Course Description

English 83A
English 84R                                                    
Reading and Vocabulary                                  

Phone:  (310)434-4097
Office:  Drescher 311Q

Texts:

83A              Ten Steps to Building College Reading Skills, Langan, (Eng. 83A)                 

                      Building  Vocabulary Skills, Nist and Mohr, (English 83A)

                      The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway (English 83A)

                      Bless Me, Ultima (Eng. 83A)

                      American Heritage  paperback dictionary (in bookstore)

 

84R               Ten Steps to Improving College Reading Skills, Langan,  (Eng. 84R) 

                      Improving Vocabulary Skills, Nist and Mohr,  (English 84R)

                       Like Water for Chocolate, Esquivel (Eng. 84R)

                       American Heritage  paperback dictionary (in bookstore)

 

Materials:  8 1/2 x 11 loose-leaf notebook paper, manila folder for reading lab assignments, pen, #2 pencil, stapler, handouts, approximately 200 or more index cards for vocabulary words

Important Note:  Please bring texts and all materials to each class. 

Student Goals (83A)

1.         To master vocabulary skills--use of a dictionary,
            knowledge of word parts, and ability to utilize context clues;
2.         To identify main ideas and supporting details in reading selections;
3.         To become familiar with comprehension and recall strategies;
4.         To acquire prereading, reading, and postreading skills;
5.         To develop study habits, including notetaking techniques;
6.         To recognize fact and opinion;
7.         To learn to make inferences;
8.         To become acquainted with campus resources.

Student Goals (84R)

1.         To raise level of literal and inferential comprehension closer to the "B" level English placement;
2.         To improve inferential and critical reading--with an emphasis on purpose, tone, and irony;
3.         To enlarge reading and writing vocabulary;
4.         To improve reading rate through comprehension and vocabulary strategies;
5.         To learn and apply a study-reading technique;
6.         To summarize accurately;
7.         To develop strategies to monitor reading;
8.         To form positive and productive reading habits, including learning how to approach
            different types of literature.

NOTE:  No make-up quizzes are given, but you may make up a test if you do so before a week elapses.  No late homework is accepted.  However, because of absence or low grade, you may drop one test score, one quiz score and two homework grades.                             

If you do miss a class, you are responsible for getting the homework.  To do so, call a classmate.  If you are comfortable with this, write down the names and phone numbers of two people in the room.  For now, use the people sitting on either side of you; you can always change these names later.

  I am available for individual conferences during silent reading periods and during my office hours.  I look forward to our work together this semester.

Grading (Credit/No Credit)

Classroom participation:	250 points
Summaries (3):	150 points
Tests on textbook (3):	300 points
Vocabulary (5):	350 points
Spelling tests (10):	200 points
Tests on novel:	250 points
Notetaking journal (4):	100 points
Reading Lab:	300 points
Reading Achievement:	200 points
Credit for the Class	70%