ASP 43101Y: SEMINAR PLUS

 

Term:  Fall, 2001-2002 (011) (Sept. 4 – Dec. 15)                                                         

Course Number: ASP 43101Y

Instructor:   Dr. Mary Riley 

Office:  510

Office Phone: (219) 473-4264

E-mail:                mriley@ccsj.edu

Home Phone: (312) 421-8710

Office Hours:  Mondays, Wednesdays 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. and Thursdays, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

 

Instructor Background: Dr. Riley was awarded the B.A. in Anthropology at Beloit College and the M.A. and Ph.D. in Anthropology at Tulane University.  She is currently the Director of the Urban Studies Program at Calumet College of St. Joseph, and is teaching courses in urban studies, sociology and law enforcement.

 

Course Time: Thursdays 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.  

 

Course Description: This course is designed to assist new students in adapting to the pressures and problems facing college students today.  Topics to be covered include everything from reading the current college catalogue to how to get in touch with your professor.  This course also encourages in-depth self-reflection, in order that students may think about what exactly they want to get out of college, as well as what they want to get out of life!    

 

Learning Outcomes/ Competencies:

 

Students in this course will:

 

·         Complete a self-assessment in order to better understand their learning style, and to assess their strengths and weaknesses as learners.

·         Understand the importance of time management, and learn to apply the principles of time management to their own busy lives.

·         Discuss and acquire memory and note-taking skills.

·         Analyze and improve upon their reading and comprehension skills.

·         Recognize and classify different test formats, and learn different test taking skills that are test-specific.

·         Evaluate and discuss the role of diversity within American society.

·         Acquire and demonstrate critical thinking and writing skills.

·         Evaluate the importance of personal and professional relationships present within one’s life.

·         Become more aware of good health habits and routines, and integrate these into one’s life.

·         Reflect upon what the college experience means to them, and in what ways do they want to shape and take control of their professional and personal life destinies.

 

Textbooks:                Becoming a Master Student.  9th Edition.  Dave Ellis (Houghton Mifflin, 2000). 

 

Learning Strategies: Group Discussions, In-Class Team Exercises, Collaborative Learning, Interactive Lecture Format, In-Class Minute Reaction Papers, Class Presentations, Quizzes, Exams.

 

Assessment:

 

Exams (Midterm, Final, Quizzes)                                                     30% of grade

Class participation/exercises/presentations/attendance                30% of grade

Short Assignments (three short papers)                                  20% of grade

Semester Research Project                                                                20% of grade

 

Class Policy for Assignments:  All class assignments must be completed by the due date – letter grades may be lowered one half-grade for every week the assignment is overdue.  If there are extenuating circumstances that require the student to ask for an extension of the deadline, it is the student’s responsibility to contact me (via phone, e-mail, in person, etc.) to arrange the terms of the extension.  The student MUST make arrangements for the extension BEFORE the due date arrives (i.e., no coming to class on the day the assignment is due and then asking me for an extension!).   Over the course of the semester, students will occasionally be assigned short assignments that are due the week after they are assigned (about 2-3 pages in length each), in addition to the assigned chapter quizzes.     

 

Grading Scale:

 

A: 92-100                A-: 90-91                  B+:  88-89     B: 82-87         B-:  80-81    C+: 78-79

C: 72-77                 C-: 70-71                 D+:  68-69     D: 62-67         D-:  60-61    F:  59 & below

 

Class Policy on Attendance:  Attendance for this class is mandatory, for the simple reason that we meet only once a week and it is easy to fall behind if you miss several classes in a row.  Students are expected to be on time for class. Students entering class late are expected to do so quietly and in a courteous manner.  More than two unexcused absences from class will result in your failing the course.  Excused absences must be arranged with and approved by Dr. Riley prior to the class date itself.

 

Class Policy on Electronic Devices:  My general feeling about cell phones, beepers, etc. can be expressed thusly: if it is an emergency, leave the room and respond to the pager/take the telephone call.  If it is not an emergency, wait until later to respond to the call.   If you can, I would appreciate it if your cell phone or pager could be set to a non-tonal setting (such as vibrate) so that class will not be disrupted. 

