University 100: The Freshman Seminar

 

Syllabus and Survival Guide

 

Tuesday/Thursday 11:00 – 12:15 pm, 001 Oviatt

 

Instructor

 

Dr. Thomas W. Devine

Office Hours: Sierra Tower 624, Tuesdays and Thursdays 2 pm-3 pm. 

Email: tom.devine@csun.edu Phone: (818) 677-3550

 

 

Resources

 

Ø  So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson (2016-2017 Freshman Common Reading)

Ø    Required readings & other assignments will be posted on the class Moodle site:  log on to Moodle from the portal or the CSUN homepage

Ø  The Sundial (CSUN's free student newspaper), as directed: http://sundial.csun.edu/

Ø  CSUN Catalog: http://catalog.csun.edu/

Ø  University 100 website: http://www.csun.edu/undergraduate-studies/university-100

 

 

Course Description

 

Welcome to University 100, the Freshman Seminar. The course is dedicated to ensuring your college success and motivating your journey toward lifelong learning. University 100 will enable you to develop your own plan for personal, academic, and career success through self-evaluation, application of active learning techniques, class discussions, field experiences, assigned readings, and traditional classroom exercises. These activities will help you acquire effective study strategies, stimulate your critical and creative thinking skills, practice university-level oral and written expression, establish short-term and long-term goals, become a skilled user of library resources, and learn to manage time more efficiently. You'll find out about the many campus resources available to students and will be actively encouraged to form lasting relationships with your professor and classmates. University 100 is available for GE credit in Subject Explorations, Lifelong Learning (S4), and satisfies part of the Subject Explorations Information Competence (IC) requirement.

 

Course Goals for University 100

 

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

 

  1. Describe the value of higher education to society.
  2. Explain why you are in college.
  3. Define and describe the value of lifelong learning.
  4. Describe what CSUN expects of you as a student.
  5. Make positive choices about time and involvement (both curricular and co-curricular).
  6. Demonstrate problem-solving and goal-setting skills.
  7. Demonstrate familiarity with CSUN's academic policies and programs, and show proficiency locating that information in the university catalog.
  8. Demonstrate familiarity with campus resources and locations (e.g. Health Center, etc.).
  9. Find, evaluate, and use appropriate print and electronic information to complete class assignments.
  10. Assess your strengths and weaknesses in basic academic and communication skills, including reading and listening with comprehension; organizing ideas for presentation; writing brief papers and reports; speaking in public; participating in group discussions; and working cooperatively in diverse communities.
  11. Use your awareness of personal style (learning style and/or personality type) to enhance your personal and academic success.
  12. Establish positive relationships with other students, with faculty, and with other members of the campus community (i.e., make friends; ask questions; ask for help).
  13. Transact basic university business (e.g., select and register for classes, interact with Financial Aid and/or Cash Management, meet requirements for immunizations, view semester grades).
  14. Identify ethical issues, appreciate the role of critical thinking in examining alternatives, and formulate your own position with respect to selected issues.

 

Student Learning Outcomes for University 100

 

Upon successful completion of your U100 class, you will be able to:

  1. Describe CSUN policies and resources central to your success as a student.
  2. Describe some of your strengths as a learner.
  3. Describe ways in which you are an agent in your own academic success.
  4. Find and use appropriate information resources to negotiate complex challenges (for example, ethical dilemmas, academic assignments, and/or issues of personal identity).
  5. Demonstrate your ability to use at least one time management technique.
  6. Name [at least] two people you have met at CSUN whom you can call on for help.

 

 

Lifelong Learning: GE Subject Exploration Outcomes Met by University 100

 

  1. Students will identify and actively engage in behaviors conducive to individual health, well-being, or development, and understand the value of maintaining these behaviors throughout their lifespan.
  2. Students will apply the knowledge and skills of science and technology and evaluate how they impact individuals, the community, and/or society.

 

Information Competence: Student Learning Outcomes Met by University 100

 

Information Competence (IC) goal: Students will progressively develop information competence skills throughout their undergraduate career by developing a basic understanding of information retrieval tools and practices as well as improving their ability to evaluate and synthesize information ethically.


Students will:

 

  1. Determine the nature and extent of information needed;
  2. Demonstrate effective search strategies for finding information using a variety of sources and methods;
  3. Locate, retrieve, and evaluate a variety of relevant information including print and electronic formats.
  4. Organize and synthesize information in order to communicate effectively;
  5. Explain the legal and ethical dimensions of the use of information.

 

Participation Policy

 

Because this class is neither text-based nor lecture-based, your attendance is necessary. The discussions we’ll be having in class are an integral part of the learning process. The things you think and say are important, and sharing your ideas with classmates may well give you new ideas. You cannot make up in-class assignments without making prior arrangements with me. Note that it is important to be in class on time. Parking trouble is not a valid excuse.

 

1)    You will be counted as absent if you are not prepared for class.

2)    Missing FOUR class meetings will significantly lower your final point tally.

3)    Missing FIVE OR MORE class sessions may result in a failing grade for the course.

 

Late and Emailed Work

 

We all have schedules, and we need to keep to them.  Please turn in your work on time.

 

I would prefer you turn in hard copies of assignment in class, but if you email them to me as attachments BEFORE class time (i.e. before 11am) I will accept them.

 

Extraordinary Circumstances and Unplanned Absences

 

If you have a personal crisis during the semester, talk with me and let me know what is going on before you jeopardize your success in the course. Do not, however, ask me to tell you what you missed when you are absent. Instead, I suggest that you make friends with a U100 classmate and trade phone numbers and email addresses so you can keep apprised of what's going on if you are absent. Being absent is not an acceptable excuse for late or incomplete work.

