NSCC IEP 032.02: Reading & Vocabulary 3
Instructor Name:
Amy Fenning
Instructor Office Hours
By appointment before or after class.
Instructor Phone/Office
(VM) (206) 528-4540, IB3411A
Instructor Email
afenning@northseattle.edu
Class Time/Place
M-Th 2:30 to 3:35 in IB3327
Schedule:
January 4 to March 18
No classes:
Jan. 18 (MLK Day) Feb 25 (Presidents Day)
Materials you will need for this class
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A three-ring binder and lined paper
Pen/Pencil and highlighter pen.
Reading Text: _______________________________________________
Optional: a dictionary, but it is not required.
Class Description
This class focuses on improving reading skills and vocabulary, and understanding how
grammar structures communicate meaning in academic and pleasure reading. During
this course, you will read a variety of texts and learn how to recognize and understand
important aspects of reading such as main ideas, topics, vocabulary, and grammar.
Course Goals
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Reading Skills
Responding Skills
Vocabulary Skills
 Predicting, identifying,
and understanding
main/supporting ideas
in a variety of academic
and general readings
 Skimming for ideas
 Scanning for details
 Identifying list, causeeffect, and opinion
types of text
organization
 Reading fluently (in
“thought groups”)
 Identifying good
paraphrases and
summaries of main
ideas.
 Reacting to texts orally
and/or in writing by
 commenting on
ideas in the
reading
 expanding your
ideas on the
topics presented
 Developing reading
questions
 Summarizing the ideas
in multi-paragraph
readings
 Paraphrasing ideas in
readings
 Making inferences.
 Observing new words in
texts
 Guessing meaning of
unknown words from
context
 Using a dictionary
effectively
 Studying new words
systematically
 Using new words in writing
and discussion.
Grammar Skills
 Recognizing and
understanding level 3
grammar structures in
your reading
 Analyzing some of the
grammatical structures
that you see in your
reading.
Other skills for success:
I expect you to….
1. Use basic classroom skills, such as copying from the board.
2. Follow simple written and oral directions.
3. Utilize basic study and group-work skills being respectful of your classmates and
teacher
4. Take personal responsibility for learning the material, asking for repetition, and
clarifying information.
5. Manage time efficiently (including attending class and arriving on time).
6. Organize your study materials. Sometimes I’ll have a contest to see how fast it takes
you to find something!
7. Turn off your cell phone during class.
I promise to…
1. Be on time, organized and ready.
2. Keep accurate records of your grades and give you regular updates
3. Make learning fun!
ATTENDANCE POLICY: This class meets five hours four times per week. If you are
absent 8 times, or 1/10 of the class, you will fail and have to repeat the class. Two
late arrivals = one absence. After 30 minutes, it is not considered late, it’s absent.
PLAGIARISM POLICY: Plagiarism is copying someone else’s work (a classmate or from
the Internet) and telling me it is your own. This is a serious offense! You will receive a 0
on that assignment. You will get one warning and sign a document. The second time you
will fail the class and go before the Dean. It is NOT tolerated in U.S. academic culture.
Course Assessment:
You must pass this class with a 75% of both the reading and vocabulary component.
I will drop the lowest failing score that has the greatest impact on your
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Homework—25%
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Attendance and Participation—10%
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Quizzes & Tests—30%
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Vocabulary journal—10%
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Mid-term & Final—25%