Click for PRINT VERSION: you must bring a copy to EVERY CLASS
Instructor: Marie Zaiens
Visit My Office (Required): Mon. 2pm – 3pm or call/email me
Phone: (818) 364-7757
Email: zaiensme@lamission.edu |
Office: LRC 214
Classroom: CAI 228
Section: 0200
MW 12:15 pm - 1:40 pm |
WELCOME TO OUR CLASS! First, let's review information about our objectives, what you will learn by the end of this class (SLOs), our textbook, homework, and policies. Then we'll discuss what your goals are for this semester and how I can help you achieve those goals. If you are a student who wants to succeed in college, you are in the right place. My primary objective is to support your success by sharing techniques and tools that will help you to succeed. Your objective is to learn those techniques and practice using the tools. Let's begin on the road to success.
Course Description and Objectives: This course advances reading comprehension skills such as finding main ideas, drawing valid conclusions, making inferences, generalizing, and summarizing. Students will prepare for further college-level coursework by refining reading, study, and critical analysis skills. We will take condensed notes, attack vocabulary through word parts, annotate texts, formulate questions, manage time, and constructively collaborate on teams to help each other learn.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs): Upon successful completion of this course, a student will be able to
- apply strategies for learning and using new vocabulary.
- analyze paragraphs and longer passages to identify main ideas, major and minor supporting details and patterns of organization
- apply study reading strategies to improve academic performance
- evaluate various types of writing to differentiate between facts and opinions and to identify errors of reasoning
- analyze and identify elements of narration
I. Required Texts:
Reading for Results, Twelfth Edition by Laraine Flemming
Mind Set, by Carol Dweck
Recommended: see print version of syllabus
II. Homework Assignments
- One hour and fifteen minutes per week independent Reading Lab assignments is required; however, spending just 60 – 90 minutes more a week will give you the best results.
- Read and annotate all materials and complete all exercises and written work before due.
- Additional assignments explained in detail at the end of each class, which brings us to importance of attending class.
III. Attendance and Participation
I am deeply impressed by the caliber and dedication of LAMC students, and I want to see you succeed in your academic and personal lives. We are in this together. Our classroom is a community, and we are all responsible for the health and success of this community. This means that you are responsible not only to the me, but to yourself and your fellow students as well. We do not learn in isolation. Others are depending on your questions, insights, and ideas to make this class a genuine learning experience. You should prepare for the class by completing the assigned homework, by thinking critically, and by sharing your ideas. Every semester, in every class, I learn something new from my students. This semester, I am confident that I will learn from you and you will learn from each other. I am excited about spending this semester working to expand our worlds, improve our skills, and share our experiences.
Participation also includes attendance. You may be dropped after three unexcused absences; it is your responsibility to call me if you cannot attend class. You are responsible for everything that occurred in class during your absence. It is up to you to contact a classmate or me for missed material. Please avoid arriving at class late, leaving early, and walking outside during class; these are unacceptable behaviors that distract other students. If you have extenuating personal circumstances that prevent you from fully completing assignments and participating in class, please let me know.
IV. Grading -
see print version of syllabus
A. In-class participation, attendance, and completion of homework assignments will be considered during grading.
B. There will be a follow-up quiz for each chapter we cover.
- All quizzes will be given at the beginning of class
- There will be no make-ups given for quizzes
C. Three major projects:To pass this course, you must achieve at least 70 percent of the possible points listed below.
| Lab--39 points (3 pts/hr) |
Quizzes--10 points each (90 total) |
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| 8 Essential Lessons--100 points |
Critical Thinking Project--100 points |
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| Midterm--100 points |
Short Story Report--60 points |
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| Final--100 points |
Vocabulary Work--15 points |
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D. Basis of Grading: Credit/No Credit
Independent Reading Lab Assignments: You are required to log one hour per week in the Reading Lab. To fulfill this requirement you will use Reading Plus. We will have an Introduction to Reading Plus and an orientation to the Learning Center on Monday, September 9th.
For Additional Services - see print version of syllabus
The Learning Center:
The Learning Lab and Academic Success Center (ASC), located in the Library Building, offer FREE services for all LAMC students. Please take advantage of this service. Tutors can help students with grammar, writing, research, and study skills. In order to expedite your accessing the computers and tutors available in the labs, I have referred all the students in this class to the Learning Center. You will receive an email through the student portal informing you of this referral. You are not required to use the tutors, but I suggest that you visit the labs and make use of the services, especially for the research project.
Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSP&S), in Room 1018 of the Instructional Building at LAMC, is a support system that enables students to fully participate in the college's regular programs and activities. We provide a variety of services from academic and vocational support to assistance with Financial Aid. All services are individualized according to specific needs. They do not replace regular programs but, rather, accommodate students' special requirements. The program is dedicated to meeting the educational, occupational and personal needs of disabled individuals.
DSP&S offers a one-unit course (Learning Skills 40) for students who may have a learning disability. Students are referred to a counselor or the learing disability specialist prior to enrolling in the course. Referrals commonly come from college staff/faculty and/or from the student him or herself.
