UNV 1100: First Year Seminar

Special Area of Focus: Spanish

 

Instructor: William P. Keeth, Ph.D.

Phone: 662-4605

Office:  Belknap 110-C

Email: wkeeth@mnsfld.edu

                                               

 

Description: 

 

This course’s goal is to provide an academic experience that integrates classroom work with out-of-class experiences, one that helps students become more engaged members of the academic community.  In each interactive session, students will have the chance to explore the “academic experience” with their advisor and peers, seeking together to make the entry into the university both intellectually exciting and personally enriching. Each class aims to make the college experience come alive both in and out of class. The ideas explored in class are intended to foster a community of learning, engage students with their mentor and peers, and begin a critical examination of important human, material, and spiritual issues.  For this reason, discussion, participation, interaction, and collaboration become important measures of student success in this course.

 

Envisioned Student Benefits:

 

The course should help each student:

  • set personal and academic goals and form a sense of community belonging;
  • integrate more fully the intellectual and social aspects of the college experience;
  • perceive the liberal arts education more dynamically, through curricular and co-curricular activities;
  • navigate the differences between high school living and a more diverse definition of college life;
  • access those academic and student life resources that are coupled to his/her academic and/or social success.

 

Course Topics:

 

Since this course’s design gives priority to a more interactive, more engaging, and more cooperative learning experience and since to its area of special focus is “Spanish”, it will be organized in a flexible manner around the following themes.  Students are clearly encouraged to voice preferences and solicit changes.

 

  • Language, culture, and the definition of community
  • Language, assimilation, and the definition of “home”
  • Language, memory, and conflicting cultural and political allegiances
  • Finding and defining a path
  • The experience of living--issues and obstacles
  • Individuality versus community
  • Love and Sexuality
  • Learning Strategies and critical thinking
  • The university experience: understanding, planning, and participating

 

Class Calendar: 

 

Please refer periodically to the Class Calendar on the class webpage for a list of readings, assignments, and due dates.  Any modifications to the Class Calendar will be posted there as well as mentioned and/or discussed in class.

Class Participation and Activities:

 

Journal             Each student must keep a Class Journal throughout the semester.  In this journal, s/he will reflect on class discussion and the campus activities that s/he has chosen to participate in.  The format and the system of evaluating the journal will be discussed in class. 

 

OoCA              Each student will be required to participate in a number of Out-of-Class Activities.  These OoCA’s will include: a class organized activity (ideally a community service project); a library orientation activity; and participation in five campus events or activities.  See the Class Calendar or talk to the professor (or fellow students) for suggested campus events.

 

Essays              Each student will be expected to write three reaction essays, in which s/he addresses a topic presented in class or mentioned in a Class reading.  These essays will be limited in scope (2 page maximum), must be typed (double space, Times Roman 12), and should follow the MLA Style Guide for cited material.  Late essays may receive lower grade or may not be accepted at all (professor’s discretion).  Electronic submission of work is an effective way of meeting deadlines.

 

Readings.         Each student should read and be prepared to discuss each assigned text (listed in the Class Calendar) prior to the class meeting for which it has been assigned. 

 

Participation     As a co-participant in a learning community, each student should be present and participate in each class discussion-- always striving to communicate and listen to others in a respectful and truthful manner.  Never should difference or differing opinions lead to quarrels, confrontation, and/or condemnation.  Obviously, academic honesty and the submission of original work is expected in this class (refer to the Password for more details).  If a student must miss a class, s/he should communicate directly with the instructor (in person or by telephone or email) to make arrangements for turning in work that is due.

 

System of Evaluation:

 

Criteria

Weight

Class Participation

25%

Journal

25%

OoCA

25% (5% each)

Essays

25% (8.3% each)

 

The Syllabus:

 

This syllabus serves as a contractual agreement. Presence in this class means that you agree to the items stipulated in the syllabus and are aware of any modifications made throughout the semester. One should periodically check the course web site for any updates to the Syllabus and/or Class Calendar and also should oversee his/her grade by self-monitoring and maintaining contact with the instructor.

 

Other:

 

If a student has a disability requiring any accommodations, s/he needs to contact the professor at the beginning of the semester.