Reading Essentials: ENG 080 section 44: 4 credit hours
Course Syllabus SUMMER 2014
Instructor: Susan Berendes Wood
BerendeSusanM@jccmi.edu
Office: BW 239
Office phone: 517.796.8435
Office hours: M-T-W-R 11:00 – 12:00; F by appt.
My schedule for this spring/summer term:
ENG 080.44 M-T-W-R 12:00 – 01:56 pm
ENG 090.44 M-T-W-R 02:00 – 03:56 pm
(Please see the course calendar for meeting dates.)
Catalog course description: This course provides the most fundamental support for students who need
to develop college-level reading skills. Students must show an ability to read some pre-college writing
independently. They are provided with a sequentially structured approach to comprehend college-level
writing. Student writing is a significant component.
NOTE: Section 44 is ESL, English as a Second Language. This section is designed for English
language learners and the development of reading skills and vocabulary improvement in English. This
class may be repeated. You must show adequate proficiency in English before exiting this class.
Pre-requisite: JCC course placement test with COMPASS-ESL, TOEFL, IELTS scores or equivalent.
Course Goals and objectives: In this course you will. . .
 Improve your reading comprehension.
 Demonstrate the use of several reading strategies
 Make connections between what you read and your own experiences.
 Write clear summaries of what you read.
 Combine information from several reading sources
 Expand your vocabulary.
 Read for pleasure and for information.
Performance Objectives: JCC Board of Trustees has developed a list of essential skills that all graduates
should develop. The Board has said:
JCC’s goal is to prepare students to live productive and meaningful lives. Implicit in this goal are efforts
to prepare students to: (a) live and work in the 21st century, (b) be employed in situations which will
require retraining several times during a productive life, and (c) function in a rapidly changing
international society.
The course goals and objectives incorporate specific Associate Degree Outcomes (ADOs) established by
the JCC Board of Trustees, administration, and faculty. These goals are in concert with four-year colleges,
universities, and reflect input from the professional communities we serve. ADOs guarantee students
achieve goals necessary for graduation credit, transferability, and professional skills needed in many
certification programs. The ADOs and course objectives addressed in this class include the following:
ADO 7: DEVELOP SKILLS FOR CRITICAL THINKING
In support of these guidelines, ENG 080 students will
 Generate questions about a text before and while reading.
 Incorporate new knowledge with old.
 Distinguish between fact and opinion.
Reading is thinking! ENG 080 students will learn to think while reading.
The trick to understanding and remembering what you read is to be mentally active while reading. Here is
a list of things that active readers do. In this class, you will learn to do these, too. The more you use these
thinking strategies, the better you will be able to understand and remember what you read:
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Determine your purpose. (What will I get out of this?)
Ask questions. (What’s going on here? I wonder why . . . ?)
Make predictions. (I predict. . . .)
Visualize. (I can picture this. It looks like. . . .)
Make connections. (This reminds me of. . . . I saw a movie about this.)
Monitor your comprehension (Am I understanding this? Which part is confusing?)
Find what’s important. (I’ll underline this.)
Find what’s confusing. (I’ll highlight this. I’m confused about. . . .)
Notice new words. (I’ll circle this word. I think it means. . . .)
Use fix-up strategies. (I’m confused here. I’ll back up to the last part that made sense.)
Textbooks and required materials for the ESL reading class:
1. Groundwork for College Reading 4 th ed. by P. Langan, publisher Townsend Press.
2. Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary 4 th ed. by J.M. Goldstein, publisher Townsend Press.
We will have a vocabulary placement test to see your vocabulary level. This may affect the
book that we will use.
3. 3-Ring binder, for size 8½” x 11” (that’s important)
4. Loose-leaf filler paper, wide ruled, size 8½” x 11 (that’s important, too)
5. A small portable dictionary (to be brought to class). You may use an electronic device at times.
6. A set of 3 x 5 index cards for vocabulary work.
Note: You must KEEP ALL papers from this class in your binder; no loose papers or folders. This binder
becomes your dossier of reading improvement. Bring this to your office visits.
