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COURSE SYLLABUS
GUST 0342
College Reading II
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
Name: Pamela D. Dearman
E-mail: pamela.dearman @hccs.edu
Office Hours/Location: By Appointment
MISSION STATEMENT
The Houston Community College System is an open-admission, public institution of
higher education offering associate degrees, certificates, academic preparation,
workforce training, and lifelong learning opportunities that prepare individuals in our
diverse communities for life and work in an increasingly technological society.
Course Description: This is a pre-collegiate course designed to raise your reading and study strategies so
that you will be successful in subsequent college-level courses. You will develop vocabulary enrichment
techniques, as well as improve your comprehension. You will have a variety of opportunities for practice
and test rehearsals in the textbook, lab manual, and online. Also, this course consists of a lab and lecture
component. There is a strong emphasis on reading and thinking skills. Finally, the goal of this course is to
teach students to analyze materials thoroughly, synthesize materials from various sources and apply this
information to their reading.
Course Number: 31876
Course Date: March 22, 2010
Location:
WLOP Room 143G
Meeting Day(s): Mon. – Thurs.
Meeting Time:
8:00 – 10:00
Required Textbook: The Master Reader, Alternate Readings Ed., 2nd Ed. D.J.Henry, Longman, 2009.
Course Compass ID: Will Be Provided
Other Required
Material:
Blue/Black Pen
Loose leaf paper
Dictionary/Thesaurus
Stapler or paper clips
Course Compass/MyReadingLab Access Cards
3-ring binder
*Please note all papers must be stapled when presented to instructor
Instructional Methodology: This course will consist of lectures, discussions, demonstrations and online
lab activities and tests.
Attendance Policy: Attendance in class is very important because we will cover a lot of material every
day. You will find that to be a successful college student, you must be present. Absences may result in
you being administratively withdrawn from the course. There is no such thing as an excused absence.
Students are allowed to miss no more than 12.5% of the total class sessions. (Note: Any exceptions to this
policy must be cleared with the instructor)
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Tardy Policy: Class begins at the exact time specified in the schedule of classes. If you are tardy 3 times,
it will be counted as an absence.
Course Requirements:
 Attend and participate as an active learner every day.
 Complete all assignments (In-Class, Out of Class and online)
 Perform satisfactorily on tests, quizzes, labs, assignments, mid-term, and final exam with a final
semester average of at least 70%.
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Evaluation and Grading Scale
90-100..………………...A
80-89....………………...B
70-79..………………….C
69 and below…………...IP
*Repeat students
69 and below…………..F
Grades will be earned as follows:
Mid Term Exam ………….…..15%
Final Exam ……………………15%
Quizzes & Tests ……………...20%
Lab (Online and In Class) …….20%
Critical Thinking Project………10%
Daily Work…………………….20%
Total :
100%
Late Assignments: All work must be handed in on time.
Classroom Activities:
Below, you will find details concerning each of your projects.
Mid-Term Exam and Final Exams: Each student is required to take a mid-term examination
during the semester and a final examination at the end of the semester. These tests will cover a
variety of materials discussed in class and found in your readings.
Regular Quizzes/Tests: To ensure that each student is mastering the materials assigned for reading
and discussion in class, several quizzes will be administered on a variety of subjects throughout
the semester. Quizzes and tests will be announced.
In-Class Lab: To ensure that each student is mastering the materials assigned for reading
comprehension, several reading selections will be administered on a variety of subjects throughout
the semester. Reading selections will be announced in class.
Computer Lab: To ensure that each student is mastering the materials assigned for reading
comprehension, several computer activities (exercises, tests, etc) will be administered on a variety
of reading skills throughout the semester. Computer lab dates will be announced prior to the
activity.
Critical Thinking Project: Instructor will assign a project associated the course content.
Daily Work: A variety of assignments (in class and homework) will be given as reinforcements
for material being covered in textbook and on-line.
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Classroom Conduct
Beepers/Cell phones:
All electronic devices should be turned off during our class. If you have a home,
family or work situation that requires you to wear a beeper or a cell phone, please discuss this with the
instructor at the end of the first class. Turn off beepers and cell phones prior to entering class. No calls,
text messages, photographs, or any other electronic communication should be sent or received during
class. Violation of this policy could result in a failing grade on an assignment or test.
Behavior:
You are in college. You will be treated and respected as an adult. Because of the nature
of discussion involved in this class, it is imperative that we respect each other’s opinions and values.
Discipline problems are not tolerated. Any student failing to abide by appropriate standards of conduct
during scheduled College activities may be asked to leave that day’s class or activity by the instructor or
another College official. (The student has the right to return to the next class/activity.) If a student refuses a
request to voluntarily leave the classroom, security may be summoned to remove the student so that the
scheduled activity may resume without further disruption. In cases of serious problems, the faculty member
will document and report the incident to his/her supervisor. Further disciplinary action may be pursued
according to System guidelines, presented in the HCCS Student Handbook.
Syllabus
The instructor reserves the right to change this syllabus except for the grading scale and
attendance policy. Students will be notified of all changes in writing or by way of verbal announcement to
the entire class prior to the change. You should always keep a copy of your semester schedule of classes. It
gives you many important facts and dates such as breaks, exam dates, registration deadlines and fee
penalties. It is also your student handbook.
Scholastic Dishonesty: Cheating is never permitted under any circumstance. The penalties for cheating
can be found in the schedule of classes. Penalties range from failing the course to being removed from the
college. Cheating includes plagiarism and/or using the work of someone else.
ADA Compliance: “Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric,
vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact Dr. Becky Hauri in
the Disability Service Office at (713) 718-7910. "Faculty are authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.”
Sexual Harassment: It is a violation of HCCS policy for an employee, agent, or student of the college to
engage in sexual harassment as defined in the EEOC guidelines (EEO/AA Compliance Handbook 47).
STUDENT HANDBOOK
All students are expected to familiarize themselves with the information, policies, and other details in the
Student Handbook. Please refer to:
http://www.hccs.edu/hcc/System%20Home/Departments/Student_Handbook/student_policies.pdf
NOTICE:
Students who repeat a course three or more times may soon face significant
tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas Public college and Universities.
Please ask your instructor/counselor about opportunities for tutoring/other
assistance prior to considering course withdrawal, or if you are not receiving
passing grades.
What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matter compared to what lies within us.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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