DEVELOPED BY: Dolores Mirabella
DATE: March, 1998
DEPARTMENT: Academic Programs
CURRICULUM: Developmental English
COURSE TITLE: Learning Center II
COURSE NUMBER: ENG 081
TYPE OF COURSE: College Preparatory/Cornerstone
COURSE LENGTH: Eleven Weeks
CREDIT HOURS: Three to Five
LECTURE HOURS: None
LAB HOURS Thirty to Fifty-five
CLASS SIZE: Maximum to Twenty-vive

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Students will develop the skills necessary to read at the literal, interpretive and evaluative levels of comprehension. They will analyze text and apply critical thinking skills. Students will also learn to develop vocabulary skills through the use of context clues.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES ADDRESSED:

1. Communication:
   Read and listen actively to learn and to communicate.
2. Human Relations:
   Recognize the diversity of cultural influences and values.
3. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving:
   Think critically in evaluating information, solving problems, and making decisions.
4. Technology:
   Select and use appropriate technological tools for personal, adacemic and career tasks.
5. Personal Responsibility:
   
   • Be motivated and able to continue learning and adapt to change.
     
   • Value one's own skills, abilities, ideas and art.
     
   • Take pride in one's work.
     
   • Manage personal health and safety.
6. Information Literacy:
   Access and evaluate information from a variety of sources and contexts, including technology.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1. Recognize and use context clues;
2. Identify or infer main ideas in paragraphs or short selections and know the value of doing so;
3. Identify relevant supporting details and the patterns into which they are organized;
4. Use one's knowledge of paragraph organization and structure to aid comprehension;
5. Draw conclusions and make inferences;
6. Read critically by discerning the author's purpose and tone, by distinguishing between fact and opinion, by detecting bias and propaganda, and by identifying logical fallacies and evaluating arguments.

Competencies will be measured by the satisfactory completion of prescribed work as outlined on the Progress Chart.

1. Placement: Students are placed in this section through self-selection, by the assessment of a writing sample, and by conferring with the instructor. (ASSET SCORES: W=33, R = 36; SLEP = 44)
2. Orientation: Students are oriented to English Lab procedures, the text, testing procedures and progress charts.

RECOMMENDED TEXTS:
Ten Steps to Improving College Reading
Analytical Reading and Reasoning
Concepts and Comments
Contact USA

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS:
On-Line Websites
Ten Steps to Advancing College Reading Skills

APPROXIMATE CLOCK HOURS 33-55

TOPICAL OUTLINE:

1. Vocabulary Foundations - Context Clues
2. Main Ideas and Central Themes
3. Supporting Details
4. Patterns of Organization - Signal Words
5. Fact and Opinion
6. Inferences
7. Purpose and Tone
8. Bias and Propaganda
9. Logical Fallacies/Evaluating Arguments