NOTE: The textbooks may be changed based on the proficiency levels of the majority of the students in
the class. Pretests will be used to determine which texts we will use.
Course Components Related to Achievement of Objectives:
1. Critical Reading activities, assignments, tests and quizzes that require higher-order thinking
skills such as analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and application.
2. Reading journals requiring written responses to comprehension questions, vocabulary work and
reflective responses. Independent reading of choice.
4. Vocabulary lists and quizzes, defining and using words needed for college-level reading.
Grading Procedure and Grading Scale: Final grades are based on a 4-point scale.
4.0 = 94-100% = 940 to 1000 points.
1.5 = 64-69% = 640 to 699 points.
3.5 = 88-93% = 880 to 939 points.
1.0 = 58-63% = 580 to 639 points.
3.0 = 82-87% = 820 to 879 points.
0.5 = 52-57% = 520 to 579 points.
2.5 = 76-81% = 760 to 819 points.
0.0 = 0-51% = 519 points and fewer.
2.0 = 70-75% = 700 to 759 points.**
**Reminder: A grade of 2.0 or better is accepted as successful completion of the course. Since this
course is a prerequisite to the next reading level and other academic courses, a 2.0 is the minimal grade to
exit. However, this class may be repeated until adequate English proficiency is shown for entrance into
academic classes.
This is a pre-requisite course and does not count toward graduation or transfer.
4.0 = excellent work
3.0 = good work
2.0 = average work
1.5 and below = poor
work, and failing
Graded Projects:
400 points: Reading journals; homework and quizzes for the reading text; guided reading.
300 points: Vocabulary text, practice, reviews and tests. Guidelines are on a separate page.
100 points: Independent reading, including 4 written and 1 oral reports.
200 points: Attendance and Participation. [Includes 2 “free days” for emergencies; one office conference;
and reading strategy modules].
Course management, withdrawal and incomplete:
If you stop attending this course, it is your responsibility to complete the paper work for a “Withdrawal.” If
you wish to request an “Incomplete,” the request must be written. If you stop attending this course and do
nothing, you may receive a grade of 0.0. A grade of “W” is the same as a 0.0 and may affect your financial
aid and / or your scholarship(s). If your attendance is unacceptable, you will be dropped from the class.
Unacceptable attendance means that you have missed 6 or more class days. You have 2 “free days” as
allowable absences. You are always responsible for any assignments due during any absence.
Calendar: A more detailed calendar is available on a separate sheet. The detailed calendar lists
assignments, readings, homework, quizzes, papers and any other plans for each day.
19 May, M: The course begins.
29 May, R: Last day to add or drop classes without penalty.
20 July, Sun: Last day to withdraw and earn “W” as final grade.
29 July, T: The class ends.
Attendance policy:
Attendance is mandatory. If you miss a class due to an emergency, it is your responsibility to contact a
classmate or the instructor before the next class meeting to find out what you need to do to prepare for the
next class. Everyone has busy schedules and responsibilities elsewhere; nevertheless, class attendance
and schoolwork must be high priorities if you are to benefit from the course and receive credit.
Attendance matters!
Makeup Policy: Late work is not accepted. All assignments have due dates. All assignments are due at
the beginning of the class period. Please consult the course calendar for due dates. Please do not do your
assignments during class time. Work is due at the beginning of class.
If you know that you will miss a class for some reason, notify me BEFORE the absence so that you can
make arrangements to stay current. Only negotiated late work may receive a reduced grade. If there is
personal illness or an emergency, I will accept an e-mail or a phone call to that effect. If an assignment is
due on the day of the emergency, a reduced grade may result. Your best action is to telephone or e-mail
me BEFORE class so that you can make arrangements about the missed class and the missed work.
