Course Syllabus

Course ID:	RDG100AA
Title:	Successful College Reading - Organizing for Success
Modality:	Internet
Credit Hours:	1.00

Course Section Information

Course Materials

There are no required materials for this course.

You will need access to Microsoft Word and Adobe Reader.

Course Description and Competencies

Official Course Description
Includes goal setting, time management, college orientation, reading content materials. Emphasis on organizational skills and strategies for any introductory class in any subject area. Introduction to Learning Management System (LMS), how to organize and manage college reading assignments, and how to navigate information literacy using campus resources.
Official Course Prerequisites
A grade of C or better in RDG081 or appropriate reading placement or permission of Instructor. Corequisites: Any 100-level course in another content area or permission of Instructor.
Official Course Competencies
Navigate college Learning Management System (LMS) to succeed in web-enhanced, hybrid and online courses. Create plans that use organizational skills to manage college textbook assignments. Create learning plans based on content area reading requirements. Improve memory and concentration skills. Effectively employ content area vocabulary. Employ general and content specific information literacy skills.

Course Requirements

1. You must complete all assignments in the course to be eligible to get a passing grade.
2. Note: There are no exams in this course.

Time Requirements

Remember that this is a one credit ­hour class. As such, you will need to dedicate significant time to this course. Plan to spend at least one hour on course content and at least two hours on homework for a total of at least three hours each week.

Grading Procedure and Scale

Grading Procedure

There are 200 possible points for this course.

Syllabus Acknowledgment =	0 Points (but required)
Assignments =	200 Points
Total Points Possible =	200 points

Grading Scale

Letter grades for assignments, examinations, and the course will be determined by the following scale:

179 – 200 points	=	A (90% - 100%)
159 – 178 points	=	B (80% - 89%)
139 – 158 points	=	C (70% - 79%)
119 – 138 points	=	D (60% - 69%)
0 – 118 points	=	F (0% - 59%)

Note: The grading procedure for this course is based on the total number of possible points.

The grading scale is administered equally to all students in the course. Do not expect to receive a grade that is higher than what you earned by your total points. There will be no point adjustments made for such things as class participation or other subjective factors.

There is no extra credit available for this course.

Submitting Assignment

All assignments are listed under the "Reading Assignment" box and in the "Assessing Your Learning" section. The lessons can be accessed from the "Syllabus and Lessons" links on your Course Homepage.

Note to students: Keep a copy of everything you submit. 

Syllabus Acknowledgement Receipt

This syllabus constitutes a binding contract between you, Rio Salado College, and college employees. Once you have read it, you will be required to submit a statement that you have read and understood it, before you are allowed further access to the course. If you have any questions about the overall requirements of the course, be sure to email the instructor assigned to your section. Turning in the receipt marks the beginning of your participation in the class. This syllabus acknowledgement form is located in the “Introduction” section of Lesson 1.

Exams

There is no proctored examination for this course.

Course Acceleration and Extension Options

There is no acceleration option for this course. The assignments need to be completed in a sequential fashion with enough time allowed in between for feedback. If a student submits multiple assignments at once, without waiting for feedback, s/he may, at the discretion of the instructor, be asked to revise his/her submitted work.

Hints for Success

Be sure to review the "Quick Start" tutorial.

Bookmark the URL for Rio Salado's Online Writing Laboratory for quick access throughout the course, as well as that for the Instructional HelpDesk, Technology HelpDesk, and Tutoring.

Be aware that Rome was not built in a day. Neither were most pieces of effective writing. Quality work requires time, discipline, courage, dedication, and multiple attempts. This is no less the case in cooking or athletics than writing. Pace yourself. Always allot yourself plenty of time in which to finish your project. Find an environment that is conducive to writing for you, and assume that whatever you do will take twice as long as you think.

Be aware that the most effective writing usually occurs in increments, known as a writing process, and not all in one fell swoop. In this class, these stages in production are broken into four steps: (1) pre-drafting, (2) drafting, (3) revision, and (4) editing and proofreading.

Similarly, some writing assignments require a higher level of polish than others do, depending on their placement in the writing process and overall purpose. Early on, writing activities are primarily exploratory in nature. As such, less attention is paid to conventions in grammar and mechanics than content, focus, line of reasoning, evidence of support, etc. In later drafts, you should concentrate more on syntax, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Journals are informal by nature, and are evaluated according to a different set of criteria than would apply to essays, for instance.

