English 111 SYLLABUS - Vocabulary

I. CATALOG DESCRIPTION: (3 credits) Improvement of general college vocabulary and specific

subject-related vocabulary through the use of word analysis, dictionary work, and context clues.
PREREQUISITES: none

II. COURSE: fall, 2009 INSTRUCTOR: Susan W. Clark, Ph.D. Office: LR 230 D
Phone: 816- 672-2152 Fax: 816-672-2648 Office Hours: by appointment
e-mail: Use Messages in Blackboard. (If it is not functioning, use: Susan.Clark@mcckc.edu)

III. MATERIALS and EXPECTATIONS

This is an on-line course with audio lectures. You will need:

 Textbook: Feinstein, George W. Programmed College Vocabulary, Compact Edition, 7th ed.
ISBN: 0-13-192871-6; available at www.bookstores.mcckc.edu
 A recent dictionary, college edition. You may use an on-line one.
 Access to an MCC Testing Center or other proctored site for the final exam. (See p. 2.)
 Self-motivation and self-discipline. Procrastination WILL NOT serve you well.
 Willingness to read thoroughly and follow written instructions closely. Check your MESSAGES
Inbox to see if I’ve written to you.
 Access to the Internet --the faster and more reliable, the better -- Internet Explorer or Mozilla
Firefox. Prepare your computer. See the green tab “Student Services.”
 Knowledge of word processing and online Blackboard software tools, to:
 participate respectfully in discussions with students and instructor, submit assignments.
 send/receive messages.
 check grades.
 Willingness to apply Standard English spelling and other conventions.

IV. Important Highlights from the Student Handbook

 MCC complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need an accommodation due to
a disability, please contact Jennifer Argo, 672-2204V, 672-2144TTY at Longview. See Student
Services for contacts at other locations. Please allow two weeks advance notice.

 Academic dishonesty includes “plagiarism, cheating during examinations, submitting work

prepared by someone other than the student, submitting a single paper to fulfill requirements of
two courses without prior approval from both instructors, and using a false name or signing the
name of another individual…in connection with any course work.” Disciplinary actions taken
against students who engage in academic dishonesty include a grade of “F” for the course and
suspension. --Code of Student Conduct

 For a complaint related to classroom instruction, first discuss the problem with the instructor. If
there is no resolution, refer to Diana Grahn, the Division Chair. The Dean of Instruction is the
final level of appeal in this process.
 2

V. EXPECTED STUDENT OUTCOMES IN THE COURSE

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Define common word elements (prefixes, suffixes, roots), especially Latin and Greek.
2. Recognize various stylistic literary devices, terms related to animals, and name-related words.
3. Use dictionary to differentiate meanings and pronunciations of words and trace word origins.
4. Explore sources for inquiry about words and increase word awareness.
5. Explain the differences between connotative and denotative definitions of words.
6. Apply context clues to determine unknown words and those often confused.
7. Define descriptive words, strong action words, and common foreign terms.
8. Use analogies to refine word meanings.

VI. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

A. Unit Assignments: A unit typically includes:

1. Quote, Learning Outcomes, and How You Will Be Assessed (Graded). Read this section to
see what is expected; then mark it “Reviewed.”
2. Lecture or Assignment – words to study, background information, and techniques for learning
vocabulary.
3. Textbook Assignment - programmed instruction to help you learn the terms. Students who are
diligent about completing and correcting all exercises make the most progress.
4. Discussion Board – Post according to directions and make a useful contribution that can help
the class with the words, which are “fair game” for tests. (10 x 10 pts. each = 100 pts.)
5. Unit Test - covers textbook chapter/s, lecture/s, and discussion boards. When you submit a test,
the next one will become available. Take these unit tests at home on line. You may use notes
on these unit tests, but not on the final. Tests are strictly timed. (Approximately 455 pts.)

