CSU 1022

COURSE REQUIREMENT: Access to communication between the instructor and students will require use of CSU email:
The instructor will only respond to CSU email messages from students . Go to: http://thehub.clayton.edu and click "Service" for information on configuring your laptop computer to comply with CSU IT requirements. You MUST have your laptop computer configured to access CSU email. You will need to take your laptop computer to The HUB, located on the ground level of the University Center. You should have your computer configured and set up for CSU email BEFORE classes begin, or as soon as possible there after.
The HUB is located in the University Center, or contact the HUB at 678-466-4357.

This course syllabus will be essentially the same each semester it is offered except for the dates and updated textbook requirements.

Prof. J. S. Trachtenberg
Clayton State University
Two semester hour course credit
Fall Semester, 2007

Course Description:
University Foundations helps new students make a successful transition to Clayton State University and prepares them to meet the challenges of higher level learning and the demands of their chosen field The course connects students and faculty who share a common interest by building a community of learners committed to achieving excellence. University Foundations refines academic goals, encourages a greater sense of personal responsibility, creates intentional learners and provides the information and support that students need to earn a college degree. This discussion-based seminar helps students to learn how to improve their basic skills in areas such as written communication, oral communication and critical thinking. .

· Learn how to access and use the library and other academic support resources

Course Prerequisites: Social Sciences discipline major: Criminal Justice, History or Political Science.

Attendance:
Attendance will be taken each class session. Class will meet each regularly scheduled class day unless announced otherwise. Because the success of the course depends on a high level of student participation, you may have only one excused absence; Each additional absence will result in the deduction of 5 points from your total earned points for the course (Exceptions will be made only in extraordinary circumstances; Speak with the instructor if you have concerns.).

CSU Attendance Policy:
Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students' ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades.

Course Format:
All students in this section of CSU 1022 are Social Sciences discipline majors. We will begin our class with a brief quiz followed by a discussion of any significant national and local news since our last class meeting. Students are encouraged to bring news stories to the attention of the class. Students will be expected to take fifteen short essay textbook chapter quizzes, attend two Lyceum guest lectures and complete a written summary of each speaker's presentation and complete a congressional representation Internet assignment. Students will be assigned to project groups, where they will research an assigned topic of current national significance, develop a written group project report and related PowerPoint presentation. All group members will participate in their group's classroom PowerPoint project report at the end of the semester.

NOTE: All students will be expected to participate fully in their group's work and classroom presentation. Students who do not engage in their group's work and presentation will be letting down both their group and the class.

If you are uncomfortable with this format and these expectations, or it will interfere with your off-campus obligations or responsibilities, you may wish to reconsider taking the course.

Course Computer Usage: Bring your CSU configured laptop computer to class daily. Students will make regular remote site use of the Internet to access course related email, and relevant websites as they study materials, prepare group presentations and present their group's project report. Do NOT take this class if you do not have access to a laptop computer which is CSU configured, and which you will be able to bring to campus each day. You should develop the habit of checking your CSU e-mail daily.

You should be able to:

Behavior which disrupts the teaching–learning process during class activities will not tolerated. This includes belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or
threatening behavior. A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating
in classroom activities may be dismissed from class. A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights as soon as
possible following dismissal. If found in violation, a student may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF.

http://a-s.clayton.edu/DisruptiveClassroomBehavior.htm

Students must abide by policies in the CSU Catalog & Student Handbook.

The instructor and students will treat each other with the proper respect at all times.

Children are NOT permitted in any CSU classroom under any circumstances, nor may they be left unattended anywhere on the campus.

Withdrawals and Incompletes:
Students may wish to review college policy regarding course withdrawals and incompletes in the CSU catalog. Do not hesitate to speak with me, or your advisor, if you need information relating to a course withdrawal or an incomplete.

The Fall Semester 2007 deadline to withdraw from a Full Session course without possible academic accountability is Friday, October 12th.

Disabilities: Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 255, 678-466-5445, disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu.

Regents Testing: The University System of Georgia requires that each student receiving a degree must have successfully demonstrated competence in reading comprehension and writing by passing two courses: Regents’ Writing Skills and Regents’ Reading Skills. Students can satisfy course requirements through examination. The Regents’ Testing Program of the University System of Georgia is administered by the Testing Center at Clayton College & State University for three days each semester. Testing dates and registration procedures are in the Class Schedule and Registration Guide each semester under REGE 0001. Please contact your academic advisory or the Testing Center for more information.

