Fall 1999

INSTRUCTOR:         Professor Charles Kratz
OFFICE:                     Weinberg Library, Room 405
PHONE:                      941-4008
E-MAIL:                     kratzc1@uofs.edu
OFFICE HOURS:      By appointment Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
CLASS HOURS:        3:00 - 3:50 P.M. Mondays and Wednesdays

2) To explore your individual expectations and personal goals of the college experience.

3) To enhance your academic performance by building skills that will contribute to your academic success at the university level such as time management, note taking, effective reading techniques, and other study skills.

4) To explore your understanding and expectations of higher education and to integrate the mission and goals of a Jesuit University with your values and goals.

5) To explore the role of faculty and to clarify appropriate strategies for initiating contact with faculty.

6) To develop an understanding of academic and career opportunities and to assess personal interests and to identify relationships between personal interests, appropriate college majors and tentative career choices.

7) To introduce you to the importance of writing in communicating clearly and effectively.

8) To help you realize your potential and meet your goals in the first year.

Handouts to be passed out in class today:
1) Conferences with Seminar Instructor           6) Look at your Fish
2) Writing Advisee Logs                                 7) Where to Go for Help-College Support .Serv.
3) Weekly Time Plan and Semester Overview 8)  Test Taking Inventory
4) About Being an Undeclared Major              9)  “Do You Speak Ignatian?”
5) SIGI-Plus

Assignments for Wednesday, September 1:
1) Bring your syllabi for each course you are taking as we will be discussing them in class.
2) Post on the CourseInfo Discussion Board at www.uofs.edu/ci a one-two paragraph biographical sketch and a list of three reasons why you have entered college.  Address which reason is the most important and why?

Assignments for Wednesday, September 8:
1) Read Building An Academic Life: The University of Scranton Freshmen Seminar, pp. v-ix and Chapter 1 and also read the handout "Do You Speak Ignatian?" to discuss in class.
2) Write Log #1 - Weekly Time Plan/Semester Overview Forms and Reflective Log on Time Management.

Assignments for Monday, September 13:
1) Read Building An Academic Life: The University of Scranton Freshmen Seminar, Chapters 2 & 3 and read Academic Code of Honesty (in Student Handbook and Date book) to discuss in class.
2) Read the article "Creating A Culture for Teachers' Professional Growth" on reserve at the Weinberg Library's Circulation desk under INTD 100 - KRATZ or accessible at www.uofs.edu/ci under External Links (password is kratz).  Bring a copy of the article with your own underlinings and marginalia to discuss in class.
3) Write Log #2 - Becoming Engaged in University Life Interview & Log.
4) Please post your reactions to today's presentation on the CourseInfo Discussion Board at www.uofs.edu/ci. Your comments are due by September 13, 1999.

Assignments for Monday, September 20:
1) Write Log #3 - Reflective Log on The Best Way to Study for ___.

Assignment for Monday, September 20:
1) Read Building An Academic Life: The University of Scranton Freshmen Seminar, Chapters 4 & 5  & 12 to discuss in class. 

Assignments for Monday, September 27:
1) Read Building An Academic Life: The University of Scranton Freshmen Seminar, Chapter 6 to discuss in class.
2) Review GE Curriculum in the University's Undergraduate Catalog.
3) Complete the "Test Taking Inventory" form and bring it to class for discussion.

Assignments for Wednesday, September 29:
1) Write Log #4- Library Research Assignment and Reflection Log on some aspect of Jesuit Identity or Jesuit  Education.

Assignments for Wednesday, October 6:
1) Read  "Choosing a Major" by R. Holkeboer" to discuss in class.  "Choosing a Major" is on reserve at the Weinberg Library's Circulation desk or at www.uofs.edu/ci under External Links.
2) Write Log #5 - Self Evaluations based on the Holland Hexagon.
3)  Prepare three questions on index cards to ask during student presentations on Oct. 6. Hand in your questions at the end of next class.

