Strategies for Success (NR 001)

Fall 2009
Thursdays 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
(August 13 & 20, September 3, 10, 17, 24)
Broad Hall 204

Instructor: John Norvell
Office: Fletcher 102
telephone: 607-9124
Office hours: by appointment
email: john_norvell@pitzer.edu

Description

This half-course is designed specifically for New Resources students entering Pitzer College in Fall Semester 2009. It will focus on developing and enhancing academic, personal, and social skills to effectively meet the challenges of being a nontraditional student at Pitzer. We will work on these skills through the use of readings, class discussions, library and writing assignments, guest speakers, and oral presentations. Academic sources and assignments will center on education and the liberal arts college and university, in historical and socio-political context. The class will also serve as a support/study group which will address such topics as student-relationships, time and stress management, writing and speaking, computer resources, planning a major, campus and community services, and making the most of a liberal arts education.

Readings

You have been asked to buy three books: A Writer's Reference, by Diana Hacker, My Freshman Year, by Rebekah Nathan; and Forms of Ethical and Intellectual Development in the College Years: A Scheme, Willam G. Perry. All three should be available at Huntley Bookstore (or online, if you rush order!). Any additional readings will be provided online via the Sakai web site for the course (see “Communication” below), under “Resources.” You will generally want to print them out and bring them to class to aid in discussions.

Policies

Writing assignments: You will write three papers for this course: a reflective or personal narrative essay, a comparative rhetorical analysis, and a research paper. The first two will be revised. They are due when they are due; the flow and pace of the course requires that drafts be ready for discussion, in-class work, peer editing, and assessment on their assigned dates. Late papers will be graded down five points for each twenty-four hours that they are late. Papers are due in class on the assigned day; you will also submit them to the “Drop Box” on Sakai so I can quickly return comments to you, by the same method. You will give a brief, formal oral presentation of your final research paper at the last class meeting.

Grades: Your final grade will be based on the average of the following grade components: reflective essay, 15% (each draft); rhetorical analysis essay, 15% (each draft); research paper, 25%; research presentation, 5%; class participation in discussions of readings, 10%. I use a 100-point grading scale in which 93-100 is an A, 90-92 an A-, 88-89 a B+, 83-87 a B, and so on. Incompletes are given only in cases when serious, unavoidable emergencies prevent completion of course requirements and 75% of the course work has been completed. Otherwise, a withdrawal will be worked out with the Dean of Students. The terms of an incomplete must be negotiated with me based on College guidelines.

Attendance: The reason for a strict attendance policy is to ensure for each class a critical mass of students who have read the assigned material and are prepared for discussion or interaction with a lecture or presentation. The continuity and sense of community necessary for the success of a discussion-based course can only form if this exists. Therefore, you should strive to attend all the class meeting. In the real world, however, I realize this is often impossible. I will give you one free absence for any reason. After that (chronologically!), each unexcused absence (valid excuses are serious illness, a serious family or personal emergency, religious observance, an official College activity, or an unofficial activity the critical importance of which you somehow manage to convince me of) will lower your final grade by a whole grade. Illness or family emergencies must be documented to the Dean of Students. Arriving more than fifteen minutes late may count as an absence unless approved in advance. Missed work must be made up regardless of the excuse. Missing more than two total classes for any reason may result in your not passing the class or necessitate a withdrawal, regardless of the quality of your work and the reasons for the absences, at my discretion. Please arrive on time and email or call me as soon as possible if illness or emergency prevents you from coming to class.

Communication: There will be a Sakai website for this course which will contain this syllabus, announcements, handouts, and any extra readings for the semester. Please feel free to contact me outside of class for any reason. Email is best.

Bummers: On a negative note, academic misconduct (cheating, plagiarism, misuse of resources, etc.) will be dealt with strictly and in accordance with the administrative procedures of the College (see the “Student Handbook”). Consult your writing guide and see the following web site for good examples and discussion of plagiarism do’s and don’t’s: http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml. Plagiarism includes both using the words of others without attribution and “recycling” your own papers written for other purposes without express permission.

I expect full respect and consideration for the rights of your fellow students to express their thoughts and to learn unencumbered by harassment or disruption.

Please try to remember to turn your cell phones and other beeping or ringing gadgets off during class! (I'll try too.)

Schedule
(subject to change, check Sakai for announcements and schedule changes!)

August 13:

August 20:

September 3:

September 10:

September 17:

September 24:

Paper 1 & 2 revisions and Research paper are due by October 1.