Guided Studies & Developmental Reading
Northeast College
Gust 0341-Process of Reading
CRN #61196;60950;61596
3 hour lecture course/48 hours per semester/16 weeks
Instructor: Azucena M. Endrinal (Mrs. E.)
E-mail address: azucena.endrinal@hccs.edu (only important message)
Office phone: 713-718-2413 (only important phone calls)No need to tell
me if you’re not attending class.
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Textbook: The Effective Reader (latest edition)by D.J.Henry
Other Materials will come as hand-outs
MATERIALS NEEDED:
Students will be required to purchase the textbook and to bring it to class
everyday along with a clean notebook, pen and pencil to take notes and to
keep these notes handy for your tests. You will also need a college
dictionary that you can use when necessary. Many class works will be
done in class, so you will need enough school supplies. Also, keep few
scantrons in your back pack all the time.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course (Gust 0341) is a college course and is designed for college
students like you. This course will entail a lot of thinking process as adult
read and think. The course will teach you the Reading Process step by
step. You will also be exposed to wide varieties of reading materials and
authors. It will provide for many practices and mastery tests to ensure
application of skills learned. It is intended to provide every student with
competency as they further their college education. NOTE: You are
encouraged to purchase the textbook, and if you purchase a used book,
check carefully for missing pages and pre-marked answers.
COURSE FORMAT:
This course will utilize the combination of lectures, discussions and your
active participation in class. It is essential that you complete all assigned
readings, writings and home works and turn them on time. We follow
deadlines and any late work will be graded 70 and no work will be
accepted after the second day. You will get a zero for non-submission of
work required. This will be enforced in class. ALL ASSIGNED WORKS
INCLUDING JOURNALS, PROJECTS, HOME WORKS ETC. MUST
BE TYPED (unless designated by your teacher) DOUBLE-SPACED AND
ALWAYS DONE NEATLY.
ATTENDANCE:
Attending class on time is essential to learning. Class will not for late
comers. Likewise, you are responsible for any lesson or lessons, test, notes,
etc. you have missed. Although as a rule, a 15-minute allowance will be
given before you will be marked absent. THIS IS NOT TO BE ABUSED
AND YOU ARE STILL REQUIRED TO BE ON TIME FOR CLASS.
Your Instructor is subject to this rule as well. Arriving in class on time is a
courtesy you owe your fellow classmates as well as your teacher.
A student may be dropped by the instructor if he/she misses three class
days. Three tardies (late coming to class) may be counted as one absent
day. Tardies are counted 15 minutes after class or lab is scheduled to
begin. Absences are counted on the first day of school, and roll is taken
every meeting time. You must sign in to be counted as present in class.
Students who encounter difficulties during the semester that will have a
serious impact on their attendance should inform the instructor as soon as
possible. Students who encounter difficulties during the semester that will
cause them to miss more than the three allowable absences are suggested
to drop the course officially and re-take it when you can perform. A W or
an F are not helpful for your credentials when you are transferring to the
university or applying for a job. It will also affect your financial aid.
Medical certificates are no longer valid excuses for being absent. In
addition, other member of your family can not be used to excuse you from
being in class. Our concern is you and no one else.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION-READ CAREFULLY:
Students who repeat a course (either two or three times) may soon face
significant tuition fee increases at HCCS and other public colleges and
universities. If you are encountering course withdrawal because you are
not earning passing grade, you need to confer with a Counselor or your
Instructor as early as possible. There are academic tutors in our Learning
Center (4th floor) who can help you (in all content areas)in your difficult
courses, so explore the services that we offer here at HCC.
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
Home work assignments are important. They are graded accordingly and
possible deductions will happen if you missed some of them. It is your
responsibility to find out what happened in class if you were absent when a
home work was given in class. Home work assignments must be turned in
on time because we follow deadlines. Remember: home works must be on
my desk before class begins. Home works are not accepted at the end of
the class period.
