Fall Semester 2008
Instructor: Dr. Mary Nielsen
Phone: 706-272-4407 or 1-800-829-4436
Email: mnielsen@daltonstate.edu
Web page: www.daltonstate.edu/faculty/mnielsen/
Office: 224 LIA
Office Hours: Monday: 8:00-11:00 a.m.
Tuesday: 9:25-10:40 a.m. (in Writing Lab)
Wednesday: 8:00-11:00 a.m.
Thursday: 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Friday: 8:00-11:00 a.m.
Also by appointment.
Writing Lab: Tuesday: 9:25-10:40 a.m.
Midterm: October 27, 2008 (last day to withdraw)
This is course is designed to provide a broad range of reading experiences for the student entering a trade area. Areas of emphasis include vocabulary, comprehension, reading rate, and life skills. (Vocational-technical certificate course)
Reading Keys, 2nd edition, by Laraine Flemming
Advancing Vocabulary Skills (3rd edition) by Goodman, Nist, and Mohr
American Heritage Dictionary (3rd or 4th edition). Hardbound or paperback edition.
No. 2 pencils and blue or black ink pens.
Students completing Reading 1100 toward a certificate should be able to
1. comprehend the literal and inferential meaning of a variety of college, work-related, and everyday reading materials;
2. develop strategies to increase college-level vocabulary and to comprehend unfamiliar words;
3. employ critical reading strategies to analyze and evaluate printed materials;
4. employ efficient reading strategies to increase reading speed while maintaining or improving comprehension.
Assessment Measures
Students will
1. Recognize and distinguish between supporting details and stated or implied main ideas in
passages from textbooks or other print materials. (Outcome 1)
2. Employ strategies for learning new words and use college-level vocabulary in a variety of
activities. (Outcome 2)
3. Critically evaluate passages to determine author’s purpose, tone, argument, bias, and plan of
development (patterns of organization). (Outcome 3)
4. Apply efficient reading strategies to a minimum of three timed practices, demonstrating
increased speed while maintaining or improving comprehension. (Outcome 4)
Students are expected to attend every class session. Arriving late and leaving early count 1/3 of an absence. I will allow a maximum of four absences without penalty (including early departures and late arrivals); after four absences, 2 points will be deducted from your final course grade for each absence. Students who sleep, chat, or play with computers during class are counted as intellectually absent and lose the same number of points as someone who is physically absent.
Class Participation
Class participation is important. If your grade is on the borderline between two grades, consistent, enthusiastic, and interested participation may make the difference between a higher or lower final grade.
It is the student’s responsibility to complete the assigned class work. Ten points will be deducted for each day the work is late. Knowing when assigned work is due is your responsibility. If you are absent, please contact me by phone or email (or check my Web page) to find out if there is an assignment so that you can submit it on time. No work will be accepted more than one week after the date the assignment was due.
Make-up Tests
It is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor in advance if he/she will not be able to complete the test, quiz, or exam on the scheduled day. A student must make-up missed quizzes and tests within 48 hours; otherwise, the grade will become a 0. The instructor reserves the right to give an alternate form of the test for make-up tests.
The class average will be determined as follows:
40%: Homework and class assignments
20%: Comprehension tests
20%: Vocabulary tests
20%: Final Exam
The grading scale is as follows:
A = 90%-100%
B = 80%-89%
C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
F = 59 and below
Students may earn extra credit (which can be used as replacement grades for two low scores on vocabulary quizzes or homework assignments) by doing extra practice in the Writing Lab (315 LIA). This practice would include taking practice reading comprehension tests on the lab computers, using reading software available in the Writing Lab, or practicing with other materials suggested by the instructor. Students may earn 20 points each week for any 10 weeks of the term by working with practice materials and/or software in the Writing Lab for 20 minutes each week. A maximum of 20 points may be earned each week. Once 100 points are earned, this 100% will become a replacement grade. Students may earn up to 200 points during the term.
Disability Support Services (Revised June 10, 2008)
Students with disabilities or special needs are encouraged to contact Disability Support Services in Academic Resources. In order to make an appointment to obtain information on the process for qualifying for accommodations, the student must contact the Disability Support Specialist.
Contact information:
Andrea Roberson
Pope Student Center, lower level
706/272-2524
Drop/Withdrawal Policy (Revised June 25, 2007)
Students wishing to withdraw from the course may do so without penalty until the mid-point of the semester, and a grade of W will be assigned. After that point, withdrawal without penalty is permitted only in cases of extreme hardship as determined by the Vice President for Academic Affairs; otherwise a grade of WF will be issued. (Please note: At Dalton State College, the Hardship Withdrawal process requires students to withdraw from all classes at the college.) The proper form for dropping a course is the Schedule Adjustment Form, which can be obtained at the Enrollment Services Office in Westcott Hall. The Schedule Adjustment Form must be submitted to the Enrollment Services Office. Students who disappear, completing neither the official withdrawal procedure nor the course work, will receive the grade of F. This instructor will not withdraw students from the class. Withdrawal from any Dalton State College classes is a student responsibility. The last day to drop classes without penalty is October 27, 2008.
Complete Course Withdrawal (Revised June 25, 2007)
The proper form for withdrawing from all classes at the college after the official drop/add period but before the published withdrawal date is the Schedule Adjustment Form. Students who are assigned to the Academic Advising Center for advisement must meet with an advisor or staff member at the Academic Advising Center (107 Liberal Arts Building) to initiate the withdrawal process. All other students must meet with a staff member or advisor at the Office of Academic Resources in the Pope Student Center to initiate the withdrawal process. After meeting with the staff member or advisor, all students will then finalize the withdrawal process in the Financial Aid Office.
Workforce Development (Revised June 24, 2008)
Contact: Mr. Scott McNabb, Workforce Investment Act
If a student receiving aid administered by the DSC Workforce Development Department drops this class or completely withdraws from the College, the schedule adjustment form must be taken to the Workforce Development Office first. The office is located in the Technical Education Building, Room 214, and students can contact Mr. McNabb at 706-272-2635 from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. He is in the Georgia Department of Labor office on Wednesdays and Thursdays and can be reached at 706-272-4412.
1. All students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner conducive to a positive learning environment. Class disturbances will not be accepted or tolerated. Cell phones and beepers must be turned off before entering the classroom.
2. Students are expected to read all work that is assigned prior to coming to class.
3. Students are expected to spend a minimum of 6 hours each week studying, reviewing, practicing, and reading course-related materials.
4. Students are expected to bring their textbooks to every class.