Reading for Success

DRDG-0V92 – 0U1
Summer 2008

Instructor: Thomasina Hickmann

Email: hickmann@utdallas.edu
Phone: (972)883-6707
Office: MC2.406

Class Times and Location: Monday and Wednesday from 9:00-10:45 in MC2.408

Office Hours: Wednesday from 3:00-4:00

Required Textbooks: Reading Skills for College Students, 7th ed. by Ophelia Hancock

Expanding Horizons, 1st ed. by Susan Thurman

Course Description: ( 2 semester hours) A reading course that offers students the
opportunity to develop proficiency in reading comprehension, vocabulary development,
critical reasoning, study skills, and other reading skills necessary for success in academic
and career advancement. The course emphasizes learning how to learn and includes
reading/learning experiences designed to strengthen the total educational background of
each student. This developmental course cannot be used for degree credit.

Course Objectives: Students will:

1. Expand vocabulary skills

2. Understand the main idea and supporting details in written material
3. Identify a writer’s purpose, point of view, and intended meaning
4. Analyze the relationship among ideas in written material
5. Use critical reasoning skills to evaluate written material
6. Apply study skills to reading assignments
7. Develop the relevant skills necessary to perform satisfactorily on the THEA exam

NOTE: Please be advised that this syllabus is subject to change.

Attendance and Participation Policy

Prompt and regular attendance is expected of every student. If your enrollment at the
University of Texas at Dallas depends upon your attendance in this class, your attendance
is mandatory, as stated in the contract you have signed. There are no excused absences.
In case of an emergency absence, you must make up any missed work within one week.
This arrangement is subject to your providing official documentation that explains the
nature of the emergency, such as a letter from a doctor in the case of a medical issue or a
funeral program/announcement in the case of a family death. Without the proper
documentation, your absence will jeopardize your enrollment at the university.

If you are consistently late to class, this will negatively affect your attendance record
and also jeopardize your enrollment at the university.

If you pass the THEA and no longer choose to attend the class, you must consult
with me immediately to find out what your options are. For example, you may be
obliged to continue attending the class in order to maintain your enrollment status at the
university.

For those students who are NOT subject to the university’s THEA policy: You are
responsible for all work missed due to an absence from class. Your final grade, however,
may be lowered after three unexcused absences. If you choose not to attend class once
you are enrolled, you must withdraw from the course to avoid receiving a final grade of
“F.” The deadlines for withdrawal are published in each semester's course catalog.

NOTE: Depending on your skill level, you may need more than one semester of
developmental coursework to pass the relevant portion of the THEA.

Course Requirements and Grade Evaluation

Your final grade for the course will be based on the following:

Assigned Exercises = 25%

Exam 1 = 20%

Exam 2 = 20%

Oral Presentation = 10%

Reading Journal = 25%

 Grading Scale

A+ 97-100 C 73-76

A 93-96 C- 70-72

A- 90-92 D+ 67-69

B+ 87-89 D 63-66

B 83-86 D- 60-62

B- 80-82 F 0-59

C+ 77-79

Assignments

To prepare for class, complete the readings and the relevant exercises before the date on
which the material has been assigned for class discussion. Written exercises will be
assigned throughout the semester.

Presentations

Working in pairs or alone, students will write a short presentation that will incorporate an
assigned set of words related to a specific academic discipline.

Reading Journals

Your journal will be made up of written responses to the readings that I have assigned for
the latter part of the semester. These response papers should be typed, double spaced,
have one inch margins, and use 12 point Times New Roman font. Each of these papers
should be turned in at the end of class on the day we discuss the relevant text.

Exams

The exams will serve as useful preparation for the reading portion of the THEA test and
for the kind of academic assignments that you will be given in college.

You cannot make up a missed exam except in the case of an emergency absence that
is officially documented. See the attendance policy on the previous page.
Helpful Online Resources: For information about writing assignments, grammar, and
mechanics, go to

owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/index2.html or www.drgrammar.org

For information about specific words, see the Merriman-Webster Dictionary at

www.m-w.com or go to www.wordsmyth.com or www.visuwords.com

Student Conduct and Discipline: The University of Texas System and The University
of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their
business. It is the responsibility of each student and each student organization to be
knowledgeable about the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and
activities. General information on student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD
publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic
year. The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the
procedures of recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and
described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas
System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and
Activities of the university's Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules
and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff
members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU
1.602, 972/883-6391).

Email Use: The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of
communication between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same
time, email raises some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual in
an email exchange. The university encourages all official student email correspondence
be sent only to a student's U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty and staff consider
email from students official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows
the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of each individual
corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each
student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with
university personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a
method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts.

Academic Integrity: The university expects all students to maintain a high level of
responsibility with respect to academic honesty. Because the value of an academic degree
depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is
imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her
scholastic work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related
to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one's
own work or material that is not one's own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty
involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying
academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary
proceedings.

