Stories of America Learning Community

"Everyone who got where he is has had to begin where he was."

– Robert Louis Stevenson

Spring 2010
H15
CRN# 32924
Instructor: Kim Nickell [knickell@bakersfieldcollege.edu, ph # 395-4654]
Office Hours: T&Th 8:30-10:30 (SS 143b), M-Th 10:30-4:30 (SS143)

I. Course Requirements:
1. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass
(Available at the B.C. bookstore, on the Internet, and in most libraries)
2. A biography, autobiography or historical fiction novel set in America during the years
from 1492-1865.
SUPPLIES:
1. 2- 100 item Scantrons
2. colored highlighters
3. “Post it” notepads
4. dictionary

II. POLICIES:
In order to meet the goals of the course, we both have responsibilities. I have the obligation
to prepare a challenging curriculum, to model proficient reading strategies, to organize
meaningful activities that enable you to use reading strategies, and to establish a secure
classroom atmosphere conducive to learning for all students.
You are responsible for making reading, learning, and active participation in this class a
priority in your life for the next sixteen weeks. In order to do this you must:
• ATTEND ALL CLASSES,
• ARRIVE ON TIME TO CLASS,
• COMPLETE THE ASSIGNED READINGS BEFORE THE CLASS
PERIOD WHEN THEY WILL BE DISCUSSED,
• HAND IN ALL ASSIGNED WORK WHEN IT IS DUE.

1. ATTENDANCE
• Five (5) absence before April 5, 2008 five (5) absences will result in your being
dropped from the class.
2. ASSIGNMENTS
• You are responsible for completing ALL work, even if you have been absent.
• Work turned in one class period late will receive half credit. No credit beyond that.
• E-mail me to find out what you have missed in class and what is due.
• You cannot make up in-class activities.

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3. ACADEMIC DEMEANOR
• Please turn off all cell phones and pagers before entering the classroom, and honor
the no eating and drinking (except water) policy. The instructor reserves the right to require
anyone who creates a distraction that interferes with other student’s learning to leave the
class.

III. WORK REQUIRED:

1. Active Class Participation
Discussion group notes
In class assignments
Misc. homework assignments
Textbook notes
Quizzes
2. Journals
Biography
Frederick Douglass
3. Projects
Biography Project
Frederick Douglass Essay
American Voices Project

GRADING SCALE:
A = 90-100% Excellent and faithful work in class participation and all assignments.
B = 80-89 % Very good work in class participation and assignments.
C = 70-79% Average work in class participation and assignments.
D = 60-69% Made less than average effort in class participation and assignments.
OR
Worked hard but did not reach the skill levels needed. May repeat class.
F = Below 60% Did not attempt to do the work for the class or did it very poorly, irregularly, or without
understanding. May repeat class.

IV. Grading Procedures: Grades

A 90-100%
B 80-89%
C 70-79%
D 60-69%
F 0-59%

V. Accommodations for students with disabilities

"Students with disabilities who believe they may need accommodations in this class are
encouraged to contact Supportive Services in FACE 16, 395-4334, as soon as possible to better
ensure such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion."

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VI. Course Objectives:
Students at reading level 4 or 5 (ASSET Reading Test score of 38 through 43) who have not met
the reading competency requirements at entrance or for those who wish to improve their skills in
academic reading. Emphasizes critical reading/thinking of college-level material (poetry, short
stories, essays, textbook chapters). Focuses on application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation in
both oral and written form. Includes outlining, summarizing, speed and flexibility. The course
also assists students in developing strategies for active reading while building confidence and
motivation for reading and effective student habits. ACDV B50 fulfills the reading competency
requirement for graduation.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

When a student successfully completes ACDV B50, s/he will be able to:
1. judge the effectiveness of skills s/he uses to be successful as a student, establish
appropriate academic goals, and design plans for action.
2. interact with text, realize when understanding breaks down, and be able to apply strategies
to improve comprehension
3. identify key concepts in introductory college level texts, explain the information, and
demonstrate understanding of those texts.
4. locate, comprehend, and interpret various types of written information in the library and
on the Internet.
6. evaluate the logic, relevance and validity of information.
7. communicate effectively in critical discussions
8. respond in writing to analytical questions
9. demonstrate proficiency in using critical thinking skills when investigating a controversial
issue by
a. making the issue clear to an audience by naming the key elements of the issue and
explaining each key element;
b. comparing at least two different opinions on the issue;
c. evaluating the relative worth of each view;
d. determining the relevance of the issue to his/her own life, and
e. assimilating the acquired information on the topic into a personal viewpoint.

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 Spring 2010 Tentative Course Schedule :
(This is subject to change, but students will be notified well in advance if changes are made).

