Fall 2015 – Course Syllabus
RSS 1510A: Advanced College Success Skills
CRN 44861 – 3 credit hours
Instructor (under the direction of Dr. Karen Becker):
Mr. Michael Greco, MA
R&SS Center Office: Maag 154
Office Phone: 330-941-3099
E-mail: magreco01@ysu.edu
Office Hours: By Appointment Only
R&SS Website: http://web.ysu.edu/rdgstudyskills
Class Meetings:
MWRF 8:00 – 8:50am
Beeghly Hall 4205
*If the class is being cancelled for any one day because of instructor illness, or other
reasons, notification will be sent to the student’s YSU email address as soon as
possible.
Texts/Supplies:


Becker, K. and Towler, K, The Art and Science of Quality Learning, 4th ed. (2015)
Van-Griner Publishing, Cincinnati, OH ISBN-13: 978-1-61740-260-9
3 ring binder (for student portfolio)
Prerequisites:
Placement in this course is based upon the candidate’s COMPASS® Reading Test scores,
which indicated a reading score between the grade levels of 10 and 12. The candidate’s
raw score may be attained from the candidate’s academic advisor.
Catalog Description:
A course designed to develop a candidate’s skills essential for college studying. The
primary focus is improving comprehension and retention of college textbooks. Major
topics include reading rate flexibility, vocabulary growth, learning style preferences, and
critical reading skills.
Candidates meet for classroom instruction, computer- aided instruction, and small group
tutoring sessions to discuss and practice strategies. Grading is A, B, C, and N/C.
Course Objectives:
A. Knowledge: The Candidate(s) will:
1. Gain an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses as college learners.
2. Apply study strategies to textbook and workbook exercises in class with
instructor, in small tutor groups, and to content area textbooks outside of
class.
3. Improve self-management relating to the college learning process.
B. Skills: The Candidate(s) will:
1. Practice and adopt a variety of reading and study skill strategies for college
learning, including note-taking, test-taking, and making visual study tools.
2. Work to improve reading rate and comprehension through computer assisted
instruction.
C. Dispositions: The Candidate(s) will:
1. Learn to view him/herself as responsible for and capable of adopting
strategies to increase his/her academic successes.
2. Consider the role of self-awareness, self-responsibility, and life-long learning
in the learning process.
3. Focus upon his/her successes through specific goal setting steps.
Classroom Policies:
Course fees: Each candidate registered for this course is charged a $35 course fee to cover
costs for items consumed in and/or maintenance of the Computer Assisted Instruction
(CAI) lab, a required component of the RSS curriculum.
Punctuality and classroom etiquette: These are essentials of success in this course. See
Student Handbook regarding disruptive student behavior. **Please turn cell phones on
vibrate/silent and no text messaging!**
Comprehension tests: Pretest and post testing is mandatory.
Homework: You will complete assigned activities from your text book and turn them in
the following class period. Please be sure to label and complete each activity.
Late assignments: 10% will be deducted from your grade for every class day the
assignment is late and not all assignments can turned in late.
Exams: You will have two exams in the course. The Midterm exam will cover all material
covered up until that point. The Final exam will cover all material covered after the
midterm. Both exams will be 50 questions and will consist of a variety of test questions (i.e.
Multiple Choice, True/False, Matching, and Short-Answer).
Academic conduct: Cheating on exams, submitting work of other students as your own, or
plagiarism results in penalties ranging from an “F” on an assignment to expulsion,
depending on the seriousness of the offense.
Portfolio: You will create a portfolio of all of the work you completed for this course at the
end of the semester. Your portfolio should include the following: the course syllabus, CAAP
viewing guide, all of your graded homework, attendance from a YSU resource, your
midterm examination, a personal overview of the course, and any additional assignments
requested by the instructor. Full Portfolio Guidelines will be distributed in class at the
beginning of the semester.
Attendance: You will be expected to attend each class and tutoring session this semester. If
you need to miss class for ANY reason, please contact your instructor BEFORE missing
class. In case of emergency, please contact your instructor immediately after the emergency
is resolved. Documentation for missed classes will be expected by your instructor. Some
tutoring sessions cannot be made-up.
