Guided Studies (GUST)
Course Title: Developmental Reading II Instructor: Earlene Leverett
Course Number: GUST 0342
Phone Number:
713-718-6901
Class Section: 66500
Email: earlene.leverett@hccs.edu
Day and Time: T/TH 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Office Location: JBW 201
Semester: Spring 2011
Total Contact Hours: 64 (3 credits)
Course Length: 16 weeks
Type of Instruction: Lecture/Laboratory
Course Description:
GUST 0342 Developmental Reading II is a continuation of reading skills introduced in GUST 0341. Stronger
emphasis is on critical reading and thinking skills. The goal of GUST 0342 is to teach students to analyze materials
thoughtfully, synthesize materials from various sources, and apply this information to their reading.
Due to the interactive nature of this course, a variety of instructional methodology will be used including, but not
limited to: lecture, group discussions, guest lecturers, group activities, web activities, library assignments and
exploration activities. (www.hccs.edu)
Prerequisite:
Must be placed into GUST 0342 in reading or completion of GUST 0341.
Course Goals:
In this course, there is a strong emphasis on reading and thinking skill. This course is designed to teach students to
analyze materials thoroughly, synthesize materials from various sources and apply this information to their reading.
By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
1. Identify main ideas and supporting details in readings.
2. Organize information.
3. Define words in context.
4. Develop stronger oral communication skills.
5. Improve and develop stronger critical thinking skills.
6. Develop stronger problem solving skills.
7. Develop cooperative learning skills.
8. Gain technological proficiency.
9. Prepare for and take test successfully.
10. Read textbooks with improved retention.
11. Locate and utilize a variety of library services and resource materials.
Student Learning Outcomes:
1.
Acquire vocabulary.
Objectives for this SLO should include but not limited to:
1.a
1.b
Apply context clues to determine the meaning of words and phrases.
Delineate the meaning of figurative language.
2.
Identify main and supporting details.
Objectives for this SLO should include but not limited to:
2.a
2.b
2.c
Show stated and implied main ideas and supporting details in written material.
Show a writer’s purpose, intended audience, viewpoint, tone, and intended meaning.
Describe the relationship of ideas in written material.
3.
Identify relationships in a reading selection.
Objectives for this SLO should include but not limited to:
3.a
3.b
3.c
3.d
Show inferences.
Identify conclusions.
Describe various perspectives on an issue.
Acquire problem solving methods.
4.
Develop reading retention skills.
Objectives for this SLO should include but not limited to:
4.a
4.b
4.c
4.d
Determine assumptions underlying a writer’s argument.
Show the reasoning in a writer’s argument.
Calculate the overall logic and credibility of a writer’s argument.
Show fallacies.
5.
Acquire communication and learning skills.
Objectives for this SLO should include but not limited to:
5.a
5.b
5.c
5.d
5.e
Prepare outlines.
Acquire notetaking skills.
Delineate visual aids.
Apply written directions.
Produce a summary of reading assignments.
6.
Exhibit use of the college library for academic research.
Objectives for this SLO should include but not limited to:
6.a
6.b
6.c
6.d
Acquire technical, organizational, and testing skills.
Develop technological proficiency.
Organize information.
Prepare for and exhibit test tasting skills successfully.
7.
Develop critical thinking skills.
Objectives for this SLO should include but not limited to:
7.a
7.b
7.c
7.d
7.e
Draw an analysis of the relationship of ideas in a written material.
Make inferences and generate conclusions.
Illustrate various perspectives on an issue.
Employ problem solving methods.
Determine assumptions underlying a writer’s argument.
7.f
7.g
Determine the overall logic and credibility of a writer’s argument.
Determine fallacies.
GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES:
A. READING: Reading at the college level means the ability to analyze and interpret a variety of printed
materials;
B. WRITING: Competency/outcome in writing is the ability to produce clear, correct, and coherent prose
adapted to purpose, occasion, and audience;
C. SPEAKING: Competence in speaking is the ability to communicate orally in clear, coherent, and
persuasive language appropriate to purpose, occasion, and audience;
D. LISTENING: Listening at the college level means the ability to analyze and interpret various forms of
spoken communication;
E. CRITICAL THINKING: Critical thinking embraces methods for applying both qualitative and
quantitative skills analytically and creatively to subject matter in order to evaluate arguments and to
construct alternative strategies; and
F. COMPUTER LITERACY: Computer literacy at the college level means the ability to use computerbased technology in communicating, solving problems, and acquiring information.
