Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Syllabus for Spring 2008


 

    


 


 


 

Reading 100

Brock Dubbels

Office K2506

612.747.0346

Office hours by request

Dubbe003@umn.edu


 

Required materials: are notebook, writing utensils, and a three-ring binder.


 

Your objectives

Students in this course will learn the academic and life-long reading strategies needed for success in technical programs and many associate of arts majors. They will learn how to master technical and academic vocabulary. They will learn how to understand and remember more of what they read. They will learn how to follow complex directions and use reference manuals. This class includes a computer lab component. 

  1. Vocabulary Improvement
  2. Understanding and Following Complex Directions
  3. Previewing and Questioning
  4. Identifying topics and main ideas
  5. Organizational Patterns
  6. Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions
  7. Study Reading
  8. Understanding and Answering Objective Test Questions
  9. Life-Long Reading

Learner Outcomes/Objectives

In order to pass this course, you must pass the final reading test. This test will be taken during finals week. You will receive a copy of the grading scale.

In order to take this exit exam, you must have a minimum score of a 75% in the course.

You may resubmit work that you wish to improve to qualify to take the test.

Resubmitted work must be turned in within a week of when the assignment is corrected and returned to you. If an assignment is collected, and then corrected, you have one week to make corrections and resubmit.

You must create a portfolio of classroom work that links your work to the objectives and outcomes of the course that are listed here in the syllabus. The portfolio will be graded with a rubric, and range in scores from 1 to 5. A 5 is worth 5%, a 1 is worth 1%. You must turn in the portfolio as an assignment; it counts towards the total grade points.

Classroom work:

  1. Practice Quizzes: 11 questions each, sentence-length responses or fill-ins. Most are take-homes (but some occur unscheduled, closed book).
  2. Performance Assessments: You will be creating a reading autobiography, peer editing, outlines, multiple drafts, poetry interpretation, group work, and giving public presentations of your work.
  3. Required Exams: One final exam.
  4. Journals:
    you will do in-class writing, so you will need to keep a journal to hand in for grading. All assignments need to be present in the journal, and in the correct order. If you have difficulty with the notebook, I would like to suggest that you use a three–ring binder to order your entries.


 

Late work is accepted for a grade only with an official excuse.


 

Attendance is important. Homework is due (as hard copy) at the start of class, and isn't accepted for a grade after class. Missed exams and quizzes may be made up only with an official excuse, and within four class days of the test's date. Please have these scheduled reading assignments done before class every day.


 

Your questions and comments are welcome any time.

Readings will be distributed from class; take-home quizzes, extra-credit projects and optional homework topics will be arranged day by day.

Success

  • Strive to know yourself and others.
  • Don't strive for perfection—do your best.
  • Try to keep a regular schedule; slow and steady wins the race.
  • Make time for yourself to unwind in the evenings.
  • Eat healthy foods in moderate amounts.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Get appropriate amounts of sleep. Don't deprive yourself of sleep or play catch-up on the weekends.
  • Live within your means and budget your income.
  • Practice relaxation techniques.
  • Ask questions and look for personal interests in assignments and readings.
  • Think of learning is warming-up cold spots with warm spots in your brain. What you already know can help with what you don't. In many instances, we are learning new names for things we are familiar with, but from a new perspective.


 

If you have struggled with English and Language Arts in the past, with a change in perception, opportunity exists in what seems a difficult situation, and potential crises can lie in wait for you cloaked as opportunity. Please relax and take a second to breathe when you feel that things are overwhelming and difficult. Reflect on what is causing you discomfort. In many cases it is only fear of the unknown, or the prospect of looking foolish. This too will pass. Be confident and reflect on your qualities. With reflection, and action--not reaction-- you will not only come to understanding, but you will come to know yourself.


 

Take the story of the man who was good at interpreting events:

One day, for no reason, his horse ran away to the nomads across the border. Everyone tried to console him, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this isn't a blessing?" Some months later his horse returned, bringing a splendid nomad stallion. Everyone congratulated him, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this isn't a disaster?" Their household was richer by a fine horse, which his son loved to ride. One day he fell and broke his hip. Everyone tried to console him, but his father said, "What makes you so sure this isn't a blessing?"

A year later the nomads came in force across the border, and every able-bodied man took his bow and went into battle. The frontiersmen lost nine of ten men. Only because the son was lame did the father and son survive to take care of each other.


 

Truly, blessing turns to disaster, and disaster to blessing: The changes have no end, nor can the mystery be fathomed.

                    The Lost Horse Chinese Folk Tale

 


 


 

Accommodation and alternative formats:


 

Reasonable accommodations shall be provided for students with physical, sensory, learning and psychiatric disabilities. Contact the instructor to work out the details of accommodations.

This material and other class materials prepared by the instructor are available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact your instructor to arrange for Braille, large print, taped, or machine-readable formats.


 

                 Student conduct in classes:


 

Students who engage in behavior that disrupts the learning environment for others may be subject to disciplinary action under the code. In addition, we may require students responsible for such behavior to discontinue course activities and may cancel their registration.

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