Think of writing as an act of communication rather than the production of an artifact. It involves: (1) you, the author; (2) an audience; and (3) a text by which you convey your ideas. Your primary reader, obviously, is your instructor, and your secondary one, your classmates. Just because they are in your course, though, do not assume their familiarity with the material about which you are writing. Always err on the side of excess when it comes to providing information. Support your observations or claims with ample evidence and examples at every opportunity. You want to impress your audience with authority gained by way of scholarship and, when appropriate, personal experience.

Analyze the assignment carefully before launching into your work. At the simplest level, ask yourself what the requirements are in terms of formatting. In this class, be sure to double-space your documents in Microsoft Word. Use a standard (Times New Roman, Verdana, Arial, etc.) 10 to 12 point font. Next, ask yourself to whom are you writing. What do you hope to accomplish in doing so? How might you best communicate your ideas and achieve your goals? By what strategy? By division and classification, comparison and contrast, description, or persuasion?

Know the four primary components of an effective essay, and what each does. They are: (1) an introduction, (2) thesis statement, (3) body, and (4) conclusion. Structure your writing accordingly where appropriate.

Copyright Acknowledgements

Some images used in courses are from collections licensed by Rio Salado College.

The following items are copyrighted and have been reproduced in this course through special permission granted by the rights holders, with all rights reserved. If permission has not yet been received, items are made available under the Fair Use Statute, Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976. The material is made available solely for the use of registered students in this class and may not be further distributed to any person outside the class, whether by copying or by transmission in electronic or paper form.

To be successful in this class, I expect you to:

• Participate
• Turn in work on time
• Read
• Log in to the class each day
• Check the class announcements and your Message Center
• Ask for help when needed!! We are here to support you!

As your instructor, you can expect me to:

• Be prepared
• Communicate in a timely manner
• Provide feedback
• Support you in your learning!

Plans for response time feedback:
Modules/Lessons will all be available and have closing dates and tasks must be completed in order. Students may work ahead. I expect you to meet all deadlines which is 11:59 p.m. on assigned dates. To not meet the deadlines puts your grade at risk.

Statement of Student Responsibilities:
It is your responsibility to understand the policies listed in this syllabus as these are the guidelines that your instructor will follow for grading, attendance, etc. It is also your responsibility to read and understand the college policies included in the student handbook as they may apply to you in the case of an incomplete grade, withdraw for failure to attend, etc.

Block 774 - This content (no header required) was added at the request of Michael Medlock HelpDesk Call #1800817. BG 1/6/2021

Block 187 - This content (Generative AI) policy was added at the request of Vickie Rosenbaum HelpDesk Call #1846848. BG 5/22/2023

Plagiarism Search Engine

Self-to-Self Plagiarism

While we expect you to re-work your previous submissions for the course you are taking, keep in mind that our self-to-self plagiarism detection tool will alert us of any work you have previously submitted. Therefore, we request that you re-work your original assignment, enhance it, and improve upon it. Failure to do so will result in a plagiarism report and will significantly slow your progress and our ability to effectively assess your work in a timely manner.

Use of Generative AI

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Allowed in All Contexts

In this class, you are permitted to use generative AI tools to complete your assignments. When submitting work that incorporates generative AI content, please clearly indicate what content was generated by AI tools. In such cases, no more than 10% of your work should be generated by a generative AI tool. Please reach out to your instructor at any time before submitting your work.

Course Completion Policy

A student who registers for a Distance Learning course is assigned a "start date" and an "end date." It is the student's responsibility to note due dates for assignments and to keep up with the course work.

If a student falls behind, she/he must contact the instructor and request an extension of her/his end date in order to complete the course.

It is the prerogative of the instructor to decide whether or not to grant the request.

Submitting Assignments

Online Submission Platform

The assignment due dates in this course are structured to complete all the lessons over the span of the course. Regular and consistent progress is expected in the course through the submission of assignments. The submission of an assignment can be no earlier than 7 days prior to the due date. Consult your course gradebook for specific due dates. Assignments/acknowledgments must be submitted through the online submission platform unless otherwise directed.

Final Grade Options

• Letter grade (A, B, C, D, F)

• Extension (in lieu of an incomplete grade): Students may request an assessment extension because of illness or other extenuating circumstances, if they have been doing acceptable work. Assessment extensions may extend up to two weeks beyond the established course end as indicated in the gradebook. Please Note: Assessment extensions are given at the instructor’s discretion. Instructors are not obligated to give extensions.

