Course Syllabus

Teacher: James R. Hunt

email: hitjameshunt@gmail.com
Academic Reading 1

1. What is the course about?

1.1 Description
This course makes use of aspects found in the CLEAR educational research project at
Toyo University. The philosophy of CLEAR emphasizes student-centered
communication in English, encourages collaboration in learning, task-based projects,
life-long learning, autonomy and empowerment.

This course is the first part of a two-quarter Academic Reading skills course. It includes
assigned and student-selected reading materials. Following the textbook, each lesson
we will study academic reading materials written for native English speakers that have
not been altered from their original sources. This is to prepare you for the types of
materials you will encounter when studying abroad. Activities based on these articles
emphasize vocabulary development, reading skills and strategies, and discussion. The
skills and strategies covered in this quarter are: understanding vocabulary in context,
finding main ideas, using the dictionary, finding supporting details, the vocabulary of
numbers, and understanding graphs and charts. Vocabulary development will focus on:
word families, words in context, and synonyms.

After each reading there is a Connections Research task (see Assessment Task 1) through
which students will develop their higher order thinking skills and critical thinking
faculties by further researching the topic of the reading and reporting on their findings.

Outside of class, students will be doing extensive reading of simplified (easy to

understand), self-selected texts (called graded readers). They will complete
comprehension tests on the books they read, and produce three book reports
throughout the quarter.

In real life, language skills are rarely used in isolation, and for this reason this course
will contain listening, speaking, vocabulary development, and writing activities in
addition to the reading focus.

1.2 Content
to learn and practice various reading strategies and skills

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 to learn new vocabulary
to think critically about what has been read
to engage students in guided academic discussions of readings
to review and check the specific skills learned in the textbook
to extend knowledge and stimulate interest in the topic by doing outside research
to report research findings to small groups, and to discuss those findings
to read extensively outside of class so as to become a confident and fluent reader

2. How does this course contribute to my learning?

Specific Learning Outcomes Assessment Tasks Graduate Qualities

On successful completion of this You will be assessed on the Completing these tasks
course you should be able to: learning outcome in tasks: successfully will contribute to you
becoming

Communication in small groups 1, 2 and 3 engaged, creative and analytical,

about reading and research empowered, knowledgeable

Develop independent reading 1, 3, 4 and 5 engaged, knowledgeable,

skills outside the classroom empowered

Take advantage of learning 5 empowered

technologies

Engage actively in learning while 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 knowledgable and creative,

gaining knowledge and analytical, empowered, creative
understanding from familiarity

Develop critical thinking skills 1, 3, 4 and 5 creative and analytical,

and autonomy through empowered
experiential learning

Collaboration in small groups for 1, 2, and 3 engaged, empowered,

a shared goal knowledge

3. How am I going to be assessed?

3.1 Grading Scale

S (outstanding), A (noteworthy), B (good), C (passing), D (fail), F or/ (insufficient for
consideration).

Note: A minimum of 15,000 words read must be logged on MReader (see Assessment
Task 5) for eligibility to be considered for a passing grade in this course. Any students
not meeting this minimum requirements will receive a / grade, indicating failure of
the course due to insufficient participation.

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3.2 Attendance Policy
Any student who is absent 2 classes during the quarter for any reason other than illness
confirmed by a medical practitioner will receive a / grade, indicating failure of the
course due to insufficient participation. Three late arrivals to class will be considered
one absence. Arriving 15 minutes after class begins or later will be treated as an absence.
Participation may be included in some task assessment criteria, however attendance
will NOT be a factor in determining the final grade.

3.3 Assessment tasks

Task Assessment Individual or % of Course Length or When to Where to
Number Tasks Group Grade Duration submit submit

1 Connections Individual 24% Varies Lessons 3, In class

research depending 4, 5, 6, 8, 9,
on task 10, 11, 13,
14, 15, 16

2 Connections Individual 6% 5 minute Lesson 6, In class

Presentations presentation 11, 16
and Discussions

3 ER book reports Individual 15% 1 page Lesson 6, In class

report and 5 11, 16
minute
presentation

4 Vocabulary Individual 25% 10 words/ Lessons In class

notebooks week with 2-16
English
definition
and example
sentence

5 GINOS Individual 30% Minimum of Ongoing Online (M-

Extensive 15,000 Reader)
Reading words

Assessment Task 1: Connections Research

Goal: To enable students to develop their critical thinking and higher order thinking skills by making
connections between the readings in the texts and the real world.

