ENGAGING THE
SOCIAL SCIENCES
SSC 101
COURSE
SYLLABUS
SPRING 2007
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The slides from lecture will be posted on the website after each class meeting. To find the slides, go to the Course Outline below, and click on the hyperlinks in the boxes under "Speaker/Activity/Assignment." |
Course Information:
Meeting Place: 208 Bailey Hall
Meeting Times: Wednesdays, 11:00 am 1:00 pm (Mar. 7May 2)
Instructor Information:
Instructor: Dr. Alan Barton
Office: 37 Ward Hall
Telephone: (662) 846-4097
E-mail: abarton@deltastate.edu
Webpage:
http://ntweb.deltastate.edu/vp_academic/abarton/
Office Hours:
The instructor holds regular office hours at the following times:
Monday 2:00 6:00 pm
Tuesday 2:00 6:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 11:00 am; 1:00 pm 2:00 pm
If you cannot make one of these times, contact the professor to set up an
appointment.
Course Webpage:
Additional materials and updated course information can be found on the course webpage:
http://ntweb.deltastate.edu/vp_academic/abarton/SSC101SP07/SSC101Syllabus.htm
Course Overview:
This course is to be taken by all students during their first semester with a major in the Social Sciences (Sociology, Geography, Political Science, Social Science Education, Social Sciences, Criminal Justice).
The purpose of the course is to
introduce the various degree programs in the Social Sciences, to complete
assessment activities in the Division of Social Sciences, and to better
prepare you for academic life at DSU.
Course Materials:
You will need two items for this course. First is a large blue book, 8.5 x 11", which we will use for in-class writing assignments.. The second item is a 2" or 3" binder that you can use for your portfolio. You can purchase these items at the university bookstore, at a retail stationery store, or at various on-line sources.
Course
Objectives:
(1) Understand the various degree programs in the Division of Social Sciences.
(2) Complete all assessment requirements for the Division of Social Sciences.
(3)
Begin a portfolio to collect and highlight the work you complete at DSU.
(4) Learn about campus resources available to assist you during your
time at DSU.
(5) Develop a plan for completing your degree and strategies for
successfully achieving your goals.
(6) Build a more engaged student body in the Division of Social Sciences
and at DSU.
(7) Meet other students in the Division of Social Sciences.
Responsibilities and Grading:
Your
primary responsibility in this course is to come to class each week,
participate and complete all of the assigned work. We will do some
in-class informal writing, and you will work outside of class on a portfolio
of your work. You will also visit your advisor at least twice during the
semester to complete assignments.
Each assignment is worth a certain number of points. There are a total
of 100 points available over the course of the semester. If you finish
the semester with at least 90 points, you will get an A in the course.
If you finish with between 80 and 89 points, you will get a B. For 70 to
79 points, you will get a C, and for 60 to 69 points, you will get a D.
If you finish with less than 60 points, you will get an F in the course and
will have to repeat it the following semester.
YOU are responsible for your progress in this course,
and in all of your courses at DSU. If you miss a
class session, you should check with another student to see what you missed. I didnt know is NEVER a valid excuse. If you dont know something,
it is your job to find out.
You are expected to comply with all academic standards and ethics as
defined in the DSU Bulletin and Handbook. You are expected to do your own work in
all of your courses. Plagiarism,
fraud
and other forms of cheating is NOT tolerated at DSU. The Division of Social
Sciences has an Academic Honesty and Ethics Committee, which handles all cases
of cheating in the Division. In addition, DSU's Vice President for Academic
Affairs monitors all cases of cheating on campus, and repeat violations will
result in severe sanctions, including expulsion.
For more information on academic honesty, see the DSU Library's "Plagiarism
Prevention: A Guide for Students."
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16.9% of Mississippians have a college degree; For the U.S., the figure is 24.4% (Source: U.S. Census, 2000). When you finish your degree, you will join an elite group. What is your strategy for finishing your degree?
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked (Luke 12:48). Will you be ready to live up to the responsibilities of a college graduate?
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Learning
Opportunities:
You must complete all of the following activities:
(1)
Attendance (25 points)
You must attend all class sessions
Please sign the attendance sheet at each class meeting;
this is the official record of attendance, and you may not receive credit for
attending if you do not sign the sheet
For each class session that you miss, 4 points will be deducted from your attendance score
You can be excused from one class period for illness or an official university activity that conflicts with the class, if you bring a note from a doctor or administrator verifying the reason for your absence
If you cannot be in class for any other reason, please notify the instructor
in advance, and you will receive half credit; For excused absences, you will
receive half credit for additional absences after the first; The best way to
notify the instructor is through e-mail
(2) In Class Discussion (10 points)
You must participate actively in class discussions
Disruptive and
disrespectful behavior is not tolerated
Make sure all cell phones and pagers are turned off during class
(3) Informal Writing (15 points)
We will use the blue books for informal in-class writing
assignments
You will prepare essays on assigned topics during the semester
The instructor will collect and read your essays twice during the semester
(4) Working with Your Advisor I (15 points)
On March 28, you will be given a sheet with various questions
You then must schedule a meeting with your advisor, and discuss the questions on the sheet with him or her
Submit your findings, along with your reflections on the meeting, on April 11
(5) Working with Your Advisor II (15 points)
Between April 18
and 25, you will develop a plan for maintaining your portfolio over your time
at DSU
You will meet again with your advisor and go over your Portfolio Plan
At this visit, you will also develop a plan of the courses that you intend to take to complete your degree
Submit your Course Plan on May 2
(6)
Portfolio Plan (20 points)
During your time as a student in the Division of Social Sciences, you will be responsible for completing a portfolio of your work
The portfolio is required for graduation, and you will not graduate unless you turn in a complete portfolio
During the semester, you will complete assignments for your portfolio, including:
A Statement of Purpose and Objectives for your education at DSU
A Bio Statement
An assessment of your own learning style and preferences
You will submit your Portfolio Plan on May 2
Click here for information on compiling and preparing your portfolio
(7) Critical Engagement (±10 points)
You can earn or lose up to 10 points on your final grade,
based on factors such as the motivation, interest, and improvement you
demonstrate in the course
Note: ALL work that you submit, except in-class work, should be presented in a professional manner; that is, it should be typed, submitted on time, and if there are multiple pages, they should be attached with a staple or paper clip.
