Course Description/Objectives:  

REA 1105 College Reading/Critical Analysis--This course is a college level reading course that emphasizes critical thinking/comprehension skills needed for success in college.  This course will focus on vocabulary, learning strategies, and higher order thinking skills.  This course covers CLAST reading competencies.  College preparatory reading students are not exempt from the reading portion of CLAST and must take REA 1105.

1. Increase vocabulary level.

2. Describe and apply reading techniques designed specifically for textbook and research reading,

3. Increase literal comprehension.

4. Increase critical comprehension skills,

5. Increase reading rate, and

6. Improve test-taking skills and memory techniques.

Course Topics

Many students in college level reading classes think that methods are the same for as in classes on learning how to read, with vocabulary drills, and reading of phrases and short sentences that progresses to reading paragraphs and articles.   However, in this class you will apply specific comprehension building techniques to a wide variety of reading selections that vary in difficulty.   You will find that the diverse topics in the text The Reading Edge by Ben E. Johnson make up the vehicle for improving reading comprehension.  The specific topics you will cover are:

Required Text

Bridging the Gap 8th Edition by Brenda D. Smith, ISBN: 0-321-27351-6.

Topics From The Restless 3rd Edition (Level 3 or  4)  Jamestown Publishers, ISBN 0-89061-118-1 or 0-89061-120-3. 

1100 Words You Need to Know  by Bromberg and Gordon, ISBN 0-7641-1365-8.

The textbook is available at FCCJ College Bookstore or various online sites. Students have been successful in purchasing the text online from these sites:

If you order online, be sure to confirm the title, edition and the ISBN number.     

A book of quotes (optional) or see Resources for quotations websites.

What You Need

On-line capabilities: You will need to have an Internet Service Provider (with the ability to access the World Wide Web (WWW) and an E-mail Address. Your course work will be easier if you have a browser such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer (usually provided by your ISP). In order to complete your on-line quizzes you must use Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer 4.01 or higher. 

Access to Course Material and Discussion Forums: I will give you access to the course materials.  Pursuant to Public Law 93-380, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, I will not furnish your e-mail address to your classmates without your permission. If you are not desirous of your classmates accessing your current email address, please arrange to have a separate email for this class and for the purpose of communicating with others in the class. 

You must complete the consent form for sharing the e-mail address you provide for this class.  Be careful when providing strangers with personal information about yourself.  

Assignments

Students must complete all assignments by the posted due dates.  Late assignments are not accepted.  The final grade will be based on the following criteria:           

 Grading Criteria:

Academic Dishonesty

To present someone else's work and/or ideas as your own is an academic violation. Such an act will result in a "0" on the assignment and handled in accordance with the appropriate FCCJ board rules.

Consultation

I will be happy to consult with you. Please feel free to e-mail me or call for an appointment, if necessary. I am generally able to respond to email within 48 hours.  However, I do not access email on weekends.  Please do not wait until the eleventh hour to try and contact me. I highly encourage post-speech conferences for improving your performance on future speeches.

Testing (On-Line Quizzes, Mid-term and Final exams)

Upon completion of content of designated chapters, you must access the on-line chapter quiz and submit your response. The timed on-line quizzes will become accessible after the designated lesson materials have been assigned/discussed on-line. Examinations may consist of multiple choice, true / false or fill-in-the-blank questions. If you miss an on-line quiz, it cannot be made-up regardless of the circumstance(s).  WARNING!! You are only allowed to take the quiz one time. Once you start an examination, you must complete it during the time allotted for that exam.   Be prepared to complete an exam once you start. Quizzes cannot be printed before taking them.  You will not be allowed to "retake" an exam once you’ve accessed it.

Important Note To All Students

Effective Fall Term 971 (August 26, 1996) the State has mandated changes concerning the College’s grading policy:

These changes apply to 971 students forward and only to courses taken 971 forward. 

Tuition Changes:

Section 47.Sectopm240.124, Florida Statues reads:  Funding for continuous enrollment in college credit courses.  Beginning fall semester, 1997, a student enrolled in the same undergraduate college credit course more than two times shall pay course fees at the non-Florida resident rate.  Previous attempts made prior to Fall term 1997 do not count.

Note       

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus as needed.