Gavilan College, Spring 2006

English 260 (Section# 4353)

Preparation for College Reading (3 Units)

 

Instructor: Iva Tracey                                                    Time/day: M W 9.45am-11.00am

E-mail: itracey@gavilan.edu                                         Classroom: SS 111

Office Hour: W 11.00am  Loc. SS 119

 

Pre-requisites: Completion of English 420 or Assessment recommendation.

 

Course Description: This is a course presenting strategies in the technique and practice of college level critical reading and thinking skills. These skills will be gained and enhanced through the reading of various texts such as essays, short stories, textbook excerpts, poems, as well as a novel. This course also includes study skills, note taking, vocabulary acquisition, and literary analysis.

 

Course Learning Outcomes

1.  Students will be able to use critical thinking skills to read analyze college-level essays in various rhetorical styles. 2.  Students will be able to write short analyses and responses tocollege-level essays. 3.  Students will demonstrate the ability to read aloud in class. 4.  Students will be able to recall specific vocabulary. 5.  Students will be able to use context clues to decipher meaning. 6.  Students will apply proper annotation and note-taking skills. 7.  Students will demonstrate the ability to summarize readings.

 

Texts and Materials:

Required: - The Thoughtful Reader by Fjeldstad M.C. 4th Ed.;Thompson-Heinle, 2006

                  - The Secret Life of Bees by Kidd, S.M.; Penguin Group, 2002

                  - one notebook for vocabulary and reading journal

Recommended: a college-level dictionary 

 

Course Requirements:

1. Attendance and Participation: You must attend both classes (Monday and Wednesday) during the first week of the semester or you will be dropped. Missing over 4 classes for any reason is cause for being dropped. If you are late for the class more than 15 minutes, you will receive ½ absence. It is in your best interest to attend every class because in-class activities cannot be made up. All assignments must be submitted in class. Unless you have a proof of emergency, late homework will not be accepted. If you miss a class, you are responsible for getting the homework assignment from another student (schedule of reading assignments is included in the syllabi for your convenience). Your contribution to class discussions and being prepared are crucial elements in reaching the course objectives.

 

2. Reading and Vocabulary Journal:

Journal: You will keep a journal in which you will write responses to reading selections in The Thoughtful Reader , the novel The Secret Life of Bees, and other texts related to the topics we discuss in class. All entries must be numbered, dated, and written legibly.

 

Journal Presentation: Each student is required to present one journal entry to the class. You will read your journal entry aloud and submit a copy to classmates. Each journal presentation will initiate a class discussion.

 

Weekly Vocabulary: Every week, you will write a list of 6 words found in the text. These might be words that you have just learned, or learned more about their meaning in context. Use a dictionary or your own words to explain the meaning of each word; then create a sentence with it. Use these words in your next journal entry. Highlight or underline them in your journal entry.

 

3. Projects and Presentations: This class requires one final project and its presentation.  Details about the project and the presentation will be given in class.

 

4. Tests and Exams: There will be reading and vocabulary tests during the semester to evaluate the improvement of your skills, a midterm exam, and a final exam. There will be no make-ups for tests, exams, or assignments.

Grading Criteria: Your grade will be based on the following:

 

Class attendance and participation: 10%

Reading and vocabulary journal: 15%

Journal Entry Presentation: 5%

Final Project and Presentation: 15%

Tests: 20%

Midterm Exam: 15%

Final Exam: 20%

 

Total percent: 100%

 

Grading Scale:

 

Important Dates:

February 24, 2006	Last day to drop with no record shown (NRS)
April 21, 2006	Last day to drop with a “W” (withdrawn)
Final Exam:	Friday; May 26, 2006; 8.00am- 10.00am

 

                       

 

Advisory: Students requiring special services or arrangements because of hearing, visual or other disability should contact their instructor, counselor, advisor, or the Disabled Students Services Office. Occupational/Vocational Students: Limited English language skills will not be a barrier to admittance to and participation in vocational education programs. Learning occurs most productively in a safe, respectful environment. Differences of viewpoints, orientation, and experience are expected and welcomed in class. If you don’t feel safe or respected, please talk to me or to Dean Fran Lozano at (408) 848-4702.