• Withdrawn Failing (Y) – Students may be removed from their classes with a Withdrawn Failing (Y) grade for non-participation, which counts like an F in GPA calculation.

• Withdrawal (W) - Students may submit a withdrawal request on or prior to the "Last Date to Withdraw" indicated in their RioLearn Gradebook.

Instructors are unable to submit a withdrawal (W) on behalf of a student. A student wishing to withdraw from a class within the stated timeline must do so by visiting View My Classes/Schedule in the Student Center, and selecting Drop Classes. In extreme circumstances, students do have the option of requesting a complete withdrawal from the college by submitting a "Request for Complete Withdrawal From All Courses" available under the Records heading on Rio’s Important Forms page.

Before withdrawing, students should consider contacting their instructor and/or Rio's Counseling Services to see what options are available to help them stay in class.

STUDENTS – STOP Before You Drop! A withdrawal request is irrevocable, and may affect future Financial Aid, Visa status, Veteran benefit eligibility, scholarship eligibility and may delay graduation. Please be sure that it is the right option for you before submission.

STOP BEFORE YOU DROP

• Credit/No Credit Option (P/Z) - Some courses may be offered with a credit/no credit option which, if offered, would be identified in the Grading Procedure and Scale section of this syllabus. See detailed information about the (P/Z) option here.

Note: Choosing the P/Z option is a permanent change to the gradebook. A P/Z grade will not be changed to a letter grade after the course end date.

Regular and Substantive Faculty-Student Interaction

The Rio Salado College faculty provide learners with frequent opportunities for regular and substantive interaction, which are critical components of a quality online program. At a minimum, faculty teaching online courses for credit monitor weekly due dates and initiate contact with students, post course announcements and/or "From Your Instructor" (FYI) notes that are academic and relevant, respond to academic inquiries within 72 hours, and provide detailed, personalized, and timely feedback. In addition, faculty regularly engage in synchronous and/or asynchronous interaction with students via tools such as discussion boards, rubrics, voice threads, video conferences, audio recordings, phone calls, email and/or text messages, social media, and online collaboration software. Though faculty members are responsible for initiating interaction, providing academic information, and facilitating learning, Rio students are responsible for remaining in regular contact with their instructors and engaging with the course content as active participants in the educational experience.

Requirement for Active Class Participation

Withdrawal for Non-Participation (Y) – Students need to communicate regularly with their instructor and engage in academic activities as determined by the instructor and department. Students may be removed from their classes after 14 days of non-participation with a Withdrawn Failing (Y) grade, which counts like an F in GPA calculation.

If you receive financial aid of any kind, it is your responsibility to protect your eligibility to receive financial aid by meeting the active participation requirements of this class.

Pregnant and Parenting Students

Students will not be discriminated against on the basis of a disclosed pregnancy. This includes discrimination against a student based on pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions. As a result, a pregnant or parenting student (a student during a defined postpartum period lasting up to 8 weeks after delivery), may be provided adjustments so they are able to access and participate in their educational program or activity.

Please visit the Working with Pregnant and Parenting webpage to learn more about this policy, reasonable adjustments and complete the Pregnancy Adjustment Form. If you have questions about the policy, please contact Rio Salado College’s Title IX/504 Coordinator Tafari Osayande at o.tafari.osayande@riosalado.edu or (480) 517-8196.

In the event of certain pregnancy-related medical complications, contact Disability.Services@riosalado.edu or call (480) 517-8562 for assistance in providing accommodations/academic adjustments.

Basic Needs

If a lack of basic needs such as food, transportation, school supplies, etc. is affecting your participation and/or performance in this course, please contact the Rio Salado Counseling Department at 480-517-8785 or via email at counseling.receptionist@riosalado.edu.

For additional services and resources:

Rio Salado College Counseling and Career Services
Maricopa Basic Needs and Community Resources

Library Services

The Rio Salado Library is committed to student success and provides a variety of materials and services to enhance student learning. Utilizing Rio’s online library for your research is the best way to ensure that your sources are validated, authoritative, and appropriate for college-level coursework. The library's Video Tutorials page provides instruction on how to use the online library to find books, articles, ebooks, and more. Librarians are available to help you at all times via our Ask a Librarian live chat service.

Please note that when library materials (e.g., articles, ebooks, and streaming media) are integrated into your lesson content, you will see the notation “…provided to you through the Rio Salado Library.”

Academic Misconduct

Academic Misconduct includes cheating, conspiring to cheat, soliciting to cheat, attempting to cheat, plagiarism, fabrication on an assignment, or other forms of dishonest presentation.

Posting assessments on an unauthorized web site, soliciting assessment answers and the unauthorized acquisition of assessments, assessment answers, or other academic material is cheating. Unless approved by the instructor, turning in content created by essay generators or other types of artificial intelligence platforms is also academic misconduct.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use of paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling or sharing of term papers or other academic materials. Information gathered from the Internet and not properly identified is also considered plagiarism.

We expect every student to produce his/her original, independent work. Any student whose work indicates a violation of the MCCCD Academic Misconduct Policy (including cheating and plagiarism) can expect sanctions as specified in the college catalog.

Rio Salado College uses software that uncovers plagiarism from student to student and other data sources on the Internet. If a student is found to have plagiarized content, grade consequences will be applied in accordance with departmental policies.

Civility Policy

The faculty of Rio Salado place a high value on the importance of general ethical standards of academic behavior and expect that communication between students and instructors or among students shall maintain the level of formality and mutual respect appropriate to any college teaching/learning situation.

Language or behavior that is rude, abusive, profane, disruptive, or threatening will not be tolerated. Activity of this type is Academic Misconduct as defined in MCCCD Policy AR 2.3.11. Students engaging in such behavior will be removed from the course with a failing grade. Additional sanctions may be applied pursuant to AR 2.3.11.

Honors Program

If you are taking this course for Honors credit, you must complete all assessments, including the Honors Project(s). The Honors Project(s) are listed in one or more lessons of the course and are designated for "Honors Students." Failure to complete the Honors Project(s) will result in a failing grade in the course and a loss of Honors credit.

Honors students are also enrolled in a non-credit Honors Achievement Award (HAA) or Presidential Honors Scholarship (PHS) section within RioLearn to submit co-curricular activity submissions. Co-curriculars must be completed in order to receive funding.

The Honors Department is here to support you! Connect with the college and other Honors students in our INSCRIBE community.

The Honors Department is available to provide additional resources and support to support your journey. Please contact the Honors department at RioSalado.Honors@riosalado.edu.

Classroom Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) and its associated colleges are committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities to students with documented disabilities (e.g. mental health, attentional, learning, chronic health, sensory, or physical). Visit district.maricopa.edu/mandatory-drs-title-ix-syllabus-statements for more information.

Religious Accommodations

Rio Salado College will reasonably accommodate the religious needs, observances, and practices of their students, when requested and the requests are made in accordance with the procedures set forth in ND-4. Any student may request a religious accommodation by making a written request for an accommodation to the appropriate faculty member using the Religious Accommodation Request form. To the extent possible, requests must be made at least two (2) weeks before the requested absence from class due to religious holiday or day of observance.

Addressing Incidents of Sexual Harassment/Assault, Dating/Domestic Violence, and Stalking

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, MCCCD prohibits unlawful sex discrimination against any participant in its education programs or activities. The District also prohibits sexual harassment—including sexual violence—committed by or against students, District employees, and visitors to campus. As outlined in District policy, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking are considered forms of "Sexual Misconduct" prohibited by District policy. Visit district.maricopa.edu/mandatory-drs-title-ix-syllabus-statements for more information.

Student Solution Center

Rio Salado College is dedicated to a quality learning experience and has provided the Student Solution Center webpage as a resource for students to raise issues to our attention. We look forward to the opportunity to provide an equitable solution for all involved parties. For grading or instructional issues, students should first contact their faculty member(s) in accordance with the Instructional Grievance Process. For non-instructional complaints, students may contact Institutional Integrity and Compliance by submitting the non-instructional complaint form, emailing studentcomplaints@riosalado.edu, or calling 480-517-8505. Students may also contact their state regulatory agency; the Arizona SARA Council; and/or the Higher Learning Commission to escalate their concerns.

Change of Address

Please notify Course Support at (480) 517-8243 or 1-800-729-1197 or by email at course.support@riosalado.edu. Please include your name, student number, phone number, and new address including city, state, and zip code.

Contact Us

Please see the following page for contact information.

Disclaimer

Course content may vary from this outline to meet the needs of this particular group.

Rio Salado College Copyright

Course Content © Copyright 2021 Rio Salado College. All Rights Reserved.