Schedule

First-Year Seminar 120-01:
Perspectives on the Individual

Schedule

Note: You are strongly encouraged to print a copy of this page in the event that network problems make it impossible for you to access this page. Blaming one's unpreparedness on the network is unacceptable. Last Updated Oct. 19

Date	Reading	Journal
August 31	Introduction. Make sure you come to my office by Wednesday, Sept. 7 with the completed Student Information Sheet.	Journal 1. In an e-mail message to me at chad.berry@maryvillecollege.edu with Journal 1 in the subject field, introduce yourself to me by telling me the following (make sure this is fun and interesting to read!): 1. Birth date and place. 2. Write ten sentences that best describe you. 3. Write ten sentences that best describe your family. 4. What do you see yourself doing five years from now? Ten years? 5. Of all the things you do in your free time, which do you like the most? The least? 6. Without mentioning specific names, what are the qualities of people you respect and admire most? The least? 7. What do you and your friends have in common? 8. What are your favorite sports, hobbies, or crafts? 9. What is your favorite TV show? Why? 10. What is the most recent book you read for fun, and what did you like/dislike about it? 11. What is there about you that makes your friends like you? 12. What one thing do you want me to know about you? Why? 13. Where else did you apply to college? 14. Why did you choose MC? Are you happy with your choice so far? 15. How do you expect to change this year? 16. Give me a history of your performance as a student. You must submit this to me by September 7.
September 2	You must go to Thaw 201 for a session on your CCC assessments from 11:00-11:50.
September 5	Begin Unit 1. *Read Perspectives,* 2-10.** There are several Fine Arts and other lecture events during the next couple of weeks. I'd like you to attend two of them and then write a journal article about the experience. Community Conversations is another option, with the first event tonight at 7 p.m. in Wilson Chapel.
September 7	*Read Perspectives,* 11-23.**	Journal 1 due today (this was assigned on August 31). Be certain that you log onto Blackboard today and begin the threaded discussion. You are required to respond to my question by midnight Saturday and then respond to someone else by midnight Monday.
September 12	*Begin reading Goat,* pp. 1-42. Remember to read carefully, taking notes over the reading, since you'll be writing a paper on this book. Come to class with a couple of examples to discuss from the reading; i.e., those passages that confuse you or resonate with you.** Click here for your paper assignment, which is due September 26.	Journal 2: Take the following quick quiz on time management. Identify some of the things that eat up your time (telephone, visitors, e-mail, TV, video games, inability to say no, surfing, socializing, __________, ____________). Then discuss how you scored on the quiz above and your LASSI results for time management and what you're going to do to improve your time management (have you purchased, for example, a planner? Are you using it? Have you disconnected your video game? TV? Do you say no? Are you breaking large tasks into smaller chunks?).
September 14	*Read Goat,* pp. 1-71. Bring a discussion question about the reading to class.**	Journal 2 due today.
September 19	*Read Goat,* pp. 73-143.**	Journal 3: What's your learning style? Take the following online questionnaire about learning styles. Then read the handout after your results are scored that explains the style (such as visual, for example). What have you learned? How will this change the way you will learn? Finally, assess how this questionnaire is related to your Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment that you took with Marla Whipple; i.e., does your learning style echo your personality style? If so, in what ways?
September 21	*Read Goat,* pp. 144-210.**	Journal 3 due.
September 26	*Paper on Goat* is due today at 11:00. Do not be late.**	Journal 4: Is college what you thought it would be? Why or why not? Are you what you thought you would be in college? Why or why not? What have you learned about identity? Are you changing at all? How?
September 28	Begin Unit 2. *Read introduction to unit 2 (pp. 59-60) and Palmer and Ray, pp. 61-77, in Perspectives.* Click here to learn about the Unit 2 assignment. It is due October 12.	Journal 4 due.
October 3	Read King in Perspectives, pp. 78-98. Meet in Fayerweather's Lawson Auditorium. In a typed response, answer question 1 OR 2 on p. 94.	Journal 5: This one's a freebie. Write about what's on your mind. Spend some time on it--make it a great conversation.
