112a Reading: Syllabus

Schedule | Assignments | Tronclass

NEN10801 English Reading

Th 6:25-8:10, Rm R0402

Texts

  • The Giver, by Lois Lowry
  • Articles and short stories available through Tronclass

Class Objectives

The purpose of this class is to help students become comfortable reading intensively and extensively in English without relying on translation.  Students should be able to read in English as a primary means to gain knowledge as well as for personal pleasure. Students should become comfortable expressing personal ideas about how they read and the things they read orally and in writing.

  1. Improve fluency in reading (read rapidly with few pauses with improving comprehension)
  2. Increase skills for reading (understand purposes for reading and use appropriate strategies in particular reading situations).

After completing this course, students should be able to

  1. Speak in English comfortably about what you read.
  2. Read at length in English without using a dictionary (Extensive reading).
  3. Analyze difficult texts with the use of aids, such as dictionaries (Intensive reading).
  4. Consciously apply reading skills appropriate for a wide variety of texts and purposes.
  5. Format papers in English correctly and clearly.
  6. Write papers in English that clearly and accurately communicate personal ideas.

The Practice and Feature of Class

  1. Structure. The class is organized according to reading skills. Each week, you will read articles and short stories in English while focusing on particular reading skills and strategies.
  2. Group discussion. You will spend time discussing ideas about reading and ideas from your reading in small groups and with the whole class.
  3. Extensive Reading. You will spend time following one long story by reading a couple chapters each week from the youth novel, The Giver.
  4. Writing. Four short papers and a reading journal.
  5. Quizzes. Each class will begin with a short quiz related to the reading for that day.
  6. Exams. Midterm and final exams will cover the reading from the textbook The Giver, and reading skills and strategies.

Grading

  • 15%  Participation (class involvement and extensive reading)
  • 25%  Four Reading Responses
  • 10%  Quizzes (Weekly. The lowest quiz score will be deleted)
  • 25%  Midterm
  • 25%  Final exam
  • Semester grade is lowered 5 points for each week absent after 2 weeks.
  • Perfect attendance will raise your grade by 3 points.