Developmental Communications 36A

Development Reading – Fall 2007

Course Information and Requirements

Instructor: Anja-Leigh RussellOffice Hours:T-Th9:30 -10:30 a.m.

Email: ffice Location:LRC 217 (or by appt).

Telephone:818.364.7600, ext. 4133

Course Description and Objectives: This course introduces reading comprehension skills such as finding main ideas, drawing valid conclusions, making inferences, generalizing, and summarizing. It is intended to help students prepare for college-level coursework by developing and refining reading, study, and critical analysis skills.

Student Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:

  1. Apply strategies for learning and using new vocabulary.
  2. Analyze paragraphs and longer passages to identify main ideas, major and minor supporting details, and patterns of organization.
  3. Apply study and reading strategies to improve academic performance.
  4. Evaluate different types of writing to differentiate between facts and opinions to identify errors of reasoning.
  5. Analyze and identify elements of narration.

I. Required Materials:

Reading for Results, Tenth Edition by Laraine Flemming

Collegiate Dictionary

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquirel

7-Pocket Expandable Portfolio

II. Homework Assignments

  1. Reading Lab: One hour per week independent reading lab assignments.
  2. Read all materials and do all exercises and written work as assigned.

III. Attendance

You may be dropped after three unexcused absences; it is your responsibility to call me if you cannot attend class. You are responsible for everything that occurred during yourabsence. It is up to you to contact a classmate or me for missed material. Arriving at class late, leaving early, and walking outside during class are unacceptable behaviors that distract others.

IV. Grading

  1. In-class participation, attendance, and completion of homework assignments will be considered during grading.
  2. There will be a quiz for each chapter we cover.
  1. There will be a Midterm covering the material presented during the first half of the session. The Final will cover the material presented during the second half of the session and some selected material from the first half.
  2. To pass the course, you must average at least 70% of the possible points listed below. Missed quizzes cannot be made up. Failure to submit a book report will result in NO CREDIT.

Lab – 39 points (3 points per hour)The first 6 hours must be completed by MidTerm

Quizzes – 10 points eachFirst Draft of Book Report – 10 points

Midterm – 100 pointsBook Report – 50 points

Final – 100 pointsPortfolio – 30 points

Basis of Grading: Credit/No Credit

Developmental Communications 36A-Fall 2007

Course Schedule (subject to changes)

Classroom Activity/ Reading Due / Homework Due
Sept. 4 / T / Introduction to Course
Sept. 6 / Th / Reading Comprehension Test / Student Questionnaire (typed) & Syllabus Quiz
Sept. 11 / T / Introduction to Reading Lab Materials / BRING YOUR PORTFOLIO TO CLASS
Sept. 13 / Th / Computer Lab: Student Portal, Moodle, etc. / MEET IN COMPUTER LAB
Sept. 18 / T / [RFR] Chapter 1
Sept. 20 / Th / [RFR] Chapter 1
Sept. 25 / T / QUIZ: Chapter 1
[RFR] Chapter 2
Sept. 27 / Th / [RFR] Chapter 2 / PORTFOLIO DUE (Evaluation #1)
Oct. 2 / T / QUIZ: Chapter 2
[RFR] Chapter 3
Oct. 4 / Th / [RFR] Chapter 3
Discuss LWFC – Chapters 1 & 2
Oct. 9 / T / QUIZ: Chapter 3
[RFR] Chapter 4
Oct. 11 / Th / [RFR] Chapter 4
Discuss LWFC – Chapters 3 & 4
Oct. 16 / T / QUIZ: Chapter 4
[RFR] Chapter 5
Oct. 18 / Th / [RFR] Chapter 5
Discuss LWFC – Chapters 5 & 6
Oct. 23 / T / QUIZ: Chapter 5
Review for the Midterm
Oct. 25 / Th / Midterm Exam / PORTFOLIO DUE (Evaluation #2)
Oct. 30 / T / [RFR] Chapter 6
Nov. 1 / Th / [RFR] Chapter 6
Discuss LWFC – Chapters 7 & 8
Nov. 6 / T / QUIZ: Chapter 6
[RFR] Chapter 7
Nov. 8 / Th / [RFR] Chapter 7
Discuss LWFC – Chapters 9 & 10
Nov. 13 / T / QUIZ: Chapter 7
[RFR] Chapter 8
Nov. 15 / Th / [RFR] Chapter 8
Discuss LWFC – Chapters 11 & 12
Nov. 20 / T / QUIZ: Chapter 8 / PORTFOLIO DUE (Evaluation #3)
Nov. 22 / Th / THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY – No Class
Nov. 27 / T / [RFR] Chapter 9
Nov. 29 / Th / In-class writing: Rough Draft Book Report
[RFR] Chapter 9
Dec. 4 / T / QUIZ: Chapter 9
[RFR] Chapter 10
Dec. 6 / Th / PEER REVIEW OF BOOK REPORTS
Continue [RFR] Chapter 10 / FIRST TYPED DRAFT OF BOOK REPORT DUE
(typed BEFORE start of class)
Dec. 11 / T / QUIZ: Chapter 10
Dec. 13 / Th / Review for Final Exam / FINAL DRAFT OF BOOK REPORT DUE
(typed BEFORE start of class)
Dec. 18 / T / FINAL EXAM

* RFR = Reading for Results

* LWFC = Like Water for Chocolate

Classmates to contact if I’m absent or need a “study buddy”:

Name Phone or E-Mail

Name Phone or E-Mail

Name Phone or E-Mail

Your final grade in the class will be determined as follows:

Independent Study

Reading Lab39 pointsI earned (____) points

(3 points for each hour) (1 hour required each week)

Quizzes(10 points each) =90 points

Chapter 110 pointsI earned (____) points

Chapter 210 pointsI earned (____) points

Chapter 310 pointsI earned (____) points

Chapter 410 pointsI earned (____) points

Chapter 510 pointsI earned (____) points

Chapter 610 pointsI earned (____) points

Chapter 710 pointsI earned (____) points

Chapter 810 pointsI earned (____) points

Chapter 910 pointsI earned (____) points

Chapter 1010 pointsI earned (____) points

Mid-Term100 pointsI earned (____) points

Book Report

First Draft10 pointsI earned (____) points

Final Draft50 pointsI earned (____) points

Portfolio (includes Reading Journal, Vocabulary Work)

Evaluation #110 pointsI earned (____) points

Evaluation #210 pointsI earned (____) points

Evaluation #310 pointsI earned (____) points

Final100 pointsI earned (____) points

Total Points429 pointsI earned (____) points

To pass the course, you must average at least 75% (or 321 points)of the possible points listed above. The Mid-Term and Final Exams ?????

Missed quizzes cannot be made up.

Failure to submit a book report will result in NO CREDIT.