EXAMINATIONS:
There will be chapter tests, mastery test, and quizzes, in addition to midterm and final exams. Your writing skills count every time in my class, that
means your spelling, grammar, and usage. If you are a Learning
Community, then your English link will help you on this. There will be
journals to write and comprehension questions to answer from a reading
selection either from the book or given as hand-outs.
CLASS PROJECT:
Students will be assigned to read a book /novel of interest that will involve
critical thinking. This project will be presented in class where every
student will demonstrate oral proficiency in class. We will explain this
further in class. Like all other requirements, late projects will not be
accepted. We will set a deadline for this project and will be enforced
strictly.
GRADING SYSTEM:
Mid-Term=20%
Final Exam. =20% Reading Lab=30%
Chapter Tests=10% Project=10% All Home works including Reading
Assignments will be graded-10%. TOTAL=100%
Watch this carefully so you know how you will be graded at the end of the
semester.
THE READING LAB-MY READING LAB (MRL)
All students will be required to complete the lab components to receive
your 30 points at the end of the semester. We will explain this further in
class.
SERVICES TO STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES:
Any student with documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, vision,
psychiatric, hearing) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations
must contact the Disability Services Office at their respective college at the
beginning of each semester. Faculties are authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the Disability Services Office. For
questions, contact the Counselor at your college. You can also visit the
ADA Web site at http://www.hccs.edu/student/Disability/index.htm
HCCS WITHDRAWAL POLICY:
The State of Texas has begun to impose penalties on students who drop
courses excessively. For example, if you repeat the same course more than
twice, you have to pay extra tuition. In 2007, the Texas Legislature passed
a law limiting students to no more than six total course withdrawal
throughout their academic career obtaining a baccalaureate degree
(Bachelor) There maybe future penalties impose on this.
To help students avoid having to drop or withdraw from any class, HCC
has instituted an Early Alert process by which your instructor will “alert”
you of the chance you might fail a class because of excessive absences and
or poor academic performance. You will be advised to visit a counselor for
advice. Therefore, you need to take your college education seriously.
Staying focus and getting involved in your daily requirements will help
avoid possible failure. College is not easy, and will never be easy. We will
inform you of the “drop” date so you can drop officially if you need to;
and after that deadline, any excessive absence will receive a grade of “F”.
Any student who is planning to drop must drop officially, otherwise, you
will get an F at the end of the semester.
PASSING THE MID-TERM AND THE FINALS:
All students are required to take and pass both mid-term and finals even if
their grades are already passing in other areas. If you fail to do this, your
final grade will be an F (failing) and your instructor does not have to
explain anything to anyone. Everything will be documented properly.
CLASS BEHAVIORS:
You are expected to behave as adults and matured individuals at all times.
Furthermore, to dress appropriately and decently in class, remember, this
is a school and not a club. Show respect to get respect. Be informed that
food and drink (bottled water is allowed) are not allowed in class. If you
need to eat, finish it before entering the class room. If you have some
issues about the class, you are encouraged to address it directly with your
Instructor. No issues or problems should be left unresolved. I am here to
clear the problem(s) for you. Ignoring the presence of your Instructor is
not the best recourse for you. Using “foul” language is strictly prohibited
in class, and I demand respect from everyone.
CELL PHONES, ETC:
Ringing cell phones, beepers, I-phones, pagers, ETC. is NOT allowed in
the classroom. Students must remember to turn off (not on vibrate) their
cell phones and all devices before they enter the classroom. Visible phones
on top of your desk are not allowed at all. You are requested to keep your
phones in your purses or in your back pack…and forget about it. NO
ONE IS ALLOWED TO STEP OUT OF THE CLASSROOM IN ORDER
TO ANSWER A CALL. If you are expecting an emergency, you need to
inform your Instructor about it before class begins. This privilege is
limited and should not be abused. ANYONE CAUGHT WITH A
RINGING PHONE OR LOOKING AT YOUR PHONE WILL CAUSE
THE ENTIRE CLASS TO GET A POP QUIZ AT AN INSTANCE….AND
I WILL COUNT THIS GRADE. So, let us abide by the rule at all times TO
AVOID TROUBLE. I WILL ENFORCE THIS RULE AT ALL TIMES.
