Bainbridge College, Fall 2005
RGTR 0198: Regents' Reading Skills (21028)

Dr. Tonya Strickland

Class Time & Room

R 4-5:25 p.m. Room 628

Office Hours:

M-F 8-5

Website:

http://fsweb.bainbridge.edu/tstrickland/

Email:

tstrickland@bainbridge.edu

Phone:

229-248-2569 (office), 229-248-8552 (home)

Fax:

229-248-2555

 

Course Description

The Regents' Reading Skills course is intended to ensure that all graduates of USG institutions possess certain minimum skills in reading comprehension. Students work on improving their comprehension of material drawn from a variety of subject areas (social science, natural science and humanities) with various modes of discourse (exposition, narration and argumentation). Critical thinking and the following four major aspects of reading are emphasized: vocabulary in context, inferential and literal comprehension, and analysis. (Institutional credit only) This class will be enhanced with WebCT Vista.

  • Students enrolled in a Regents' course must pass the corresponding Regents' Test in order to receive a passing grade for the course.
  • Students not passing the course receive a "U" and must repeat the course until they pass. Those passing receive a grade of "S."
  • Students must be passing the Regents' Reading Skills class with at least a 75% average in order to be allowed to take the Regents' Reading Test.
  • Students in programs leading to the baccalaureate degree are expected to have satisfied the Regents' Reading Skills Requirements by the time they complete 45 college-level semester credit hours. Students satisfy the requirements by passing Regents' Reading Skills (RGTR 0198) or by exemption. (College-level credit hours include all credit with the exception of institutional credit.)
  • These requirements apply regardless of whether the student has taken or passed any other courses, including English courses, or completed any other institutional requirements.
  • Students who have earned 45 college level credit hours and who have not satisfied the requirements will be required to register for the appropriate course(s) the next semester enrolled.
  • Students who perform well in RGTR 0198 but continue to fail the corresponding Regents' Test may have test anxiety that interferes with their test performance. A student may be given extended time if he or she has been enrolled in RGTR 0198 at least twice, and there is evidence that the student has the skills required for passing the corresponding Regents' Test but is unable to display the skills during a regular timed test administration.
  • Students may exempt RGTR 0198 by scoring at or above specified scores on the following examinations:

    Regents' Reading Test exemption score: 61
    SAT-I Verbal exemption score: 510
    ACT Reading exemption score: 23
    (SAT or ACT scores must be from a national administration. Scores from institutional SAT or residual ACT tests will not be acceptable for this purpose.)

Course Objectives

In this course you will

  • identify and correct your own reading deficiencies,
  • improve your comprehension skills,
  • increase your vocabulary,
  • learn how to synthesize, analyze, and evaluate printed material.

Course Outcomes

  • Given unknown words in a reading passage, you will use context clues to identify the correct meaning of the words.
  • Given a reading passage, you will identify the correct supporting details in the passage.
  • Given a reading passage, you will choose the topic and main idea of the passage.
  • Given a reading passage, you will recognize the clues in the passage and choose the correct inference made by the author.
  • Given a reading passage, you will identify the author's purpose in writing the passage.
  • Given a reading passage, you will identify the correct tone/mood/attitude used by the author toward the subject of the passage.
  • Given a series of sentences, you will identify and interpret the sentence that contains figurative language.


Texts/Supplies

10 Steps to Advancing College Reading Skills
John Langan
ISBN: 1-59194-023-0

Online Account at Townsend Press Online Exercises
http://www.townsendpress.com and click on ONLINE EXERCISES


Class Policies

  • ATTENDANCE: You are expected to “attend” this web-enhanced class by logging in at least twice each a week and completing ALL work for each week by 4 p.m. Thursday. In addition, you must come to the group session on Thursdays at 4 p.m. or arrange another time with me to take and review pen and paper tests. You must take each test in the week it is assigned.
  • WEEKLY WORK: Each week you will complete the following work: 1) Watch and listen to a PowerPoint show in Vista and email me about it; 2) Complete all Practice Exercises for the chapter and check them using the answer key in the back of the book; 3) Complete all Review Exercises in the book AND enter your answers for REVIEW 4 in the online quiz in Vista—score and read feedback; 4) Read the assigned Reading Selection and enter your answers into the online quiz in Vista—score and read feedback.
  • REGENTS’ TEST: You must have a passing average in the class in order to take the Regents’ Test, and you must pass the Regents’ Test in order to pass the course.
  • PROGRESS: Because you are responsible for your performance and progress in this class, please to talk with me if you experience difficulties. Also, please note that this course will require about 6-8 hours a week of preparation.
  • LATE WORK: Except for unusual circumstances, late work will be penalized.
  • ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Your work must be your own. Cheating and plagiarism are handled according to the procedures outlined in your Student Handbook. If you cheat, you may be failed in this class and prevented from taking the Regents’ Test.
  • ADA STATEMENT: The college is committed to providing accessibility to all students in accordance to ADA/504 guidelines. Students should contact Student Services regarding accessibility.
  • WITHDRAWAL: Students required to take RGTR 0198 may not withdraw from it and keep other classes.



The Academic Resource Center

Open Hours (FREE tutors available)
Monday-Thursday: 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday: 7:30 a.m. - noon

Points for Grading

Weekly Practice Regents’ Tests (paper and pen) (5 @ 30 points; 4 @ 50 points each)

350 points possible

Weekly Reading Selection Quizzes (9 @ 40 points each)

360 points possible

Chapter Review Readings (Review No. 4 for each chapter; 9 @ 20 points each)

200 points possible

Learning Log Emails (10 @ 10 points each)

100 points possible

Total

1000 points possible

 

 

 

Grading Scale

S

750-1000 points; all exercises completed AND passing score on Regents' Reading Test

U*

0-749 points OR nonpassing score on Regents' Reading Test

I

An incomplete grade is available for nonacademic reasons only and only when the student's request is made before grades are due. An I must be completed during the next semester, or it becomes an F. (Students may petition for one additional semester.) Students may not re-register for the class.

 

*Student must retake RGTR 0198.


Please note that students are responsible for any changes to the syllabus and schedule.