ATTENDANCE POLICY

The Reading Department's attendance/tardiness policy is simple:
     If you tend to show up late, your final grade will be LOWERED.
     If you are often absent, you will be probably fail the class.
     Please do NOT CALL or E- MAIL me with excuses.  It won't help you.

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U N E X C U S E D    A B S E N C E S                                          F I N A L  G R A D E  R E S U L T

 0....................................................................................................Positively affects grade!
 1...................................................................................OK, but affects a borderline grade
 2.....................................................................................Final grade lowered by ONE letter
 3...................................................................................Final grade lowered by TWO letters
 4 ................................................................................Final grade lowered by THREE letters
 5 OR MORE...............................................................................Automatic  F

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T A R D I N E S S
Tardy means that you are more than 5 minutes late to class.
TWO TARDIES = ONE UNEXCUSED ABSENCE


E X C U S E D  A B S E N C E S

An absence is excused if you have dated DOCUMENTATION ( not a note from home).
Examples of documentation include:
Accident report, funeral announcement, citizenship ceremony notice, court appearance notice, ticket, religious holiday, prescription copy,
doctor receipt, lawyer receipt, towing receipt, etc.
Don't schedule appointments with advisors during class time.

 
 
 
 

 

 

CELL PHONE ALERT

        If your phone goes off during class,
    I will CONFISCATE it. You may pick it up in LIB 412.
      
      
   

 

 

 

FOOD IN CLASS

I'm not running a student lounge.
   Chew gum ( quietly ), drink coffee or soda.
  But if it can be eaten, it is prohibited --- that includes C-A-N-D-Y.  
  Make time for breakfast before class --- you will think better; your grade will be better.
 Don't make me remind you during class. You won't like the way I do it.

While we are discussing mouths, if you must Y A A A W W W W W N N N because the course is so exciting that you could not sleep the night before, kindly cover up your mouth while doing so. Think of one social taboo from your own culture, then you will understand my point.
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOOKS

Beck's is only required for BOOK WAIVER. I place orders with Beck's as a courtesy to students who are on campus. If you find a less expensive way (short of stealing) to get the books for my class, by all means do it!  There is always your neighborhood library.
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

FINAL EXAM

Read 117 does have a final exam. READ 116 does not because...

I consider the course's media project a substitute for a test. The project is a more constructive use of your time and a more accurate measurement of your ability to connect our readings with real life situations. However, at 25-30%of your final grade, the media project looms as a major component of your final grade.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

WRITING MATERIALS

Since you are now in college, I expect you to be able to explain, develop, and express your thoughts in greater depth than when you were younger. College-ruled paper is easier to read from. I ask for loose-leaf because the tails that come out of a spiral notebook are much more difficult to organize and keep together.
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

 
 
 
 

WHY ARE YOU HERE?

You are in this course because of your scores on the university's placement test. It is a very important determinant of your initial courses. If you feel that you could have done better, see your advisor.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

MORE READING COURSES

After you finish READ 116, you will be recommended by me to one of two directions:  
  READ 117 or "None needed." Your advisor will ask me for this information around the middle of the semester.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

COURSE CREDIT

Any course taken at NEIU that is 100-level or above is university credit. Whether or not the credit transfers to another university is dependent on the next university's requirements.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLASSROOM CONDUCT

I am in regular contact with students' advisors. If I believe that you are disrupting class, acting immature or disrespectful to me or to another student, I will make arrangements with your advisor to have you removed from the course. This decision is based on the University Student Conduct Code.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 


FINANCIAL AID BOOK WAIVER

Beck's Bookstore has a definite deadline for book waiver use. It is usually FRIDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASS. You will not need my books right away. So use your waiver at Beck's like a credit card. I will have placed my order for books BEFORE the store's deadline. So, before the deadline, go to the bookstore, tell them that you are there for my books. They will charge your waiver for the books. Then when the books do arrive, take your paperwork back to the store and pick up your books.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

IMPROVING READING SKILLS

First and foremost, I recommend that you read EVERYTHING: mail from friends, magazines, newspapers, love stories, hallway posters, even the back of a cereal box! Keeping a personal journal and staying in touch with friends by letter and e-mail also works. Another proven way to increase your reading skills is a software called Ultimate Speed Reader by Davidson. It is available on CD at Office Depot. You need a CD on your home computer to run it. It is a fun way to improve your concentration and speed and eye coordination, which is a good skill for readers to know.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

LOWEST PASSABLE GRADE

A "C" grade is the lowest that you want to get. If you get a "D" or "F" for any reading course, you will automatically be required to retake the course.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

COLLEGE SUCCESS

ORGANIZATION! That is why I recommend that you get a pocket folder for each of your courses. It is a good way to organize your homework, returned papers and handouts from each course. That way, you don't leave anything at home or in your car.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

OFFICE

LIB-412 is on the WEST END of the 4TH floor of the RONALD WILLIAMS LIBRARY.
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 

ILLNESS

    See attendance policy.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

FORMAL PAPER

University requirement.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

BOOK PRICES

That varies by each semester, because I assign different books each time. I have never seen the price of books for my classes exceed 25-30 dollars.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

MEDIA PROJECT COMPUTER DISK

If you already have flash drives or disks for other reasons, then there is no reason for you to buy a disk just for this class.

Several students each semester lose valuable work by forgetting their disks in a university computer.
Be sure to remove your disk before you leave computer labs!


 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 




OFFICE PHONE NUMBER

My office is 4 4 2 - 5 4 4 6.
      That number is also on your syllabus.
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

STAPLE PAPERWORK

Briefly, here is my perspective on this controversial topic:

   1. Grading 50 or more papers at a time has turned me into a proponent
       of organization. I like to get done quickly, just like you do.
       I don't like to chase down loose papers.
   2. I am an educator, not a secretary.
   3. It's your grade & your responsibility, not mine.
   4. Compared to the price of some of your textbooks,
       what does a stapler cost?
   5. Be prepared for grade reduction (10%, to start)
       after first warning about stapling.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

   

GRADE PROGRESS

I will "eyeball" your grade---but don't expect me to calculate your grade
     before the end of the semester. Besides, you know how you
     are doing, right? I PREFER that you do the following:

    1.  Use this web site's PERSONAL GRADE TRACKER to keep a record
         of all your assignment grades, then average them.
         You can look at the syllabus for the letter grade equivalent.
    2.  Keep track of your attendance and participation.

    Using the above information will give you a very close estimate. Plus
    it makes you more responsible for keeping track. There's no magic to it!
    Remember: ONE ZERO can really hurt your grade.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

NO HOME COMPUTER

It is a bit of an inconvenience, but there are computer labs
     all over this campus. Check around. Just about every building has one.
     The labs are very popular, so don't be frustrated if you find one that is full.
      It is a good way to fill time between classes, check your email,
      do assignments, or just see what is online. Another thing to consider is that
      this is an internet web site. So you do NOT need to be on campus to use it.
      Most public libraries have internet access. If that is more convenient, do it!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

THIS FAQ PAGE IS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE COURSE SYLLABUS.
STUDENTS ARE BOUND BY ITS CONTENT.