Department of Reading, Education and Foreign Languages              1801 Martin Luther King

St. Philip's College                              531-3234                                San Antonio, Texas 78203

COURSE SYLLABUS:    READING 0303 Internet Course Reading Improvement and Study Skills

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OVERVIEW:

Prerequisite: Reading 0302 with a grade of C, or a 10.6 grade reading level as indicated on an appropriate test.

Reading 0303 builds college-level vocabulary and stresses comprehension of written material.  Strong emphasis is placed on study skills and strategies for content-area texts.  Note-taking, outlining, summarizing, and Internet skills will be components of the course.  Reading lab supplements class instruction.

In order to be successful in this class, you should expect to spend at least 10-15 hours per week reading and preparing assignments on the computer.  You must check your e-mail at least twice per week in order to receive your grade reports and any other important messages from the instructor.

Course requirements must be completed in order to receive a passing grade in the class even if the THEA (formerly known as TASP) test is passed.      

To successfully pass this course, two out of three of the following items must be completed:

1. Completion of all Lab Work with a grade of 75% or higher

2. Completion of all Mastery Tests with a grade of 75% or higher

3. A grade of 70% or higher on the Final Exam

If two of these items are not completed, a grade of "IP" (In Progress) is usually given and re-enrollment in this course is necessary.

PLACEMENT:

Students are placed in Reading classes according to entrance scores made on appropriate placement tests.
Reading remediation is required for those students whose THEA (formerly known as TASP) test or placement tests indicate a need.  Passing the THEA test is one of the many goals of Reading courses.  Course requirements must also be completed in order to receive a passing grade even if the THEA test is passed.

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:

This class will be taught online, on the WebCT platform, accessed through PALS (Personalized Access to Learning and Services) using the same textbooks, course content and objectives as a Reading 0303 class taught on campus.  Each week, a page will be provided online for the students explaining all activities and assignments for the week.  To provide for interaction, students will also be required to participate in an online discussion.  Some class activities will be completed on the textbook Web site. The instructor is available to answer questions via e-mail, telephone, or prearranged meeting on campus. For further information about Internet courses at St. Philip's College, please see the site for the St. Philip's Center for Distance Learning.

SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS:

All assignments, except lab assignments and My Skills Lab Assignments, must be submitted online, to my mailbox on WebCT.   I will not accept any assignments walked in or faxed to the office.

REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS:

• Text: The Master Reader, Updated Edition, by D.J. Henry 2005.

• Vocabulary book: Advancing Vocabulary Skills, 3rd ed., by Nist and Mohr, 2002.

• Text: The Best Short Stories, Advanced Level. by Harris. 

• American Heritage Dictionary (paperback)

• Usual school supplies: pen, paper, pencils, notebook, folder, loose leaf paper, spiral as needed.

• Access to a computer which is connected to the Internet.

COURSE CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to exhibit knowledge of the following skills and competencies on or above college level, as measured by quizzes, tests, homework and lab work:

1. Vocabulary skills: using prefixes, suffixes, and roots; using context clues; using the dictionary.

2. Comprehension skills: recognizing main ideas and supporting details; understanding transitions and patterns of organization.

3. Critical thinking skills: making inferences, interpreting the author's purpose and authority

4. Study skills: time management, outlining, summarizing, test-taking techniques, interpreting graphic aids.

5. Efficient reading techniques

6. Internet research skills