Course Expectations:

   1. Attend class on a regular basis;
   2. Be prepared on assigned dates with in-class presentations;
   3. Participate in class discussions;
   4. Read all 15 textbook assignments and take fifteen textbook chapter quizzes;
   5. Complete and turn in the Internet congressional representation assignment;
   6. Participate equally in development and preparation of your group's written Project Report;
   7. Participate equally in development and delivery of your group's PowerPoint Project Report Classroom Presentation;
   8. Earn a total number of points equal to a passing grade;
   9. Have access to a CSU formatted notebook computer you can bring to class on a regular basis.

Gardner, J. N., & Jewler, A. J. The Essential College Experience With Readings (6th ed.). Boston: Thomson Learning, 2006

2. Required Daily Newspaper (Available M-F in the newspaper racks located in A & S Bldg. first floor hallway.):

The New York Times (Campus delivery should begin on Wednesday, September 5th; available in the A&S hallway newspaper rack.)

Grading: (500 possible points)
Course grades will be determined on a straight scale with the total number of points you earn dictating the letter grade you receive. You will earn points from fifteen daily textbook chapter quizzes (15 possible points each - 225 possible total points); one Internet congressional representation assignment (75 possible points), the written group project report (100 possible points); and the group classroom Power Point presentation (100 possible points) . At the end of the class if you are within 3 points of a higher letter grade I will assign you that higher course grade.

Midterm Grades: A course midterm grade will be posted on the DUCK by midterm each semester. The midterm grade will only reflect work completed to the middle of the semester, approximately 30% of information included in scored assignments and examinations. If you have questions, please contact the instructor.

Textbook Chapter Quizzes: (15 possible points each - 225 possible total points) There will be short essay quiz on each of the fifteen textbook chapters at the beginning of class on the textbook reading assignment due dates. These quizzes will be discussed in class. You may miss one of these fifteen quizzes and I will give you your highest quiz score of the other fourteen in its place. If you miss more than one quiz, you will receive zero points for that additional missed quiz.

Internet Congressional Representation Assignment: (75 possible points) Each student is expected to complete the Internet Congressional Representation Assignment on their U.S. Representative and two U.S. Senators. Information on this assignments is provided at the bottom of this syllabus. The assignment will be further discussed in class.

Group Written Project Report and Group PowerPoint Presentation: (100 possible points for the written Group Project Report and 100 possible points for the Group PowerPoint Presentation for each group member.) The class will be divided into small groups, the number of students in each group and the number of groups will depend on total class enrollment. The New York Times and American Democracy Project Civic Engagement resources will serve as the initial reference materials for each group's written project report and development of each group's PowerPoint presentation. The instructor will monitor and assist each group in developing their projects, as well as see to it that ALL group members carry their share of the responsibility for the group's successful completion of the written project report and participation in the group's PowerPoint presentation. Details will be provided in class. Each group leader will email the instructor a copy of their group's written report by the last day of class.

NOTE: Each group's project report and related group classroom PowerPoint presentation will serve as each group member's final examination.

Here are some useful websites to get you started on your project report and presentation (These websites contain links to many other useful Internet resources.):

NOTE: This syllabus is subject to revision where necessary to achieve course goals. If you have any questions regarding assignments, class sessions, tests or grading please speak with me, or Dr. Rafik Mohamed, Chair, Department of Social Sciences, Clayton Hall, Room 111, 678-466-4605.

Keep Informed: Bring The New York Times to class each day - free copies are available in the hall; current events also will be discussed each class session, and relate directly to your group's project report work and presentation. Read a major daily newspaper, and/or NEWSWEEK, TIME or U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT on a regular basis. Watch a daily national news program on ABC, Bloomberg, CBS, CNN, NBC, MSNBC, FOX and/or PBS - I highly recommend the THE NEWS HOUR With Jim Leher on GPTV, Channel 8 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., M-F; the "ITN World News" on WPBA, Channel 30 from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m., M-F;and the CNN and Headline NEWS channels. Listen to National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered" on WABE, FM 90.1, M-F.. at 6:00 to 9:00 a.m., and 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. (check Sat. program hours).

Telephone (voice mail): 678-466-4810

(I prefer email messages, as they allow me to respond more fully; I check my email more frequently than voicemail, especially when I am off-campus.)

I will respond to your CSU email messages in a timely fashion, generally within less than 24 hours.

MW: 9:00 to 9:30 & 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. & TR: Noon to 2:00 p.m.;
Online course meeting dates: Sat: 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. and following class;
By prior appointment at other mutually convenient times.

