Mission College

Aaron Malchow

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Reading 053: Speed and Critical Reading Class Syllabus

CONTACT INFORMATION

Instructor: Aaron Malchow

Office Location: Main Building, N3-601

My Office Hours: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. -- Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Phone: 408-855-5370 Office Mailbox: Main Building, S2-402

E-mail: aaron_malchow@wvm.ed

ABOUT THIS SYLLABUS

In addition to listing class rules, this syllabus includes observations from previous
students after they had finished the class. Their comments are examples of what
successful students find important while taking this class.
I may make changes to the syllabus during the semester, if necessary. Each student
is responsible to stay informed of these changes.
If you have any questions, you may contact me during my office hours and
before/after class, if time permits.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

"Designed for students who are already reading at a college freshman level of
competency. This course will enable students to reach their optimal reading speeds and to
improve their comprehension of collegiate and technical materials, as well as to increase
their enjoyment of recreational reading. This course may also be offered by telecourse.
Grade Only." (Mission College 2010-2011 Course Catalog, p. 160)

COURSE PREREQUISITES

"Prerequisite: READ 961 or qualifying score on placement test." (Mission College 2010-
2011 Course Catalog, p. 160)

COURSE OUTCOMES
 Upon completion of Reading 053, students will have achieved proficiency in
reading by being able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes (as listed in the
Course Outline for Reading 053):

Analyze and evaluate assigned and researched texts.

Improve reading speed and efficiency.

These outcomes are related, as analysis leads to reading efficiency, which leads to
increased reading speed.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Reliable Internet access, in order to retrieve copies of assigned readings for the class.
The novel A Bolt from the Blue by Diane A.S. Stuckart
A dictionary, like the Oxford English Dictionary or the Longman Dictionary of American
English.

RECOMMENDED MATERIALS

USB flash drive, or other electronic portable storage device, to store copies of your class
work.

E-mail account, in case I need to contact you. Please have it listed on your
MyWebServices profile.
READING ASSIGNMENTS
At the start of the semester, you will read between 5 to 20 pages a week. By the
third or fourth week of the semester, you will be reading up to 40 to 50 pages.
To do this reading, you will need to set aside at least 1 to 2 hours for reading
outside of class at the start of the semester, with 2 to 3 hours for reading outside of class
by the third or fourth week of the semester to the end of the semester. The reading
assignments will become more difficult as the semester goes on, and each new reading
assignment will require a clear understanding of the previous reading assignments.

ONLINE DATABASES FOR ASSIGNED ARTICLES

Most assigned articles for this class will be found in the Mission College Library’s
Expanded Academic ASAP database. This database is located at
http://www.missioncollege.org/lib/database_top.html
To use the Mission College Library’s online databases, you will need to have a
student ID number, which can be found on the front of your Mission College student ID
card. If you do not have a student ID card, you can obtain one at the Information Desk on
the first floor of the Campus Center building. On my website's Reading 53 page, you will
find directions on how to use the Expanded Academic ASAP database, as well as a direct
link to the database.
When an assigned article is available online, you are expected to print out a copy of
that article and bring it to class, as we will discuss those articles in class. If you have
difficulty accessing and printing out any articles, you should contact me immediately, so
I can try to help you resolve that problem. Please be aware that sometimes articles are on
the database for a limited time, so please read them and print them out as soon as they are
assigned.

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
Always check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation before turning in an
assignment, as reoccurring errors can adversely affect your grade. If you know you have
trouble proofreading, please see me for assistance.
If a typed assignment is not properly formatted or obviously fails to meet class
standards, I am not inclined to grade it. Instead, you will be asked to reformat it, revise it,
and resubmit it to be graded, due within a week of being asked to revise it.
I will not accept any homework assignment via e-mail.

POLICY ON LATE WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

In completing assignments, you are expected to meet designated deadlines. There
is only one occasion under which I will accept late assignments: If you and I meet in a
conference – in my office – prior to when the assignment is due, both agree that
additional revision is needed, and then set a new due date for you to turn in the
assignment.