NAF (non-attendance F): NAF should be used when, in the opinion of the instructor,
completed assignments and/or course activities were insufficient to make normal
evaluation of academic performance possible. Any student that remains enrolled in the
course, but has stopped attending, will receive the non-attendance F grade.
Course Assignments and Points:
Attendance:
Reading Lab:
CAI Lab:
Homework:
Midterm:
Final Exam:
Portfolio:
50 points
48 points
120 points
82 points
100 points
100 points
100 points
CAI Lab Information:
Days:
Tutor(s):
Reading Lab Information:
Days:
Tutor(s):
Grading Scale
Total Points Available: 600
A: at least 540 points (90%)
B: at least 480 points (80%)
C: at least 420 points (70%)
NC: below 420 points
Campus Resources:
Students requiring additional academic assistance should consider contacting the following
FREE campus services:
Reading & Study Skills Center
Writing Center
Maag Library
Math Assistance Center
Language Lab
Career Counseling Services
Counseling Services
Office of Veteran Affairs
Disability Services
330-941-3099
330-941-3055
330-941-3677
330-941-3274
330-941-3465
330-941-3151
330-941-3737
330-941-2503
330-941-1372
Maag 154
Maag 171
Maag
Lincoln Building
DeBartolo Hall 501
Kilcawley Center
Jones Hall 3009
633 Wick Ave
275 Fifth Ave
Disability Services:
In accordance with University procedures, if you have a documented disability and require
accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please contact me privately to
discuss your specific needs. You must be registered with the Center for Student Progress
Disability Services, located at 275 Fifth Avenue, and provide a letter of accommodation to
coordinate reasonable accommodations. You can reach CSP Disability Services at 330-9411372.
Youngstown State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, age, religion or
veteran/military status in its programs or activities. Please visit www.ysu.edu/adaaccessibility for contact information for persons designated to handle questions about this
policy.
Center for Student Progress:
The Marion G. Resch Center for Student Progress is a resource on Campus established to
help students successfully complete their university experience. Please phone (330) 9413538 or visit the Center for assistance in tutoring or for individualized assistance with
social and academic success. The main Center is located in Kilcawley West below the
bookstore.
Course Schedule
Academic Week / Date
1 / August 19th – 21st
Topics/Reading Assignments
Syllabus Overview
Module 9
Reading for Quality Learning
Module 3
Strategies for Quality Learners
Class Activity/Assignment
Activity/Discussion 9.5 pp. 267268
3 / August 31st – September 4th
Module 4
The Practice of CAAP
* First Week of Tutor/CAI Labs
Bring CAAP Viewing Guide (Activity
4.4) to class
4 / September 7th – 11th
University Closed Monday,
September 7th - Labor Day
5 / September 14th – 18th
Module 5
A Quality Foundation
6 / September 21st – 25th
Module 1
Studying to Learn
7 / September 28th – October 2nd
Module 2
Learning to Study
8/ October 5th – 9th
Module 8
Test Preparation and Test Anxiety
9/ October 12th -16th
Review for Midterm
10/ October 19th – 23rd
Module 6
Taking Notes from Text
11 / October 26th – 30th
Module 7
Taking Lecture Notes
12 / November 2nd – 6th
Module 10
Reading to Learn
13/ November 9th – 13th
University Closed Wednesday,
November 11th, Veterans Day
14 / November 16th – 20th
Module 11
Anatomy of Reading a Text
15 / November 23rd – 27th
No Classes Wed-Fri.,
Thanksgiving Break
16 / November 30th – December
4th
Modules 14
Reading to Research and Write
Reading Comprehension Post-test
Review for Final Exam
RSS Portfolios Due Monday,
November 30th
17 / December 7th – 11th
Final Exam
Monday, December 7th at
8:00am
2 / August 24th – 28th
Reading Comprehension Pre-test
Modules 13
Resources Beyond the Classroom
Review Results from Pre-Test
Midterm – Friday, October 16th
Module 12
Reading Tune-Up
*The instructor has the right to amend the syllabus based upon candidate progress.