English 48 College Reading & Study Skills II
Fall 2010 (16-week course 3 Units) CRN 48548
(Online course focusing on child development and parenting issues)
Professor Karen Lim, San Diego City College, room C 224e
E-mail: Use campus email klim@sdccd.edu only when Blackboard Vista is
down.
858-367-3811
When leaving a clear message, please state your full name, course # and
phone number. I will try my best to get back to you within 24 hours. I am
teaching two online classes, so keep in mind that is at least 55 students,
plus my face-to-face class.
Virtual Office Hours: MWF 1:00-3:00 p.m.
For directions to login to your online course, go to:
http://www.sdccdonline.net/login
Access your course on Blackboard http://online.sdccd.edu
Class meets: 100% online
Catalog Description:
Designed for students who need stronger reading skills to complete a college
program. The course stresses academic reading and study skills such as
textbook reading strategies, listening and note taking, outlining, and
studying for examinations, and memory and concentration. This course
builds on reading comprehension and vocabulary skills developed in English
42. Three units of English credit at this level may be applied to the
associate degree. It is recommended that students take the English
placement test prior to enrollment. This course may be repeated with
different content. (FT)
Prerequisite: Qualifying score on the English Placement Test [R4] or
successful completion of ESOL 40 or English 42, with a grade of C or
better.
REQUIRED TEXTS AND SUPPLIES:
Cortina, Joe and Janet Elder. Opening Doors:
Understanding College Reading 6th ed. McGraw-Hill,
2010. ISBN-13: 978-0073407180
Kvols, Kathryn J. Redirecting Children’s Behavior.
3rd ed. Parenting Press, Inc., 1998. ISBN: 1884734-30-8
For You Mom, Finally
Author: Ruth Reichl
ISBN: 0-143-11734-3
Dictionary (a college edition)
3-ring binder to organize your notes/papers
Course Information:
If you need additional accommodations to be successful in this course,
discuss options with your instructor during the first week of class.
Students should attend orientation sessions and/or have prior experience
with Blackboard Vista or an equivalent on-line course environment.
Required hardware: http://www.sdccdonline.net/techreq.htm
Required software:
 MS Word 2003: Acceptable file formats:
 .doc; docx; and Rich Text Format file (.rtf file). If you do not
have MS Word, you can go to OpenOffice (www.openoffice.org) and
download a free Writer copy. If I cannot open your files, I will not
grade your work. Don’t send anything written with Wordpad or
Microsoft Works (.wps files). If you do not have the proper
software, you cannot take this course.
 PowerPoint 2003 reader (free download from
www.microsoft.com)
 Adobe Reader v8 (free download from www.adobe.com)
 Java plug in (free download www.sun.com/java)
You can succeed as an online student if you...
 Are self-motivated
 Enjoy problem-solving
 Practice good time management techniques
 Attend a face-to-face orientation session (see schedule at
www.sdccdonline.net)
 Go to Blackboard Vista Tutorial links. (www.sdccdonline.net)
Student Learning Outcomes:
A student who successfully completes this course will be able to:
1. Demonstrate the ability to read and comprehend college-level materials
from a variety of disciplines.
2. Analyze and evaluate college-level materials, using basic critical thinking
skills.
3. Develop and demonstrate a variety of college-level study skills, such as
note-taking, outlining, mapping, and summarizing.
4. Distinguish between different organizational patterns, style, and
purposes for reading.
5. Apply context clues for learning new vocabulary.
6. Evaluate Internet sources in order to develop research skills.
7. Write an annotated bibliography using four different sources.
COURSE CONTENT AND SCOPE:
A. OUTLINE OF TOPICS TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE COURSE
The following topics will be included in the framework of the course but are
not intended as limits on content. The order of presentation and relative
emphasis will vary with each instructor.
1)
Reading
a.
Identifying main ideas in paragraphs and passages
b.
Understanding author’s organization
c.
Inferences
d.
Fact vs. opinion
e.
Using graphic aids
f.
Adjusting reading rate to material
g.
Reading in the content areas
h.
Vocabulary development
2)
Study Skills
a.
Note-taking
b.
Test-taking
c.
Strategies for studying textbooks
d.
Mapping and outlining
e.
Memory techniques
f.
Summarizing and paraphrasing
B.
APPROPRIATE READINGS
Readings will be college level materials from a variety of content areas
and from a variety of sources: magazines, journals, novels,
newspapers, and textbooks.
C.
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
Writing assignments may include summaries, reflections,
interpretations, analyses, and discussions of readings and study skills
exercises.
D.
APPROPRIATE OUTSIDE ASSIGNMENTS
Outside class assignments may include appropriate college level
readings of a variety of lengths and may use the computer as a tool to
create word documents, and presentations.
E. APPROPRIATE ASSIGNMENTS THAT DEMONSTRATE CRITICAL
THINKING
Critical thinking will be required of students in such assignments and
activities as reading analyses and interpretations. Students will apply
computer skills to the final project in a portfolio format.
METHODS OF EVALUATION
Self Introduction
Possible Points
10 pts.
Your Points
_______
Syllabus Quiz
25 pts.
_______
3 exams (100 points Each)
Exam #1:
Exam #2:
Exam #3:
_______
_______
_______
2 Summaries (20 points each)
40 pts.
_______
_______
20 pts.
20 pts.
10 pts.
_______
_______
_______
Vocabulary Quizzes 50 pts. total
Ch. 1, 2, 3
Ch. 4, 5, 10
Ch. 6, 7, 8
Notetaking Exercise (5 topics x 10 pts.) 50 pts.
http://www.pbs.org/thisemotionallife/topics
_______
Book Journal
80 pts.