Text: Mather, Peter and McCarthy, Rita. The Art of Critical Reading, Brushing Up On Your Reading, Thinking,
and Study Skills, 2nd ed., McGraw-Hill Publishing 2009
Lab Software: To buy McGraw Hill Access Code for “Connect Reading”
https://www.mhprofessional.com/mhhe_product.php?isbn=0077311388
OR Google MHHE Connect Reading Online Access
Connect Reading is a state-of-the-art, interactive and instructive online solution for
student success courses. Connect Reading combines multimedia, current events,
reading passages, tutorials, video, simulations, animations, tests and quizzes to make
teaching and learning fun!
http://www.passporttocollegereading.com..This is a specific link for Houston
Community College- Central campus students. A separate handout will be distributed
with registration instructions for Connect Reading.
Note: You should buy a new book to better improve your reading skills. If you purchase a used book, check very
carefully for missing pages, excessive highlighting, and pre-marked answers; such used books are counterproductive.
The instructor may check your textbook for approval.
Materials Scantron answer sheets (available in the bookstore), paper, pens, #2 pencils, dictionary, thesaurus, and a
notebook or folder for class notes, returned assignments and handouts.
Tutoring Help: www.hccs.askonline.net or Reading Tutoring (to be announced)
GUST 0342 Developmental Reading II Course Syllabus
WEEK ONE
Introduction to GUST 0342
(Please review the "Important Notes" at the end of this calendar)
CONNECT READING ASSESSMENT..
Introduction to “Connect Reading” (software used for the lab component of the course)
Note: Your lab grade for this part of the course may be based on either or both of the following criteria:
• Grades which you earn on the exercises or tests in this program
• The amount of time you spend working on the program (minimum of one hour per week)
Review the Table of Contents p. v-xiv The Art of Critical Reading
Review Preface for Students p. xxi-xxviii The Art of Critical Reading
NOTE: ASSIGNMENTS ARE ALWAYS FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK
Assignments: Your are responsible for the completion of assignments that are available online using Connect
Reading. These assignments are due and can only be completed online.
WEEK 2
Vocabulary Introduction from Part 1 pgs. 27-30
Chapter 1: Vocabulary: Words in Context pgs. 50-54
Prefixes (Unit 3) pgs. 199-202
Study Vocabulary Word Parts Chart in Appendix A18-A20
Study Technique 1: Underlining, Highlighting, Annotating pg. 32
Study Technique 2: SQ3R Study Method pg. 55
Continue working on Connect Reading (computer lab program)
Assignments: Your are responsible for the completion of assignments that are available online using Connect
Reading. These assignments are due and can only be completed online.
WEEK 3
Chapter 2: Topics, Main Ideas, and Details pgs. 72-117
Study Technique 3: Summarizing Short Articles pg. 110
Continue working on Connect Reading (computer lab program)
Assignments: Your are responsible for the completion of assignments that are available online using Connect
Reading. These assignments are due and can only be completed online.
WEEK 4
Chapter 3: The Author’s Purpose and the Rhetorical pgs. 119-157
Vocabulary: Homonyms and Other Confusing Words (Unit 2) pgs. 153-156
Study Technique 4: Outlining pg. 128
Continue working on Connect Reading (computer lab program)
Assignments: Your are responsible for the completion of assignments that are available online using Connect
Reading. These assignments are due and can only be completed online.
WEEK 5
Chapter 4: Transitional Words and Patterns of Organization pgs. 159-203
Study Technique 5: Creating a Comparison-Contrast Chart pg. 170
Study Technique 6: Mapping pg. 177
Study Technique 7: Time Lines pg. 179
Study Technique 8: Summarizing Longer Articles pg. 192
Prefixes (Unit 3) pgs. 199-202
Continue working on Connect Reading (computer lab program)
Assignments: Your are responsible for the completion of assignments that are available online using Connect
Reading. These assignments are due and can only be completed online.
WEEK 6
MAJOR TEST #1
Continue working on Connect Reading (computer lab program)
Assignments: Your are responsible for the completion of assignments that are available online using Connect
Reading. These assignments are due and can only be completed online.
WEEK 7
Chapter 5 Inference pgs. 206-260
Vocabulary Unit 4 pgs. 257-260
Continue working on Connect Reading (computer lab program)
Assignments: Your are responsible for the completion of assignments that are available online using Connect
Reading. These assignments are due and can only be completed online.
