Instructor T. Davis
UNST: 198
Fall Quarter 2014
Eastern Washington University
1
UNST 198: College and Reading Strategies Course Syllabus
Instructor: Theresa Davis, M.Ed.
Office: JFK Library Learning Commons, M28
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 9-10 am (Cheney).
Contact: 509-359-6415
509-828-1397 (Riverpoint office, M & W)
Email: [email protected]
*Persons with special needs may make arrangements for accommodations by calling
Theresa Davis at 509-359-6415 seven days prior to event.
Course Description
This course is designed to assist undergraduate students with operative methodology and
application into reading textbooks critically, reading peer-reviewed research articles
critically, and inquiry approaches to writing. It will act as the primer to such Library
Learning Commons resources as: the reference librarians, hands-on peer-reviewed article
retrieval, Writers’ Center responder sessions, and the utilization of the Mulit-Media
Commons Lab. Students will develop collegiate level thinking skills by surveying and
applying conventional methods within the constructs of critical thinking, critical reading,
critical inquiry, and critical writing. Student’s higher order thinking levels will be advanced
by way of their engagement in identifying, locating, analyzing, and responding to their
course textbook readings and subsequent primary research readings.
Course Purpose
Students successfully completing a course in College and Reading Strategies will
demonstrate a range of investigative thinking skills and abilities which they will use in the
acquisition of knowledge. Their work at the end of the quarter will be clear, precise, and
well-reasoned. They will demonstrate, in their thinking, a command of key reading
comprehensions, research terms, and distinctions.
Instructor T. Davis
UNST: 198
Fall Quarter 2014
Eastern Washington University
2
Their writings will demonstrate a mind in charge of its own ideas, assumptions, inferences,
and intellectual processes. They will demonstrate the ability to analyze research questions
and issues clearly and precisely, and they will demonstrate their ability to think critically
and research concepts effectively. The educational goals are to establish excellent reasoning
and problem-solving skills by the end of the course (Critical Thinking
Foundation, 2013).
Higher Order Thinking Objectives and Outcomes:

Students will understand the practices of a successful college students (Bloom’s
Affective Learning Domain)

Students will access and modify their unique reading approaches (Bloom’s Affective
Learning Domain)

Students will understand and apply critical reading comprehension skills and
strategies to in-class and to homework assignments (Bloom’s Cognitive Learning
Domain)

Students will analyze both textbook and empirical readings (Bloom’s Cognitive
Learning Domain)

Students will reinterpret assigned readings using an inquiry approach (Bloom’s
Cognitive Learning Domain)

Students will identify and utilize conventional methods in Library Learning
Commons inquiry procedures (Bloom’s Cognitive Learning Domain)

Students will create an educated point-of-view in terms of course readings as
demonstrated through writing assignments (Bloom’s Cognitive Learning Domain)

