Lincoln University
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Title: Intensive Academic English Preparation (IAEP) III -- Reading Comprehension
Department and Number: IAEP 3
Credit: Non-credit (60 hours)
Prerequisite(s): None
Semester: Spring 2012 – Thursdays 3:30--5:10
Revised: 12/11
Instructor: Dr. Sylvia Y. Schoemaker Rippel
Office hours and location: T, Th 11:45-12:30 and by arrangement, room 307
Office phone: 510-628-8036
Instructional Materials and References
Required text:
Richards, Jack C. and Samuela Eckstut-Didier. Strategic Reading 1: Building Effective Reading Skills. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2003. ISBN: 978-0-521-55580-7
Recommended texts:
Dictionary, thesaurus
Course Description
Students will improve reading comprehension and rate; they will increase vocabulary through assigned readings, word study exercises, and discussions. Readings deal with a variety of subjects, including American culture, and academic and personal issues.
Course Objectives
Students will develop reading skills for functional communicative purposes, in context-centered study and expansions.
Students will demonstrate improved reading comprehension skills through selected communications, quizzes, tests (pre and post) and exercises (class and text-based).
Instructional Methods
A cooperative learning model is employed. Small group and individual discovery exercises and presentations will augment more formal presentations, discussion and applications.
The course sessions will include A/V-augmented presentations and discussions using text-based and other topically related slides and relevant audio/video/web resources), written and oral classroom exercises applying course concepts, small group and classroom discussions, student presentations of individual and group assignments based on course units, with emphasis on engaging students in learning by doing. |
Topical Outline
Reading selections are of immediate academic and socio-cultural relevance. Among topics included are: music, money, work, sports, weather, culture, and the Internet
SCHEDULE
Week | Unit | Topic | Reading I | Reading II | Reading III |
Wk 1 | Introduction | ||||
Wk 2 | Unit I | Music | Music and Moods | Louis Armstrong | |
Wk3 | Unit I | Music | Biology of Music | ||
Wk 4 | Unit II | Money | Dangers in Shopping | How to be a Millionaire | Pity the Poor Lottery Winner |
Wk 5 | Unit III | Work | Your First Job | Job Satisfaction | Are You a Workaholic? |
Wk 6 | Unit IV | Sports | Do Pro Athletes Make Too Much Money? | Extreme Sports | Frequently Asked Questions about the Ancient Olympic Games |
Wk 7 | Review | ||||
Wk 8 | Midpoint Exercises | ||||
Spring Recess | |||||
Wk 9 | Unit V | Weather | Keeping an Eye on the Weather | Nature's Weather Forecasters | Could You Survive a Natural Disaster? |
Wk 10 | Unit VII | Clothes | Dressing for Success | Casual Dress in the Workplace | T-shirts Out; Uniforms In |
Wk 11 | Unit VIII | Culture | Adventures in India | Body Language in the US | Cross-cultural Differences |
Wk 12 | Unit IX | Outer Space | Living in Space | The Planets | Space Tours Not So Far Off |
Wk 13 | Review | Animals | The Terrible Toads | Exotic Animals -- Not as Pets! | Let's Abandon Zoos |
Wk 14 | Presentations | ||||
Wk 15 | Post tests | ||||
Assessment Criteria & Method of Evaluating Students
Students successfully completing the program with the prerequisite instructor recommendations will receive a Certificate of Completion. The following table lists some of the primary areas evaluated for progress.
100-95 | A |
94-90 | A- |
89-87 | B+ |
86-84 | B |
83-80 | B- |
79-77 | C+ |
76-74 | C |
73-70 | C- |
69-67 | D+ |
66-64 | D |
63-60 | D- |
59 or < | F |
Class attendance and Participation | 25 |
Exercises and Quizzes | 15 |
Homework Assignments | 25 |
Presentations | 15 |
Final Review Tests | 20 |
Total | 100 |
Notes:
Revisions to the schedule will be announced in class as needed. Class attendance is required. Coming on time, remaining in the classroom according to the break and dismissal schedule is part of the regular attendance requirement. Class participation is encouraged for enhanced learning through applied content, group interactions, and individual and small group presentations. Cell phones should not be active during class sessions.
Revised: 12/11
