REA0017 – Developmental Reading IISyllabus for Spring 2014

CRN 27187 Tuesday and Thursday 5:30 – 8:15Room 1-232

Professor: Ms. Kris RodgersCommunications Department Office Phone at Valencia: 407-582-1313 (Leave a message) Room 5-231E-mail: krodgers5@valenciacollege.eduI do not have an office on campus. You can contact me through e-mail or leave me a message at the department office. If you need to meet with me, please e-mail me to arrange an appointment either before or after class.CAMPUS EMERGENCY INFORMATION: Security 407-582-1000

A Little About Me

A Note From the InstructorThis syllabus is like a contract. By registering for my class, you are agreeing to abide by this contract. This syllabus states the expectations and policies for my course. You should read it carefully to fully understand what will be expected of you this semester. This will help you to avoid any misunderstandings that could lead to disappointments. I am happy to help you in your learning from this course, so please do not hesitate to e-mail me or meet with me in person.

REQUIRED MATERIALSStudents are required to have all texts in a new condition (no pages missing, no answers in book) for the course. Students who do not have the required materials by the third week of class may be withdrawn.If you are re-taking the class, you must purchase a new lab book.

1. McWhorter, Kathleen, Reading Across the Disciplines, 4th edition, *Valencia Custom Edition* (with NO answers in the text), packaged together with Thinking Through the Text (In new condition, no pages missing or no answers in book) and access code for myreadinglab.com.

2. Scantrons – Form 882-ES (1 package)3. No. 2 pencils with erasers4. Notebook paper or notebook5. Highlighter – optional6. A college level dictionary and thesaurus (recommended)

REA0017 COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVESThis course has been designed to offer opportunities to improve those reading skills essential to meaningful, effective reading comprehension.

1. COMPREHENSION IMPROVEMENTLiteral Comprehension Skills

Recognizing main ideas in a given passage Identifying supporting details Determining the meaning of words on the basis of context

Critical Comprehension Skills Recognizing the author’s purpose Identifying the author’s overall organizational pattern Distinguishing between statement of fact and statement of opinion Detecting bias Recognizing author’s tone Recognizing explicit and implicit relationships within sentences Recognizing explicit and implicit relationships between sentences

My name is Kris Rodgers. I have been teaching for 20 years in the elementary school system and for 7 years at Valencia. I have a very full house. I have 2 grown children and numerous pets including dogs, cats, a parrot, and fish. My son lives in Alabama and my daughter and her husband are currently living with me. I enjoy painting, making jewelry and practicing martial arts when I have the time. I have recently started back to graduate school to work on a doctorate in STEM Education. I look forward to getting to know each of you this semester.

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Recognizing valid arguments Drawing logical inferences and conclusions

2. VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT Using the context to understand the meaning of a new or unfamiliar word Learning and using common word parts to determine the meaning of new words Recognizing the denotation and connotation of words Recognizing that every word represents a concept and serves as a graphic symbol of that concept

VALENCIA’S CORE COMPETENCIES – ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES1. Think critically and make reasoned choices by acquiring analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating knowledge2. Communicate: Read, listen, write, and speak effectively.3. Act: Take action regarding personal reflections of readings.4. Value: Clarify personal strengths, values, and goals in relation to cultural values.

ATTENDANCE/TARDINESSStudents are expected to attend and be on time for ALL CLASS SESSIONS for which they have registered. You are permitted to miss 150 minutes of class or two class sessions with no questions asked. Students who miss more than 150 minutes of class will be penalized by a deduction in points from your grade and a possible withdrawal from class. Excessive absences include absences for any reason (including but not limited to: tardiness, illness, hospitalization, death in family, out-of-town travel, and religious holidays.) If you are absent, you cannot learn. Students are expected to be seated and to be prepared to start class by the specified time. Attendance counts toward your classwork grade in class. If you are in class and ready on time, you receive 2 points, if you are tardy, you receive 1 point, if you are absent you receive 0 points for that class. At the end of the semester, these grades are averaged into the final classwork category as one grade. Excessive tardiness may result in withdrawal from the class. (See VCC Policy p. 4)On test days, I reserve the right to lock the doors when the test begins. If you are not in the classroom you will be counted as absent and must take the test in the testing center in 11-142 before the next class meets.(*Hint: If you have extenuating circumstances, the best strategy is to get in touch with me immediately.) You cannot pass REA0017 if you do not participate in lab and receive at least 70% on the assignments stipulated by your individual learning plan. You must complete the labs on your own time. If you receive a “W” for excessive absences, you must register for this course again next session. If you stop attending class after the withdrawal deadline and do not withdraw yourself, I reserve the right to assign your final grade in the class as an F (not a W.)