 

 

Academic Honesty Statement: Gavilan College has an Academic Honesty Policy that this course will follow. Students are expected to exercise academic honesty and integrity. Violations such as cheating and plagiarism will result in disciplinary action, which may include recommendation for dismissal.    

Schedule of Reading Assignments:  Readings are discussed on the day they are listed and should be read before coming to class that day. Most reading assignments listed below are due on Mondays; discussions of these readings will continue on Wednesdays.

           

01/23	Introduction
01/25	“What True Education Should Do”(p.2); “Long in Dark, Afghan Women Say to Read is Finally to See”(p.32) (from The Thoughtful Reader)
01/30	“Overcoming an Invisible Handicap”(p.35); The Teacher Who Changed my Life”(p.39); “How to Mark a Book”(p.6) - (from The Thoughtful Reader)
02/06	“Language and Culture” (p.331); “The Family” (p.342)- (from The Thoughtful Reader)
02/13	“Culture”(p.51); “Africa’s Lost Tribe Hopes to Discover America”(p.82); “Africa’s Lost Tribe Discovers Its American Dream”(p.53), “Everyday People”(p.77) -(from The Thoughtful Reader)
02/27	“A Puerto Rican Stew”(p.114); “The United States: Land of Immigrants”(p.93), “Our Land: Nunavut’s Inuit Women“ (p.109), “As a Pampered Generation Grows Up, Chinese Worry” (p.98), “Mix and Match Society”: Going “Transcultural” (p.134)- (from The Thoughtful Reader)
03/06	Midterm Exam
03/13	The Secret Life of Bees,  chapters 1-4
03/20	The Secret Life of Bees,  chapters 5-8
03/27	The Secret Life of Bees,  chapters 9-11
04/03	The Secret Life of Bees,  chapters12-14
04/10	“Language”(p.140); “By Any Other Name”(p.167); “ Mother Tongue” (p.151), “How to Write a Personal Letter”(p.189); “Kafir Boy at the Typewriter”(p. 194); “Translating America”(p.207)-(from The Thoughtful Reader)
04/24	Read one newspaper, one magazine article of your choice; “How Ethical Is American Business”(p.237); “Sex and Science” (p.224), “One Man’s Kids” (p.229), “Hispanic USA: The Conveyor-Belt Ladies” (p.260), “Less Is More: A Call for Shorter Work Hours”(p.264) -(from The Thoughtful Reader)
05/01	“When the Lullaby Ends”(p.278); “If We Have It, Do We Use It?”(p.282); “The Killing of Kayla”(p.294) -(from The Thoughtful Reader);
O5/08	“In Praise of the F Word” (p.299),“A Crime of Compassion” (p.305), “Dreaming of Disconnecting a Respirator” (p.309)
05/15	Final Project Presentations
05/22	Semester Review

 

   

                                                                                                   

 

FINAL PROJECT ASSIGNMENT

 

Working on the final project for English 260 class will enable you to expand your knowledge of topics discussed in the class. You will select one of the themes listed below, and read 5 different articles related to the theme of your selection. Then, you will write a summary of each text and your opinion on it. Eventually, you will present your project in the class, which will give you a chance to share your research will classmates. Please, read the instructions below carefully in order to follow all the steps required.

 

1. Choose 1 of the following themes:
• Education
• Culture
• Language
• Business
• Controversial Issues
2. Conduct a research of 5 texts related to the selected theme. You can use newspapers, magazines and books as resources.  The textbook The Thoughtful Reader cannot be used for this project.
3. Write a summary of each read text. It must include the title and the author of the text and resource (name of a newspaper, magazine or a book; date when it was published, and publisher). Each summary has to be one paragraph of 150-250 words.
4. In separate paragraphs, write your responses to each text. Present your opinion on the topic, main idea and details.
5. To sum up, the written part of the final project must contain 10 paragraphs- 5 summaries, 5 responses. It must be typed and double spaced. Use font 12 (Times New Roman). Please, see the sample summary and response.

 

Final Project Presentation Requirements

• Length of a presentation: 5 minutes

• Organization of a presentation:
• The topic is introduced and explained why it was selected.
• Main ideas of the texts are explained.
• Summary of the texts include the main ideas and major details.
• The presenting student asks the classmates 3 questions about the topic. The questions must be prepared in advance

 

Due date for the final projects and presentations: May 15, 2006