Product: Short written accounts of their research findings. Length and format varies by task. Short
presentations of their research findings. Format varies by task. Sources of information must be
provided (must use English language sources).

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Format: Students will be asked to conduct some further research, in English, connected with the reading,
and to summarize their findings in some form.

You should demonstrate competence in the following skills:

1. The ability to research a topic.
2. The ability to summarize your findings.
3. The ability to present your research in a clear and accessible manner.

Criteria: 1. The task will be completed outside of class.

2. Sources of information must be provided (url, book title and page number etc).
3. All work will be printed out and handed to the teacher in class and on time.

Core Skills Applying technologies, Organization, Information literacy, Communication

Assessed:

Assessment Task 2: Connections Presentations

Goal: For students to critically assess their work from Task 1, and to select one piece of research to
share with the class. Students are to present their research findings clearly and to lead a
discussion on the topic.

Product: A short presentation of their research (5 minutes) followed by discussion.

Format: In small groups students will take turns to talk about their research findings while the audience
listens and asks questions. The presenters will have several discussion questions prepared and
use them to lead a small group discussion of the topic.

You should demonstrate competence in the following skills:

1. Speaking confidently and knowledgeably on a topic.
2. The ability to present your research in a clear and accessible manner.
3. The ability to lead a discussion.
4. The ability to listen carefully to fellow student presentations and to actively participate in
discussions.

Criteria: 1. Content of the presentation showing evidence of independent research.

2. Sources of information must be provided (url, book title and page number etc).
3. If the topic requires photos, images, or diagrams these will need to be printed out.

Skills Assessed: Applying technologies, Organization, Information literacy, Communication

Assessment Task 3: ER Book Reports

Goal: To record and reflect upon extensive reading done outside of the classroom. To find connections
between the text, the reader, the world, and other texts.

Product: Complete a one page book report handout. Answer all questions fully.

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Format: Students should be reading extensively outside of class as part of Task 5 (GINOS Extensive
Reading). To demonstrate completion of and understanding/contemplation of a book, students
will complete a book report handout which also requires them to consider the contents of the
reading and to make connections between it and themselves, the world or to another text. There
will be three handouts to complete, one each for personal, world and text connections. Each
handout will be shared in small presentation and discussion groups in lessons 6, 11 and 16.
Students are required to read a minimum of 15,000 words per quarter for a passing grade, and
are expected to read a lot more (at least a book a week is recommended). They must complete a
handout for a book completed during the previous two weeks.

You should demonstrate competence in the following skills:

1. Progressive reading habits of materials outside of the classroom.
2. The ability to summarize what you have read.
3. The ability to reflect upon what you have read and to make connections between the text and
yourself, the world or another text.
4. The ability to share your thoughts and participate in an active discussion of your readings
(ER).

Criteria: 1. The assignment will be completed outside of class.

2. All questions have been answered fully.
3. Students have connected the text to themselves, the world or another text.
4. Students are able to summarize the story and explain their connections to small groups
without reading a script.
5. If the presentation requires photos, images, or diagrams these will need to be printed out.

Skills Assessed: Information Literacy, Organization, Communication

Assessment Task 4: Vocabulary Notebooks/Notecards

Goal: To better learn and utilize new vocabulary presented in the textbook.

Product: Each week, students will select 10 words from the textbook that they need to work on.
They will copy them into a notebook or onto notecards (recommended) and write an
English definition, first language translation, an original example sentence using the
word (not copied from a dictionary), and any synonyms they can find. These should be
used for self-study until memorized.

Format: Each week students select 10 words they do not know well and produce a product
(notebook or notecards) to help them to learn those words, following the procedure
outlined above.

You should demonstrate competence in the following skills:

1. Choosing and working with words you are generally not familiar with.
2. Writing example sentences showing you understand what the word means and
how to use it properly.
3. Increasing your understanding of the words by finding synonyms.

Criteria: 1. The assignment will be done outside of class.

2. The work should be hand written to aid memorization.
3. The example sentences must demonstrate that you know what the focus word
means and how to use it in a sentence.

Skills information literacy, organization

Assessed:

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Assessment Task 5: GINOS Extensive Reading
Goal: To increase reading fluency and confidence in reading (simplified) novels in English.

Product: You will need to read at least 15,000 words per quarter for a passing grade and
150,000 words per quarter for the full 30% of your grade possible from this task.

