Reading 2B

2:30 – 3:20 M-F, B257S

Instructor:  Shannon King

Message phone: (425) 802-7439 BEFORE 8:00 PM

Email:  sking@bcc.ctc.edu

Office: C227  Office hours: TW 10:15-12:30 and by appointment

Required Texts and Supplies:

Intermediate Reading Practices, 3^rd ed. by Keith S. Folse

Penguin Reader from the library (level 3)

I recommend that buy a three-ring binder and tabbed dividers.  At the end of the course, you will have a portfolio that will show your progress from the beginning of the quarter until the end.  All work must be done on   8 ½” X 11” lined white paper.

About the Course

This course is designed to improve your reading skills.  Through this course you will achieve success in the following outcomes:

• Comprehensive and critical reading:  Comprehend the literal meaning of a passage, identify main idea and supporting details in a passage, express and support an opinion about a passage, make basic inferences from a passage
• Decoding:  Make connections between sounds and letters
• Scanning:  Identify key words to locate specific information in a limited time
• Skimming: Locate main ideas and important details in a reading passage in a limited time
• Study skills: Use a dictionary to find correct spelling, meaning, and part of speech, identify  common stems and affixes, find and use simple library materials
• 

  

  Vocabulary: Recognize a core of vocabulary, demonstrate knowledge of spelling rules, guess vocabulary from context

Welcome to the class.  I look forward to working with you.  Good luck!

BCC Attendance Policy:

• 12 absences (10 in summer) will result in a grade of “F”
• 10 absences (8 in summer) will result in a grade of “D”
• 3 tardies of 10 minutes or more will be equal to missing the entire class

Assessment

Grading Scale (%): A = 93-100

                             B = 84-92

C = 75-83

                             D = 0-74 (repeat level; good effort)

                             F = 0-74 (repeat level; unsatisfactory effort)

The best way to improve your reading skill and vocabulary knowledge is to read a lot of many different kinds of materials.  We will de a variety of activities in and out of the classroom.  You will be responsible for continuing to learn outside of the classroom through completion of homework and independent reading.  Your grade is determined by the following activities:

Book Report (10%):  You will do a final book report/project on the Penguin Reader you choose to read.

Homework (10%):  Please turn in your homework on the day it is due.  If you are absent, turn it in on your first day back, and it will not be late.  If you turn in homework late, the grade will drop 10% each day it is late.  Homework turned in more than 2 days late will not be accepted. 

Media (15%):  NO LATE MEDIA ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.  Every other week you will choose one article of at least 200 words from an English language newspaper, magazine, or website.  You will read the article on your own time.  You will write a brief summary of the article and three questions and answers about the article.  You will give a brief summary of the article to your classmates. You will ask the class your three questions after your summary. You will give your article, summary, questions, and answers to the teacher at the end of the week.

Participation, Attitude, Effort (10%):  You are expected to participate in class as well as show significant effort in your independent work.  Participation in this class means that you ask questions, volunteer answers (not only when I call on you), and share your ideas with me and with your classmates.  Don’t be shy about asking questions. 

Quizzes (20%) and Final Exam (10%):  You will have regular reading quizzes and vocabulary quizzes.  You will have the opportunity to correct your mistakes in order to receive 1/3 of the total missed points added to your final score. If you are ill, email me or call before class.  Tests will have to be made up from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 within 2 days of the absence.  You are responsible for making the arrangements. 

BCC policy:  Students who do not take the final exam will have their class grade lowered by one full grade.  There will be no make up for the final test.

Reading Journals (10%):  Every week you will have time in class to think about what you reading your Penguin Reader.  Use the reading journal prompts to write about what you think about what you read.  I will not correct your grammar in this journal.  This is a short activity (10-15 minutes). It is your opportunity to respond to what you have read and write freely. 

Vocabulary Journals (15%):  Every week you will choose five new vocabulary words.  These may not be the same as the vocabulary words you learn in your textbook.  You will write the definitions of the words and use each in a sentence.

How to Succeed in this Course

1.  Participate.  Join in the class.  Be respectful and active.

2.  Ask questions immediately.  If you don’t understand something I say or something you read, ask me about it.  Don’t wait to ask later.  You might forget your question!  J

3.  Plan.  Don’t wait until the last minute to do your work.  Plan your time so that you aren’t rushed and so that you can ask questions before an assignment is due.

4.  Give me feedback.  If something is very difficult or needs to be explained more, please tell me.  I am happy to go over the lessons again.  Likewise, if you really enjoy something that we do, let me know.

5.  Make appointments for extra help.  If you find that you are struggling with something we are working on, make an appointment to see me for some extra support.  I am ALWAYS happy to meet with students.  Remember, you are responsible for your own learning. If you need help, it is up to you to ask for it.

6.  Have a positive attitude.  You may not like everything that you do in all of your classes, but try to find something positive about the work.  Have a positive attitude toward your instructors and your fellow students.  You will have less stress and more fun!

7.  Share your ideas and opinions.  Interact with the reading.  Relate it to your own life.  This will help you retain the information and will help you be a better writer!

8.  Stay organized.  Keep your papers in a binder in chronological order.  This way you not only have a portfolio of your work, but you also can find assignments easily.  Also, I will be giving you a lot of supplemental handouts which you will want to reference.

9.  Do your own work.  Do not copy your friend’s work or copy from a newspaper or Internet site.  Trust me, I will know.  This is plagiarism.  It is a very serious offense in United States colleges and universities.

10.  Try your hardest.  I know that you are going through a lot as students.  I know you are under a lot of pressure too.  Don’t let that get you down.  Always try to do your best.

Homework Buddy:

Name:   ______________________________Phone or E-mail: ____________________________

If you have medical information to share with me in the event of an emergency, please contact me via email or come to see me during office hours. Emergency preparedness is important!

If you need course modifications / adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, I can refer you to our Disability Resource Center (DRC). If you prefer, you may contact them directly by going to B132 or by calling 425.564.2498 or TTY 425.564.4110. Information is also available on their website at http://bellevuecollege.edu/drc/

Please read your syllabus.  If you have questions, ask as soon as possible.  When you have read and understand your syllabus, sign this sheet and turn it in to your instructor.  Turn this sheet in no later than Monday, April 3, 2008.

I have read and understand this syllabus.  I understand that I am responsible for the information in this syllabus. 

Signature                                                                                          Date

Printed Name