ACADEMIC HONESTY:
Academic honesty means students think, and complete all assignments,
etc. alone. Any act of plagiarism or cheating on any assignment receives a
failing grade of zero. If you need help in your reading or writing
assignments on any course, you can consult the academic tutors in the
Learning Center. Check their schedules and make an appointment. They
are there for you.
COURSE CALENDAR: 16-Weeks- COURSE CALENDAR
*Items are subject to change during the semester to suit the need of this
course.*
WEEK-1 & 2..….Introduction to the Course
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What is college reading?
Expectations
Requirements
Syllabus/Course Calendar
Homeworks
Textbook Requirements
MRL
Pre-Test-Nelson Denny Comprehension Test
WEEK -3 & 4- Detailed Content of the Course-The Ten Steps of the
Reading Process….discuss in class.
Hand-outs--TBA
Home work--TBA
Discussion of Skills:
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Vocabulary in Context
Finding the Topic/Subject Matter
Finding the Main Idea
Mastery Activities
Q/A
MRL-Lab Work- TBA
Prepare for First Chapter Test-TBA
Home work for Mastery-TBA
Hand-outs for more Mastery-TBA
WEEK 5 & 6…Discussion of :
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Finding the Implied Main Idea
Finding the Supporting Details
Mastery Activities-Textbook-TBA
MRL Activity-Tuesday
Second Chapter Test-TBA
Home work-TBA
More Mastery Activities-TBA
Prepare for first Chapter Test-TBA
WEEK 7 & 8…..Discussion of:
 Transitions/Pattern of Organizations
 Useful tool for Writing and Reading-required in this
course
 Continue on pattern-hand-outs
 Discussion of Mid-Term-TBA
 MRL-Follow-up
 Second Chapter Test-TBA
Home work due-TBA
Mid-Term-TBA
More Mastery Activities from Textbook-TBA
WEEK ( 9 & 10…..Discussion of:
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Purpose and Tone
Mastery Activities from Textbook
Discussion of Required Project (graded)
More Mastery Activities-Textbook-TBA
MRL-Follow-up
Mid-Term-TBA
Home work due-TBA
Mastery Activities-TBA
WEEK 11 & 12….. Discussion of Fact & Opinion
 Fact and Opinion
 Hand-out for the skills
 Activities for Mastery-TBA
 MRL
Home work-TBA
More Mastery Activities-TBA
WEEK 13 & 14……Discussion of Basic Argument
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Mastery of Skills
Project due-TBA
Additional Hand-out for Mastery-TBA
MRL
Introduce Critical Thinking Skill
Home work-TBA
Further needed discussions-TBA
WEEK 15-….Working on Combined Skills-TBA
Post test
*Prepare For Final Reviews*
TAKE NOTE:
 All required Lab components (MRL) MUST BE
COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE ACADEMIC
INSTRUCTIONAL DAY---TBA
 ALL REQUIRED HOME WORKS MUST BE
ORGANIZED IN YOUR PORTFOLIO…TBA
 EVERYONE MUST BE READY FOR THE FINALS.
WEEK 16:
F I N A L E X A M I N A T I O N-TBA
*Good Luck Everyone, and Welcome to Houston Community
College. I hope you will enjoy your time here and your semester will be
productive and rewarding for you.
Learn as much as you can and aspire for more.
Remember, this is college and your survival here depends greatly on
you and how you conduct yourself. DO NOT LET ANYTHING
DISRUPT YOUR PLAN TO REACH YOUR GOAL IN LIFE.*
Your Instructor