Students will articulate their discoveries through a course culminating project
(Dave’s Psychomotor Taxonomy)
Instructor T. Davis
UNST: 198
Fall Quarter 2014
Eastern Washington University
3
Required Textbook:
Ebook subscription:
Developing critical reading skills. Author: Spears, Deanne. Publisher: McGraw-Hill Higher
Education, 9th Edition. CourseSmart.
<http://instructors.coursesmart.com/9781111828219/firstsection>
(Recommended) (The least expensive 90 day rental option)
For Hard Copies:
Amazon.com (The least expensive hard copy option)
Ewu Book Store:
Pending arrival of book order.
Computer Access:
JFK Library Learning Commons, M28 (During office hours)
(If you do not have access to a computer, I will introduce you to the JFK Library Learning Common’s
resources)
Grading System Break Down:
There are 400 possible points in this course.
Participation
Week One: TABE assessment
Week Two: Homework assignment
Week Three: Homework assignment
Week Four: Homework assignment
Week Five: No assignment
Week Six: Homework assignment
Week Seven: Take home Mid-Term (Critical
inquiry paper) (Field trip to library)
Homework assignment: Research paper
retrieval
Week Eight: Exit TABE
Week Nine: Writers’ Center visit
Week Ten: Mid-Term paper due
Finals Week: Culminating project due
40 points (2 or 4 points per class)
20 Points
40 points
40 points
40 points
40 points
40 points (research paper)
20 points
40 points
40 points
40 points
Instructor T. Davis
UNST: 198
Winter Quarter 2014
Eastern Washington University
4
Weekly Course Content and Assignment Schedule
Tuesdays and Thursdays (11:00-11:50) Patterson 104
Tuesdays (1:00-2:40) Martin 203
* The T&Th course agenda is equivalent to the Tuesday 1-2:40 agenda.
*The instructor reserves the right to modify or change curriculum depending on observed student
assessment.
Date
Week 2
29 Sept.
Class Content
1. Role
2. Introduction
3. Ice breaker
4. Syllabus
Readings
No Readings
Assignment
Assignment One
Set up Canvas
Take TABE
20 possible points
Week 2
1st Oct.
1. Role
2. Brief overview
3. Motivation
lecture
4. Book
5. TABE
1. Role
2. Purpose of
reading
3. Reading
No Readings
Acquire book
Chapter One
Assignment Two
Week 3
6th Oct.
Practice Essay:
How Jockey’s Control
their Weight.
Pg. 37
Due
40 points possible
comprehension
n
4. Metacognition
Week 3
8th Oct.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Role
Vocabulary
Annotating
Paraphrasing
Continue Chapter
One
Instructor T. Davis
UNST: 198
Winter Quarter 2014
Eastern Washington University
5
Week 4
13th Oct.
1. Role
2. Reading for
main ideas
3. Controlling
ideas
4. Supporting
details
Chapter Two
Week 4
15th Oct.
1. Role
2. Reading
rhetorically
3. Narration
4. Mixed modes
of discourse
Continue Chapter
Two
Week 5
20th Oct.
1. Role
2. Reading
between the
lines
3. Facts
4. Inferences
5. Evidence
Chapter Three
Week 5
22nd Oct.
1. Role
2. Reading
Visually
3. Reading
electronic-text
4. Graphs
5. Charts
Continue Chapter
Three
Assignment Three
Practice Essay:
From Among the
Thugs Bill Bifford.
P. 73
Due
40 possible points
Assignment Four
Practice Essay:
The Standing Babas
Pg. 113
Due
40 Possible points
Instructor T. Davis
UNST: 198
Winter Quarter 2014
Eastern Washington University
6
Week 6
27th Oct.
1. Role
2. Guest speaker
Week 6
29Th Oct.
1. Role
2. Guest speaker
Week 7
3, Nov.
1. Role
2. Methods of
paragraph
development
3. Facts and stats
4. Illustrations
5. Compare and
contrast
Chapter Four
Week 7
5, Nov
1. Role
2. Cause and
effect
3. Analysis
4. Classification
5. Definition
1. Role
2. Patterns of
paragraphs
3. Mid-Term
paper rubric
requirements
discussion
4. Library visit
Continue Chapter
Four
Week 8
10, Nov
No assignment
Assignment Five
Practice Essay:
The Pen and Scalpel
Pg. 160
Due
40 possible points
Chapter Five
Assignment Six (pt.
1)
Retrieve research
paper for analysis.
Due
20 possible points
Assignment Seven
Mid-term paper
40 possible points
Instructor T. Davis
UNST: 198
Winter Quarter 2014
Eastern Washington University
7
Week 8
12, Nov
Week 9
17, Nov.
1. Role
Continue Chapter
2. Ascertain
Five
research paper
1. Role
2. Critical
reading and
questioning of
paper
3. Annotating
paper
4. Summarizing
paper
5. Exit TABE
Assignment Six(pt. 2)
Bring research paper
to class
20 possible points
Assignment Eight
Exit TABE
20 points
Week 9
19, Nov.
1. Role
2. Writing
inquiry paper
in class
assignment
3. Peer-editing
* formative
assessment
Week 10
24, Nov.
1. Role
2. After analysis
of formative
assessment,
we will
recover where
needed
3. Writers’
Centers visit
Assignment Nine
Feedback on midterm
writing assignment.
Writers’ Center visit
40 possible points
Instructor T. Davis
UNST: 198
Winter Quarter 2014
Eastern Washington University
8
Week 10
1, Dec.
Week 11
3, Dec.
Final Day
8, Dec.
1. Role
2. Mid-Term
paper due
3. PLUS Groups
4. One-on-one
tutoring
5. e-Tutoring
6. RP resources
1. Role
2. Course
evaluations
1. Role
2. Presentation
due
Paper due
40 possible points
Assignment Ten
Culminating project
Due in Class.
40 possible points
*summative assessment
Student Conduct
*Taken from Eastern Washington University’s intra-search as faculty samples for student conduct.
Academic Integrity
1) Violations of academic integrity will not be tolerated. Examples of academic dishonesty
include misrepresenting others’ work as your own, failure to provide proper citations in
written text, stealing or destroying material intended for the use of other students,
using notes or cell phones during exams, taking photographs of exams, assisting others
during exams, copying someone else’s work, letting his or her work be copied. Any
violation of academic integrity for any assignment in this class may result in an XF
grade for the course as a whole. An XF grade indicates that you failed the course for
violating EWU's policy on academic integrity. For additional information regarding this
issue, refer to the following link http://access.ewu.edu/Undergraduate-Studies/Curriculumand-Policies/Academic-Integrity.xml.
