Missouri Western State University, Division of Liberal Arts and
Sciences
Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Journalism
Instructor: Sharon Adams
Office: Eder Hall 222S
Phone: 816-632-0648
E-Mail: sadams8@missouriwestern.edu
COURSE GOALS:
The purpose of this class is to enable students to expand their abilities to process and understand written expression. The focus will be on higher level comprehension skills, critical thinking, and vocabulary skills necessary for a successful college experience.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Newsweek Magazine, 16 week subscription available online at newsweek.com
American Heritage Dictionary, Fourth Edition available at the bookstore in Blum Union Hall
COURSE EXPECTATIONS:
Students will be expected to:
-Bring both required texts to each class period unless otherwise instructed.
-Participate
actively in class discussions and activities.
-Turn in
assignments on time. All assignments are
due on the date
indicated when they are assigned. Late assignments may not be accepted
resulting in an “F” for that assignment at the
discretion of the instructor.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
In order to improve student learning as well as to achieve compliance with federal financial aid policies, Western has a mandatory attendance policy for all 100-level courses.
You will be given an excused absence when acting as an official representative of the university, provided you give prior written verification from the faculty/staff supervisor of the event. Class attendance is mandatory. Grades will be lowered a full letter grade after two unexcused absences, and will continue to be lowered a full letter grade for each two unexcused absences recorded. An excused absence is one that is approved by the instructor and must be accompanied by written documentation from an appropriate source. The instructor will make the final determination as to the validity of the absence. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor outside of class time to make arrangements to make up missed assignments and activities.
All other absences will be deemed unexcused. The maximum number of unexcused absences allowed for this class before the midterm report, October 15, is 5. Thus, when you have six (6) unexcused absences you will be reported to the Registrar’s Office, who will automatically withdraw you from this class. The Financial Aid Office will reduce financial aid as appropriate.
SKILLSTUTOR LAB PROGRAM
Skillstutor is a software program available online. Students will be given an in-class orientation regarding the use of the program. After the orientation, the assignments will be completed outside of the classroom. There will be a computer lab (Murphy 107) designated for completion of these assignments, or, students may work on them on any computer. The lab will house a coordinator to provide assistance for assignments. Lab hours will be announced. All students are required to complete 780 minutes at a level of 80% or above on the Skillstutor program for the semester. This works out to about an hour per week. Students are responsible to complete these hours on their own. The program will compute your scores and completed hours. This information will be monitored by the lab coordinator and distributed to your instructor.
COURSE GRADING INFORMATION:
Grades will be determined by in/out of class assignments, presentations, activities, attendance, class participation, Skillstutor lab work, and quizzes and tests as follows:
Critical Thinking & Comprehension Assignments – 30%
Class Participation – 30%
Skillstutor Lab – 20%
Exams – 20%
There will be a mid-term exam and a final exam in addition to the Accuplacer testing. There will be quizzes and tests given at the discretion of the instructor. Major exams will be announced well in advance.
Grades will be assigned according to the following scale:
A 90-100%
B 80-89%
C 70-79%
F 0-69%
Students must
receive a “C” or above for their final classroom grade in addition to a “72” or
above on the Accuplacer in order to successfully complete this course.
*All students with scores
below 72 on the Accuplacer test at the close of the term will be required to
enroll in RDG
095 a second time. Enrollment in other college programs is
restricted for a student who has not met the exit standards. If a student fails to complete the course
after two attempts they will be unable to continue with additional course work
at
*Students earning an "A" in their
course work will be eligible to take the Accuplacer test at midterm.
If they score a 72 or above, they will be able
to
leave the class following mid-term, with full credit and a final grade of "A."
CIVILITY AND COOPERATION:
Missouri Western requires all students to help with maintaining good conditions for teaching and learning. All students will treat classmates, teachers, and student assistants with civility and respect, both inside and outside the classroom. Students who violate this policy may, among other penalties, be counted absent and asked to leave. Each and every cell phone, pager, portable CD player and radio, i.e., any electronic device that may cause class disruption, must be turned off during class. Review the Missouri Western student handbook for further information.
ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY:
If teachers find evidence of cheating or plagiarism, the student bears the burden of showing that the completed work is the result of personal effort. Keep thorough evidence of processes for all papers and assignments. Academic honesty is required in all academic endeavors. Violations of academic honesty include any instance of plagiarism, cheating, seeking credit for another’s work, falsifying documents or academic records, or any other fraudulent activity. Violations of academic honesty may result in a failing grade on the assignment, failure in the course, or expulsion from the University. When a student’s grade has been affected, violations of academic honesty will be reported to the Provost or designated representative on the Academic Honesty Violation Report forms.
Please see the 2007-08 Student Handbook and Calendar on page 21 for specific activities identified as violations of this policy and the student due process procedure. This handbook is also available online at http://www.missouriwestern.edu/handbook/index.pdf
LEARNING RESOURCES:
The Center for Academic Support is available for additional assistance. Contact Cathy Gann at 271-5621 to schedule an appointment.
STUDENT
DISABILITY:
Any student who has a disability that prevents the fullest expressions of abilities should contact Missouri Western’s special needs coordinator for possible certification of special needs and expert recommendations for assistance. Contact all teachers personally as soon as possible to discuss class requirements.
MWF Teaching Agenda
Fall 2008
Week 1
August 25 Introduction to Class & Texts
August 27 Syllabus and Class Assignments
Introduction Ice Breaker - Interviewing Activity
August 29 Right/Left Brain Activity
Week 2
September 1 Labor
Day Holiday
September 3 Three Keys to Doing Well in School
Assignment: Write reaction paper
September 5 Intro to My Skills Tutor Program – Lab (Edward Perry)
Week 3
September 8 SQ3R Reading Technique
Assignment: Newsweek article article (SQ3R way)
September 10 Review Mini SQ3R assignment
Discuss open-ended and closed questions
September 12 Working With Vocabulary (using Newsweek article)
Read article aloud in class, look up words as group.
Review open-ended and closed questions
Week 4
September 15 Main Idea
Assignment: Newsweek article (SQ3R way)
September 17 Main Idea Activity
September 19 Understanding Relationships
Week 5
September 22 Understanding Relationships Activity
Assignment: Newsweek article (SQ3R way)
September 24 Review Practice
September 26 Test Taking Presentation & Powerpoint
Week 6
September 29 Accuplacer Practice
Assignment: Newsweek article (SQ3R way)
October 1 Accuplacer Practice
Online practice
October 3 Accuplacer Practice
Online practice
Week 7
October 6 Accuplacer Testing for those eligible
My Skills Tutor
for those not testing
(Because some students will not have enough time to complete the
Accuplacer Test in one class period, I will reserve two days for
testing.)
October 8 Accuplacer Testing - Lab
My Skills Tutor for those not testing
October 10 Fall Break
(Mid-term grades due October 15)
Week 8
October 13 Go over any questions about Accuplacer Test
Critical
Thinking activity
October 15 Thinking Outside the Box Activity: “Consider This”
“The Miniature Earth Powerpoint”: discussion
October 17 Read Newsweek article
Write reaction paper in class
Assignment: same article (SQ3R questions)
Week 9
October 20 Subtitled Movie: “The Motorcycle Diaries”
Assignment: Write reaction paper
October 22 Movie Discussion
Sentence Comparison Practice
October 24 Newsweek Activity
Assignment:
Week 10
October 27 Critical Thinking Exercises
Assignment: take home Critical Thinking Exercise
October 29 Newsweek Magazine Activity
Assignment: Newsweek article (SQ3R way)
October 31 My Skills Tutor Lab
Week 11
November 3 Newsweek Magazine Activity (read article in class)
Assignment: Why did author write this (Purpose) 1-3 pgs.
November 5 Critical Thinking Activity
November 7 Newsweek Magazine Activity
Assignment: What does this mean for you?
Week 12
November 10 Newsweek Magazine Activity
November 12 Newsweek Magazine Activity - read article and test.
November 14 My Skills Tutor Lab
Week 13
November 17 Main Idea Activity
Main Idea Test
November 19 Read Newsweek article aloud in class: discussion
Assignment: Newsweek article (SQ3R way)
November 21 Accuplacer Prep
Week 14
November 24 Accuplacer Prep
November 26 Thanksgiving Holiday
November 28 Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 15
December 1 Accuplacer Testing
December 3 Accuplacer Testing
My Skills Tutor
for those not testing.
(Because some students do not have enough time to complete the
Accuplacer Test in one class period, I will reserve two days for
testing.)
December 5
(Last day of Classes)
December 8 Finals Week begins. Last Chance Accuplacer Testing (as needed)