Assignments for Wednesday, October 13:
1) Please post your reactions to today's presentation by students on the CourseInfo Discussion Board at www.uofs.edu/ci.  Your comments are due by October 13.

Assignments for Monday, October 20:
1) Write Log #6 - Evaluation Sheets & Reflective Log.
2) Read Building An Academic Life: The University of Scranton Freshmen Seminar, Chapter 7-9

Assignments for Monday, October 25:
1) Read Building An Academic Life: The University of Scranton Freshmen Seminar, Chapter 10-11 and "Making Resources Visible" article to discuss in class.  The article is on reserve at the Weinberg Library's Circulation desk and at www.uofs.edu/ci under External Links.
2) Complete "Where to Go For Help - Some College Support Services" form and bring it to class for discussion.
3) Write Log #7 - Reflection Log on Midterm Grades.

Assignments for Wednesday, October 27:
1) Write Log #7 - Reflection Paper on Midterm Grades.
2) Prepare three questions to ask during alumni presentations during next class. Hand in your questions at the end of next class.

Assignments for class on Monday, November 1:
1) Read Freshmen to Freshmen Booklet.
2) Please post your reactions to today's presentation by alumni on the CourseInfo Discussion Board at www.uofs.edu/ci.  Your comments are due by November 1.

Assignments for second conference with your instructor (11/8 -11/22):
Write Log #8  - Letter to Next year's Freshmen and Optional Assignment - extra credit log.
Report on the Peer Education program you attended.

For all students who have handed in Logs #1-#8:
November 1st will be the final class session for all students who have a passing grade in the course, with the following restriction: it is mandatory that you schedule a final individual conference with your instructor sometime between 11/8 and 11/22. At that meeting, you will hand in Log #8 and discuss any areas of concern which you may have encountered with regard to registration for Spring courses, declaration of major, and discuss the Peer Education program you attended..

If you have not completed the requirements of the course to the satisfaction of your instructor, you will be required to continue attending class, make up the work you have missed, and complete the course by the end of the semester.
 

Log #1 - due September 8 - Weekly Time Plan/Semester Overview  Forms & Reflective Log on Time Management Log
1. Use the "Weekly Time Plan" form and the "Semester Overview" form which you received in class to work out a proposed weekly schedule and semester overview.  "What's Due" column on the "Semester Overview" form should include specifics: readings, exams, papers, logs, etc.  Then present a word processed assessment of how you will organize your semester so that you will be able to meet the requirements for each course and still have the time for other activities and commitments. As part of this assignment you should consider and present the reasons for taking each of the four or five courses you are taking, and you should comment on how you will approach each course. Log #1 will be include your reflective log on time management and xeroxed copies of your "Weekly Time Plan" form and your "Semester Overview" form . Your assignment will be returned the following week.

Log #2 - due September 13 - Becoming Engaged in University Life Interview & Log
Becoming engaged in University life begins with your willingness to become involved. Select one student club, social organization, cultural organization, or publication at the University of Scranton that relates in some way to your personal concerns or goals. Interview a member of that organization. (Note: your RA is NOT an appropriate interview subject for this assignment). You should prepare for the interview by writing out 5-8 questions. The log you write after the interview may NOT merely summarize the interview. It should present your thoughts on the significance and relevance of what you have learned. The log must be submitted together with the questions mentioned above.

Before beginning the interview it may be helpful to reflect upon your own personal values and your reasons for attending the University of Scranton. Learning about what you feel you need from your college experience may be a help to you in deciding upon the focus of your interview. Please do not use the term "well rounded" without including a detailed explanation of what significance that term has in your life.

Log #3 - due September 20 - Reflective Log on The Best Way to Study for ___
As part of your preparation for writing this log, look up the course descriptions of each course you are taking that could potentially lead to a major.  You do not need to worry about WRTG 107 (Composition), COMM 100 (Public Speaking) or C/IL 102 (Computer Literacy).  Then read the handout, "Look at your Fish" which was distributed in class.