Format: Extensive reading (ER) means to read a lot of easy English books. The books are easy
because they contain vocabulary and grammar forms that you already know and can
understand comfortably. The GINOS studio contains hundreds of books written for
non-native English speakers like yourself, that have been written specifically for
English language learners. These books are called Graded Readers because they are
graded based on difficulty. You must choose a book that is comfortable for you to read
so that reading a novel in English is pleasurable. If you cannot understand the book
without a dictionary then it is not appropriate for this task and you need to choose a
book from a lower level.

ER has been shown to greatly improve English language ability if done correctly. To be
most effective students need to read as often as possible, preferably everyday (even
10 minutes a day is better than nothing, but try for 30 minutes or more). You can read
anywhere: on the train, between lessons, in the library, before going to sleep, in a
coffee shop, its up to you!

Every 5,000 words read is worth 1% of your final grade. 15,000 words therefore equals
3% and is the absolute minimum required to be eligible for a passing grade in this
course. Therefore, if you read 150,000 words you will have earned the full 30% of your
final grade available from this Assessment Task.

To check that you have read each book and to keep a record of the number of words
you have read each quarter you will take a short test online. The tests are available at
mreader.org and take less than 10 minutes to complete. If you fail a test you will not
get credit for having read the book, so be careful to read each book fully, and that you
are not reading books that are too difficult.

You should demonstrate:

1. Frequent reading of graded readers to increase your reading fluency.
2. Comprehension of what you have read.

Criteria: 1. The assignment will be done outside of class.

2. Students have read appropriate materials extensively.
3. Students have understood what they have read by passing comprehension tests
using MReader.

Skills organization, applying technologies, information literacy

Assessed:

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 (MC - Making Connections 2 textbook; ER - extensive
Course Activities
reading)

Lesson # What key concepts/content will I Directed Study Independent Study

learn? Activities Activities

1 How to complete the assignments for this Introduction of class ER

quarter components Vocabulary notebook
What is extensive
Overview of independent study reading?

2 The News Media in the Past MC p.2-12 ER

Vocabulary notebook
Skills and strategies 1: understanding Connection task p.12
vocabulary in context

3 The History of Electronic Media MC p.13-20 ER

Vocabulary notebook
Vocabulary development: Word families Connection task p.20

4 Citizen Journalism MC p.21-31 ER

Vocabulary notebook
Skills and strategies 2: Finding main Connection task p.31
ideas Presentation
preparation

5 Ethical Reporting MC p.32-42 ER

Vocabulary notebook
Vocabulary development: Words in Connection task p.40
context Presentation
preparation

6 Expression of opinion, group discussion, ER book reports and ER

presenting information to a group based discussions. Vocabulary notebook
on research Connection
presentations and
discussions.

7 Education Around the World MC p.44-54 ER

Vocabulary notebook
Skills and strategies 3: Using the Connection task p.54
dictionary

8 Testing in Education MC p.55-63 ER

Vocabulary notebook
Vocabulary development: Word families Connection task p. 63

9 Alternative Education MC p.64-75 ER

Vocabulary notebook
Skills and strategies 4: Finding supporting Connection task p.75
details Presentation
preparation

10 Skills for the Twenty-First Century MC p.76-86 ER

Vocabulary notebook
Vocabulary development: Synonyms Connection task p.84
Presentation
preparation

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 11 Expression of opinion, group discussion, ER book reports and ER
presenting information to a group based discussions. Vocabulary notebook
on research Connection
presentations and
discussions.

12 Supply and Demand in the Global MC p.88-97 ER

Economy Vocabulary notebook
Connection task p.97
Skills and strategies 5: The vocabulary of
numbers

13 The Workforce of the Twenty-First MC p.98-105 ER

Century Vocabulary notebook
Connection task p.
Vocabulary development: Word families 105

14 Communication Technology in Business MC p.106-117 ER

Vocabulary notebook
Skills and strategies 6: Information in Connection task p.
graphs and charts 117
Presentation
preparation

15 Business and Sustainability MC p.118-128 ER

Vocabulary notebook
Vocabulary development: Words in Connection task p.
context 126
Presentation
preparation

16 Expression of opinion, group discussion, ER book reports and

presenting information to a group based discussions.
on research Connection
presentations and
discussions.

4. What resources do I need to take this course?

Youll need access to a computer and to the internet.

You will need a B5 notebook or notecards for the Vocabulary Notebook task.

Smartphones may be utilized in the classroom from time to time, but are not required.

4.1 Prescribed Texts

Making Connections 2 by Jo McEntire & Jessica Williams. Cambridge. ISBN:
978-1-107-62874-8.