Week Tuesday Thursday

1 Introductions Time Management, Textbook
January 19, 21 Reading History Survey and Reading
Student Success Survival manual
http://www2.bc.cc.ca.us/student_success/ DUE TODAY:
Icebreaker activity • Your textbook for history
ASSIGNMENT DUE 1/21/09 • Completed Student Learning
BRING HISTORY TEXTBOOK TO NEXT Communities Survey
CLASS • Learning styles inventory
• Learning styles inventory Assignment Due 1/26/09
• Complete Student Learning Communities
Survey • Scantron (form 882-E)
• Think about a biography or novel

2 Textbook Reading, Reading Assessment Active Reading, Marking your book

January 26, 28 DUE TODAY:
• Notes for Chapter 1 of History text
• Bring a 100 item scantron (Form 882-
E)
ASSIGNMENT DUE 1/28/09:
• Read and annotate the handout on
Active Reading
3 Journal writing, Group discussions for
Feb 2, 4 chapter 2, Book Talk Outline
Due Today: •Ch. 2 notes
Assignment due 2/4: •Essay questions
and key terms from your History
Syllabus
4 QAR levels of questioning/group work.
Feb. 9, 11 Due: •Ch. 3 notes
Assignment: •Continue to read and
journal biography or novel
5 Annotation, Summarizing, test reflection
Feb. 16, 18
Due: •Library, LC Reflection
•Ch. 4 notes
DUE TODAY:
• Annotated Active Reading
Handout
ASSINGMENT DUE:
• Time Management
• Bring Biography or Novel to class
• Textbook notes for history text (AP)
Chapter 2
• Continue reading Biography
Essay questions, Exam strategies
Due: •Bring your essay questions
from your history syllabus for group
work.
Tentative Library Tour/Learning
center tour, Academic Counseling
Assignment Due 2/16: •Library, LC
reflection
Annotation, Summarizing
Assignment 2/23: Ch. 5 notes

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6 Evaluating Internet Sources Plagiarism/citing sources
Feb. 23, 25
Due: •ch.5 Due: Internet article

Assignment: Find, read, and annotate Assignment 3/2: Ch. 6 Textbook notes
an Internet article

7 Plagiarism/Citing sources Analyzing information

March 2,4 Due: •ch.6 notes Due: •annotate handout on analyzing
informatiom

Assignment due 3/4: Assignment due 3/9:

•Analyzing information handout •ch.7 notes from textbook
•Ch.6 notes
8 Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence
March 9,11 Due: •ch.7 notes Due: •Dec. of Ind. paraphrase and
. •Extracting Evidence worksheet
•ch.8 notes from textbook

9 Developing an argument, First Amendment

March 16, 18 First Amendment
Due: •ch.8 notes Due: •First Amendment worksheet

Assignment due 3/18:

•First Amendment worksheet Assignment due 3/23:
•ch.9 notes

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March 23,25 Due: •ch.9 notes
Due: •Read pp. 1-12 in Fredrick
Douglass. Highlight two important
Assignment due 3/25•Read pp. 1-12 in ideas.
Fredrick Douglass. Highlight two
important ideas. Assignment due 4/6: •Textbook ch. 10
•Journal entry for pp.1-12 of Frederick
Douglass

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11 Slavery Slavery
April 6, 8 Due: •Textbook ch. 10
•Journal entry for pp.1-12 of Frederick Due: Read pp. 12-26 in Fredrick
Douglass Douglass. Highlight two important
ideas.
Assignment due 4/13:
•Biography Projects
•Read pp. 12-26 in Fredrick Douglass. Assignment due 4/13:
Highlight two important ideas. •Biography projects
•Journal entry for pp.12-26 of
Frederick Douglass

12 Biography Projects due TODAY Slavery

April 13,15 Due: •Journal entry for pp.12-26 of
Frederick Douglass
Assignment due 4/15: •Highlight 2
important ideas from pp. 26-34 of
Frederick Douglass •Read and annotate
Hannah Valentine handout
Due: •Highlight 2 important ideas from
pp. 26-34 of Frederick Douglass
•Hannah Valentine
•Ch.11 notes or idea map
Assignment 4/20:• journal entry of
pp.26-34 of Frederick Douglass
•Ch. 12 notes from textbook

13 Women’s Suffrage Women’s Suffrage

April 20, 22 Video
Due: •Ch.12 notes Due: •Video notes
•journal entry of pp.26-34 of Frederick Read and highlight 2 important ideas in
Douglass Fredrick Douglass pp. 34-59
Assignment due 4/22: •Video notes
Read and highlight 2 important ideas in Assignmnet 4/27: •journal pp. 34-59 of
Fredrick Douglass pp. 34-59 Frederick Douglass•
•ch.13 notes from textbook
14
April 27, 29 Due: •ch.13 textbook notes
•journal pp. 34-59 of Frederick
Douglass•
Assignment due 4/29:
We the People Essay

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15 Due: •ch 14,15 notes •highlight pp.59-69 Assignment due May 13:
May 4, 6 Slavery paper
Due: Journal # Douglass pp.34-59 American Voices Project
We the People Essay DRP today
Assignment 12/03: highlight 2 ideas
pp.59-69 of Frederick Douglass
Ch. 14 and 15 notes from textbook

16 Final Exam Week No Regular Final exam: Thursday, May 13,

May 11, 13 Classes 12:00 pm-1:50 pm.