email: cathy@cassandra.ucr.edu
web page: http://locutus.ucr.edu/~cathy

Required Textbooks
Diamond, Harriet, and Phyllis Dutwin. English, The Easy Way. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's, 1996.
Langan, John and Bill Broderick. Ten Steps to Building College Reading Skills. 2nd ed. Marlton, NJ: Townsend P, 1993.

Grade Policy
There are three grades given in this class--NC (no progress), SP (satisfactory progress), and CR (ready for Eng. 101). To receive a grade of SP, you must attend 3/4 of the classes and receive a 78 (C+) for a final grade. To receive a grade of CR, you must attend MORE than 3/4 of the classes and have a final grade of 93 (A-). Final Grades are determined by the following formula: Four Projects 48%, Class Discussion and Participation 10%, Mastery Tests and any other classwork or homework, 40%, Final Test 2%. See the project assignments for the late paper policy. Late Mastery Tests lose 10 points out of 100.

Attendance Policy
If you miss 1/4 of the class (7 classes), you will not be eligible for the CR grade; if you miss 1/3 of the classes (10 classes), you will receive a grade of NC.

Discrimination Policy
All comments made in class should respect the others in the classroom. Any comment that denigrates others on the basis of their sexual preference, their biological sex, their race, their medical or mental status, their religious beliefs, or their status as a veteran violates the civil rights of others and the school policy.

Advice from Cathy ...
1. Make going to class a priority--it is more important to come to some of class than none, so come in late if you arrive late. Likewise, if some personal emergency occurs, come to class without homework rather than missing the class.

2. Come to class prepared: bring your two textbooks, a dictionary, paper to write on, and pencils. Feel free to bring food or drink to class if it will help you think better.

3. Ask questions and talk about your worries, problems, or fears about the class material in class or at my office hours.

4. Schedule time to do your reading for each class--treat the reading as a serious assignment. If you try to read your assignments in bed or as you are doing something else, you will not understand the readings or be able to correctly answer the questions about the readings.

5. Get your writing center appointments as soon as possible. Use a daily calendar to make sure you can complete the four major projects on time.

Homework--There is always homework for each class. Besides the reading for each class, you will be asked to do some exercises or writing for each class. Plan time into your schedule to get this work done. The mastery tests must be either torn from Ten Steps and turned in or done or photocopies of the book pages. See the project sheets for directions.

Reading Schedule--the reading next to the date is to be read before the class on that date. Be prepared for a quiz on the day's reading.
English 85A
Week One
September 26 First class
Visit Writing Center

Week Two
September 29 Have read "How to Become a Better Reader and Thinker" Ten Steps, pp. 1-6; "Introduction" and "Effective Use of This Book" English, p. vii-viii
October 1 Have read "The Gentle Giant and the Reluctant Robber" in Ten Steps (24-6)
October 3 Have read and worked through the practices of Chapter 1 of Ten Steps; Mastery Test "Dictionary Use: Test 2" (pp. 221-2) Due

Week Three
October 6 Have read "Victims Versus Oppressors" in Ten Steps (40-2); Mastery Test "Dictionary Use: Test 4" (pp. 225-6) Due
October 8 Project 1 Due Have read and worked through the practices of Chapter2 of Ten Steps
October 10 Mastery Test "Vocabulary in Context: Test 1" (pp. 231-2) Due; Have read and worked through the practices of Chapter1 of English, The Easy Way

Week Four
October 13 Have read "Group Pressure" in Ten Steps (63-5); Mastery Test "Vocabulary in Context: Test 2" (pp. 233-4) Due
October 15 Have read and worked through the practices of Chapter3 of Ten Steps
October 17 Mastery Test "Main Ideas: Test 2" (pp. 245-6) Due; Have read and worked through the practices of Chapter2 of English, The Easy Way

Week Five
October 20 Have read "Touch Sparks Love" in Ten Steps (79-83); Mastery Test "Main Ideas: Test 4" (pp. 249-50) Due
October 22 Project 2 Due; Have read and worked through the practices of Chapter4 of Ten Steps
October 24 Mastery Test "Supporting Details: Test 5" (pp. 263-4) Due; Have read and worked through the practices of Chapter3 of English, The Easy Way

Week Six
October 27 Have read "Body Language" in Ten Steps (97-100); Mastery Test "Supporting Details: Test 6" (pp. 264-6) Due
October 29 Have read and worked through the practices Of Chapter5 of Ten Steps
October 31 Mastery Test "Location of Main Ideas: Test 3" (pp. 271-2) Due; Have read and worked through the practices of Chapter4 of English, The Easy Way

Week Seven
November 3 Have read"Messages from a Welfare Mom" in Ten Steps (120-122); Mastery Test "Location of Main Ideas: Test 4" (pp. 273-4) Due
November 5 Project 3 Due; Have read and worked through the practices Of Chapter6 of Ten Steps
November 7 Mastery Test "Implied Main Ideas: Test 1" (pp. 279-80) Due ; Have read and worked through the practices Of Chapter5 of English, The Easy Way

Week Eight
November 10 Have read"Behind Closed Doors: Violence in the Family" in Ten Steps (141-144); Mastery Test "Implied Main Ideas: Test 3" (pp. 283-4) Due
November 12 Mastery Test "Main Ideas: Test 6" (pp. 253-4) Due; Have read and worked through the practices Of Chapter7 of Ten Steps
November 14 Mastery Test "More About Supporting Details: Test 4" (pp. 297-8) Due; Have read and worked through the practices Of Chapter6 of English, The Easy Way

English 85A
Week Nine
November 17 Have read "Responsibility" in Ten Steps (163-165); Mastery Test "More About Supporting Details: Test 5" (pp. 299-300) Due
November 19 Project 4 Due; Have read and worked through the practices of Chapter8 of Ten Steps
November 21 Mastery Test "Transitions: Test 1" (pp. 303-4) Due; Have read and worked through the practices of Chapter7 of English, The Easy Way

Week Ten
November 24 Have read"How to Make it in College, Now that You're Here" in Ten Steps (190-6); Mastery Test "Transitions: Test 2" (pp. 305-6) Due
November 26 Mastery Test "Patterns of Organization: Test 1" (pp. 315-6) Due; Have read and worked through the practices of Chapter9 of Ten Steps
Holiday--November 28

Week Eleven
December 1 Have read"Exam Anxiety and Grandma's Health" in Ten Steps (211-213) Mastery Test "Patterns of Organization: Test 2" (pp. 317-8) Due
December 3 Have read and worked through the practices Of Chapter10 of Ten Steps
December 5 Mastery Test "Inferences: Test 1" (pp. 327-8) Due; Have read and worked through the practices of Chapter8 of English, The Easy Way

Final Exam