In your log consider the following:
a. How do you approach unfamiliar or complex material, or courses in which you are not sure what you are being asked to do?

b. After considering ways in which Samuel Scudder revised his own approach to study, present a reflection of how your ways of approaching your studies have changed/are changing since you began your university career three weeks ago. Re-read your Log #2

c. What are the different methods you use in studying for the variety of courses on your schedule. for example, how is studying for Math or Science different from studying for English or Philosophy?

Log #4 - September 29 - Library Research Assignment and Reflective Log on Jesuit Identity or Jesuit Education
Based on the presentation in class and outside readings identified through library research, write a  reflective log on some aspect of Jesuit identity or Jesuit education.  For the log, please use two journal articles or one journal article and one chapter from a book.  Include these citations in a bibliography at the end of your reflective paper.  Papers should be no longer than two pages.  Please do not turn this into a term paper.

Log #5 - due October 6 - Reflective Log on Interests Inventory: Holland Hexagon
Work on the Holland Hexagon and find out which of the categories you fall into. Write a log on your findings. Did anything surprise you?

Log #6 - due October 20 - Evaluation Sheets & Reflective Log
Fill in the courses you are now taking on the 3 Evaluation sheets you received in class.
Discuss the following in your log:  (a) did all your courses fit it?  (b) are you “on track”, and if not, what would be your strategy for catching up in this major?  (c) how do these courses seem in terms of the results of your score on last week's Interest Inventory?  Do these majors/courses seem to “fit” with your own personality type?

Log #7 - due October 27 - Reflective Log on Midterm Grades
Before beginning to write this log, re-read your Log #3 concerning your study habits and your approach to your studies. Review your plans for Time Management (Log #1).  Now evaluate your study habits in terms of your midterm grades. Are your methods working to your satisfaction? If not, what do see as the problem? How how can they be improved?  If you are pleased with your grades, what words of wisdom can you offer other students who seem to be struggling with their courses?  What is the difference between "studying  harder" and "studying smarter"?

Log #8 - due at the individual meeting 11/8-11/22 - Letter to Freshmen
Congratulations!  You have just about completed your first semester.  We often hear the statement “if I just knew then what I know now…”

Write a two-page letter to next year's freshmen.  Describe your experience with college; include any combination of the following: what have you learned, how have you changed, what do you wish you had done, what new experience are you happy that you tried?  What frightened you, and how are you feeling about it now?  Is college what you expected?  Give them some advice on making their first semester a success.   Selected excerpts from your papers will become part of next Fall's issue of “Freshman to Freshman” and will be distributed to the freshmen in the class of 2004.
 

Write a reflection paper on the Summer Orientation play, The Open Road.  Some possible items to reflect on are: What was your first reaction when reading the play?  Did your reaction change upon seeing the play performed?  What the relevant themes of the play?   Does the title suggest interpretations of the play?  What does the play communicate about the essence of relationships?  How did your parents react to the play? Who is Brad Slaight?  Has he written other plays? What biographical information is available on the Internet.  (This information can found on the World Wide Web using a search engine such as, www.metacrawler.com.) Papers should be no longer than two pages.

or

Becoming engaged in University life also begins with understanding the role of faculty on campus.  Interview a member of the faculty (not your instructor) in his/ her office.  Check in the back of the Undergraduate Catalog for a list of faculty.  You should prepare for the interview by writing out 5-8 questions. The log you write after the interview may NOT merely summarize the interview. It should present your thoughts on the significance and relevance of what you have learned. The log must be submitted together with the questions mentioned above.
 

or

Write a reflective paper on the Academic Code of Honesty.  After reading and discussing the Code, do you need to change or adapt the way you approach written assignments?  Compare the approach implied by the University's Code with prevalent approaches at you high school.

The extra credit log is due at the second conference with your instructor (November 8th-22).  It will be graded on a three point scale.  The number of points received will be added to your final log grade.