MAKE UP POLICYStudents who are absent are responsible for completing the assignments they missed. All late assignments will have points deducted for each day they are late. Assignments turned in after the instructor has collected them will be counted as late. One make-up test is allowed for full credit and must be made up before the second class session following the missed test date. All subsequent missed tests will have points deducted. All missed tests must be made up in the Testing Center in 11-142, and a Valencia ID is required. Missing a test will greatly affect your grade.

WITHDRAWAL POLICYA “W” is not counted as an attempt unless you withdraw after the midpoint of the course. Students may withdraw themselves from the class before the withdrawal deadline. After the deadline, the instructor must withdraw the student. No refunds are given after the drop refund date established each semester on the college calendar. If the student decides to repeat the course, they must pay full tuition after the 3rd attempt of the class.Please review all of the withdrawal policies if you are attending college on a scholarship. New rules became effective July 1, 2009. NOTE: You are allowed three attempts to successfully complete each of the two college-prep reading courses (REA 0007 and REA 0017). An attempt means signing up for and attending class past the withdrawal deadline listed in the VCC catalog. If you withdraw or if your instructor withdraws you after that date, you will have used up an attempt. If you do not complete the course successfully (i.e., if you earn and F in either Rea 0007 or 0017) in any one try, that will constitute an attempt. In accordance with Sections 239.117, 239.301 and 240.117, Florida Statutes, students enrolled in the same college-preparatory course more than two times shall pay the full cost of instruction.

IMPORTANT DATES:2

COURSE REQUIREMENTSEach student is expected to read and complete all assignments and exercises assigned by the instructor, and turn them in at the specified time (at the beginning of class). Out-of-class assignments can be expected to require time equal to class time. Even if you have taken this class before, you must still repeat all lab and textbook assignments to pass this class.In order to successfully pass the course, you must maintain a 70% or higher in the lab portion of class. Students who do not maintain 70% or higher in their labs will have to register for the course the next semester.

A minimum grade of C is required for successful completion of this course. REA 0017 credit does not apply toward an associate degree. REA 0017 will help you develop and practice reading skills essential to being successful in college. You have registered for two special sections, REA 0017 and REA 0017C. This means that you will spend a total of three (3) hours of instructional time per week in a traditional classroom setting and additional practice time completing lab activities at home and/or in the Reading Lab.

A final exam, which will be administered college-wide, will assess mastery of the course outcomes and the competencies which indicate readiness for college-level work. Students must demonstrate mastery of those skills to successfully complete the course.

GRADINGAll students have an Atlas e-mail account so they can receive messages.Grades are based on the successful completion of all written daily assignments including text-related as well as supplementary exercises, skill quizzes, performance on tests, and participation in class. Grades are not mailed, but are uploaded into Atlas. Check your Atlas account for your mid-term and final grades. Grades for this course are based on the following scale:

******IMPORTANT: A final exam, which will be administered college-wide, will assess mastery of the course outcomes and the competencies which indicate readiness for college-level work. Students must demonstrate mastery of those skills to successfully complete the course.

Moreover, students must arrive at the designated final exam location on time. If you are late or absent you will not be allowed to take the final exam and you will fail the course.

DO NOT allow yourself to fall behind since a grade of “0” on any assignment, quiz, or test will severely impact your point total. Also, note that I DO NOT GIVE EXTRA CREDIT.

Grade DeterminationAll grades for your work will be combined in the following manner to determine your final grade.

20% Final Exam 30% Textbook Assignments/Attendance:

(Homework assignments from the textbook, in class assignments, discussions and activities) In class assignments cannot be made up.

30% Quizzes & Tests: (Quizzes on reading passages, Unit Tests, etc.)20% Labs: (all work completed outside of class in the communications lab)

A = 90% - 100%B = 80% - 89%C = 70% - 79%D = 60% - 69%F = 59% or below

Holidays (college is closed): Spring Break: March 3-9, 2014

Drop/Refund deadline – March 12, 2014 Withdrawal deadline for a grade of “W”- April 11, 2014 Note: You must withdraw before or on this date to receive a “W.” If you

withdraw after this date, you may receive an “F” in the course.

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LATE ASSIGNMENTS It is your responsibility to find out what was missed if you were absent. Other students in the

class are a good source of information. Do not ask me if we did anything in class while you were absent!

Unless directed otherwise, refer to your course calendar and schedule of assignment sheets. If I do not receive your assignment, you will receive a "0" for a grade for that assignment. No

exceptions! The one lowest assignment score in the assignment category will be dropped.