B. Final Exam (200 pts.) Taken at proctored location--no notes, books, or other resources.
 Call one of the MCC Campus Testing Centers to schedule this test during day hours. See green
“Student Services” tab for contact numbers.
 I will schedule one evening at Longview Library for those who cannot come during the day,.
 If you need to go to a proctored site outside the Metro area, let me know by the date indicated
where and the contact person’s name and number so that I can fax what they will need.

C. Grading and Policies

 Attendance in an Internet course requires you to: submit work, respond to MESSAGES, and
participate on Discussion Boards by due dates. We instructors observe that successful
students check in nearly every day. College policy requires that we withdraw a student after
a two-week absence without documentation, but let me hear from you more often than that,
especially during the weeks when we update our attendance rosters.
 Due dates: For maximum credit, post to the Discussion Board and submit your tests by due
dates indicated to keep to a schedule and to pace your work.
 Policy on late work. Computer problems and emergencies occur in life, so you may take
the quizzes late, but with a 5-point penalty.
 Policy on working ahead. When you submit one test, the next unit’s test will become
available, so many students work ahead for all units except the final. Taking the final early
requires special permission from the instructor.
 3

 Grading Scale: A = 90 - 100%; B = 80 - 89%; C = 70 - 79%; D = 60 - 69%; F <60%.

11 unit tests = 455 pts. (about 60%)
10 DB posts @ 10 pts. each = 100 pts. (about 13%)
Final exam @ 200 pts. = 200 pts. (about 27%)
Total possible (approx.) = 755 pts.

VII. Tentative Schedule (Instructor will inform students if there are changes.) Dues dates also appear
under Unit Assignments, Grades, and Discussion Board directions, making many opportunities for error on my
part. Please alert me if you see discrepancies.
Based upon what previous students have found manageable in an 8-week course, I have distributed our 10
units, assignments, and workload as evenly as possible. For maximum credit on Discussion Board (DB) posts
and tests, observe the following deadlines. They will also help you pace yourselves. Many successful students
work a little ahead, just in case….

Lecture/Assignment Textbook Chapter Pages _

Unit 1 What’s in a Name? How to Use this Manual p. viii
8/19 Initial post - Names
8/20 DB Responses; quiz on Names/Orientation

Unit 2 History of Eng. Lang. Confused Words I 1 1-14

8/23 Confused Words I DB
8/24 DB responses; test on History and Confused Words I

Unit 3 Animal-related Words Confused Words II 2 15 – 27

8/26 Animal Words DB
8/27 DB responses; test on Animals and Confused Words II

Unit 4 Latin Latin 3 28 – 42

8/30 Latin DB (extra credit)
8/31 Test on Latin (lecture and textbook)

Unit 5 Greek Greek 4 43 – 56

9/2 Greek DB
9/3 DB responses; Greek test

Unit 6 Context Clues Words in Context 5 57 – 68

9/6 Context DB
9/7 DB responses; test on Context Clues

Unit 7 Dictionary Diction 6 69 – 82

9/13 How do you say…? DB
9/14 DB responses; test on Dictionary and Diction

Unit 8 Analogies Descriptive Words I 7 83 – 96

9/20 Analogies DB
9/21 DB responses; test on Analogies and Descriptive Words I
 4

Lecture/Assignment Textbook Chapter Pages _

Unit 9 (no lecture) Descriptive Words II 8 97 – 110

9/23 Karaoke DB
9/24 DB responses; test on Descriptive Words II

Unit 10 Foreign Terms Action Words 9 111 – 125

9/27 Foreign Terms DB
9/28 DB responses; test on Action Words

Unit 10 Foreign Terms Figures of Speech 10 126 – 134

10/4 Figures of Speech DB
10/5 DB responses; test on Foreign Terms and Figures of Speech

Final Exam - No resources, notes, or books.

10/6 - 10/9, noon
Contact me through Messages about where and when you will take your final exam.
 one of the MCC Testing Centers, or
 with me Thurs., 10/8 at 6:00 p.m. at Longview Library, or
 other proctored site I have approved