Jackson Community College Spring 2013
English 085 – 71 College Reading & Critical Thinking
English 080-71 Reading Essentials
JCC@ LISD TECH
Ann Iseda, Academic Support Services
JCC @ LISD TECH Rm. 206, Office Hours posted
IsedaAnnE@jccmi.edu 517-265-5515 ext 2206
Dear Student,
Welcome to college Reading Essentials. This introduction to reading course is a four credit
hour course that emphasizes reading comprehension and study strategies to help you
prepare for college level classes. This class is set up as a workshop instead of as a lecture
class. This means that we will work together to increase reading comprehension, as well
as, strengthen study strategies and critical thinking skills. By the end of the term, it is my
hope that you will read intelligently for information gathering and understanding, as
well as, for pleasure.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns you may have
during the term. I’m looking forward to working with you.
Respectfully,
Ann Iseda
Textbooks:
1. ENG 085 Coursepack
2. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
3. A small portable dictionary (Must be carried daily)
Supplies:
1.
1 large Multi-subject wide line paper notebook with pockets –
Or a binder with multiple sections NO OTHER CHOICES
*The key is that you need multiple sections for different work
2.
1 folder for the syllabus and calendar of assignments (within binder is okay)
1 folder for a personal reading project
Highlighters, felt tip marker, index cards
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Class Time:
Each class meeting will include a variety of learning opportunities. This is not a class
that relies on the instructor lecturing for the whole class period. Instead, the class
meetings will include whole-class discussions, small-group discussions, limited
instruction by me, in class quizzes and assignments, and reading. My hope is that you
will find the class to be challenging, interesting, fun, and worth your effort. Your active
participation in class and group discussions will be expected and will make the class
more effective for all participants.
Course Objectives: In this course you will. . .
1. Improve your reading comprehension.
2. Make connections between what you read and your own experiences.
3. Write clear summaries of what you read.
4. Develop a range of study skills and strategies
5. Combine information from several reading sources
6. Read for pleasure and for information.
Associate Degree Outcomes: The 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.
Students will also develop critical thinking skills, including the ability to
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Generate questions about text before and while reading.
Identify impact of emotion on thought.
Distinguish between fact, opinion and inference.
Recognize bias in a piece of writing.
Incorporate new knowledge with old.
Following are some methods we’ll utilize to address these goals and assess our progress:
1. Nelson-Denny Reading Test, given at the beginning and end of the course.
2. Reading journals—writing summaries about reading materials and making
connections between what you read and your own life experience or observations.
3. Use of a reading grading rubric given several times throughout the course.
4. Expand vocabulary by creating your own Vocabulary Log and practicing methods to
improve your contextual guesses.
5. Learn and practice new study skills and habits
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Assessing your Reading Skills Identify your own personal goals; reading often and
working hard in order to improve your comprehension and fluency is required. I can
guarantee your skills will improve if you attend class regularly, spend the necessary
time doing homework, do all the assigned work, participate actively in class activities,
and get assistance with any work you find confusing or difficult.
Grades:
Your final course grade will be assigned according to a 4-point scale. The assignments
are weighted for this class as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Critical Reading Assignments
Quizzes
Tracking of HW Assignments/Notetaking
Mini-research Activities (2)
Comprehensive Unit tests w/vocabulary (5 each)
The Glass Castle
Vocabulary Log
Reading Project and Presentation
Participation/Attendance
15%
15%
05%
10%
15%
10%
10%
10%
10%
Final course grades will be assigned as follows:
A
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4.0
94 - 100
B+ 3.5
88 - 93
B
3.0
82 - 87
C+ 2.5
76 - 81
C
2.0
70 - 75
D+ 1.5
65 - 69
D 1.0
61 - 64
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A Course Success rubric is included so you can track and monitor your own progress.
Specific Course Assignments
Assignments and time management:
You will receive a calendar of readings and assignments. You are expected to read the
assigned materials and do journal writing and other work before class begins. I suggest
that you plan out your week, allotting enough time to complete the assigned work. If
you have any questions about an assignment, please ask me about them. Please don’t
wait until it is time to hand in the assignment to tell me you did not understand it or for
some other reason could not complete it.
1) Critical Reading Journal 15% of Grade:
You are expected to read the assigned works and also to write about them in your
Reading Journal before class on the date listed on the reading schedule. In your
notebook, you will focus on three levels of meaning:
a) Literal Level: Summarize, in your own words, what the words on the pages
are saying. Here the focus is on the words of the text.
b) Interpretive Level: Read between the lines. What are the author’s intentions in
writing this? What lessons is she/he trying to convey? Quote from the text to
support your interpretations. Here the focus is on the author’s ideas & purpose.
c) Applied Level: Relate this piece to your own experience, your own thinking, or
other things you’ve read. What does this writing say to you personally? Tell your
related stories. Here the focus is on you, your experiences, your ideas.
For non-fiction readings, you will be assigned specific writing assignments
related to the readings.
Works of Fiction (Stories) should include: The 5 W’s
Who was the main character? What happened to them or how did they change in
the story? What was 1 main event that occurred? Where did the story take place?
When did it occur? Why? What was the underlying theme of the story?
Non-fiction works (Essays) should include:
What was the topic and position of the essay? Were you persuaded by the
author? Share one argument by the author that you found compelling and why.
If the author did not gain your support tell me why not. Identify fallacies.
We will also use grading rubrics for Metacognition work.
These will be graded on a 1-4 scale. I will be looking at how well you answered each
point, as well as, minor grammar and effort. You are to write a journal entry for every
reading assignment unless instructed otherwise. This will constitute 10% of your final
grade.
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3) Quizzes, Weird Facts & Vocabulary:
Each class period will begin with a short quiz. These quizzes will focus on the
homework. The quizzes help me to gauge your progress and reinforce the importance of
keeping up with daily assignments. Quizzes will be held at the beginning of class, prior
to review. No make ups will be allowed. In other words, those who arrive too late to
take the quiz will NOT have an opportunity to make up the grade. Therefore it is in
your best interest to keep up with homework and arrive on time.
This will constitute 15% of your final grade.
4) Tracking of Homework Assignments/Note taking (05%) Your course syllabus contains
both information needed to complete assignments correctly and a schedule in which you
can document homework assignments, directions, and special notes. I’m finding that
many students are not writing down key information. Therefore, special attention will
be devoted to good note taking and the tracking of related class information.
5) Comprehensive Unit tests w/vocabulary (3 @ 5% each):
At the end of each section there will be a test for you demonstrate understanding and
your ability to apply what we have learned, as well as, the definitions of vocabulary
covered. Each section will use unique testing to enable you to practice different styles
and techniques. This helps me to see how you do on your own and provides you with a
chance to challenge you testing skills and anxieties.
This will constitute 10% of your final grade.
6) The Glass Castle (10%)
We are going to read a book together. Much of the work will be counted as critical
reading work. A final review assignment will constitute 5% of the final grade.
7) Vocabulary Logs: Keeping a vocabulary log is one way to learn new words, which in
turn makes you a stronger reader. As you read the selections from your texts, you are to
compile a listing of words that you are learning about. Comprehensive Tests will
include testing of vocabulary from both books. The more you develop your vocabulary;
the easier it will be to advance in college. I will expect 25 words to be submitted at unit
test during the course; a total of 125 are expected. You will find more than that!
This will constitute 10% of your final grade.
8) Mini-Research Projects: During the course of the semester we will conduct 2 miniresearch projects. These activities will provide you with opportunities to use electronic
resources, work with others, and problem solve online. Time will be allocated to these
activities during class time. We’ll discuss details in class.
This will constitute 10% of your final grade. (5% each)
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9) Personal Reading Project and Oral presentation 10%
At the end of the term you will conduct a personal research project on a topic of your
choice. This will provide you with independent practice of college reading strategies by
learning more about a specific topic: summarizing and evaluating information,
identifying and defining unknown vocabulary and synthesizing information from
multiple sources. You will be required to research the topic utilizing multiple resources;
at the very least 4 sources including 1 book, 1 website, and 2 articles. If you choose to
use more than I book I will accommodate you. You will learn how to conduct a research
project, document your findings and conclusions and report your sources appropriately.
You will also report your findings to the class in an oral presentation during the last
weeks of class.
10) Participation/Attendance; you will also earn a grade for participation. Unlike
attendance, participation is defined as coming to class prepared and engaging in
discussion based on the assigned readings. If you are absent; you cannot participate and
therefore lose points. Excessive talking or texting will result in deductions in
participation grading.
This will constitute 10% of your grade.
Attendance:
Attendance is extremely important to your success in this class and college.
My goal is for you to be successful in this class. My own experience has shown me that
students who don’t attend the classes are generally not successful. If you miss a class, 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. I suggest you
make a class friend with whom you exchange contact information.
Quizzes, Tests and major assignments CANNOT be made up
and can make or break your final grade. You should plan to attend daily.
Do you have any questions? Please write them here.
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Cell Phones:
Cell phones are not welcome in class. Please let me know if you need to keep it on
vibrate for a specific emergency and if necessary leave the classroom to talk. Texting will
not be tolerated; one percent will be taken off your final grade for the first occurrence,
two for the second, three for the third, etc… When in class, I expect that you will put
your phone in your backpack.
Laptops:
Please do not bring laptops to class either. I would prefer that you take hand written
notes if needed. If you have a laptop, please keep it in your backpack with your cell
phone.
Academic Honesty Policy
The Jackson Community College Catalog states: “Academic honesty is expected of all
students. It is the ethical behavior that includes producing their own work and not representing
others’ work as their 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
taking appropriate action to and including assigning a failing grade for the paper, project, report,
exam, or the course itself.”
NOTES/Questions: Use this section to make special notes or identify questions you
would like to ask.
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English 085 Calendar: Spring 2012 Iseda
*Note: You must complete the assignments by the day indicated. Please use the following grid to
track homework assignments, as well as, your progress. If you are absent due to an emergency,
be sure to find out from classmates or the instructor what you missed.
Date
&
Topic
Participation
Did IArrive on
time
Share in
discussion?
05%
Homework
Was it complete?
Was I prepared?
Do I have any q’s?
In Class Work/Quizzes
How did I do?
Do I understand what we’re doing and
why it is important?
15%
15%
Notes and assignments:
Week 1
Week 2
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Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
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Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
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Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
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Week 14
Week 15
Use this grid to track your homework and progress.
Are you doing the kind of work necessary to get the grade you want?
What are your goals for yourself?
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