SYLLABUS
LS301 Contemporary Issues
Fall 2002, Dr. Glauner
Office: Copley 310, Phone Ext. 6352
Email: jglauner@mail.park.edu
Website: captain.park.edu/jglauner
Office Hours
MF - 9:55-11:55 a.m.
W - 9:55-10:55 a.m.
TR - 10-10:30 a.m.
Or by appointment
Class
meets: 8:40-9:55 a.m., TR, Copley 1 North
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION: Studies in leading contemporary issues,
problems, and concerns viewed from interdisciplinary perspectives. The course
also reviews different types of writing essential to success in college and
professions.
II. PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES:
A. Students will demonstrate through writing, oral recitation, discussion,
quizzes, and examinations their skill in reading a wide variety of texts emerging
from various sociopolitical, multidisciplinary, cultural, and ethnic points of
view.
B. Students will demonstrate their composition skills (including all skills that
the writing process entails) by writing in-class and take-home essays responding
to their required reading for the course.
C. Students will demonstrate their ability to conduct independent research by
producing a research paper in multiple drafts.
D. Students will provide evidence of their oral communication skills in regard
to ideas developed in the course through regular formal and informal recitation
and discussion and through group and individual oral presentations.
E. Students will clarify their personal values through examination of ideas
emerging from class discussions, individual and group presentations, and
individual research.
F. Students will demonstrate critical literacy by researching, analyzing,
synthesizing, and evaluating topics involving contemporary issues.
G. Students will demonstrate esthetic literacy by researching, analyzing,
synthesizing, and evaluating contemporary issues that involve the arts.
H. Students will demonstrate civic literacy by researching, analyzing,
synthesizing, and evaluating contemporary issues that involve civic
responsibilities.
I. Students will demonstrate their increased understanding and awareness of
multicultural and global matters through their performance in discussions and
individual and group presentations and on quizzes, examinations, and research
papers.
III. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
A. ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR ALL OF MY CLASSES
Revised: August 21, 2002
Dr. Jeff Glauner
BE IN CLASS!!!
This is a major change from my previous attendance policy. It's a carrot rather than a sword.
For perfect attendance, you get 50 points extra credit. For each absence (whatever the reason) you lose 10 of those points. I will allow makeup for two of those absences (a 500-word summary of materials you might have missed during the session) upon presentation of a reasonable written excuse. Beyond two absences there will be no make-up unless we discuss your situation and I feel that it justifies make-up. Such instances will be rare but will include necessary athletic trips, jury duty, hospitalization, etc.
Weather-related absences will be handled as they occur. You must use your own judgment as to whether travel to school during inclement weather is safe. I must make the final decision on an individual basis whether absences due to weather may be made up. In most cases, we will probably agree. Do not endanger your life to avoid absence. I do not, however, believe that a walk from the dormitory or from downtown Parkville will endanger one's life in typical snowy weather.
Note: Graded assignments missed because of absence may be made
up only with my approval. Assignments handed in late because of absence
will lose one letter grade per class period. Unannounced quizzes and
reader response essays may not be made up.
B. Participation: Students who attend regularly and avoid tardiness and
regularly provide positive, cooperative spoken and written input during class
sessions, and whose input provides evidence that they have studied their lessons
carefully, will be rewarded with grades of A or B for participation. Others will
receive lower participation grades.
C. Each student must complete assignments as per the requirements of this
syllabus and other official documents and requirements presented orally or in
writing by the teacher.
D. Students will be involved in cooperative academic activities with peer
groups.
E. Students are required to maintain an email address which they check
regulalrly and be able to receive and
send email. (Note: Email addresses along with all necessary hardware and
software are available free at Park Universitys computer laboratories.)
IV. TEXTBOOKS:
Atwan, Robert. America Now: Short Readings from Recent Periodicals, 3rd
Ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 1999.
V. CLASS POLICIES: Academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism) will result in a zero for the particular assignment. Repeated offenses will result in failure for the course. Attendance and timely arrival in class are required. Assignments must be submitted on time. An automatic reduction of one letter grade per class meeting is assessed for late submission. Make up of missed work is possible only through special arrangements with the professor. Make up is possible only with ironclad, compelling excuses.
