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The Communications Skills Department teaches courses in developmental
reading, advanced reading, and study skills. The department encourages
students to view reading as a thinking process and emphasis is placed
upon comprehending college level materials. The reading laboratory provides
students with supervised tutorial assistance.
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CSE095 Essentials of Reading I
CSE099 Essentials of Reading II
CSE103 Critical Reading and Academic Literacy
CSE105 Academic Vocabulary
CSE110 Literacy and Propaganda
CSE120 Reading the Biography
CSE150 The Evolution of the Reading Experience
CSE200 Speed Reading
CSZ099 Academic Reading Strategies
CSE095 Essentials of Reading I
O credit; 5 hours (4 lecture, 1 lab)
This course emphasizes developing students' ability to comprehend what
they read on a literal level. Inferential reading is introduced. Narrative
material continues to be the focus, but appropriate exposition is also
studied. Students read and interpret material from culturally relevant
textbooks. Study strategies introduced are reinforced and applied to more
difficult text. Specialized textbook vocabulary is targeted.
Admission to this course is based on placement test scores.
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CSE099 Essentials of Reading II
O credit; 5 hours (4 lecture, 1 lab)
This course reinforces reading and study strategies applied to advanced
texts of a culturally relevant nature. Emphasis is on exposition. Elements
of critical reading are introduced. Standardized reading test strategies
are a focal point in preparation for the ACT Reading Test. Reading as
a process is explained and experienced using students' own self-monitoring
strategies. Critical reading of one or more texts is required.
Admission to this course is based on placement test scores
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CSE103 Critical Reading and Academic Literacy
3 credits; 3 hours
This course is designed for the development of reading and study skills
at an advanced level. Emphasis is on such skills as vocabulary improvement,
previewing, note-taking, test-taking, summarizing and critical analysis.
Students explore different types of exposition and styles of writing.
Content area materials are utilized.
Prerequisite: CSE099, ENA/ENG099, MAT095
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CSE105 Academic Vocabulary
3 credits; 3 hours
This course introduces students to methods of expanding their vocabulary.
The development of modern English is studied to explain the state of current
vocabulary. Various types of dictionaries, Greek and Latin word elements
and meanings derived from context are explored. Special consideration
is given to introducing the students to the vocabulary essential to their
major area of study.
Pre- or Corequisite: CSE099, ENA/ENG099
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CSE110 Literacy and Propaganda
3 credits; 3 hours
This course introduces students to methods of understanding a highly developed
and pervasive discourse: propaganda. Emphasis is placed on reading materials
that use the persuasive and argumentative language of politics, advertising,
cultural discussions and the media. Political speeches, essays, editorials,
and articles are used to enlarge the student's experience with the materials
and tools of propaganda. The student will acquire the intellectual framework
and sophisticated level of literacy needed to recognize and respond to
the aims of propaganda.
Prerequisite: CSE095, ESL/ESR099
Pre- or Corequisite: CSE099, ENA/ENG099
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CSE120 Reading the Biography
3 credits; 3 hours
This course will introduce students to the critical reading and evaluation
of biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, diaries and journals. The aims
of the course will be to: evaluate claims to truth and truthful recollections;
examine historical claims through first person accounts; develop awareness
of the methods and techniques of biographical and autobiographical writing;
understand the uses of biographical writing and its place in society;
explore biographies and autobiographies as vehicles for the creation of
the self. The student will become proficient and develop deeper appreciation
of biographical narratives and their uses in self-understanding. The materials
to be read in class will vary by semester and the course may be thematically
organized.
Pre- or Corequisite: ESL/ESR098
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CSE150 The Evolution of the Reading Experience
3 credits; 3 hours
This course is designed to familiarize the student with the cultural
and technological factors which have defined and influenced the activity
of reading. The emphasis of the course will be on the evolution of reading
and the gradual changes affecting the reading experience. Students will
be expected to understand significant developments that relate to reading:
the invention of writing, the creation of books, the invention of the
printing press, and more recent changes in print communication. This course
will explore reading from the perspectives of other cultures and will
trace the varieties of reading experiences that have been key features
in the transformation of Western and non-Western cultures.
Prerequisite: CSE099, ENG099
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CSZ099 Academic Reading Strategies
0 credit; 4 hours
The course is designed to prepare students for academic reading and test-taking.
Students will read extensively to acquire background knowledge and information,
academic vocabulary and exam-taking strategies. The readings will cover
the Social Sciences, Humanities, and Natural Sciences. Students will review
test-taking strategies, take practice exams, and analyze answers.
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CSE200 Speed Reading
2 credits; 3 hours
This course is offered for students who are interested in power reading
techniques. Emphasis is placed on the development of effective reading
habits and the techniques of rapid reading, identifying authors' patterns
of writing, skimming, scanning and ongoing practice with mechanical aids
and timed exercises.
Prerequisite: CSE099, ENA/ENG099, MAT095
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