For campus closing information due to weather or an electrical outage - tune to WSB AM 750.

CHAT ROOM ACCESS

Go to http://.usg.edu and select Clayton State University from the list of Institutions.
Login using your five digit CSU e-mail number as the user ID and their DUCK pin as the password.
If you are having trouble logging in, please check with the Hub.

Bring The New York Times to class each day we meet - free copies will be available in the hall - we will discuss the major stories of the day each time we meet.

Monday, August 20th: First Day of Class; course orientation: discussion of course syllabus;

Wednesday, August 22nd: Quiz over Chapter 1 - College Makes a Difference; Group Project Membership Assignments; Group Project Meetings (Select your group's leader.);

Monday, August 27th: Quiz over Chapter 2 - Time Management; Group Project Meetings; Provide instructor with your group's research topic by end of class;

Wednesday, August 29th: Chapter 3 - Learning Styles and Personalities; Group Project Meetings;

Monday, September 3rd: Labor Day holiday - class will not meet today (CSU is closed September 3rd and 4th);

Wednesday, September 5th: Quiz over Chapter 4 - Active Learning; Group Project Meetings;

Monday, September 10th: Library Tour Today at 11:30 a.m.; we will meet in the Library, Room L-200 just inside the front doors of the Library Bldg. It is essential that you be on time for the Library tour;

Wednesday, September 12th:Quiz over Chapter 5 - Critical Thinking; Group Project Meetings;

Monday, September 17th: Quiz over Chapter 6 - Listening, Note-Taking, and Participation; Group Project Meetings;

Wednesday, September 19th: Class will not meet today; Work on your group projects;

Monday, September 24th: Quiz over Chapter 7 - Reading to Remember; Group Project Meetings;

Wednesday, September 26th: Quiz over Chapter 8 - Taking Tests; Group Project Meetings;

Monday, October 1st: Quiz over Chapter 9 - Writing and Speaking for Success; Group Project Meetings;

Wednesday, October 3rd: Class will not meet today; Work on your group projects;

Monday, October 8th: Quiz over Chapter 10 - Research and College Libraries; Group Project Meetings;

Wednesday, October 10th: Quiz over Chapter 10 - Research and College Libraries; Group Project Meetings;

Monday, October 15th: Quiz over Chapter 11 - Careers and Service Learning; Group Project Meetings;

Wednesday, October 17th: Class will not meet today; Work on your group projects;

Monday, October 22nd: Quiz over Chapter 12 - Relationships; Group Project Meetings;

Wednesday, October 24th: Quiz over Chapter 13 - Appreciating Our Differences; Group Project Meetings;

Monday, October 29th: Quiz over Chapter 14 - Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Sex; Group Project Meetings;

Wednesday, October 31st: Quiz over Chapter 15 - Staying Healthy; Group Project Meetings; Group Project Meetings;

Wednesday, November 7th: Class will not meet today; Work on your group projects;

Wednesday, November 21st: Class will not meet today - Thanksgiving Holiday Break (CSU closed November 21st to 25th);

Monday, November 26th: Group Project Presentation - Group One; Group Project Meetings as needed;

Wednesday, November 28th: Group Project Presentation - Group Two; Internet Congressional Representation Assignment due at the beginning of class; Group Project Meetings as needed;

Monday, December 3rd: Last day of class; Group Project Presentation - Group Three; Group project report for each group is due at beginning of class -
Each group leader will email the instructor a copy of their group's report;

Part One, Complete the interactive form at this link: PDF formatted document. Provide all of the information requested for your U.S. Representative and both U.S. Senators.

Part Two, e-mail your U.S. Representative and both U.S. Senators (Do NOT e mail any state legislator). Do NOT include any information on your members of Congress regarding their previous careers (Only include information regarding their present elected office.), expressing your opinion regarding a current national or international political issue or problem. The issue or problem may be one which has been discussed by a Lyceum speakers this semester. Explain to the members of Congress the action you are asking the government to take concerning this issue or problem. Be as detailed as necessary to make clear your position and concerns. Generally, members of Congress limit email messages from constituents to 200 words. Mention in the opening of your email letter who you are and that you are a political science student attending Clayton State University. I do not require that you include replies in your completed assignment, as replies may arrive later than the assignment due date. Include the text of one of the three email letters in the assignment you turn in to the instructor. Staple Part One and Part Two together.

To locate an email address for your U.S. Representative and/or U.S. Senators go to: www.congress.org.

In the upper left-hand corner of the first page type: