NORTH SEATTLE COLLEGE

Basic and Transitional Studies – IEP Program – Winter 2016

COURSE SYLLABUS

Reading/Vocabulary – Level 4

Course: IEP 042.02 #8945
Classroom:
Time: M-Th 2:30-3:35 / Instructor: Stephanie Solomon
Office: IB 2420A
Office Hours: By appointment 
e-mail:

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1. Understand longer and more complex reading materials

2. Learn more English vocabulary

3. Improve your spelling skills

This class will also help you:

1. Demonstrate basic reading skills including recognizing key words, identifying main ideas and details, skimming and scanning, making inferences, and predicting meaning of new vocabulary based on context.

2. Recognize word forms, including roots and affixes.

3. Recognize discourse indicators in texts (definitions, clarifications, transitions, additions, etc.).

4. Evaluate texts and form/express opinions about them.

5. Write timed short answers based on readings in class.

6. Access information from library and Internet.

7. Assess information from source.

REQUIRED TEXT AND MATERIALS:

  • Textbook:Real Reading 3by Lynn Bonesteel. Please purchase today if you have not already done so.
  • Reading Book: Great Expectations (Graphic Novel) ESL Edition – National Geographic and Cengage Learning
  • 3x5 index cards – to make flash cards for vocabulary study and review.
  • Paper and pencils and/or pens.

Course Requirements: Here are the responsibilities of a student in this program: Link to Student Handbook and Rules: -

American Classroom Rules and Expectations:

  • Come to class on time and return from breaks on time
  • Speak English only in the classroom
  • Get everything done during the break. Do not leave the classroom while the class is in session
  • Show respect your classmates and instructor – do not talk over other students or while the instructor is speaking
  • Turn assignments in on time. I will accept it one day late -10%, or Monday if due Friday -20%. After that it is a zero.
  • Cell phones must be put away in bags or jacket pockets unless you are given permission by the instructor
  • Check CANVAS daily for assignments and due dates
  • Participation: This means to ask questions, offer answers, and work with partners or groups. It is very important for you to be prepared and active during each class. If you don’t actively participate or you don’t do your homework assignments outside of class, you will not pass.

You get 2 points per day for participation. You lose points if:

  1. you are absent (2pts)
  2. you are late (1)
  3. You do not have your hw or book (1)
  4. If I have to repeatedly ask you to speak English (1)

Other VERY Important Information!

1) Attendance:

As stated in the IEP student handbook, students must come to class every day. Missing days of any class will result in the following:

  • 5 absences: Warning notice
  • 10 absences: You will fail the class, but you must continue attending to avoid being dismissed from NSCC.
  • 15 absences: Your I-20 is terminated and you are dismissed from NSCC for 1 year.
  • Being late (tardy) to class: Arriving to class late (tardy) is disruptive and considered disrespectful to the teacher and other students. It also causes you to miss important information. If you are 5 minutes late for the start of your class or from break three (3) times, it is considered one absence.
  • Email the teacher if you must be absent, but get the class and homework assignments from a classmate. You are responsible to turn in due homework on the day you return to class. If you do not, it will become a 0%.
  • English only in class-- Speak English as often as possible. Practice, practice, practice! In order to learn a language, you must USE the language.

TESTS:

  • Tests are important. They help both you and me to know if you are improving.
  • Study hard for each test!
  • You will be informed of test dates. Don’t miss any tests. If you miss a test, your score will be zero. There are no make-up tests.
  • If there is a snow day on a test day, the test will be the NEXT day.

GRADES:

-Tests and quizzes - 30%
Novel (includes HW., Quizzes, Tests) - 20%
Homework 15%

Participation - 10%
Final Test - 25%

  • Important: You must have a minimum grade of 75% in each class(Reading/Vocabulary and Grammar/Writing) to go to the next level. This is the most important thing to remember about your grade.
  • Your Final Test is worth 25% of your total grade. You’re total grade must be 75% or above in the class to pass.
  • If your grade goes below 80%, see me for extra help or go to the Student Learning Centerto bring your score up. Keeping your grades up is your responsibility.

GRADE SCALE:

96 to 100% 4 .0 / …. / 84% 2.9 / …. / 74% 1.9
94-95% 3.9 / 83% 2.8 / 73% 1.8
93% 3.8 / 82% 2.7 / 72% 1.7
92% 3.7 / 81% 2.6 / 71% 1.6
91% 3.6 / 80% 2.5 / 70% 1.5
90% 3.5 / 79% 2.4 / 69% 1.4
89% 3.4 / 78% 2.3 / 68% 1.3
88% 3.3 / 77% 2.2 / 67% 1.2
87% 3.2 / 76% 2.1 / <66% 1.0
86% 3.1 / 75% 2.0 / 65% 1.0
85% 3.0 / Below 75% No pass / 64% 1.0
<63%* 1.0
*all grades below 66% receive a 1.0

The Page One Writing Centeris a place to get help with all English skills.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES, BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS, AND CONSEQUENCES OF NONCOMPLIANCE:

  1. Bring your textbook every day. Not purchasing your books or not bringing your books to class will hurt your grades and limit your ability to fully participate, learn, and make academic progress in your classes.

Noncompliance: If you come to class three times without your required text, your teacher may ask you to leave the class and not return until you have a textbook. This will count as an absence.

  1. Cell phones and other electronic devices may only be used during class time with instructor permission. Texting, listening to music, surfing, shopping, and talking on the phone during class is disruptive and considered extremely rude. During a test, no electronic device is allowed on your desk without teacher permission.

Noncompliance: If you use your cell phone three times during a class session without teacher permission, you will be told to leave the class and you will receive an absence for the day.

  1. Show respect to those around you while in class and on campus. This means the following:
  1. Do not sleep in class, talk while the teacher or another student is talking, or laugh at/criticize other students when they make mistakes.
  2. Do not bring food or drinks to class unless your instructor approves it.
  3. “North Seattle Community College is a ‘no-smoking campus,’ except in designated areas. Smoking is permitted in posted areas only.

Noncompliance: When a teacher has spoken to you about any of the above and you refuse to comply or you comply each time, but then repeat the action three times, you will be asked to leave and you will receive an absence for the day.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: Students are expected to be honest in taking their tests and doing their coursework. There are two kinds of academic dishonesty: CHEATING and PLAGIARISM. Here in the U.S., both are unacceptable and considered serious academic crimes. Academic dishonesty may cause you to fail your classes, be dismissed from the program, or be dismissed from NSCC. ALWAYS do your own work.

  • Cheating is copying homework or a class assignment or test from another person and pretending it is your own work or having another student verbally tell you the answer. Cheating is also allowing someone else to copy from you, or providing answers to an assignment or test to someone else. If students are caught cheating, you will get a failing grade for the assignment or test and could be dismissed from the program
  • Plagiarism is when you copy or memorize ideas or text from a friend, relative, or classmate or from a book, magazine, newspaper, live/recorded lecture or the Internet and pretend it is your own work. This is dishonest and is considered the same as cheating. Plagiarism can result in failure and dismissal from the program. It is easily discovered and will result in failure on the assignment and potentially failing the course. When you write a journal, summary, or an essay, or give an oral presentation, both the choice of words and the grammatical structure must be your own.

American Disability Act: (special arrangements)

If you need course adaptations, or you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case of an emergency, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.

Let’s have a great quarter!