Lab Work Assignments

All students enrolled in English 83A in summer are expected to do twenty hours of lab work a week to pass the class. You can do this work at home on your computers or using a computer on campus. But in order for me to record your hours you will need to follow this process.

We will be using the Townsend Press primarily for lab assignments this summer.

Townsend  Press Lab Assignments

You will be assignments to reinforce your understanding and mastery of the skills in both textbooks we are using in class: Ten Steps to Building College Reading Skills and Building Vocabulary Skills.

Here's your instructions.

1. Go to the Townsend Press Website and click their Online Learning Center.
2. Create an Account.
3. IMPORTANT: When creating account be sure to sign up for Mr.Smith's class at SMC!!!!
4. Do the exercises. The scores will be recorded in the computer.
5. You will do two chapters from Ten Steps to Building College Reading Skills every week.
6. You will do FOUR chapters from Vocabulary Skills every week.
7  You must complete all the exercises in order to get credit for this course.
8. I will check everyone's progress every Monday.
 

Extra Credit: Reading Laboratory Program

If you'd like to do some extra credit or just further develop your reading skills, then you can do the Reading for Understanding Program (RFU's).

 Reading for Understanding Computer Cards (RFU’s)

Directions

 1.         Email Address: Your first day in the lab you will obtain an email address and logon information.

2.         You will go to the Santa Monica College reading website. http://homepage.smc.edu/reading_lab/

3.         Click on Reading for Understanding.

4.         If you are in 84R  then do RFU Set 3. Start on card 1A.

5.         If you are in 83B then start on card 21A.

6.         Read the questions carefully. You will have to think about the answers. Try your best. Once you are completed, the computer will determine how many you scored correctly.

7.         If you still need more instruction then visit http://homepage.smc.edu/smith_gary On my website you will find further instruction on how to do the RFU assignments.

8.         We will be doing RFU’s for 5 weeks or so. At the midterm you will have to visit my webpage listed above for further lab assignments.

 If you score 10/10 then go up 2 levels (21A-23A).

If you score 8 or 9 out of 10, go up 1 level.

If you score 6-7 out of ten stay at the same level (22A-22B).Once you have done all three at the same level then go up a level...i..e. 22A, 22B, 22C...then go up to

Current Lab Assignments

1. Make your own copies of the RFU answer sheets.
2. Do 10 computer RFU cards a week due on Thursdays. You can do the assignment either on campus or at home.
3. You are to do a total of 50 cards. After you have finished 60, or at the end of 6 weeks, please visit my website for further lab assignments. http://homepage.smc.edu/smith_gary
4. Email me if you have any questions.

Videos

Doing the Reading for Understanding Cards

The following three steps are what you should follow to do the Lab Work (RFU's) assigned in my reading classes.
Again, you need to do 10 RFU cards a week which are due every Tuesday.

If you missed the orientation, or are confused watch the following videos to understand the process.

Video 1: Getting an SMC email account

Video 2: Taking the RFU placement test

Video 3: Doing the Lab Work including filling out answer sheets

Using the Townsend Press Website for Vocabulary

Video 4: How to use Townsend Press Website: Vocabulary

Video 5: More Townsend Press Website: Vocabulary and Reading Skills

Video 6: Townsend Press Website: Free Resources (Really Great Material)

Blogging

Video 7: How to Create a Blog with Blogger

Communicating with  me:

Office Location: By Appointment
Office Hours on Campus: 10-11 Mondays DH 312
Telephone Number: 310 508 7133
Email: smith_gary@smc.edu

Last update:  06/24/09