 

Grading Scale

 

You have 1000 possible points in this class. The chart below shows how those points convert to letter grades.  I will use plus/minus grading in this class.  There is no curve in University 100.

 

A  1000-930

B   869-830

C   769-730

D   669-630

A-  929-900

B-  829-800

C-  729-700

D-  629-600

B+ 899-870

C+ 799-770

D+ 699-670

F    599 or below

 

Course Requirements

 

Major Assignments:

¨  Information Competence & Collaborative Project                                   275 points

Draft (due Nov. 22) [100 points]

Final (due Dec. 8) [175 points]

            Annotated Bibliography (due Nov. 17)                                          50 points     

            Presentation                                                                                       50 points

 

¨  Cultural Event Report (Due by Dec. 8th)                                                    125 points

¨  Essay #1 (Due Nov. 8)                                                                                  175 points

 

Activities

¨  Financial Literacy                                                                                           50 points

¨  Self-Report Card                                                                                             50 points    

¨  Getting Involved Assignment                                                                       50 points

 

Homework Assignments

¨  Three Short Writing Assignments worth 25 points each                         75 points

¨  Information Competence Online Tutorial (due Oct. 4)                             25 points

¨  Ethics Assignment (due Oct. 20)                                                                 50 points    

¨  Time Management Log (due Nov. 22)                                                         25 points

 

TOTAL                                                                                               1000 POINTS POSSIBLE 

 

Changes to the Syllabus

 

This syllabus is subject to change. I will make every effort to notify you in advance about any changes. I reserve the right to require other assignments as necessary including unannounced quizzes.  

                                   

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

 

Don’t plagiarize. The CSUN catalog (http://www.csun.edu/catalog/) defines plagiarism as “[i]ntentionally or knowingly representing the words, ideas, or work of another as one’s own in any academic exercise.” If you’re going to go through all the effort of finding information about your topic created by someone else, cite it properly so you can accurately call it research. We’ll be discussing how to properly cite materials, and I am always available to help you if you are concerned. If you plagiarize, you will get no credit on the assignment, and I will report the incident to the Student Conduct Coordinator in University Hall, at which point the offense will become part of your permanent record at CSUN. Academic dishonesty (such as cheating or plagiarism) can result in an “F” in the entire course and is (quoting again from the CSUN catalog) “an offense for which a student may be expelled, suspended, or given a less severe disciplinary sanction.”

 

Devices: Cell Phones, Tablets, MP3 Players, Laptops, and So On

 

Except in an emergency, there is no excuse for your taking a call during class. Please turn off anything that rings, buzzes, plays a tune, or does anything else that will disrupt our class.  In class, I will be listening to the things you and your classmates say. I will not be texting or listening to music. I trust you will also focus your attention on our class. If you bring a laptop, tablet, or other device to class, use it responsibly.  If in my opinion your device distracts you or your classmates, you will need to turn it off during class.

Help with Technology and Classroom Accommodations

If you face issues with access to technology, please let me know. There are many resources on campus to help you.

If you have a disability and need accommodations, please register with the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) office or the National Center on Deafness (NCOD). The DRES office is located in Bayramian Hall, room 110, and can be reached at 818.677.2684. NCOD is located on Bertrand Street in Jeanne Chisholm Hall and can be reached at 818.677.2611. If you would like to discuss your need for accommodations with me, please contact me to set up an appointment.

 

Questions, Comments, Concerns

 

Please don't hesitate to seek help from me or from the many other people on campus who are here to help you. By enrolling in University 100 you are declaring that you want to learn the ins and outs of our campus and how to be a successful student.  Your questions and concerns are not silly or stupid.  Please ask!

 

Schedule of Topics & Assignments

 

Week 1 – Aug 30, Sept. 1

 

Introduction and Discussion of immediate Concerns

 

Week 2 – Sept. 6, 8

 

Discussion of So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed

 

Reading for Meaning: “The Cough”

 

Thinking About Choosing a Major

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/09/02/meet-the-parents-who-wont-let-their-children-study-literature/?utm_term=.b97da8937961

 

Week 3 – Sept. 13, 15

 

Continue Discussion of So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed

Study Question Set #1 due

 

Discussion of Information Competence Assignment

 

Week 4 – Sept 20, 22

 

Continue Discussion of So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed

 

Critical Thinking: Race as a Social Construct

 

Week 5 – Sept. 27, 29

 

Writing an Essay: Introduction to the Process

 

Blues Project Presentation

 

Week 6 – Oct 4, 6

 

Library Presentation #1 Oviatt Lab B

            Library Survey (online)

 

Financial Aid Presentation

 

Week 7 – Oct 11, 13

 

Project DATE Presentation

 

Ethical Decision Making

 

Week 8 – Oct. 18, 20

 

USU Presentation

 

Ethics Assignment Due

 

Week 9 – Oct. 25, 27

 

Information Competence: Research Methods, Note Taking, Active Reading

 

Week 10 – Nov. 1, 3

 

Student Health Center Site Visit (Meet outside the front of the Student Health Center at 11am)

 

Library Presentation #2

 

 

Week 11 – Nov. 8, 10

 

Jobs, Careers, Interests

 

Career Center Site Visit (BH 413)

 

Week 12 – Nov. 15, 17

 

Information Competence Assignment Progress Reports/Annotated Bibliographies

 

 

Week 13 – Nov. 22, 24

 

Outlining/Ladder Diagrams/Organizing 

 

THANKSGIVING

 

Week 14 – Nov. 29, Dec. 1

 

Freshman Celebration at USU

 

Oral Presentations

 

Week 15 – Dec. 6, 8

 

Oral Presentations/Summing Up