Mr. Robison's
TEXTS/RESOURCES:
Steps to Reading Proficiency by Anne Phillips and Peter Sotiriou
Sudden Fiction edited by Robert Shapard and James Thomas
Online! A Reference Guide to Using Internet Sources by Andrew Harnack and
Eugene Kleppinger. (optional)
English 102 Web Site at http://128.171.229.150/wwwreading/102r/Spring2001/default.html
Web CT hardware/software (available via the Internet without charge if
you are a HawCC student; password and user name approval via the instructor; access via
English 102 web site )
INSTRUCTOR:
Birch Robison, Associate Professor of Reading
Office: HawCC Learning Center, Room 111, on UHH/HawCC joint campus
Phones: 974-7740 (office from outside line); X7740 (office from on-campus phone);
and 935-7991 (home)
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course will improve your overall ability to read faster and understand more and will help you to comprehend college level materials better. Diagnosis and treatment of individual reading and study skills weaknesses will be included. This particular section is taught online but will still cover the same objectives offered in a regular on-campus English 102 course. The study skills unit, however, will emphasize the additional study skills required for successful completion of distance learning courses.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Participation in online class activities and discussions is mandatory. You must communicate with your instructor and with your classmates by using the online software (WebCT) provided for this class AND you must also know what is happening with the class at all times. This means you need to use the 102 web site on a regular (almost daily) basis. All assignments and directions related to the reading activities for this course are available at this web site. Plus access to discussions with your teacher and classmates is available through the secured link called 102 Workspace. You may, of course, ask the teacher for clarification of assignments but do not ask questions like "What's happening this week?" or "I've been sick for a week, can you tell me what I am supposed to be doing?" If you are having trouble with your home computer, you need to find access to another computer quickly. This course is totally online via the World Wide Web and is designated as such in the HawCC Schedule of Classes; the instructor assumes you have adequate access to a computer and the Internet most of the time.
You are to keep a weekly journal of activities and submit the week's entry to your instructor by early Monday morning of the following week. For example, Week 5's entry must be completed by 8 a.m., Monday of Week 6. Be sure to follow directions for writing the weekly journal via a link at the 102 web site; in addition, the instructor will post items that must be discussed and or attachments that must accompany each particular journal entry.
You are to make an attempt to improve your reading skills by completing a series of Distance Reading Lab assignments which include vocabulary learning, computer speed reading, analogies exercises, and using the Internet as a research tool. If you wish and can come on to the HawCC campus, you may complete some of these activities in the Reading Lab of The Learning Center, which is located on the bottom floor of the library. Some programs may also be available at the Kona site. How you complete these activities can be discussed within the framework of your weekly journal to your instructor.
You are to take one major test and ten quizzes in accordance to the schedule of weekly activities. All will be open-book but must be completed within a certain time frame. The tests and quizzes will cover textbook and short story assignments and related required reading from online sources..
You are to write a thought-provoking paper concerning the short stories read and discussed during the literature unit.
You are to collaborate with a group of class members in a major problem solving activity. You will be expected to utilize study and research skills, and appropriate reading techniques . Your group is required to develop a web presentation based on this research into an assigned topic.
GRADING:
Your grade will be determined by what you earn for the following requirements:
Each of the above is worth 1/7 of your final grade. If a grade is figured on points, e.g, the weekly journal, the following percentage is used: 90% or above = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% = C; 60-69% = D; below 60 % = F.
Your final grade will be an average of the grades earned for all requirements. For example, if you received the following grades (and points*):
you would earn a final grade of B minus (based on an average of 7 and 3/7 points). If you want to know your progress through the course, you should keep a record of your grades for the seven requirements. Your progress is available to you throughout the semester via links at the 102 web site (Click 102 Workspace and How Am I Doing?)
*The points are determined on a 12-point scale with A+ being 12, A being 11, A- being 10, B+ being 9, and on down to D- being 1 and F being 0.