Lart 110, reading development, Course Syllabus

Course Prefix, Number, Title, Credit Hours: LART 110, Reading Development, 3

Dakota State University
Summer 2009

Course Meeting Time and Location: Internet

Instructor’s Contact Information:

Approved Course Description:  LART 110: Reading provides students with reading strategies to increase vocabulary, improve reading comprehension skills, and raise reading rates, as well as study strategies needed for successful college performance. 
 

Prerequisites: None
  

Instructional Materials: The student must have the following materials to complete the course:

• The textbook – Active Reading Skills by Kathleen T. McWhorter with online access to MyReadingLab.
• A computer with online access – All students must have an operating tablet or laptop computer with reliable Internet connection.

Course Goals and Objectives:  Students will 

·  Learn to apply course material (to improve thinking, problem solving, and decisions)

·  Learn how to find and use resources for answering questions or solving problems

·  Learn to analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view

·  Acquire an interest in learning more by asking questions and seeking answers

Instructional Methodologies: The course will focus primarily on individualized instruction and active learning because the only way to improve your reading is to practice.
  

Additional Course Information: 
Policies and Procedures

ADA Statement:  If you have a documented disability and/or anticipate needing accommodations (e.g., non-standard note taking, test modifications) in this course, please arrange to meet with the instructor. Also, please contact Dakota State University’s ADA coordinator, Keith Bundy in the Student Development Office located in the Trojan Center Underground or at 256-5121, as soon as possible. The DSU website containing additional information, along with the form to request accommodations is http://www.departments.dsu.edu/disability_services/. You will need to provide documentation of your disability. The ADA coordinator must confirm the need for accommodations before officially authorizing them.

Academic Honesty:  Cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty run contrary to the purpose of higher education and will not be tolerated in this course. Academic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to) plagiarism, the submission of written work that includes the words or ideas of another without citing or attributing them to their author; copying answers or work done by another student; use of notes or other aids during an exam; and allowing another student to copy from you whether to complete an assignment or a quiz or test. The first time a student is found cheating or attempting to cheat on a quiz, test, or assignment, he or she will receive a zero for the quiz. The next time a student is found cheating or attempting to cheat, he or she will receive a zero and the instructor will report the incident to the DSU Academic Integrity Board. For a complete description of what that entails, you may read the information at: http://www.departments.dsu.edu/hr/newsite/policies/040500.htm.

Freedom in Learning Statement:  Students are responsible for learning the content of any course of study in which they are enrolled. Under Board of Regents and University policy, student academic performance shall be evaluated solely on an academic basis and students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study.  It has always been the policy of Dakota State University to allow students to appeal the decisions of faculty, administrative, and staff members and the decisions of institutional committees.  Students who believe that an academic evaluation is unrelated to academic standards but is related instead to judgment of their personal opinion or conduct outside of the class should contact the dean of the college which offers the class to initiate a review of the evaluation.

Tentative Course Outline: 
A detailed schedule will be provided on the Desire2Learn course page; however, the following topics/assignments will be required.           

·         Week 1—Offering Introductions/Diagnostic Pre-Test/Unit 1 – Active Reading Skills

·         Week 2—Establishing Goals/ Unit 2 - Vocabulary

·         Week 3—Determining Outside Reading Materials / Unit 3 – Locating Main Ideas & Unit 4 – Identifying Supporting Details

·         Week 4 —Evaluating Learning Strategies/ Unit 4 – Understanding Implied Main Ideas

·         Week 5—Determining Reading Rate / Unit 5 – Understanding Inferences & Author's Purpose

·         Week 6— Self-Assessment / Unit 6 – Keeping Track of Information

Students should plan to work at or beyond the pace outlined above; in other words, students may work ahead, but they should not fall behind. Once a student satisfactorily completes all coursework, he or she may schedule a testing time with the proctor. 
 

Evaluation Procedures: 

This course is graded “S” (satisfactory) or “U” (unsatisfactory). To receive an S, students must earn a passing score on a comprehensive reading examination. In order to be eligible to take the exam, a student must complete mandatory coursework and earn a minimum 70% average. Students who do not complete the mandatory coursework or who earn 69% or lower course average will be ineligible to take the reading examination and will receive an automatic U. A proctor must administer the exam.

Instructor Response:

Many assignments will be automatically graded. If a problem arises with the automatic grading, the student should contact the instructor. Those assignments that require instructor response will be evaluated no longer than 1 week after being submitted. If a student has not received a score in 1 week, he or she should contact the instructor. Students can expect a reply within a 24-hour period during the work week.

Final Comments: I reserve the right to make necessary changes throughout the course to better meet students' needs.