Basic Reading

SYLLABUS
Course Title and
Number
Term
Times and Location
Name
Email address
Office hours
Office location
Phone

Basic Reading ELIR 100 103

Spring 2016
MWF 9:10 10:00 am in C E 007
Instructor Information
Tanya Vernon
tvernon@tamu.edu
MWF 10:15-11:15 am, TR 9:15-10:45 am, TR 1:00-2:00 pm , or by
appointment
Academic Building (ACAD) 402A
English Language Institute main office: 979-845-7936
Course Description and Prerequisites

For students with basic reading and vocabulary skills. Emphasis is on content comprehension,
recognition of main and supporting ideas, and development of vocabulary in context. This
course introduces reading techniques including the skim-scan method, SQ3R method, and
timed readings to develop each student's reading rate. It addresses dictionary skills, common
prefixes, suffixes, and basic root forms enabling students to develop their vocabulary skills
with less dependence on dictionary and translation techniques. It includes extensive practice
in analysis of word choices and idiom usage.
Course Goal
To develop students foundational reading skills through practice of essential reading methods
such as skimming, scanning, surveying, questioning, study of word parts, and vocabulary. To
increase reading speed and comprehension.
Below are the proficiency levels of the entire sequence.

Basic (100)
*Uses reading
strategies on
texts up to 800
words.
*Uses context
clues to make
inferences.
*Uses strategies
to increase speed
and
understanding.
*Recognizes
organizational
styles.

Intermediate
(200)
Uses reading
strategies to
recognize fact vs.
opinion, tone and
point of view.
Makes inferences.
Increases speed
and
comprehension.
Recognizes
organization in

Intermediate II
(250)
Uses near advanced
skills to understand
diverse academic
writings and
demonstrates this
understanding
through timed
testing, discussions,
and writings.

Advanced (300)
Uses advanced critical
thinking to comprehend
university level readings:
distinguishing
fact/opinion,
organizational patterns,
recognizing/ analyzing
authors tone, purpose,
making logical
inferences, to increase
speed with
comprehension.

high-school level
materials.
Student Learning Outcomes
At the end of the semester, a successful student:
o

o
o
o
o
o

Literacy Competence: Uses reading strategies on texts up to 800 words. Uses context clues to
make inferences. Uses strategies to increase speed and understanding. Recognizes
organizational styles.
Timed Reading: Answers questions on timed readings. Uses skimming and scanning.
Discussion: Tells the main ideas and answers questions about a text. Shows sensitivity to
other peoples cultures during discussions.
Writing: Writes answers to a variety of question types such as short answers. Supports
answers with written details in ones own words.
Reading for Comprehension: Uses strategies such as SQ3R and vocabulary building while
reading.
Analyzing and Evaluating: Analyzes and evaluates content, organization and vocabulary of
texts alone or in groups. Practices SQ3R (survey, scanning, questioning, reading, reciting and
reviewing) reading strategies. Makes predictions and simple inferences.
Academic Culture: Follows simple class rules, such as being on time and prepared. Follows
directions and works with the teacher and classmates appropriately. Prepares assignments and
turns them in on time.

Textbook and/or Resource Material

Longman Academic Reading Series, Book 2, by Kim Sanabria, Pearson Education. ISBN 13:
978-0-13-278582-2. You may purchase this book new or used.
Class Policies
Check your TAMU email daily. Please use your TAMU email account, not another email
account, when communicating with ELI instructors and staff.
Students are expected to come to every class on time. If a student is absent without an
excuse, he or she may not be allowed to make up missed work or tests. An absence is
excused if a student brings a note from a doctor or another form of official documentation.
Some religious holidays are excused absences. To understand which absences are excused
and which ones are not, students should read TAMUs attendance policy explained in Student
Rule 7 at http://student-rules.tamu.edu/rule07.
Three late arrivals to class count as one absence. Fifteen minutes after the start of the class
period, missing students will be marked absent.
In the classroom, students are expected to use only English as the common language of the
English Language Institute.
Grading Policies
The final course grade is calculated according to this formula:
40%
30%

Tests
Classwork/Homework/Quizzes

10%
20%

Timed Readings
Final exam

A letter grade (A, B, C, D, or F) is given at the end of the semester.

A = Student has mastered the course objectives and demonstrates 90%-100% of the student
learning outcomes. Student may advance to the next level.
B = Student has mostly reached the course objectives and demonstrates 80%-89% of the
student learning outcomes. Student may advance to the next level.
C = Student has reached some of the course objectives and demonstrates 70%-79% of the
student learning outcomes. Student may not advance to the next level.
D = Student has reached a few of the course objectives and demonstrates only 60%-69% of
the student learning outcomes. Student may not advance to the next level.
F = Student has reached none or very few of the course objectives and demonstrates less
than 60% of the student learning outcomes. Student may not advance to the next level.
For matriculated students, a grade of A or B (80% or above) is required to meet the TAMU
English Language Proficiency requirement and exit Advanced level courses. A grade below B
(<80%) does not meet exit requirements.
Course Topics, Calendar of Activities, and Major Assignment Dates
*This calendar is tentative and subject to change.
(See the ELIR 100 e-Campus Calendar for current changes and postings.)
Week
Topic or Chapter
1
Syllabus, Diagnostic, Introduction to Timed Readings
2
Chapter 1 Cultural Studies: The Lessons of Travel
3
Chapter 1 continued and Chapter 2 Multicultural Literature: Writing about
Cultural Identity
Joint Composition #1, Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 8:00 a.m., Friday no class
4
Chapter 2 continued, Test #1
5
Chapter 3 Health Science: High Tech, Low Tech, No Tech
6
Chapter 3 continued and Chapter 4 Education: The Task of the Teacher
7
Chapter 4 continued, Test #2
8
Chapter 5 Psychology: Theories of Intelligence
March 13-20 Spring Break no classes
9
Chapter 5 continued
Friday Reading Day, no class
10
Chapter 6 Business: The Changing Workplace
11
Chapter 6 continued
Test #3
Joint Composition #2, Tuesday, Apr. 5 at 8:00 a.m.
12
Chapter 7 Math: Developing a Love of the Language of Science
13
Chapter 7 continued, Test #4
14
Chapter 8 Public Speaking: Messages and Messengers
15
Monday, May 2, Reading final exam
Thursday, May 5, Certificate Ceremony

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides
comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this
legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that
provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability
requiring an accommodation, please contact Disability Services, currently located in the
Disability Services building at the Student Services at White Creek complex on west campus
or call 979-845-1637. For additional information, visit http://disability.tamu.edu.
Academic Integrity Statement and Policy
For additional information please visit: http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu
An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do.
Plagiarism is a type of cheating. Plagiarism is using the ideas, words, graphics, homework,
etc. of another person and pretending they are ones own. All work submitted should be your
own work. You will benefit the most from this course if you thoughtfully produce each
assignment yourself. You may include another persons idea if you mention the source of the
idea; you may include another persons words if you put quotation marks ( ) around the
borrowed words AND mention their source. For more information about how to avoid
plagiarism, see http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu/Descriptions/Plagiarism.aspx.