LAB ASSIGNMENTS The work completed in lab will be submitted to your instructor via skill plan sheets. Do NOT email them to me. You may submit through Blackboard. Each of these plan sheets varies in length and will be given a due date by your instructor. Whether or not you are assigned any given plan sheet is dependent upon your performance on

a diagnostic test administered during the first week of class. You will not be given credit for software assignments that are incomplete or completed

too hastily to receive a passing score. Be good to yourself and take your lab assignments seriously. (For example, a myreadinglab module cannot be completed well in less than one hour.)

Lab work is due turned in at the beginning of the class period on which it is due, not later the same day.

You must receive at least 70% on your assigned labs to pass the course.

EXAMS & QUIZZES If you come to class after an exam has started, the door to the classroom may be locked and

you will not be allowed to take the test with the rest of your class. If you miss an exam, it must be made up in the testing center (11-142) before the next class

meets. You must bring your Valencia ID, a #2 pencil and a green scantron in order to take the exam. Failure to do so will result in a grade of “0” for that exam. No exceptions.

You are not allowed to make up quizzes given at the beginning of class periods that are designed to check whether or not you did the homework.

CLASSROOM CONDUCT / STUDENT ETHICSStudents are expected to abide by the college’s honesty policy and code of conduct as stated in the catalog. Students caught cheating on assignments or tests will receive a “0” which cannot be made up. Any additional action deemed necessary will be taken at the discretion of the instructor.

Since this is not a lecture only class, all students are expected to engage in classroom and out-of-class reading activities. It is expected that all students will participate in all classroom activities in a manner that is conductive to the learning process for themselves and others. Your presence, participation, and success in this class will be viewed as a partnership in the learning process, which includes activities and collaboration with other students. If, for any reason, a student’s conduct interferes with the teaching process or the learning of others, the student will be requested to leave the classroom and an absence for that day will be recorded. Students who receive additional verbal and/or written warnings from the instructor regarding conduct may be withdrawn from the course. Professors have the right to determine what is acceptable behavior, and what attire is appropriate for class in their classroom.

Phones, pagers, or other communication devices are not permitted in class. Please turn them off and put them in your backpacks or purses before class begins. Students who take out their cell phones in class (other than to turn them off) or allow them to ring can lose 10 points from their participation grade. Remove ear buds from ears during class.

No sleeping or “head down on desk” is permitted in class. Sleepy students should leave the class and get rest outside of the class.

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VALENCIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES POLICY AND PROCEEDURE Number: 6Hx28:10-18http://www.valenciacc.edu/policies/policydetail2.cfm?PolicyCatID=10&PolicyID=3_____________________________________________________________________Title: Student Code of Classroom ConductSpecific Authority: 240.319 FS.: 6A-14.0247 FAC.Law Implemented: 240.319 FS.: 6A-14.0247 FAC.

Policy: Activities which disrupt the desired classroom setting and which are a violation of this Student

Code of Classroom Conduct are those which, with or without intent to do so, are disruptive of the essence of the educational process. Faculty members are authorized to define, communicate and enforce appropriate standards of decorum in classrooms, offices and other instructional areas under their supervision. In the case of the violation of the Student Code of Classroom Conduct, the faculty member may initiate personal conferences, verbal and written warnings, referral to the director of student services for counseling, and removal from the classroom pending disciplinary action under Policy 6Hx28:1O-OA. Examples of such disruptive or distracting activities include, bur are not limited to the following:

o Activities that are inconsistent with commonly acceptable classroom behavior and which are not conductive to the learning experience, such as: tardiness, leaving and returning during class, and early departure when not previously authorized:

o Activities that violate previously prescribed classroom guidelines or constitute and unreasonable interruption of the learning process:

o Side discussions which are irrelevant to the subject matter of the class, that distract from the learning process, or impede, hinder, or inhibit the ability of other students to obtain the full benefit of the educational presentation, and

o Utterances of “fighting words” or epithets directed specifically toward other persons with the purpose or effect of creating a hostile educational environment or which may reasonably be expected to incite imminent or immediate violence.

Valencia College is interested in making sure all our students have a rewarding and successful college experience. To that purpose, Valencia students can get immediate help with issues dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, substance abuse, time management as well as relationship problems dealing with school, home or work. BayCare Behavioral Health Student Assistance Program (SAP) services are free to all Valencia students and available 24 hours a day by calling (800) 878-5470. Free face-to-face counseling is also available.

DISCLAIMERChanges in this syllabus and/or Learning Schedule may be made at any time during the term by announcement of the instructor. A revised syllabus may be issued at the discretion of the instructor.

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