If you miss a class without notification, it is your responsibility to talk with classmates to discover what
work is due for the next class. There are no “make-up” tests and no “extra credit”. If you know you must
miss a class, you may send your assignment by e-mail so it won't be marked late. However, e-mail your
assignment(s) only if you know that you will miss class. The course calendar tells you what is due.
There are always emergencies and illnesses, so everyone has 2“free days” (absences) without penalty.
However, the assignments on those days are your responsibility. You need to negotiate reduced scores.
Don’t be late with an assignment. You can send it by e-mail or drop it into the faculty mailbox. Even
negotiated late work HAS A DUE DATE. Check the course calendar.
Help: Additional support in the form of free tutoring is available in the Center for Student Success. The CSS
is located in Bert Walker Hall Room 123. The CSS also offers help for students with documented learning
disabilities. I recommend the instructors and the services they provide throughout the semester. If I determine
that you are struggling in this course, I may require you to attend tutor sessions at the CSS or to use a
computer software program to improve your skills. I am determined that each student will succeed in this
class, and to that end, I may require that you attend the CSS.
The Center for Student Success also offers referrals for counseling services by social workers. Please seek
help if you have personal difficulties that are affecting your schoolwork, your personal life or your health.
Academic Honesty Policy:
The JCC Catalog states, “Academic honesty . . . is the ethical behavior that includes producing one’s own
work and not representing others’ work as one’s own, either by plagiarism, or by cheating, or by helping
others to do so. . . . Faculty members who suspect a student of academic dishonesty may penalize the student
by assigning a failing grade for the [assignment] or a failing grade for the course itself. Instructors should
document instances of academic dishonesty in writing to the Academic Dean.
Classroom participation and etiquette: All classmates must be treated with respect even if their opinions are
different from yours. Class discussions will be polite. A beverage is acceptable during class, but please, no
eating during class since we will be busy discussing the readings. NOTE: Turn off and put away all cell
phones, music players and other technology so that you can concentrate on the activities and your classmates’
views. I will be grading your participation, so please be ready to discuss the readings in class. If you are asleep,
distracted or distracting others, then you are not participating in the activity at hand. You will not earn any
points if I determine that you are not participating: a cell phone counts as a distraction. It is rare but possible
that I would ask a student to leave the room for uncooperative behavior. I will respect you as a serious college
student if you conduct yourself as one. I will expect your treatment of me to be respectful as well. You may call
me Professor Wood or Mrs. Wood.
Class Time: Each class meeting will include a variety of learning opportunities. I do not plan to lecture for
the whole class period. Instead, the class meetings will include whole-class discussions, small-group
discussions, and limited instruction by me, quizzes, and reading. I hope that you will find the class to be
challenging, fun at times, and worth our effort. Your active participation in class and group discussions will be
expected and will make the class more effective for everyone. One of your personal goals should be to read a
lot and work hard in order to improve your comprehension test scores. I can almost guarantee your scores will
improve if you attend class regularly, spend the necessary time doing homework, do all the assigned work,
participate actively in activities, and get help with anything confusing or difficult.
Reminder: One credit hour of class means that you should spend 2-3 hours of time in homework, reading,
writing journal entries and preparing for class. This 4-hour class means you should spend 8 – 12 hours per
week in preparation. This rule holds true for your other classes as well, so please budget your time.
Caveat: There may be some emergency that would require revisions to the course syllabus or calendar. For
example, severe weather could cause cancellation of classes at the entire campus. Local radio stations and the
JCC website would provide information on this. Instructor illness, a typing error or a due date may cause
changes. In any case, I will notify the entire class of any changes to the syllabus or calendar. I will use only
the JCC e-mail system to send notes to students. There are options to redirect your JCC account to your
personal e-mail account, but you need to do this yourself. Please remember that I teach several classes and I
have other work to do. I will try to return your e-mail and daily class papers within 2 class days, but definitely
within a week.