 

Course Outline:

 

Class Dates:                                                                                                       Topics/Assignments:

 

September 6                                                                                                       Introduction

                                                                                                                                Learning Styles Quiz

                                                                                                                                Short Assignment #1 Assigned

 

September 13                                                                                                     Time Management

Chapter 1 (what’s left of it)

                                                                                                                                and Chapter 2 Due (pp.34-77)

                                                                                                                                Short Assignment #1 Due

                                                                                                                                Chapter 2 Quiz Due (p. 75)

 

September 20                                                                                                     Memory

                                                                                                                                Chapter 3 Due (pp.78-105)

                                                                                                                                Chapter 3 Quiz Due (p. 103)

 

September 27                                                                                                     Reading Comprehension

                                                                                                                                Chapter 4 Due (pp. 106-137)

                                                                                                                                Chapter 4 Quiz Due (p. 135)

                                                                                                                                Short Assignment #2 Assigned

 

October 4                                                                                                            Note-Taking Skills

                                                                                                                                Chapter 5 Due (pp. 138-165)

                                                                                                                                Chapter 5 Quiz Due (p.163)

                                                                                                                                Short Assignment #2 Due

 

October 11                                                                                                          Test-Taking Skills

                                                                                                                                Chapter 6 Due (pp. 166-195)

                                                                                                                                Chapter 6 Quiz Due (p. 193)

 

October 18                                                                                                          Diversity in the World

                                                                                                                                Chapter 7 Due (pp. 196-223)

                                                                                                                                Chapter 7 Quiz Due (p. 221)

                                                                                                                                Short Assignment #3 Assigned

 

October 25                                                                                                          Critical Thinking

                                                                                                                                Chapter 8 Due (pp. 224-259)

                                                                                                                                Chapter 8 Quiz Due (p. 257)

                                                                                                                                Short Assignment #3 Due

                                                                                                Review for Mid-Term Exam

                               

November 1                                                                                                        Mid-Term Exam

 

November 8                                                                                                        Writing Skills

                                                                                                                                Chapter 9 Due (pp. 260-289)

                                                                                                                                Chapter 9 Quiz Due (p. 287)

                                                                                                                                Semester Research Project Assigned

 

November 15                                                                                                      Human Relationships

                                                                                                                                Chapter 10 Due (pp. 290-325)

                                                                                                                                Chapter 10 Quiz Due (p. 323)

 

November 22                                                                      **THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY – NO CLASSES**

 

November 29                                                                                                      Money and Health

                                                                                                                                Chapter 11 Due (pp. 326-359)

                                                                                                                                Chapter 11 Quiz Due (p. 357)

                                                                                                                               

December 6                                                                                                        Your Life, Present and Future

                                                                                                                                Chapter 12 Due (pp. 360-393)

                                                                                                                                Chapter 12 Quiz Due (p. 391)                                        Semester Research Project Due

Review for Final Exam

                                                                                                                                                                                               

December 13                                                                                                      FINAL EXAM

 

Class Participation:

Class participation is crucial to obtaining the most benefit from this course.  Students are responsible for reviewing and analyzing the assigned readings and MUST be prepared to discuss them in class.  As this course is intended to equip the freshman college student with all of the tools and skills needed to succeed in the classroom (as well as in life!), I therefore require critical thinking and participation from the students, regarding issues being discussed in class.  Also, students will be engaged in classroom discussion by working through a variety of in-class exercises – I intend for these exercises to be fun.  You do not have to worry about whether what you contribute to the class discussion is always “100% correct” or not.  The object here is to stimulate thought and to have open discussion in class.

 

Center for Academic Excellence:

Tutoring assistance is free to all students of Calumet College of St. Joseph. Call the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), to make an appointment at 473-4287. The Center has experienced and well-trained tutors in most subject areas to help students who are struggling in a course or who are doing well and would like to do better. Regular weekly tutoring sessions are likely to improve your grade.

 

Statement of Plagiarism:

If an instructor or other Calumet College of St. Joseph personnel find that a student has plagiarized or been involved in another form of academic dishonesty, the instructor or other personnel may elect to bring the matter up for judicial review. The maximum penalty for any form of academic dishonesty is dismissal from the College. The procedures for judicial review are listed under the section of CCSJ handbook that addresses student grievances. (Academic Planner 2001/2002 p.27)

 

Citation Guidelines:

Calumet College of St. Joseph adheres to citation guidelines as prescribed by the particular discipline (i.e., MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style or Turabian.).  All of these guidelines are available in the Calumet College of St. Joseph library or bookstore.  These texts outline how to cite references from a variety of sources, including electronic media.

 

Withdrawal from Classes Policy:

After the last day for class changes has passed (see College calendar), students may withdraw from a course in which they are registered with permission from the faculty member conducting the course. A written request detailing the reason(s) for the withdrawal must be filed with the Registrar. Written request for withdrawal must be received by the Registrar by the last day of classes prior to the final examination dates specified in the catalogue. Written requests may be mailed to the Registrar or faxed to the College fax number 219-473-4259. Students are to make note of the refund schedule when withdrawing from courses. The request is forwarded to the faculty member, who makes the final determination to accept or deny the request. If the request is honored, the student will receive notification of official withdrawal; if denied, the notification will indicate why the withdrawal is disallowed. Note: Degree Completion Division (DCD) students should consult the DCD Student Handbook for information on DCD withdrawals.

 

An official withdrawal is recorded as a "W" grade on the student's transcript. Dropping a course without written permission automatically incurs an "F" grade for the course (see Refund Schedule).