This course, which begins during the month of August in concentrated form and then continue into the fall semester to aid the developmental student in his/her first year transition, is intended to do the following:
a.To aid students in the transition to college life
b.To help students develop the skills, strategies, values and attitudes necessary to meet with “college success” goals
c.To encourage the personal self-examination, change and growth needed to be successful in all future educational, professional and personal undertakings
II.Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course and in preparation for future classes, the student will be able to:
a.Identify and know how to utilize available college resources
b.Better accommodate to socially challenging, culturally diverse and academically demanding environments
c.Demonstrate understanding of expected classroom behaviors and requirements
d.Identify and utilize his/her most effective learning style and strengths
e.Utilize efficient note taking skills
f.Apply effective study and test taking strategies
g.Demonstrate enhanced critical thinking skills
h.Utilize effective library research techniques and computer literacy skills
i.Show changes in self-concept and patterns which may have held him/her back
III.Attendance Policy
Students are expected to complete all assigned work on time, to attend class regularly, and to participate in class discussions and activities. Excessive absence or lateness, whether excused or unexcused, may result in a grade penalty and/or removal from the class roster.
IV.Textbook
The Community College Experience: PLUS. Baldwin, Amy. Pearson/Prentice Hall: Columbus, PH, 2007
V.Grading
Writing Assignment 20%
Research Assignment 20%
Final Examination 20%
Homework Folder 20%
Oral Presentation 10%
Class Participation 10%
VI.Course Assignments
a.Readings and Related Assignments
For each class, the student will be required to complete required readings, write a journal entry, keep a portfolio based on day-to-day activities. The student will be required to record one particularly important point from each chapter in the required text. At the beginning of each class, the student will submit the card and exercises/assignments to the Instructor. When the Instructor returns homework with comments, the student will read the comments and then file it in his/her portfolio/homework folder. This is to be maintained throughout the semester. The entire portfolio will be submitted to the Instructor for grading at the end of the semester. It is important to note that the student will be prepared to discuss chapter readings in class the day after it is assigned.
b.Writing Assignment
The student will write a two-page essay discussing the following points:
1.The student’s educational and professional goals
2.Personal qualities, strengths and successes that will help achieve goals?
3.Obstacles (problems, weaknesses, fears, needs) that could get in the way of success
4.Ways to overcome those obstacles
While the content of a paper like this is obviously more important than the presentation and feedback will be offered accordingly, this assignment is also meant as a sample of the student’s writing skills. Therefore, it will be graded based on such factors as spelling, sentence structure, punctuation, usage, organization, argumentation, clarity, depth and presentation.
c.Research Assignment
The student, when called upon, will select a topic relevant to a career s/he is considering. (The Instructor will help brainstorm this with students.) The class will visit the campus library, where the student can get started researching the topic. Thereafter, the student will independently use the campus library, campus career service centers, his/her public library and/or
the Internet to continue the research and put together a two-page report on his/her topic of choice. The student will demonstrate knowledge of citing and avoiding plagiarism gained from class, submitting an original report. Grading will be based on the research skills, the writing skills, the effort, the presentation and the integrity shown.
d.Oral Presentation
The student will prepare a five to ten minute oral presentation on something the student knows or cares about and would like to teach or share with others. It can be a particular talent, interest, knowledge, hobby, background or experience. The student is encouraged to use visual aids. The student is also encouraged to use an outline or note cards, but may not read verbatim from a report. Grading will be based on speaking skills, organization, effort, presentation, clarity and sensitivity to his/her audience. It is not, however, expected that the student will give a polished and anxiety-free performance.
e.Final Examination
The student will take a final exam comprised of questions related to the textbook. For this, the student will read carefully the chapters as they are assigned and effectively review and study them in preparation for the test.
