Course Outline

 Week 1, August 30 : Your College Experience      

　

Objective1:    

To facilitate your adjustment to the challenges of life and learning at Texas State University.       

Activity:        

Course orientation, students¨ self-introduction, questions, and      answers.   Activity for every class day may include video watching.

Reading:       

Chapter 1 and 2   of  Your College Experience         

Assignment:  

Prepare for the discussion of the possible university challenges in the next class. What  is your goal for university learning? What are the effective ways to manage your time?

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-06-29-first-amendment-quiz_n.htm

　

                                                                                                                

 Week 2, Sept. 6

Objective1: 

To facilitate your adjustment to the challenges of life and learning    at Texas State University    

Activity:       

Class discussion on topics assigned, oral reports in groups, summary of important ideas.                                   

Reading:      

Chapter  3  and 4 of  Your College Experience         

Assignment: 

How do you assess your emotional intelligence in terms of the aspects mentioned in the chapter?  Do you have any uncontrolled emotional moment that ruined your chance of success? What do you need to follow according to the styles recommended in Chapter 4? How do you evaluate your leaning style?
　

Week 3  Sept. 13.     

Objective 2: 

To expand students' understanding of the nature and purpose of a university                          

Activity:       Reading:        

Chapter 5 Thinking Critically: The Basic of a College Education

Assignment:  

Discuss the importance of critical thinking in college. How can you develop your critical thinking skills?  Is critical thinking only relevant to academic learning?

Reminder:    Common Experience Events

　

September 7
Discourse in Democracy: 
"Meet the Professors"
with Dr. Vicki Brittain, Faculty, and Graduate Assistants
Wednesday ， 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. ， Flowers Hall 341
Students majoring in political science will have an opportunity to meet and interact with the political science faculty members. They will be given "Discourse in Democracy" t-shirts that identify them as a political science majors, featuring this year's University Common Experience theme, "Freedoms: The First Amendment." Co-Sponsored by Pi Sigma Alpha.

　

September 9 - 10
18th Annual African American Leadership Conference
Main Speaker: TBD • September 10 • 9:00 a.m. • LBJ Student Center Ballroom
The mission of the conference is to lay a foundation for educational success of incoming and returning African American students by providing the opportunity for networking and learning. The African American Leadership Conference originated in 1992 when several ambitious upperclassmen set out to revive and encourage leadership. This group of students had a focus: preparing students for success and for the sometimes difficult transition from home to college.  The conference is held each September to make a strong impact on students and ensure preparedness for their first semester. Conference website: http://www.msa.txstate.edu/AALC.html
　

　

　

  Week 4  Sept. 20

Objective 2 : 

To expand students' understanding of the nature and purpose of a university   

Activity:           

Guest speaker from the student assistance center. Or discuss critical thinking.

Reading:         

 center.US 1100 Notebook materials (provided before class)

Assignment:   

 Discuss the nature and the purpose of University

 

Reminder:    Common Experience Event:

September 15
Join the Discourse Event:
Political Science Celebrates National Constitution Day
Panel: "First Amendment Rights"
Thursday ， 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. ， LBJ Student Center Ballroom
A panel discussion on the topic "First Amendment Rights." How does the First Amendment affect us today? Hear about contemporary issues with regard to the First Amendment.

　

Week 5:   Sept. 27                                            

           

Objective 3:   

To identify practical learning skills and concepts that will promote students' academic success.                         

Activity:          

In-class discussion on the topics assigned. Instructor summarizes good suggestions

Reading:         

Chapters  6,   7, and 8.

Assignment:  

Discuss any skills and strategies that promote your academic success such as taking notes, textbook  reading  skills, and comprehension skills and memory skills.Prepare for quiz 1 on Oct 5.

Reminder:    Common Experience Event:

September 21
Join the Discourse Event:
Film: Guilty by Suspicion
with Professor Rick Henderson
Wednesday ， 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. ， Centennial Teaching Theater
The Department of Political Science Politics of Film Series Presents Guilty by Suspicion. The film depicts America during the 1950s at the height of the Red Scare, when a man has been banned from work by the House Committee on Un-American Activities and now must stand up against the committee to gain back his rights.

　

　


  Week 6:  Oct. 4     

Objective 3   

 To identify practical learning skills and concepts that will promote students' academic success.  

Activity:  

 In-class discussion of the topic; quiz 1

Reading:       

Chapters 9-  10-   11           

Assignment: 

 Prepare to discuss any skills and strategies that promote your academic success such as taking notes, textbook  reading  skills, and comprehension skills and memory skills.