WEEK 8
Chapter 6: Figurative Language pgs. 263-300
Chapter 7: Tone pgs. 303-338
Vocabulary Unit 5 pgs. 297-300
Vocabulary Unit 6 pgs. 335-338
Continue working on Connect Reading (computer lab program)
Assignments: Your are responsible for the completion of assignments that are available online using Connect
Reading. These assignments are due and can only be completed online.
WEEK 9
Chapter 8: Fact and Opinion pgs. 342-383
Continue working on Connect Reading (computer lab program)
Assignments: Your are responsible for the completion of assignments that are available online using Connect
Reading. These assignments are due and can only be completed online.
WEEK 10
MAJOR TEST #2
Continue working on Connect Reading (computer lab program)
Assignments: Complete Chapter 9: Point of View pgs. 385-432
Complete Chapter 9: Propaganda pgs. 423-427
Vocabulary Unit 7 pgs. 428-432
Complete Chapter 10: Bias pgs. 435-474
Assignments: Your are responsible for the completion of assignments that are available online using Connect
Reading. These assignments are due and can only be completed online.
WEEK 11
Chapter 9: Point of View pgs. 385-422, Propaganda pgs. 423-427
Vocabulary Unit 7 pgs. 428-432
Chapter 10: Bias pgs. 435-474
Continue working on Connect Reading (computer lab program)
Assignments: Your are responsible for the completion of assignments that are available online using Connect
Reading. These assignments are due and can only be completed online.
WEEK 12
Chapter 11: Analyzing and Evaluating Arguments pgs. 475-523
Study Technique 9: Venn Diagrams pg.496
Vocabulary Unit 8 pgs. 524-527
Continue working on Connect Reading (computer lab program)
Assignments: Your are responsible for the completion of assignments that are available online using Connect
Reading. These assignments are due and can only be completed online.
LAST DAY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE OR STUDENT WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT RECEIVING A GRADE
IS THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2011 BY 4:30PM
WEEK 13
Chapter 12: Evaluating the Evidence pgs. 531-568
Vocabulary Unit 9 pgs. 564-568
Continue working on Connect Reading (computer lab program)
Assignments: Your are responsible for the completion of assignments that are available online using Connect
Reading. These assignments are due and can only be completed online.
WEEK 14
Assignments: Continue with activities assigned by instructor.
BRING 2 SCANTRONS AND PENCILS FOR THE NELSON-DENNY READING TEST.
BEGIN REVIEW FOR FINAL EXAM (All Chapters)
Assignments: Your are responsible for the completion of assignments that are available online using Connect
Reading. These assignments are due and can only be completed online.
WEEK 15
Nelson Denny Test (Form G or H)
Completion of Connect Reading (computer lab program)
Assignments: STUDY FOR THE FINAL EXAM
WEEK 16
FINAL EXAM
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
●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 link 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 the Student
Handbook link 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 (4 classes) of absence for the semester. A student who is
withdrawn from a class for excessive absences will receive a grade of “W” 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 link, then Third Attempt Enrollment for further information.
●Withdrawal Deadline
LAST DAY FOR STUDENT OR ADMINISTRATIVE WITHDRAWAL
THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2011 BY 4:30PM
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).
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.
Grading Score
These guidelines will be followed to determine your final grade:
Connect Reading (Lab)
Average of Chapter Tests
Final Exam
Novel project
20%
30%
20%
30%
HCCS Grading Scale for Developmental Courses
A
90-100
B
80-89
C
70-79
F or IP*
69 and below
IP (In Progress) is given only in certain developmental courses. The student must re-enroll to receive credit. To
compute grade point average (GPA), divide the total grade points by the total number of semester hours attempted.
The grades "IP" and "I" (Incomplete) do not affect GPA.
*A grade of “D” is not a passing grade in developmental courses. (www.hccs.edu)
MAKE A FRIEND: You may plan to never be absent & that is great! However, things may occur that are out of
your control causing you to be absent occasionally. Anything you miss during an absence is your responsibility! It is
unreasonable for you to request that I repeat my lecture to you upon your return after an absence. This is why I
suggest to all students that you make a friend/buddy in the class (maybe even a few). So if you are absent, you can
call that classmate up & ask about what you missed, etc. So let’s take a few minutes for you to get acquainted with
some of your classmates!
1. Classmate Name:
_____________________________
E-mail address:
_______________________________
Telephone Number (s):
_________________________
_________________________
2. Classmate Name:
_________________________________
E-mail address:
_______________________________
Telephone Number (s):
_________________________
________________________
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