October 5	Vocation. Read Dominquez and Robin, pp. 99-109.	Journal 5 due. Be sure to check Blackboard.
October 10	*Read xii-xix and 115-21 in Perspectives* and the following article from USA Today. Reading Road Map.** Believe it or not, it’s time to put our spring schedules together. We will set up times later. Until then, here’s what you can do: go to the division of your proposed major and get a scheduling paradigm for your major. If you’re undecided, don’t worry; look over general education requirements so that we can enroll you in these courses. Check off the courses you are currently enrolled in on your paradigm sheet. Using your paradigm sheet and your schedule of classes that I gave you in August, write out a proposed schedule. When you come for your registration session with me, bring your schedule of classes, paradigm sheet, and proposed class schedule. Please do not miss your time.	Journal 6: Take the following assessment. Look over your three choices, and then discuss what your answers tell you about yourself. Did you think about these three reasons when you were applying to college? How do you think your reasons compare with those of other first-year students who are starting college with you? Have your reasons changed since September 1? What do you expect to gain from your MC education? How does this relate to Cronon's ideas?
October 12	Vocation and Work. Unit 2 project due.	Journal 6 due today.
October 17	No assignment today.	Journal 7: What is it that people say you are very good at? What were you doing when you last lost all track of time? How would you answer if a 7-year-old asked, “What are you most proud of in your life?” Who is living the life you most envy? Why? What job would you gladly do for free? How do you want to be remembered? You are a very old man or woman. What would you tell your great-grandkids is most important in life? What excites you? What angers you? What can you do about both?
October 19	Begin Unit 3. Read p. 123, Hipp, 127-29. Click here for Unit 3 project.	Journal 7 due.
October 24	Stress and Wellness. Assignment: Click here and complete the longevity game. Complete the student stress scale and bring to class. Read Goleman, pp. 133-39, and Chopra, pp. 124-6, and complete question 1 on p. 126.	No journals this week.
October 26	Eating Well. Read Weil, 140-59.
October 31	Super Size Me. Meet in Lawson Auditorium.	Journal 8: Make it great.
November 2	Super Size Me. Meet in Lawson.	Journal 8 due.
November 7	Mindfulness. Read Kabat-Zinn, pp. 130-32, and Nerburn, 160-64.	Journal 9: Why do you think people use alcohol? What do you think the minimum age to legally drink should be? Why? Do you know people who drink only to get drunk? Have you ever suspected any of your friends of being alcoholics? Have you ever witnessed a scene in which drunkenness played a part in violence? Obnoxious behavior? Abuse of women? Be honest.
November 9	Unit 3 project due. We'll watch a film on Qi.	Journal 9 due.
November 14	Begin Unit 4. What is belief? Read introduction to unit 4, p. 165. Announce Unit 4 project.	Journal 10: Describe what your religious beliefs would be like if you had been born and raised in China—not as an American, but as a Chinese. Why would they be different? What does that say about religious belief? Come on, really think about this one.
November 16	Read Kita, pp. 175-88. Prepare to discuss the questions on p. 188.	Journal 10 due.
November 21	Your reading today is on reserve in the library under FRS 120: Read from The Life of Pi, pp. 47-77. Prepare to discuss this question: why are all the religious leaders upset with Pi?	Journal 11: Go to the following site and take the Spiritual Type Quiz. Once you finish, take the Tolerance Quiz. After you take the quizzes, write a journal entry in which you describe what you learned. How different, or how similar, are your beliefs from your parents? Send this journal to me by Wednesday.
November 28	Read Smith, pp. 189-99. Answer question 2 on p. 199 and bring to class.	Journal 12: This is your LAST journal entry. Make it especially good.
November 30	*Read pp. 200-21 in Perspectives.* Type up careful, thoughtful answers to the following questions and bring to class:** Question 3, p. 206 Question 1, p. 221	Journal 12 due.
December 5	*Read pp. 222-26 in Perspectives.* Be prepared to discuss Question 3 on p. 226 in class. Unit 4 projects due--put them outside my office door before class**. Click here for the final paper assignment.
December 7	We'll gather together to explore and discuss some of your ultimate questions. Bring at least two questions to class to discuss. These could be, "Who made God?" or "Are we punished by our sins or for our sins?"
Dec. 12, 1:00	Final papers due in my office.