English 089/English 106 Spring 2009

Preparation for College Reading/Critical Reading in the Humanities

Instructor: Nancy Eichner

Office: R 230 Phone: (425) 564-4185 Email: neichner@bellevuecollege.edu

Office Hours: By appointment--best M/W: 2:30; T/Th: 12:00

Item #: (089) 1138, Section A (106) 1140, Section A Credits: 6 - 7

Class Time: Tuesday/Thursday, 12:30 - 2:40 pm Room L 219

Reading Lab: D204 Lab Phone: (425) 564-2494

Course Goals

· Inspire a thirst for reading

· Increase literal and inferential comprehension of college-level reading material

· Strengthen vocabulary

· Strengthen appreciation of the power and beauty of written expression

· Strengthen understanding and appreciation of various genres of written expression

· Strengthen critical thinking (analysis, synthesis, response, summary)

· Build speed in reading

Books

All students:

Global Issues, Local Arguments, by June Johnson

Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury

College English/English dictionary (must have "college" or "collegiate" in the title)

Translation dictionary (if English is not your first language)--must also be a collegiate dictionary

English 106 students:

The Devil's Highway, by Luis Alberto Urrea

Content Focus

Global sustainability--societal, political, environmental.

Grading--Emphasis: Discussion

· Completion of reading and writing assignments by the date of discussion

· Participation in discussions

· Quality of various types of written assignments based on the readings

(including answers to questions; summary; response; interpretation; literal, inferential,

and critical questioning)

· Vocabulary exercises and tests

· Annotation (ongoing)

· Attendance on April 22 at

· (1) the Martian Chronicles Reception for Scholarship Winners and Artists' Exhibit: "Fragile Existence," 5:30 - 6:30 pm at the BCC Gallery, and

· (2) the lecture by Dr. Ted Roush, NASA Space Scientist of the Ames Research Center, 7:00 to 8:00 pm at the BCC Carlson Theater.

àYou will write a written response to your experiences at these April 22 events.

Reading Lab

This course requires that you take either 1 or 2 credits of Reading Lab outside of class time. The following are the course numbers for which you will register to receive your Reading Lab credits:

· English 089 students: English 080 (Pass/Fail. 1 credit is 22 hours/quarter; 2 credits are 44 hours/quarter; non-native speakers receive credit toward transfer to a university)

· English 106 students: English 180 (Graded. 1 credit is 22 hours/quarter; 2 credits are 44 hours/quarter; all students receive transfer credit.)

MLA Label and Format

All written work MUST have an MLA label. I will not accept your work without it.

· Page 1--include the following information in this order in the upper left-hand corner:

First and Last Name

English 089 -OR- English 106

Instructor: Nancy Eichner

Assignment Details

Date

· Page 2 and all ensuing pages--put the following information in the upper right-hand corner:

Last name and page number Example: Tran 2

· Staple at home all pages of an assignment.

Note Regarding Attendance

It is department policy that any student absent for 10% or more of class may be given a failing grade. Please speak with me in a timely manner if you are having difficulties with attendance. Do not simply assume all is lost if you are struggling with time issues. Most students at BCC are working people and are burdened with a constant time challenge. Please communicate with me to find solutions to such possible problems.

Note Regarding Academic Ethics

All work must be your own. Plagiarizing is an academic crime--it is intellectual theft. You will receive an F for any plagiarized assignment. Important: Often students do not understand what plagiarism is. Please ask if you do not understand, and I will be glad to explain in detail what we mean by this concept. Also, the Writing Lab (D 204) tutors, who offer free writing support to all BCC students, will be glad to explain and illustrate what plagiarism is. In addition, the Writing Lab has a concise handout as well as a computer exercise about plagiarism.

Note Regarding Placement of English 089 students into English 092/093 at the End of the Quarter

If your writing remains at 092/093 level and your reading has achieved that level as well, you may be placed into English 092/093 at the end of the quarter. However, there is no guarantee. Your skills must really be that strong.