Caen 101 - Succeeding in College

CAEN 101 - Succeeding in College

Spring 1998

Instructor:

Ron Klinger

10^th Floor Rudder Tower

(O) 845-4728

(H) 693-6113 (no calls after 10:00pm)

Office Hours:

M/W 1:00-5:00pm

T 8:00am-12:00 or by apt.

Ron @ vpsasvr.tamu.edu

Course meeting time: 9:10-10:00 am

Section Number: Section 101-502

Location: Blocker 155

Textbooks Required for Course:

Pauk, W. (1997). How to study in college: sixth edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, MA.

Keim, W. (1995). The Education of Character: Lessons for Beginners. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.

Course Description:

CAEN 101 is a study of critical theories of learning with application to academic performance.

The course objectives are to increase the student’s ability to:

use effective time management and goal setting strategies;

use effective methods for improving reading comprehension and essay development;

use effective active learning techniques applicable to the classroom;

use effective methods of preparing for tests, exams and coping with test anxiety;

define and overcome math anxiety;

develop effective communication skills;

AND:

To increase the student’s knowledge of an familiarity with computer resources on campus;

To introduce the student to campus resources.

Expectations:

Attendance: Attendance in class is fundamental to your academic success in any course. Attendance is required with the exception of University excused absences as defined in the 1997-98 Texas A&M University Student Rules. Unless you have a University excused absence, ALL work is due on the assigned dates. If you have an excused or unexcused absence, it is your responsibility to determine and complete the work you missed.

YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TWO (2) UNEXCUSED ABSENCES WITHOUT PENALTY. EACH UNEXCUSED ABSENCE AFTER THIS WILL RESULT IN THE LOWERING OF YOUR COURSE GRADE BY ONE (1) LETTER GRADE. Example: If you have three unexcused absences at the end of the term and have a course average of a B, your final course grade will be a C.

The handouts used in the course are copyrighted. By handouts, I mean all materials generated for this class, which include but are not limited to syllabi, quizzes, exams, in-class materials, review sheets, and additional materials. Because there materials are copyrighted, you do not have the right to copy them unless I expressly grant permission.

As commonly defined, plagiarism consists of passing off one’s own ideas, words, writings, etc., which belong to another. In accordance with this definition, you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you should have permission of that person. Plagiarism is one of the worst academic sins, for the plagiarist destroys the trust among colleagues without which research cannot be safely communicated.

If you have any questions regarding plagiarism, please consult the current issue of the Texas A&M Student Rules, under section, "Scholastic Dishonesty."

Late Work Policy:

NO late assignments will be accepted after the due date unless prior arrangements are made. Extra points are not awarded for attendance or class participation. Also there are no extra credit points or assignments.

Total points: 500

Grading Scale:

A=500-450 (100%-90%)

B=449- 400 (89%-80%)

C=399-350 (79%-70%)

D=349-350 (69%-60%)

F=299-Below (Below 60%)

Grading Policy

Projects/Exercises: 60%

Exams/Quizzes: 40%

Total: 100%

Materials needed for course:

Required Texts

Three-ring binder

Package of 3x5 notecards

Academic planner/Calendar

Important Dates for Spring Term 1998:

January 20th First day of classes

January 23rd Last day to drop with no record

April 6^th Last day to Q-drop

May 5^th Redefined Day; attend Friday classes. Last day of classes.

May 6-7 Reading Days

May 8, 11-13 Final Exams

Americans With Disabilities Act

The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring accommodation, please contact the Office of Support Services for Students with Disabilities in Room 126 Koldus Building or call 845-1637.

NOTE: If you need accommodations in this class related to a disability, please make an appointment to see me as soon as possible.

Assignments:

Journals/Planner: 40/20 points

On the given due date, journals will be due that require you to write on a given topic or assignment to be given in class. Journals are your opportunity to express your thoughts and opinions. Journals must be at least two pages, typed and double-spaced. The academic planner will be checked two times throughout the semester.

Due dates (Journals): Feb. 4^th, 11^th, April 1^st, & 15^th .

Resource Presentations: 40 points

Presentations will be given over the various resources available to A&M students. Small groups will present their findings to the class in a 5-7 minute oral presentation of the experience. Further instructions will be given in class as well as the list of resources to be researched. Due: March 2^nd or 4^th.

Education of Character personal books: 70 points

Throughout the course of the semester, we will be using the Education of Character, by Will Keim. You are to produce your own personal Education of Character book. More information will be disclosed at a later date. A presentation of your book will be required after its completion.

Professor Interview: 100 points

Interview one of your current professors or instructors. Remember that your professors are busy people, so you will want to schedule an appointment time with him/her over the phone, or via e-mail, or after class. The purpose of this assignment is to encourage communication between faculty and students outside of the classroom. Professors can prove to be extremely helpful as well as be a good resource for you to call again during your college career. You will be expected to submit a rough draft with your final draft. You must have the rough draft proofread in the Writing Resource Lab located in the Blocker Building. Failure to submit an edited rough draft will result in loss of points.

Professor Selection: Feb. 4^th. Due date of Final Draft: March 25^th.

Reading Quizzes: 30 points

Three periodic, unannounced reading quizzes will be given throughout the term over the assigned chapters.

Midterm Exam: 100 points

There will be an objective, multiple choice midterm covering materials up to March 9^th.

Final paper: 100 points

There will be one final term paper. Topic and further criteria will be assigned at a later date. This is the final for the course. Papers will be a minimum of five double spaced typed pages and a maximum of eight pages. More details to come. The time and date that the paper will be due will be discussed towards the end of the semester by the class.

Closing Thoughts:

"Look to the future to find power for the present" -Zig Ziglar

"Success comes when opportunity meets preparation" -Zig Ziglar

"Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you" -Ralph Waldo Emerson

CAEN 101 Class Calendar

Spring 1998

Date

January 21

Feb. 2

March 2

April 1

May 4 or 5

Topic

Introduction to syllabus, etc.

Moving Forward (Journal 1 due)

Setting Goals

Time Management/Organization

Taking Note (Professor selection due)

Study Skills

Reading: What’s Important

How to give a good presentation

Library Resources- (Journal 2 due)

How to write an effective paper

Stress Management/Math Anxiety

Resource Presentations

Resource Presentations

Alcohol and Drug Education

Midterm Exam

Spring Break

Spring Break

Review Midterm/Refocus on Goals

Bonfire and course registration-Pat Walsh

Values and Identity Development

Money Management (Journal 3 due)

Open date-(topics to be determined)

Diversity Education-Becky Petitt

Diversity Education (Journal 4 due)

Healthy Relationships-Becky Neshiem

Responsible Sexual Decisions

MBTI Interpretations

Career Discovery Day

Education of Character Presentations

Reading Assignment

Lessons #1, 5, & 6

Text Chapter 1

Text Ch. 2

Text Ch. 9, 10, 11

Text Ch. 7, & 8, Lesson #14

Text Ch. 12, 13

Text Ch. 19

Text Ch. 3, 18, Lesson #16

Lessons #17, 18, 19

(Professor Paper Due)

Lessons #4, 5, 6

Lesson #8

Margaret Griffith

(Keirsey Temperament)