_______
MLA Exercise
20 pts.
_______
Annotated Bibliography*
100 pts.
_______
Discussion Board
30 pts.
_______
705 pts.
_______
PossibleTotal Points
Grading Scale:
705-620=
619-549=
548-479=
478-409=
408 and lower=
A
B
C
D
F
*Annotated Bibliography (100 points 25 points/source)
Write an annotated bibliography on one topic using four different sources:
1. Encyclopedia
2. Weekly Magazine
3. Scholarly Journal (research based, published quarterly, works cited)
4. Book
Evaluate Research Information
Content: valid, accurate, factual, thorough, non-biased (no hidden agendas)
Currency: up-to-date
Source of Publication: Author’s credential? Expert on topic? Academic
Press?
Coverage: extensive coverage, specific details
COURSE REQUIREMENTS/ATTENDANCE
A. You should log in at least three times per week and complete all
assignments on or before the due dates. You may find it easier to
do a little bit every day. If you do not log for two weeks in a row or
contact me to discuss your situation, you will be dropped from the
class. Regular attendance is considered an essential part of
participation in the class. Former students spend anywhere from 6-15
hours per week for this class. ESOL students, in particular, may find
the writing component challenging for this class. I encourage all
students to work with the English Center tutors (L-209) to be
successful in this course. Tutoring confirmations either online or
face-to-face will earn you 10 extra credit points (two visits max).
B. You must grammar/spell check before posting on the Discussion
Board and before submitting papers to ASSIGNMENTS. Students
will also find helpful information for writing at:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
C. Complete assignments on time; the time date (Pacific Standard Time)
will be posted for all graded assignments, quizzes and exams. Written
assignment such as the Book Journal, Summaries, and Annotated
Bibliography will NOT be accepted after ONE week's time. Late
assignments will be marked down 5 points if completed within the
week deadline.
D. Graded assignments must be word processed, 14 point font and
double-spaced and sent in a .doc (MS Word) or .rtf (Rich Text
Format). Work in any other format will not receive credit, as it is
unreadable in Blackboard Vista. If you miss the deadline for any
written papers, you may attach a file to an email message in
Blackboard. Computers are available at City College in R106, The
English Center in the L-209, and T331 during open lab hours. Printer
cards can be purchased in the library and in T331. There is no excuse
for not knowing how to use a computer or how to word process your
papers; if you are computer illiterate you should not be taking an
online class.
E. Pass English 48 & 49 with at least a "C" before taking English 101.
F. No make-ups for exams and quizzes, unless you discuss your
situation and arrange an alternative with me at least 24 hrs in advance
by phone or email.
An Incomplete grade will only be given if you completed all your work
and have only missed the annotated bibliography. You will need to
tell me before the semester ends that you would like an incomplete.
Then, you will have up to one year to complete the work. In my 20
years of teaching, only a handful of students have ever finished an
Incomplete, so the odds are against you.
G. Withdrawal Deadline – No Drops Accepted After Oct. 29th
Each student is responsible to drop all classes in which he or she is no
longer participating. As stated on the course schedule, students who
remain enrolled in a class after the college’s published withdrawal
deadline will receive a failing letter grade for the course.
Cheating and Plagiarism:
Cutting and copying from an original source or using another writer’s
language without acknowledging the source is considered plagiarism and will
not be tolerated. Copying three or more words from the original source
requires using direct quotes. Your summaries and annotated bibliography will
be submitted through Turnitin.com
It is better to have a poorly written paper than to have a perfectly
plagiarized paper. If you plagiarize your paper, you will receive an automatic
“F” on your assignment. After the second offense you will be sent to the
Dean of Students for disciplinary action. An official warning will be put on
your academic record. Any subsequent plagiarism will result in barring
enrollment in any course from the entire district (Mesa, Miramar or City).
Other Cheating: I may require you to complete an alternative assignment if
an assignment/exam seems questionable or seems to have been completed by
someone other than you.
Student Responsibilities:
IF YOU HAVE ANY DIFFICULTIES OR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS
COURSE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IMMEDIATELY. Students with
disabilities or special needs who may need special arrangements should
discuss options with the instructor during the first two weeks of class.
Disabled Students Services are located in A-115 on campus.
Student Services @ City College
 Admissions: A-112 (submit drop card for withdrawal from course)
 Mental Health Services: A-221, 388-3539
 Disabled Students Programs & Services (DSPS): A-115
 English Center/Computer Lab: L-209
Mon-Thurs. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. F 9 a.m -1 p.m. (Hours subject to change; check
http://www.sdcity.edu/englishcenter/default.asp for updates)
 Financial Aid: A-113




Transfer/Career Center: A-111
Tutorial Center (non-English or Math): L-205
Learning Center/Computer Lab: R-124 (new library)
Library (Independent Learning Center): R building,
http://www.sdcity.edu/lrc/library/libraryhome.asp
Gather at least 3 classmate contacts: phone, outside email, etc. in the event
that you need to contact someone and Blackboard Vista email isn’t working.
Classmate’s Name
Phone #
1. ____________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________
Email a copy of your Personal Contract to me in Blackboard Vista email
Personal Contract
I, _________________________, have read the syllabus for English 48
and I have agreed to discuss any problems with my teacher.
I want to work for the following letter grade _____ in this class.
I am willing to study ____ hours/week for this class.
Your Signature/Name _________________________________