FEEDBACK
For the typed assignments you submit, I will comment on them, identifying
strengths in your work and identifying areas for improvement. In turn, you are expected
to implement that feedback in future assignments. Any time you have a question about
my comments, please meet with me during my office hours to discuss it.

IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES AND ASSIGNMENTS

In-class activities are intended as opportunities for you to practice reading
strategies. These assignments do not need to be typed, but should be handwritten legibly.
You are expected to turn in all in-class activities on time when asked. Your work will be
graded on how analytically you respond to a given assignment and the quality of the
work.

GRADING
Your final grade is based on your completion of all graded assignments and will be
calculated as follows:

In-Class Activities and Homework 25%

Concern Analysis Essay 20%
Ethnographic Analysis Essay 25%
Journal Topic Presentation 20%
Final Exam 10%
Course Grade 100%
 Grades on all class activities, as well as in calculating the final course grade, are
based upon the following scale:

A (Excellent) B (Above Average C (Average) D (Below Average)

F (Failure)
100-90%
89-80% 79-70%
69-60%
59% and below

Any assignment that is not submitted will receive an “F” and be recorded in my records
as NS (Not Submitted).
Any assignment that is plagiarized will receive an “F” and be recorded in my
records as PL (Plagiarized).

PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is when an individual takes credit in writing another person’s words or
ideas. Plagiarism can involve copying someone else’s ideas without properly quoting or
citing that source. Or it can involve having someone else do an assignment.
There are two basic types of plagiarism: intentional plagiarism and unintentional
plagiarism.
Intentional plagiarism is a conscious decision, usually because a student doesn't
believe they can do the work well. If you have difficulty doing the work, please see me so
I can try to help you.
Unintentional plagiarism occurs when a student is confused about how to properly
quote or cite sources. And a student typically knows when they are unsure of how to
quote or cite sources.
If you are having difficulty doing an assignment or you are concerned about
whether you are properly citing sources, please see me before turning in that assignment,
so I can help you before I have to grade the assignment.

Regardless of the type of plagiarism, any plagiarism will result in receiving an “F”
on your assignment or an “F” for the entire class.

Some students will say that they accidentally plagiarized -- used the same words as
someone else by coincidence. Such accidental plagiarism is extremely unlikely.
According to James Falkofske (at
https://sctc.ims.mnscu.edu/shared/FacultyTutorials/MathematicsOfPlagiarism.pdf) , the
odds of accidental plagiarism are quite high:

nChance of accidentally writing a 5-word sentence that duplicates another 5-word

sentence (out of 20,000 possible words):
n1 in 3,200,000,000,000,000,000,000
nChance of accidentally writing a 5-word sentence that duplicates another 5-word
sentence (out of 1,000 possible words):
n1 in 1,000,000,000,000,000
"These statistics helped me to realize that it is hard to accidentally commit plagiarism."
Fernardo Jordan
Math Major

To place those odds in context, a student is more likely to win a Powerball lottery
or be struck by lightning than to commit accidental plagiarism.

nChance of winning a jackpot in a Powerball Lottery (according to Richard Smedstad

Kleber at http://www.stolaf.edu/people/kleber/powerball.html):
n1 in 146,107,962
nChance of being hit by lightning in your lifetime (according to U.S. National Weather
Service at http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/medical.htm):
n1 in 6,250

CLASSROOM CONDUCT
In this class, I expect that students treat both their classmates and me with respect,
that students will avoid disrupting instruction, and that students will turn off unnecessary
electronic devices before entering the class. Failure to follow these guidelines will lead to
disciplinary measures. Along these lines, I also expect that the Mission College Code of
Student Conduct (see the Mission College 2010-2011 Catalog, pages 203-204) is
followed by all students as well.

The Mission College “Cheating Policy” guidelines and subsequent disciplinary sanctions
will be followed in this class, as they are listed on page 198 of the Mission College 2010-
2011 Catalog.
When taking a quiz or exam in this class, students will place all unauthorized
electronic equipment, books, papers, and materials on the floor. Talking is not permitted
during tests. Students who cheat will receive an “F” on the quiz or exam.

