Syllabus 0306 - 0307  Reading Lecture

Semester: Fall 2006
Course:  Developmental Studies 0306/0307 (reading) (non-credit course)

Course Description:  The DEVL 0306 course emphasizes reading skills and concentrates on vocabulary, comprehension, and reading rate.  The DEVL 0307 course emphasizes higher level comprehension skills, including inference and analytical reading skills, listening and study skills, and secondary vocabulary.

Instructor:   Ms. Wanda Mayes     Office LRC, Rm.237, Phone (903) 675-6355.  email address wmayes@tvcc.edu.  Office Hours will be posted beside my office door.

Textbook:  Langan. John.  Ten Steps To Improving College Reading Skills.  Marlton, NJ:  Townsend Press FOURTH Edition. 

Major Learning Outcomes: 
Upon the completion of Devl 0306, the student will be able to demonstrate:
 1.      Competence in vocabulary skills including context clues, unfamiliar and uncommon words and phrases, and figurative expressions.
 2.      Competence in understanding the main idea and supporting details including identifying stated and implied main ideas and distinguishing between major and minor details.
 3.      Competence in identifying a writer's purpose and point of view including stated or implied purpose for writing, audience, and using the content, word choice, and method of development of a passage to determine purpose.
 4.      Competence in reading comprehension and rate demonstrated by an improved reading level and an increased rate.

Upon the completion of Devl 0307, the student will be able to demonstrate:
 1.      Competency in vocabulary, main idea and purpose skills emphasized in Devl 0306.
2.  Competence in analyzing relationships among ideas including sequence, cause/effect, ideas in opposition, and drawing conclusions or inferences from passages.

 3.      Competence in using critical reasoning skills including stated or implied assumptions, validity of a writer's argument, judging relevance of facts, analogies, fact/opinion, and objectivity of written material.
 4.      Competence in study skills including organizing and summarizing for study purposes, following written instructions or directions, and interpreting information in charts, graphs, or tables.

 

Placement and Completion Requirements:  The following outlines the developmental courses a student must take based on official THEA or quick-THEA scores in reading:

          Reading Test Scores                        Required Developmental Courses
          230 or over                                        None
          185-229                                             DEVL 0307 and DEVL 0108
Below 185                                          DEVL 0306 and DEVL 0107

Students are placed in developmental courses based on initial THEA or approved alternative test scores.  Students must then complete the specified developmental course sequence or present passing THEA scores.

Advancement: Successful completion of 0306 LEVEL course with a grade of A, B, or C allows the student to move to the next course.  A grade of IP (In Progress) requires the student to re-enroll for the same class the following semester. LEVEL 0307 requires passing grades of A,B,C, or D to pass the course and remove the blocks from other courses.
       
      Methods of Evaluation:  Students receive one course grade at the end of the semester.  The course grade is a combination of the lecture grade (60%) and the lab grade (40%). 

          TVCC’s grading scale is the following:
          A =  90 - 100
          B =  80 - 89
          C =  70 - 79
          D =  60 - 69 
          F =  59 or below  Developmental students may be given an F.

Students in developmental reading will be given an opportunity to take a post-test (reading section of the pre-TASP) to evaluate progress in the course.  The following post-test scores should be used as a guideline to determine advancement in reading:
                   Exit level I  (0306)   score 10
                   Exit level II (0307)   score 15
                  
The grade on the exam is not the only factor in determining whether a student passes or fails the course.  The final grade is assigned by the lecture instructor based on daily performance and grades as well as the final exam.
 
Students may choose to work at their own pace and receive an "IP" (in progress).  However, students who are not attempting to complete work may receive a failing grade.

Lab:  Students must spend 2 hours per week in the lab.  Students will receive a grade based on the number of lessons successfully completed. 

Attendance Requirements:  Attendance requirements in developmental courses at TVCC have been established to encourage students to take advantage of the instructional opportunities provided.  Upon accumulating 9 hours of absences in a 3 hour course, 6 hours of absences in a 2 hour course, or 3  absences in a Night course, the instructor may withdraw the student from the course.  If the student is in the course based on THEA requirements and if this is the only developmental course in which the student is enrolled, the student will be withdrawn from the college by the appropriate administrative officer. 

Students will be withdrawn from developmental classes for non-attendance until the official drop date specified in the college catalog.  After this date, the student will receive the grade earned in the course.

Absences are counted from the day the student is enrolled. If you arrive late, you may be counted absent.  It is the student's responsibility to stay after class that day and have the absence removed.  It will not be removed at a later date.

Work will not be accepted after I have returned that assignment to the class.  Be sure to turn your work in on time.
 
 
Early Exit:  Students who present passing THEA scores in any skills area during the semester may exit the corresponding course with the grade earned to that point in the semester, may continue the course to completion, or may choose to exit the course with a grade of IP.

 

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Withdrawal:  Students enrolled in developmental studies classes because of THEA scores will not be allowed to withdraw  unless withdrawing from school.  However, excessive absences in developmental classes may result in withdrawal from school.  You must be enrolled in at least one developmental course in order to stay in school. 

 

Student Discipline:

It is important that the learning environment for students be as positive as possible and free from distracting and disruptive influences.  Disruptive and disrespectful behavior in classes will not be tolerated.  In most instances, warning a student about inappropriate behavior will be sufficient to solve the problem.  However, should a student’s behavior warrant being expelled from a class, the following procedures will be followed.

  1. The instructor should request that the student leave the class.  Should the student refuse to comply with this request, the instructor may contact security and have the student removed.
  2. The instructor should inform the student that he/she must arrange a conference with the faculty member and the appropriate division chairperson and/or dean in order to be readmitted to the class.  The student should be counted absent on the day he/she is expelled from class, and absences will continue to accumulate until reinstatement occurs.  Whether these absences will be used to withdraw the student from college will be determined on an individual basis.

 

  1. The instructor should submit a written statement describing the incident to the appropriate division chairperson and/or dean.  This statement will be read and discussed with the student in the conference.

 

  1. If the instructor agrees to readmit the student, a “Notice of Concern” will be prepared which the student will sign.  This notice will inform the student that he/she will be permanently removed from the class should another incident occur. This would also mean the student would probably be withdrawn from the college.
  1. If the instructor is not willing for the student to be readmitted to the class, the matter will be referred to the Vice President for Student Services with a request that the matter be submitted to the Discipline Committee.

 

UNDERSTAND THAT NO TRANSFER OR GRADUATION CREDIT IS GIVEN FOR ANY DEVELOPMENTAL COURSE IN ANY STATE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.

NO CELL PHONES ALLOWED IN CLASS.
PLEASE DO NOT BRING CHILDREN OR VISITORS TO CLASS.