Advanced Reading - 2nd year
This is a reading course that builds and refines skills learned in advanced-level reading and critical thinking. Students will select and apply appropriate reading strategies to complete academic work. This course includes TOEFL practice.
Objectives:
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. Preview and predict the content of a reading selection at an advanced level by:
A. Considering the title, headings and subheadings;
B. Identifying the arrangement of topic, and subtopic through outlining;
C. Discussing previous knowledge on the subject;
D. Asking questions that might be answered in the reading.
2. Skim a text at an advanced level for general meaning by:
A. Identifying introduction and conclusion;
B. Understanding paragraph structure;
C. Recognizing topic sentences;
D. Recognizing when the main idea has been rephrased;
E. Being able to distinguish between the main idea and supporting details;
F. Listing and writing the main ideas;
G. Making a story outline or a time line.
3. Scan a text, read for specific information, and answer specific information questions in a limited amount of time at an advanced level.
4. Read a text and answer basic comprehension questions about main idea, vocabulary, and important details in the form of multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions at an advanced level.
5. Guess vocabulary from context by:
A. Recognizing clues (punctuation, example, comparison or contrast, definition, description, series, cause and effect, setting, and synonyms);
B. Recognizing prefixes, suffixes, and roots and discerning their meanings (mis-, pre-, im-, anthropo, poly, etc.).
6. Expand active vocabulary by:
A. Writing definitions;
B. Using the words in a sentence;
C. Looking up words in a monolingual dictionary;
D. Recognizing that a word can have more than one meaning;
E. Recognizing that certain suffixes give clues as to the part of speech.
7. Make inferences and be able to answer inference questions through multiple choice, true/false, and short answer formats at an advanced level.
8. Distinguish fact from opinion by:
A. Distinguishing vocabulary associated with fact from vocabulary associated with opinion (objective: scientific, fact, evidence, prove, certain; subjective: think, believe, agree, disagree, possible, theorize, etc.);
B. Recognizing stated or implied facts;
C. Recognizing stated or implied opinions.
9. Demonstrate increased speed.
10. Respond to an advanced-level text by:
A. Determining the author’s purpose;
B. Distinguishing fact from opinion;
C. Analyzing tone and point of view;
D. Evaluating and explaining reasons why the text is either effective or ineffective;
E. Including a proper citation of the source.
11. Summarize a text at an advanced level by:
A. Making a story outline and/or a time line;
B. Listing ideas;
C. Writing margin notes;
D. Recognizing and rewording main ideas;
E. Writing a 2-3 sentence summary statement.
12. Engage in extensive reading and demonstrate understanding.
Topics:
Course topics will include the following:
1. Vocabulary expansion
2. Reading skills strategies and practice
3. Content analysis and evaluation
4. Author opinion
Method of Instruction:
1. Lecture
2. Discussion
3. Group and pair work
4. Reading
Types of Assignments:
1. Readings
2. Textbook exercises
3. Vocabulary study
Sample Text:
1. Seal, Bernard, Academic Encounters: Human Behavior: Reading, Study Skills and Writing, Cambridge University Press.
