College/Test Preparation

College/Test Preparation

COLLEGE/TEST PREPARATION

Fall 2014

Course Outline and Expectations

Course Objectives

The goal of this course is to prepare students for college by focusing on the ACT and encouraging students to be independent learners. College academic expectations differ from those of high school. College courses often require extensive reading, assessing the application of concepts rather than facts, and may have few graded activities. Also, the responsibility for learning is shifted from the instructor to the student.

Therefore, beginning college students require a foundation in reading and study skills that will enable them to handle college-level work. Reading and study skills are inseparable. This course will focus on the following areas:

  • ACT – The primary objective of this course is to assist high school students in preparing for the ACT, a college admissions test.
  • College Preparation – Students will be introduced to college learning expectations and research methods. Reading practice, including basic techniques for literal and critical reading comprehension and increasing vocabulary knowledge, is included, as reading ability is the strongest indicator of student success in college.
  • Career Exploration – Students will research career options and choices as well as search for colleges and universities that fit their career plan.

Course Delivery

There is no textbook for this class. Students are expected to devote a minimum of 5 hours per week to online activities and reading. The College/Test Prep Moodle site can be accessed at:

will need to bring the following to class each day:

  • Book to read (time is scheduled during each class for SSR – Sustained Silent Reading)
  • Pen or pencil (pencils ONLY for ACT and PSAT)
  • Spiral or composition notebook
  • 3-ring binder or a folder with pockets for handouts
  • Reading Log (spiral notebook, composition notebook or loose-leaf paper in a report folder)

Reading Log Due Dates:

First book: September 30

Second book: October 28

Third book: December 2

Fourth book: January 13

GRADES

Your grade will be determined using the following percentages. The scale used is found in the Lake Holcombe Parent/Student Handbook.

First Quarter:

  • 50% - Reading Practice. Students will read a non-fiction and a college-bound reading book; a Reading Response for each book must be written and an AR test must be taken and passed on both books for full credit
  • 50% - Completion of all activities. Activities include practice tests, completing tutorials, forum discussions and submitting assigned work.

Second Quarter:

  • 50% - Reading Practice. Two additional books, one college-bound and one non-fiction; a Reading Response for each book must be written and an AR test taken and passed on both books for full credit
  • 40% - ACT results. Full ACT tests will be taken Week 1 and Week 18. The difference in the composite scores will determine 40% of the second quarter grade: A = if score improved; B = if score stayed the same; C = if score went down.
  • 10% - Completion of all activities.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

  • Students are expected to be responsible and submit their own work (homework, special projects, quizzes, learning logs) in this class. Therefore, direct copying of the work of another that is submitted as your own is considered cheating. Examples of what is considered cheating would be copying or stealing someone else’s homework, passing or receiving answers for quizzes of tests, plagiarism on reports, etc. These are some examples; however, the teacher’s definition of cheating is not limited to these.
  • When it comes to writing your assignments, all the words should come straight from you, unless you are supporting your assertions with a properly cited quote. Passing off someone else’s work as your own is plagiarism (cheating). A student must give credit to the originality of others whenever he or she does any of the following:
  • Quotes another person’s actual words, either oral or written;
  • Paraphrases another person’s words, either oral or written;
  • Uses another person’s idea, opinion, or theory; or
  • Borrows facts, statistics, or other material, unless the information is common knowledge.
Consequences are as follows:
oFirst offense on daily work/homework: “0” on the assignment and a call home;
oSecond offense on daily work/homework OR first offense on quiz or special project: “0” on the assignment/quiz/special project, a call home and further disciplinary action as stated in the Student Handbook.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Phone: 715-595-4241, ext. 246e-mail:

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