SECTION 49.36 SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY

(d) Cheating includes, but is not limited to
(1) copying from another student's test paper, laboratory report, other report, or
computer files, data listings, and/or programs or engaging in conduct that facilitates such
conduct by another student.
(2) using during a test, materials not authorized by the person giving the test;
(3) failing to comply with instructions given by the person administering the test which
would include, but not be limited to, time restrictions, use of blue book, seating
arrangements;
(4) collaborating with or seeking aid from or giving aid to another student during a test;
(5) knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or in
part the contents of an unadministered test, test key, homework solutions, or computer
program;
(6) substituting for another student, or permitting another person to substitute for
oneself, to take a test;
(7) soliciting another person to obtain an unadministered test or information about an
unadministered test;
(8) discussing the contents of an examination with another student who will take the
examination;
(9) possession during a test of materials that are not authorized by the person giving the
test, such as class notes or specifically designed "crib notes." The presence of textbooks
constitutes a violation only if they have been specifically prohibited by the person
administering the test.
(10) submission of substantial portions of the same academic work for credit (including
oral reports) more than once without written authorization from the instructor.
(e) Plagiarism means the appropriation, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining
by any means another's work and the submission or incorporation of that work in one's
own written work offered for credit without appropriate attribution.
(f) Collusion means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing
academic assignments offered for credit.
(g) Falsifying academic records means the altering of grades or other falsification
(statements, acts or omissions) of academic records including but not limited to the
application for admission, grade reports, test papers, registration materials, and reporting
forms used by the registrar's office or other university offices.
(h) Falsifying data or experiments includes, but is not limited to, the submission of
false findings and/or the citation of false references in research or other assignments
submitted for credit and/or for the awarding of a degree.
Disability Services: The University of Texas at Dallas is on record as being committed
to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law
92-112 - The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of new federal
legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same
opportunities enjoyed by all citizens.

As a faculty member, I am required by law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to

students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Student
responsibility primarily rests with informing faculty of their need for accommodation and
in providing authorized documentation through designated administrative channels.
Information regarding specific diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining academic
accommodations can be found at: www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/hcsvc.html. Please visit
the office of Disability Services in Student Union (1.610) or call at 972.883.2098 to
obtain proper paperwork for this class.

Religious Holy Days: The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class
or other required activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a
religion whose places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax
Code, Texas Code Annotated. The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or
activity sponsor
as soon as possible regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The
student, so excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a
reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a
maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed
exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student who fails to
complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing
grade for that exam or assignment.
 CLASS SCHEDULE

All assignments due between 6/02 and 7/02 refer to your Reading Skills book.

Week 1 – 5/28 Introduction to the course

Week 2 – 6/02-6/04 Monday: Discussion of Chapter 2

Assigned exercises on pp. 34-39

Wednesday: Discussion of Chapter 4

Assigned exercises on pp. 74-76

Week 3 – 6/09-6/11 Monday: Discussion of Chapter 5

Assigned exercises on pp. 91-100

Wednesday: Discussion of Chapter 6

Assigned exercises on pp. 112-118

Week 4 – 6/16-6/18 Monday: Discussion of Chapter 7

Assigned exercises on pp. 128-130

Wednesday: Discussion of Chapter 8

Assigned exercises on pp. 140-146

Week 5 – 6/23-6/25 Monday: Discussion of Chapter 9

Assigned exercises on pp. 157-162

Wednesday: Discussion of Chapter 10

Assigned exercises on pp. 165-170

Week 6 – 6/30-7/02 Monday: Discussion of Chapter 11

Assigned exercises on pp. 203-208

Wednesday: Discussion of Chapter 12

Assigned exercises on pp. 225-231

Week 7 – 7/07-7/09 Monday: Oral Presentations

Exam Review

Exam 1 – Wednesday, July 9th

Week 8 – 7/14-7/16 Monday: Discussion of Colwin’s “Repulsive Dinners: A
Memoir” in Expanding Horizons on pp.77-85
Assigned exercises on p. 83

Wednesday: Reaction paper due - Respond to question 4 on

p. 84 or question 1, 2, or 3 on p. 85.

Week 9 – 7/21-7/23 Monday: Discussion of “Desert Island” in Expanding

Horizons on p.170
Reaction paper due - Respond to questions 1-5 on p. 170

Wednesday: Discussion of “How to Eat a Poem” in

Expanding Horizons on p. 92
Reaction paper due - Respond to questions 1-3 on p. 92.

Week 10 – 7/28-7/30 Monday: Discussion of Bok’s “White Lies” in Expanding

Horizons on pp. 217-23
Assigned exercises on p. 221
Reaction paper due - Respond to question 2 on p. 222.

Wednesday: Exam Review

Week 11 – 8/04 Exam 2 – Monday, August 4th