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An international study of 13-year-olds ... found that Koreans ranked first in mathematics and Americans last. When asked if they thought they were "good at mathematics," only 23 percent of the Korean youngsters said "yes" -- compared to 68 percent of American 13-year-olds. The American educational dogma that students should "feel good about themselves" was a success in its own terms -- though not in any other terms.
Thomas Sowell (quoted in J.M. Henslin, 2004)
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Day/Date |
Topic |
Speaker/Activity/Assignment |
Week 1: Course Introduction |
||
Wednesday |
Welcome to the Division of Social Sciences | Dr. Albert Nylander |
Engaging the Social
Sciences Course Goals and Activities |
In-Class Discussion | |
Assessment-Based Education |
In-Class Discussion Assignment: Review the Chart on Learner-Centered Assessment in Education |
|
Wednesday |
SPRING BREAK |
|
Week 2: The Portfolio | ||
Wednesday |
Engaging the Social
Sciences Social Sciences Degree Program |
Dr. Alan Barton |
Setting and Achieving |
In-Class Essay and Discussion Assignment: Prepare an essay on your reason for being in college and your objectives |
|
Creating a Student Portfolio |
In-Class Discussion Handout: Elements of a Student Portfolio |
|
Week 3: Your Advisor |
||
Wednesday |
Engaging the Social Sciences |
Dr. Paulette Meikle-Yaw |
Active Learning Strategies |
In-Class Essay
and Discussion |
|
Working with Your Advisor |
In-Class
Discussion |
|
Week 4: Where to Go for Help |
||
Wednesday |
Learning Opportunities on Campus |
Writing Center (Dr.
Marilyn Schultz) Academic Support Lab (Ms. Diane Blansett) Roberts-LaForge Library Reference Dept. (Ms. Melissa Dennis) Technology Learning Center (Dr. Felix Rizanov) Counseling and Testing Center (Dr. Richard Houston) |
Portfolio | Due: Assessment of Your Learning Style | |
Engaging the Social
Sciences Geography Degree Program |
Dr. Mark Bonta |
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Learning is least useful when it is private and hidden; it most powerful when it becomes public and communal. Learning flourishes when we take what we think we know and offer it as community property among fellow learners so that it can be tested, examined, challenged, and improved before we internalize it.
~Lee Shulman
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Day/Date |
Topic |
Speaker/Activity/Assignment |
|
Week 5: Developing Study Skills |
|||
Wednesday |
Engaging the Social
Sciences Political Science Degree Program |
Dr. Garry Jennings Ms. Arlene Sanders |
|
How to Study in College |
Plagiarism Prevention In-Class Essay and Discussion Assignment: Prepare a biographical essay |
||
Working with Your Advisor |
Discuss Results of
Meetings with Advisors Due: Responses and Reflections on Working with Your Advisor |
||
Week 6: Assessing Social Science Knowledge |
|||
Wednesday |
Engaging the Social
Sciences Criminal Justice Degree Program |
Mr. Marv Payne | |
Pre-Test on Social Sciences | Test; Bring a Scan-Tron Form No. 882E (Available at the University Bookstore) | ||
Week 7: Setting Goals |
|||
Wednesday |
Engaging the Social
Sciences Social Science Education Degree |
Dr. Amy Owen | |
What Do I Want to Know? | In-Class Essay and Discussion | ||
Working with Your Advisor |
Assignment:
Develop Plan for Courses & Graduation and Portfolio Plan with Advisor Due: Bio Statement |
||
Week 8: Student Engagement |
|||
Wednesday |
Becoming an Engaged Student | In-Class Essay and Discussion | |
Maintaining Your Student Portfolio |
In-Class Discussion Due: Portfolio Plan and Plan for Courses & Graduation |
||
Course Evaluation |
Additional Resources:
Roberts-LaForge Library |
Writing Center Bailey Hall 211 (662) 846-4088 Further information |
Academic Support Lab
H. L. Nowell Union 311 |
Academic Success Workshops
|
Office of Information Technology Bailey Hall 114 OIT Help Desk: (662) 846-4444 |
Technology Learning Center Ewing Hall 130 (662) 846-4444 |
Counseling & Testing
Center O.W. Reily Student Health Center (662) 846-4690 Further Information |
Office of Career Services (662) 846-4646 |
PREPARATION and PERSEVERANCE are the KEYS to SUCCESS
Be prepared;
dont give up
See what others have to say about
preparation
See what others have to say about perseverance