VSU 1101: FRESHMAN SEMINAR Fall 2008

Course Description: Open only to first-year and first-semester transfer students. Introduction to lifelong learning with emphasis on college study skill strategies. Topics include learning styles, time management, learning and memory skills, learning from texts and lectures, note-taking, objective and essay examinations, and critical thinking skills.

Course Objectives: Education is the gateway to opportunity. Every person has a right to seek the self-improvement, knowledge, and opportunity that an education can provide. You have already taken the first step just by being here. By choosing to pursue an education, you have given yourself a strong vote of confidence and the chance to improve you future. This course will help you fulfill your potential as a learner by giving you keys--ideas, strategies, and skills--that can lead to success in school, on the job, and in life. The student will:

1. Evaluate how education promotes success.
2. Analyze their personal learning style.
3. Demonstrate goal setting and time management skills.
4. Use critical thinking to help solve problems and make decisions.
5. Explain and apply the SQ3R.
6. Explain how to take lecture notes effectively and efficiently.
7. Distinguish how to prepare for objective and essay tests more effectively and efficiently.

Course Requirements:

v     Textbook and Materials:  Keys to Success:  Building Analytical, Creative, and Practical Skills
                                       Valdosta State University Second Edition
                                       Valdosta State University Bulletin (2008-2009)              

v     Attendance: Class attendance is required. You are allowed two absences during the semester. Three absences will cause the final grade to be dropped 10 points. Four absences will result in the drop of 20 points. Anyone having over four absences will fail the course. Please note: two tardy class arrivals will count as one absence. Class assignments must be completed on time. No work will be accepted late without prior approval from the professor.  If you miss a test because you are sick, I will need a written excuse from a doctor in order for you to make-up the exam.

v     Problems: Anyone experiencing problems with exams, note taking, or anything else of a course-related nature is encouraged to consult with me during office hours. If illness or family related problems keep you from class for an extended period, the proper procedure is to inform Student Affairs (333-5941) who will, in turn, inform all of your instructors

v     Homework:  All homework assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date assigned.  Homework assignments will be covered in detail during class.  In some cases, you will be able to complete your homework assignments early.  I encourage you to work ahead and turn in your assignments before the due date.  Don’t wait until the last minute; late assignments will not be accepted.

v     Campus Events:  You must attend at least two campus events before October 1.  Your reaction must be e-mailed to your peer mentor by October 1, 2008.  In your reaction, you need to include comments regarding what you thought of the event (ex. I never thought a play would be so interesting.), an appraisal of the event (ex. I had a great time at the football game.), something new you experienced or learned (ex. I’ve never been to a college volleyball game before and…), and etc.  Possible events include (but are not limited to):  sporting events, plays, symphony, Family Night, Welcome Week, The Happening, astronomy viewings, campus organization meeting, and etc.  Send one e-mail containing your reaction about both events, and your peer mentor will reply. (This counts as a homework assignment.)

v     Service-Learning:  Each student will participate in service-learning projects.  A total number of 10 hours is required.  If you have conflicts with the dates, you may chose to write a 15 page typed paper with references about the value of community service.

v     Career Paper:  The paper must be a minimum of one full page typed.  You should have a title page and the paper put together in a folder along with your Discover Program results sheet when you turn it in on the designated day.  If your paper is not typed, or not in a folder, or you did not include the Discover results, your paper will not be accepted and will be given a zero. 

1.       Describe the job.
2.       What major do you need to pursue?
3.       List the classes you have to take to complete that major.
4.       Salary and hours?
5.       Working conditions?
6.       Multiple Intelligence Scores? Refer to page 72 & 73 in the textbook.  List your two highest Multiple Intelligence scores and the abilities and skills associated with each intelligence. Do you possess these abilities and skills? How do these skills and abilities relate to the career you chose for this paper?  Refer to page 70, 74 & 78 in textbook   List the majors and careers that are suggested for you based on your two highest multiple intelligence scores.  Which majors and careers that are listed in your book would you consider completing?  Refer to page 86 in the textbook. 
7.       Personality Spectrum?  List your highest personality type and the characteristics of that type.  How do these characteristics relate to your chosen career?  Refer to page 76& 77 in the textbook
8.    Personality Survey? List your four letters and tell if your profile is a good match or not for the career you chose.  Information sheets will be used during class.
9.       Pros & cons? After researching the career, tell what you like and dislike about it the career.
10.   Presentation? (Did you follow instructions?  Grammar, spelling, & etc. correct?)

v     Grading: Testing and evaluation of student performance are essential elements of VSU 1101: Freshman Seminar I.  Grades (A, B, C, D, or F) will be assigned on the basis of satisfactory completion of assignments, activities, and written tests.  Each assignment will be given points.  Below is the list of assignments, total maximum points possible, and the total number of points for each letter grade.   Uncompleted assignments will be given a zero and will be averaged in the final grade.

ASSIGNMENT                                 POSSIBLE POINTS 

ACCESS

Students requiring classroom accommodations or modifications because of a documented disability should discuss this need with the instructor at the beginning of the semester. In order to receive special accommodations, students must be registered with the Access Office for Students with Disabilities (1115 Nevins Hall). If students are not registered, then they should contact that office at 245-2498 (V/VP) and 219-1348 (TTY).

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Students must not engage in academic dishonesty.  In accordance with the Student Handbook's Student Code of Conduct, academic dishonesty includes writing another student's essay, using another student's writing as one's own, or using writing obtained from an online paper mill; obtaining or providing in an unauthorized manner "any material pertaining to the conduct of a class, including but not limited to tests, examinations, laboratory equipment, and roll books"; and engaging in plagiarism, the undocumented use of words and/or ideas from sources such as books, articles, and the World Wide Web. Types of academic dishonesty are (but not limited to):  altering score/grade, falsifying lab results or references, using unauthorized notes or devices, copying and plagiarism.

Consequences:
FIRST OFFENSE: The student will earn a “0” on the assignment, test, project, etc.
SECOND OFFENSE: The student will earn the letter grade “F” for the course and an academic referral form will be filed with the Student Conduct Office in the Dean of Students Office.

CIVILITY

Students are expected to be civil.  The following is not an exhaustive list of requirements for civil behavior: do not engage in educationally disruptive behavior or language; turn off cell phones and pagers; refrain from eating, sleeping, reading extraneous material, and browsing the Internet or checking email in computer classrooms; do not arrive late or leave early without permission.  Disruptive students will be asked to leave the classroom and will be counted absent.  If the behavior continues the student will not be permitted to return to the course.

**I reserve the right to change this syllabus at any time.**