CLASS ATTENDANCE
Attendance is essential for students to achieve the objectives of this class. Be sure
to arrive on time and remain in-class until the class ends. It is each student's
responsibility to find out what activities and assignments they missed before returning to
class.
Beyond those concerns, Mission College has a specific policy on attendance:

"Students are expected to attend all sessions of each class. Instructors may drop students
from class if they fail to attend the first class meeting, or when accumulated unexcused
hours of absence exceed ten percent of the total number of hours the class meets during
the semester. Moreover, an instructor may drop from the class any student who fails to
attend at least one class session during the first three weeks of instruction." (Mission
College 2010-2011 Catalog, p. 198)
 I reserve the right to enforce this attendance policy in class. However, if you do
intend to drop the class and do not notify me, do not assume that I will automatically drop
you. You are ultimately responsible for withdrawing yourself from the class, if you feel
the need to do so.
Missing 10% of class is roughly equivalent to missing four 85-minute class
sessions. If you miss more class sessions than that, I strongly encourage you to contact
me if you intend to remain in the class.

FINAL EXAM
The final exam schedule for each of my Reading 053 classes is listed below, as
determined by the college. You need to attend the Final Exam for your class section.

Section
Regular Class Meeting Time
Final Exam Date
Final Exam Time
Final Exam Room

95443 TTH 9:20 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Thursday, May 26

9:20 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. Main Building, Room E3-301
95448 TTH 10:55 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Tuesday, May 24
10:55 a.m. to 12:55 p.m.
Main Building, Room E3-401
95450 F 9:20 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Friday, May 27
9:20 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.
Main Building, Room E3-501

Please note that the final exam meeting time is for 2 hours. We will meet in class
for that entire time, as I do not let class out early on the day of the final exam. Each class
meets only once a week during Finals Week.

UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION/SEXUAL HARRASSMENT

According to Mission College guidelines, you should follow the following
procedure, if you are concerned about unlawful discrimination or sexual harassment:

“If you have a complaint or someone has shared information with you as a student or
employee that is unlawful discrimination or sexual harassment, contact the Director of
Human Resources at West Valley-Mission Community College District, Human
Resources Department, (408) 741-2060. If the Director of Human Resources is not
available, contact the President of the college in which you attend or are employed. For
Mission College, contact the office of Dr. Harriett Robles at (408) 855-5123.”

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
 According to Mission College guidelines, you have certain responsibilities when
emergency procedures are initiated:

“It is the student’s responsibility to know the evacuation procedures, evacuation route,
and assembly area for this classroom. In case of an emergency, you are to follow the
directions of your instructor. When directed to evacuate the classroom, be sure to take all
of your belongings when you leave and remain with your class in the assembly area until
you receive further directions.”

Additionally the Mission College Facilities and Safety Committee offers the
following advice:

"Mission College is serious about safety and we urge you to increase your awareness of
some basic emergency preparedness procedures while on campus. Here are some key
things you should know.
"Locate (in every classroom):

"Classroom emergency phone

"All evacuation exits from your classroom and the fastest way out of the building without
using ANY elevators - Also know an alternate route in case your first choice is blocked.
"Designated assembly area for your building (map on classroom wall)
"'Emergency Procedures for Campus Safety' chart (on classroom wall)
"Nearest fire extinguisher and first aid kit
"WVM-Alert - Emergency Notification
"Free WVM-Alert will text, email and call you to alert you to campus emergency
situations. Sign in to www.wvm.edu/emergency and give us your contact information
ASAP! If you don't sign up, you won't be notified!"

MISSION COLLEGE DISABILITY STATEMENT

According to Mission College guidelines, there is a process in place for assisting
students with disabilities:

“Mission College makes reasonable accommodations for persons with documented

disabilities. Students should notify DISC (Disability Instructional Support Center)
located in S2-201 (408-855-5085 or 408-727-9243 TTY) of any special needs.”

COUNSELING
Should you feel the need to, you can see a campus counselor for academic
counseling, career counseling, and personal counseling. The Counseling Center is located
in E1-301, and its phone number is (408) 855-5030.