Introduction

Course Structure

Course Components and Evaluation

Unit IV Competencies

Academic Policies and Information

Writing Assignments

Student Resources and Support Services

Books and Readings

Brief Descriptions and of Major Assignments

Course Schedule

Brief Descriptions of Major Assignments

A.  Daily Seminar Writing.  The purpose of daily writing assignments is to help you digest, reflect on, and respond to what you have read.  By thinking on paper about the readings, you should gain more insight and be better prepared for seminar discussion.  Daily writing prepared outside of class should be typed, and most writing assignments should be at least two pages in length.  In addition, you will be writing in class each week.  Students across seminars will complete approximately the same number of daily writing assignments but some variation may exist in the types of assignments students complete.  Types of assignments include:

·          Analysis of ideas with considered personal response         ·          Rhetorical analysis                                                                        ·          Abstract of a reading                                                                   ·          Integrative log                                                                               ·          Plot summary (for drama)                                                         ·          Character analysis (for drama)                                              ·        Analysis of a theme or themes

Please consult the Reader for a detailed description of these daily writing assignments.

B.      Participation.  Factors that will influence your participation grade include, but are not limited to, your responsible participation in and preparedness for seminar and afternoon activities and assignments.  Constructively contributing to discussions, listening effectively, promoting a safe atmosphere for learning, and encouraging others are all forms of responsible participation.

C.      Group Project.  Each group will develop and present an educational workshop that informs their peers about a contemporary citizenship-related issue. (Please see assignment guidelines for more information.)

D.  Citizenship Essay (final exam).  During the unit, you will be asked to grapple with what the phrase “effective citizenship” means to you.  Faculty will ask you to consider thoughtfully such questions as:  What is responsible citizenship?  What is interesting, rewarding, difficult, and/or complicated about being an effective citizen?  (Please see assignment guidelines for more information.)  

E.  Discovery Project, Chapter IV. So far this year you have researched the life of your Discovery subject (Chapter I), learned about a scientific or medical issue important to him or her (Chapter II) and viewed your subject as part of a social group (Chapter III).  Self as Citizen asks you to focus directly on this individual again and consider her or him in the context of citizenship.  (Please see assignment guidelines for more information.)

F.  Hypertext Essay on Place; Website Architecture Plan.  In the past units you have created a web page, learned how to make links and create folders, used a web log, and learned how to manipulate images.  In Unit IV you will add a final piece to your yearlong web development project by creating a hypertext essay that represents the connection or relationship between a specific place and your values and personal beliefs about citizenship.