2) Any form of academic dishonesty will be documented and reported to the Vice Provost
for Undergraduate Affairs. A student who cheats on a test, quiz or homework
assignment (copying someone else’s work, letting his or her work be copied, talking or
sharing a calculator during an exam and other forms of cheating) will receive a zero on
the assignment or assessment. Another incidence of cheating may result in a grade of XF
for the quarter. (XF on a transcript indicates that a student received a 0.0 because he or
she cheated.) For additional information regarding this issue, refer to the following link
Instructor T. Davis
UNST: 198
Winter Quarter 2014
Eastern Washington University
9
http://access.ewu.edu/Undergraduate-Studies/Curriculum-and-Policies/AcademicIntegrity.xml.
3) EWU expects the highest standards of academic integrity of its students. Academic
honesty is the foundation for a fair and supportive learning environment for all
students. Personal responsibility for academic performance is essential for equitable
assessment of student accomplishments. The university supports the faculty in setting
and maintaining standards of academic integrity. Charges of academic dishonesty are
reviewed through a process that allows for student learning and impartial review.
EWU’s academic integrity policy is available online at:
http://access.ewu.edu/Undergraduate-Studies/Curriculum-and-Policies/AcademicIntegrity.xml
4) Statement on plagiarism and academic fraud: Broadly speaking, plagiarism occurs
when an author uses the words, ideas, and/or phrasing of another author (either
directly or in paraphrase) without proper attribution. Cutting and pasting sentences,
paragraphs, or entire articles written by someone else into your essay and then
submitting it as your own is the obvious example. However, academic fraud is broader
than this. For example, if you use the words of another author but fail to put quotation
marks around them, that’s plagiarism. Or if you put quotation marks around them but
fail to provide a citation, that’s plagiarism too. Using the notes or class materials of
another student in the completion of an exam or other assignment (whether it’s an inclass or take-home exam), is cheating. If you provide your notes/class materials to
another student who then uses them to complete an assignment, that could be defined
as cheating too.
In addition, there’s a difference between collaboration and collusion. Collaboration
involves things like talking, thinking, or brainstorming with your fellow students and is
generally encouraged. Collusion occurs when that collaboration results in the
submission of identical or substantially similar work by two or more students and is
always frowned upon. There is a difference between careless academic practice and the
outright intent to deceive, and sanctions for such offenses can be modulated depending
on the professor’s view of the seriousness of the offense. The point is that you need to
be triple-extra sure about what sorts of collaboration are permitted by your instructors
and which aren’t. Do not assume anything! Just because a certain kind of collaboration
has not been expressly prohibited by an instructor does not mean it’s permitted. Just
because some professors permit collaboration does not mean they all do.
Any student found guilty of plagiarism or other academic fraud in this class will
automatically receive a 0.0 grade for the course. I reserve the right to refer especially
serious instances of academic fraud (e.g. an obvious intent to deceive) to the
appropriate university authorities and request the more serious sanction of an X/F
grade for the course. Please consult with me if you’re even slightly unsure of what this
all means.
Instructor T. Davis
UNST: 198
Winter Quarter 2014
Eastern Washington University
10
EWU’s academic integrity policy is available online at:
http://access.ewu.edu/Undergraduate-Studies/Curriculum-and-Policies/AcademicIntegrity.xml
Disability Support and ADA: Eastern Washington University is committed to providing
support for students with disabilities. If you are a student with physical, learning,
emotional, or psychological disabilities needing an accommodation, you are encouraged to
stop by Disability Support Services (DSS), TAW 124 and speak with Kevin Hills, the
Manager of DSS, or call 509-359-6871.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action: No person shall, on the basis of age, race,
religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or disability, be
excluded from participation in, or be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to
discrimination under any program or activity of Eastern Washington University. Eastern
Washington University adheres to affirmative action policies to promote diversity and
equal opportunity for all faculty and students.
Student Conduct: Students are subject to the University’s Student Conduct Code, which
has been promulgated as a chapter in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) at Ch.
172-120. This code protects the interests of the University in providing an atmosphere
supportive of student learning. In this class, students are expected to treat other
individuals with respect and to engage in the learning activities assigned. Distractive,
disruptive, irrelevant or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.
Time Commitment: As per the guidelines for Eastern Washington University, for each
credit hour spent in a lecture-discussion setting in the classroom, per week, requires 2hours of outside preparation time. This is a 4 credit-hour class, and you can expect to put
in up to 8-hours per week outside of the classroom on the preparation, reading, and project
assignments.
Withdrawal/ Incomplete: If it becomes necessary for you to withdraw from the course, it
is your responsibility to do so. To receive an incomplete (X), a student must be passing the
course when a verifiable documented emergency occurs after the last withdrawal date.