DIRW 0323 - Integrated Reading and Writing Advanced Reading Comprehension, Critical Analysis of Text, & Basic Composition Instructor: Calvin Lawrence Email: clawrence@rangercollege.edu Office Hours: Mon/Wed 9-10am Cell #: (817) 821-1441 Tues/Thurs/Friday 9-12am Office Location: Bus.Bldg.#5 Ranger Holistic Placement: Student has been holistically placed in DIRW 0323 using prior coursework, high school GPA, and TSI scores. Course Description as defined by Ranger College: This course includes strategies for advancing reading comprehension and facilitating critical analysis of text. Further, this course will include instruction on active reading strategies using text structure to improve comprehension, interpreting, and evaluating reading materials. This course will integrate critical analysis of text into writing instruction focused on the composition of essays, including pre-writing, drafting, organization, focus, unity, and revising and editing. This course involves a required lab. Course Goal: The goal of this course is to develop students as critical readers, thinkers, and purposeful writers prepared for college success in introductory courses across disciplines. Student Learning Outcomes and Learning Objectives: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will: Locate explicit textual information, draw complex inferences, and describe, analyze, and evaluate the information within and across multiple texts of varying lengths. Comprehend and use vocabulary effectively in oral communication, reading, and writing. Identify and analyze the audience, purpose, and message across a variety of texts. Describe and apply insights gained from reading a variety of texts.
Compose a variety of texts that demonstrate reading comprehension, clear focus, logical development of ideas, and use of appropriate language that advance the writer s purpose. Determine and use effective approaches and rhetorical strategies for given reading and writing situations. Generate ideas and gather information relevant to the topic and purpose, incorporating the ideas and words of other writers in students writing using established strategies. Evaluate relevance and quality of ideas and information in recognizing, formulating, and developing a claim. Develop and use effective reading and revision strategies to strengthen the writer s ability to compose college-level writing assignments. Recognize and apply the conventions of standard English in reading and writing. Required Textbook(s): Bradbury, R. (1951). Fahrenheit 451. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Publications. Methods of Instruction The pedagogy or instructional techniques will include but are not limited to writing assignments, discussions, group projects, power points, videos, blackboard/online, and some lecture. Methods of Assessment will include quizzes, tests, papers, projects (individual and collaborative), portfolios, etc. Calendar/Schedule of DIRW 0323 Dates Content Units Fahrenheit 451 HMWK (Active Reading) WK 1 Why is College Read Introduction (pp. xixvi) Important? -- Bb discussion post WK 2 Reading Strategies for Students & Expanding Vocabulary using the Right Tools + star story map DIRW 0323 Lab Work Introduction to 0323 Lab Vocabulary Diagnostic
WK 3 WK 4 WK 5 Begin Essay #1 Identifying Clauses for Rules of Grammar Essay 1 Locating Topics, Main Ideas, and Supporting Details Prewriting + Transition Words Matching Retorical Patterns of Writing Read pp. 28-49 Discussion/Review Vocabulary quiz Topics & Main Ideas LearningCurve + Post-Test Vocabulary Prewriting + Post-Test Vocabulary quiz WK 6 Essay Structure Read pp. 50-65 TSI Practice testing WK 7 Revising & Editing Read pp. 67-89 Writing tutoring WK 8 1st Essay Due Fahrenheit reading pp. 90-106 Revising 5 paragraphs WK 9 WK 10 WK 11 WK 12 Intermediate Critical Reading Skills through Interpretative Reading Intermediate Critical Reading Skills: Using Compare-Contrast Structure to Support Critical Analysis Compare-Contrast Analysis of Societies & Begin Essay 2 Peer Review & Final Draft of Essay #2 Review Readings --Mid-term Exam Read pp. 107-119 + Blackboard Discussion Forum Read pp. 119-130 + Blackboard Discussion forum Read pp. 130-147 / Game Show review WK 13 Turn in last Essay Read pp. 147-158 TSI Testing WK 14 Study Guide/Game Show Review Week! WK 15 Final Exam!!! Interpretive Reading Post- Test Run-On Sentences LearningCurve + Post-Test Capitalization LearningCurve + Post-Test Course / Classroom Policies: Attendance is mandatory a student having the equivalent of 1 week of unexcused absences (class and lab) per developmental course will be reported to the Retention Director for counseling. Students who miss the equivalent of 2 weeks of unexcused absences per developmental course will be dropped from the class by the instructor.
Should this be the only developmental course that the student is taking, the student will also be required to drop from school. This class uses the Early Alert Report service. By week 6 of the semester, I will notify the Retention Coordinator if you have struggled with excessive absences, incomplete work, or difficulty with the course content. This warning is not an official grade, yet it indicates concerns about your progress that need to be addressed immediately. If you are contacted about an Early Alert Report, please respond to the Retention Coordinator and respective campus personnel (i.e., athletic coach, Dean of Students, instructor, campus administrator) to discuss action strategies and resources for academic improvement and, ultimately, success. Treat all students, faculty and staff with respect. Missed exams and class assignments are not encouraged and make-up work is only allowed for excused absences, which the student will have 1 week [from missed class date] to turn in. Cheating [including plagiarism] is not tolerated and will result in a zero. Class participation is expected. The more the student participates, the more the class will assist the student in passing the TSI Assessment. Support Services are in the Library where computers are available to students. Final Exam and Grading Policy: Lab Assignments 20% (e.g., graphic organizers, practice exercises, etc.) 100 points total Quizzes, discussions, reflections, (participation) etc. 20% quizzes throughout the semester 100 points total Essay(s) (cumulative) 20% - paper(s) totaling 100 points Mid-Term & Final Exam 40% - 200 points Total of 500 points 450 500+ = A 449-400 = B 399-350 = C ---- A C or better is considered passing for this course
349 and below = F The objective of this course is to EXPAND CRITICAL READING APPLICATION and WRITING SKILLS. Students are required to achieve an academic performance of no less than a 70% in the course OR pass the TSI Writing and Reading Assessments [otherwise student will repeat DIRW 0323]. Students will take the Ranger College DIRW 0323 mid-term & final exams, which accounts for 40% of the overall course grade. Students cannot be exempt from the final exam. NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT Admissions, employment, and program policies of Ranger College are nondiscriminatory in regard to race, creed, color, sex, age, disability, and national origin. ADA STATEMENT Ranger College provides a variety of services for students with learning and/or physical disabilities. The student is responsible for making the initial contact with the Ranger College Counselor. It is advisable to make this contact before or immediately after the semester begins. RECEIPT OF SYLLABUS Student must sign the attached receipt of syllabus for accountability of the terms of this course. Signature Date