Dr. L. Adam Mekler 
DVRD 101: 20
Fall 2009
Office:  Holmes Hall 228
Office Phone: (443) 885-4032
Email@Morgan: adam.mekler@morgan.edu
Class Homepage: http://l-adam-mekler.com/dvrd101links.htm
Any revisions to this syllabus will be posted on our class page. Please check the web page regularly for any announcements, especially if you have missed class.

Go To Assignments For:
August/September October November  December 
Course Requirements

Required Texts:

Students are required to bring all necessary books with them to class. There will be periodic book quizzes, during which anyone who doesn't have the assigned reading with them WILL lose a full point off the final average.  Please come speak with me if you have any questions.

Purpose of the Course:

As the departmental syllabus makes clear, this course is designed to improve students' ability to comprehend and retain information found in the texts they will be reading during their university tenure.


Grading:
Homework 10%
Class Participation/Attendance (See Policy ) 10%
In-Class Exercises  10%
Vocabulary Quizzes 10%
Mid-Term Exam  20%
Final Examination  20%
Reading List (Subject to Subtle Revision):
Aug 24 Course Introduction 
26 Diagnostic Examination
31 Discussion of Reading Process
Sept 2 Breaking Through, Ch. 2: pp. 31-47 
Complete Exercise 1 on pge. 34 and bring to class today
7 Labor Day:  No Class
9  "Obama Dances Awkwardly" (handout)
14 Breaking Through, Ch. 2: pp. 48-56, 71-73 
Complete Comprehension Questions (pp. 54-55) and Vocabulary (55) and bring to class
16 Breaking Through, Ch. 3: pp. 77-93 
Ex. 1, pp. 82-83;  Ex. 7, p. 88
17 Matriculation Convocation
21 Ch. 3: 93-110 
Ex. 11, pp. 95-96; Ex. 15, pp. 103-4
23 Ch. 4: pp. 115-39 
Do exercise 11 on pp. 130-34. 
(Please list the key terms instead of underlining them.)
28 Ch. 4 (cont.) 
Do exercise 12 on pp. 135-37
(Please list the key terms instead of underlining them.)
30 Ch. 4 pp. 140-48 
Complete Comprehension Q's (145-46) and Vocabulary Q's (146) and bring to class
Oct 5 Ch. 5: pp.175-211 
Do exercise 3 on pp. 182-85, exercise 5 on pp. 190-91
7 Ch. 5 (cont.) 
Do exercise 7 on pp. 195-96, exercise 11 on pp.  206-208
12 Ch. 7: pp. 317-47 
Read Ex. 3, but no notes are necessary
Do exercise 4, pp. 324-25, exercise 5, p. 326, and exercise 8, p. 331
14 Mid-Term Examination (See review )
Last Day to Submit Assignments or Excuses for Absences/Lates for 1st Part of Class
15 Performing Arts Convocation
19 Ch. 6: pp. 257-81 
Do exercises 3 and 4, pp. 264-66
21 Ch. 6 (cont.) 
Do exercise 10, pp. 278-79
Vocabulary Quiz
26 Ch. 6, 282-99
Comprehension Q's, 288-89, Vocabulary 289-90
Group Discussion of Selection 2,  Q's on 296-299
28 Ch. 6, 300-16 
Comprehension Q's, 306-7, Vocabulary 307-9
Vocabulary Quiz
31 Last Day to Drop Classes
Nov 2 Ch. 9: pp. 377-93 
Do exercises 1, p. 381, & exercise 2, pp. 383-84
Group Discussion of HW
4 Ch. 9, pp. 402-10
Exercises, pp. 407-10
Vocabulary Quiz
9 Ch. 9, 411-23
Exercises, pp. 417-20
Group Discussion of Selection 3, Q's on 417-20
11 Ch. 10: pp. 441-56 
Exercise 6, pp. 450-52, and Exercise 7, pp. 452-55
Vocabulary Quiz
12 Founders Day Convocation
16 Reader's Tip on Short Story, p. 150
Ch. 10, 457-65
Q's on 462-65
Group Discussion of Assignments for the Day
18 Ch. 10, 472-79
Q's on 477-79
Vocabulary Quiz
23 Ch. 11: pp. 485-509 
Ex. 5, pp. 495-96, Ex. 10, 502-8
Group Discussion of Ex. 10
25 Ch. 11, 518-25
Q's on 522-25
30 Ch. 11, 526-35
Q's on 530-32
Group Discussion of 526-32
Dec 2 Final Review
Last Day to Submit Assignments or Excuses for Absences/Lates for 2nd Part of Class
3 Bill of Rights/TransAfrica Day Convocation
9 Final Exam:  12:00 pm: Jenkins 203
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