VI. GRADING:
Attendance - See Section III.A.
Participation - 100 points
Group Reports 100 points
Quizzes (response essays) - 300 points*
Research Project - 400 points
Final Examination (The final examination will be the last response essay.) - 100
points
Total - 1,000 points*
*Note: point totals may vary
because the number of quizzes might be different from the number initially
planned.
Grade Conversion:
90-100% A
80-89% B
70-79% C
60-69% D
0-59% F
(NOTE: To avoid misunderstandings, please read the following carefully and
believe it. The grade for average work is a C. The grade of B means better
than average work. An A is given for exceptional work. D means inferior work. F
means failing work, but there is often a major difference between an F for poor
or late work and a 0 for work not submitted.
Do not expect high grades for sloppy, perfunctory, or late work.
VII. CLASS MEETING AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE: Assignments should be prepared before the class periods for which they are due. Reading assignments are from Atwan. Remember, to be prepared for class and for the in-class activities that are entailed by the class, you must read, not only the text assignment, but materials outside of the text that you find to be relevant to your study of the particular contemporary issues being studied. Frequently, you will be called upon to write in-class response essays to these reading materials. When the syllabus provides a choice among reading assignments, your assignment will match that of the others in your classroom peer group. Be ready to write a reader response essay every time you come to class.
Tues., Aug. 20 Review syllabus. Review research project assignment. Establish response groups (based upon newspaper sections).
Write
introductory essay.
Thurs., Aug. 22 Read: Chapter 1 or 5 (depending upon your assigned group). We will be
examining the power of written and oral language in contemporary affairs.
Tues., Aug. 27 Preparation for oral reports.
Thurs., Aug. 29 Group #1 oral reports on written and oral
language. Group will be responsible for filling the entire class period. Be
creative and scholarly ("Sweetness and Light").
Tues., Sept. 3 Group #2 oral reports on written and oral language.
Thurs., Sept. 5 - Group #3 oral reports on written and oral language.
Tues., Sept. 10 - Group #4 oral reports on written and oral language.
Thurs., Sept. 12 - Meet in library. Topic: Research paper work.
Tues., Sept. 17 - Reports from news groups (world, national, state,
metro). Discussion of Research Paper topics. Bring your tentative
topics.
Thurs., Sept. 19 Due: Prospectus for Research Project. Each student
will present a brief oral report on his/her topic. Assign group topics.
Tues., Sept. 24 Read: Chapter 10, 12, 14, or 15. Four divergent
but lively topics. Get ready to rumble. Group work in preparation for oral reports.
Thurs., Sept. 26 Group #4 oral reports.
Tues., Oct. 1 Group #3 oral reports.
Thurs., Oct. 3 - Group #2 oral reports.
Tues., Oct. 8 Group #1 oral reports.
Thurs., Oct. 10 Read: nontextbook materials on the following: Group 1, Sports;
Group 2, International Policy; Group 3, Money; Group 4, The Arts. Each group
will present an oral report on one of these topics. (Replacement topics
may be negotiated.) Group work.
Tues., Oct. 15 Fall Recess.
Thurs., Oct 17 Rall Recess.
Tues., Oct. 22 - Due: first draft of Research Project.
Group work. ***Schedule individual reports on research
topics. Important Note: Topics chosen will be quizable
on dates of respective individual reports.***
Thurs., Oct. 24 Group #2 oral report.
Tues., Oct. 29 - Group #1 oral report.
Thurs., Oct. 31 Group #4 oral report.
Tues., Nov. 5 Group #3 oral
report.
Thurs., Nov. 7 Individual reports.
Tues., Nov. 12 - Individual reports.
Thurs., Nov. 14 Individual reports.
Tues., Nov. 19 - Due: Final Draft of Research Essay #2.
Individual reports.
Thurs., Nov. 21 Individual reports.
Tues., Nov. 26 Individual reports.
Thurs., Nov. 28 - No Classes.
Tues., Dec. 3 - - Individual reports.
Thurs., Dec. 5 - Prepare for final examination.
Final Examination: 8:00-10:00 a.m., Thursday, December 12.
NOTE: This schedule of assignments is subject to change on short notice.