Henry Ford Community College

English 079 Basic Reading Syllabus

MWF 11:08 – noon (L-221)

Instructor:  Pam Kaminski                                                  Term:  Winter 2004  

Instructor’s Email:  pckaminski@hfcc.edu                       Instructor’s Phone: 313.845.9683

Learning Lab:  313.845.9643                                             English Division: 313.845.9624

Instructor’s Office Location & Hours: 

Room L-239 

M,W & F                      12:30 – 2:30 pm

T & TH                         1:00 – 3:00 pm

I am also available at other times by appointment.

Learning Lab Hours: 

M, T, W & TH              7:30 am – 8:40 pm

F                                  7:30 am – 4:30 pm

SAT                             9:40 am – 1:40 pm

Required Texts:      Langan, John.  Ten Steps to Building College Reading Skills.  Third Edition.

                                    Nist, Sherrie L. & Carole Mohr.  Building Vocabulary Skills.  Third Edition.

Required Supplies:            Loose-leaf paper

                                                Three-ring binder

Divider tabs

#2 pencils                               

                                                Blue or black ink pens

                                                Hi-lighter(s)

                                                Calendar, planner, or assignment pad

                                                Small, paperback dictionary

                                                Package of green SCANTRON answer sheets

Course Description 

This is a developmental course designed to prepare students to read at an acceptable level for English 081.  Students who are placed into English 079 by their ASSET/COMPASS test scores must take it before or at the same time as their first developmental writing course.  Laboratory work is required.  Students are required to take this course must pass it with a grade of S (Satisfactory) before taking English 081.

Course Grading Scale:  S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory)

Major Core Course Objectives (Measurable)

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Read at or above the 8.0 grade level
• Identify a topic of a paragraph
• Locate the main idea of a paragraph
• Distinguish types of supporting details:  addition, time, cause and effect, comparison and contrast and examples
• Identify and interpret similes and metaphors in terms of comprehension
• Use a dictionary and thesaurus for studying vocabulary
• Outline and map a paragraph considering patterns of organization

General Course Requirements

• Completion of readings from text and practice exercises.
• Completion of exercises from class lectures.
• Prompt, regular class attendance
• Completion of five hours in Lab other than class time to work on assignments

Student Responsibilities

• Students are responsible for all announcements and material presented in class.
• Students are responsible for the completion of all in-class and homework assignments.
• Students should arrive for class on time and with all necessary supplies.
• Students should be active participants in classroom activities and discussions.
• Cellular phones and pagers must be turned off during class time.

Class Attendance and Late Assignment Policy

Since this course will rely heavily on student participation and class work, consistent class attendance is expected.  More than three (3) absences will have a negative impact on your grade (loss of 50 points!)  If you are absent, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor or a classmate to learn what you missed.

This class will begin on time.  Anyone who enters late is disrupting the educational process of other students.  If you have work or home responsibilities that interfere with your attendance or cause tardiness, please talk to me privately before or after class.  Working together we may come up with a solution that allows you to complete this class successfully.

All homework assignments are due at the beginning of class.  Late assignments (unless you have talked with the instructor in advance) or those turned in at the end of class will not be accepted.

Students are permitted one make-up quiz or test. 

Single Skills Series Testing (SSS Tests)

Four competency tests will be given at the outset of the semester in the following areas:

·         Subject matter

·         Main idea

·         Clarifying devices

·         Supporting details

These are pretests only.  Every student will retest in each of these areas regardless of his or her initial score.  Earning 70% or better on any of these pretests does not count as a final passing score for the skill.  During lab visits, the student will complete assignments that will prepare him/her to test for proficiency in each of these four (4) areas.  There will be two testing opportunities (not including the pretests) for each of the comprehension skills.  A score of 70% or better must be achieved on each test prior to the end of the semester.  Work for each skill must also be clearly shown and documented in the student’s folder before testing will be permitted.

Course Schedule

Every Friday I will provide an assignment sheet listing readings, homework and any additional information for the following week’s classes.  If you must miss class on Friday, it is your responsibility to contact a fellow student or the instructor to learn what will be expected of you on Monday.

Academic Honesty

Honest behavior is expected at all times.  We must respect one another’s viewpoints as well as personal belongings.  Cheating in any form will not be tolerated.  Please refer to the attached HFCC Policy on Academic Dishonesty.

Group Work Expectations

(From K. Gallagher’s Deeper Reading p. 113 – 4)

1.      No hitchhiking.  In other words, there are no free rides.  Everyone participates.

2.      Respect other’s viewpoints.  Criticize ideas, not individuals.

3.      Listen to everyone’s ideas, even if you do not agree. 

4.      Come to class prepared for your group meetings.

5.   Above all, remember that we are a community of learners.

Important Dates

Monday, January 10^th                          First class meeting

Friday, January 14^th                            Last day for 100% refund and no-record drop

Monday, January 17^th                          No class – MLK Jr. Holiday

Week beginning March 7^th                  No class – Spring Break

Wednesday, March 30^th                     Last day to drop classes in Registration Office

Monday, May 2^nd                                 Last class meeting

Week Beginning Tuesday, May 3^rd     Final Exams

ASSESSMENT OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

The grading system for this course is an S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).  To earn an ‘S’ grade all students must:

• Score an average of 70% or better on four SSS comprehension tests (form B or C).
• Score 70% or higher on the post-BVS vocabulary test
• Pass the midterm and final exams with scores of 70% (35 points) or better
• Average 70% or higher on the vocabulary and spelling tests
• Score 33 or higher on the ASSET reading post-test
• Show improvement in the raw score on the RFU post-test.

• Earn a minimum of 350 points as explained below.