. Anyone who receives an IP must reenroll in GUST 0339 next semester.
*However, if a student has already received an IP in this course during a previous semester, that
student will receive a letter grade: A, B, C, or F this semester.
Reading Assignments
Chapter Quizzes
Major Tests
Reflection Activity Journal
Lab Component (MRL)
Final Exam (Comprehensive)
Total
15%
20%
25%
10%
10%
20%
100%
*IP (In Progress) is given only in certain developmental courses. The student must re-enroll and pass
the course to receive credit. The grades "IP" and "I" do not affect GPA.