Reminder:    Common Experience Event:

　

September 30
Discourse in Democracy: 
Taping/Broadcast of "Meet the Professors" Show
with Dr. Ted Hindson and Guest
Friday ， 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. ， Alkek Library ， 1st Floor Media Studio
Taping/broadcast of "Meet the Professors Show." This broadcast will focus on First Amendment rights and how those rights affects public policy in our country. Note: 20-student maximum due to space restrictions at the studio.

　

October 4
Dr. Marcy Guddemi
What Are We Doing to Our Children?
How Societal Pressures Are Affecting Our Schools and Workplaces
Tuesday ， 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. ， LBJ Student Center Teaching Theater
Telecast to Round Rock Higher Education Center ， Avery 252 Teaching Theater
Dr. Marcy Guddemi is a well known advocate for children and their rights. As Executive Director of the Gesell Institute of Child Development, Dr. Guddemi leads the Institute in its mission of educating and supporting parents and teachers worldwide. She started her career as a high school teacher and has had many educational positions since; she has worked at a Head Start Center, held teaching positions at Texas State, the University of South Carolina, and the University of South Florida, and then became Vice President of Education and Training for KinderCare Learning Centers. Dr. Guddemi then shifted her career focus to assessment and then worked at CTB/McGraw-Hill, Harcourt Assessment, Inc. and Pearson Learning Group. She was appointed Executive Director of the Gesell Institute in late 2007. Sponsored by the University Lecture Series, Common Experience, Center for Children and Families, College of Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Applied Arts, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Department of Criminal Justice, College of Liberal Arts, Department of Psychology. Contact: Kathy Fite at kf02@txstate.edu for additional information.

　

　

         

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

Week 7  Oct. 11

Objective 2:  

To identify practical learning skills and concepts that will promote students' academic success.  

Activity:         

 In-class group discussion of  how to accommodate diversity

Reading:       

Chapter 15 of the textbook

 

Assignment:    

Working in groups to discuss how to write a short paper on achieving academic success at college. Assign short paper 1 (individual work) Due date: Oct.30th  Topics: Using any skill or strategy to solve any problem you have at present .

  

Reminder:  Common experience events:

October 5
Wednesday ， Time TBA ， Strahan Coliseum
Soledad O'Brien is an anchor and special correspondent for CNN/U.S. Since joining the network in 2003, O'Brien has reported breaking news from around the globe and has produced award-winning, record-breaking, and critically acclaimed documentaries on the most important stories facing the world today. She also covers political news as part of CNN's "Best Political Team on Television."

    Week 8: Oct. 18

Objective4:  

To encourage students to explore the connection between university study and life enrichment, life-long learning, and civic responsibility.                               

 

Activity:          

 Write a short paper on how to achieve academic success by using any strategies and skills  learned to solve practical problems. (outline)

Reading:         

Chapter 13 and 14 of the textbook.

Assignment:  

         

　

Reminder:  Common experience events:

October 13
Join the Discourse Event:
Film: Harrison Bergeron
with Professor Rick Henderson
Thursday ， 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. ， Centennial Teaching Theater
The Department of Political Science Politics of Film Series Presents Harrison Bergeron. The film explores how the concept of equality can be taken to an inherently unequal extreme where the freedom to differ from the status quo is lost altogether. Is America headed in this direction? 

 

Week 9:  Oct. 25   

 

Objective 4:  

To encourage students to explore the connection between  university study and life enrichment, life-long learning, and civic responsibility.

　

Activity:        

Discuss the topics of common experience

Reading:      

Read The US Constitution : A Graphic Adaptation

Assignment:  

Groups summarize key ideas of the Constitution. Prepare for quiz 2.

　

Reminder:  Common experience events:

October 19
Join the Discourse Event:
Panel: "The First Amendment and the Cases that Made It So"
Wednesday ， 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. ， Evans Liberal Arts 118
This discussion will examine the development of the First Amendment, first as a necessary creation of the Founding Fathers and then through the subsequent interpretations of the First Amendment via the court system, which have impacted generations of Americans and revealed an ever-changing view. Sponsored by Pi Sigma Alpha.

October 25
Bryan S. Glass
Piracy through the Ages
Tuesday ， 5:00 p.m. ， Wittliff Collections ， Alkek Library, 7th Floor
This lecture will investigate global piracy from the 16th century to the present, seeking to separate romantic notions from the harsh reality of life as an outlaw on the open seas. Join us as we explore the history of piracy through the men and women who both practiced and fought it, the states that supported and attacked it, and the authors who chronicled it. Bryan S. Glass, B.A., M.Phil., is the founding member and general editor of the British Scholar Society, an international non-profit educational organization dedicated to investigating Britain¨s interactions with the world from the 17th century to the present. He serves as an editor for the Britain and the World book series and is currently teaching a class at Texas State titled "Pirates of the Mediterranean." Wittliff Collections event info: click here

　

　

 

Week 10:  Nov. 1

Objective 5:  

To promote respect for diversity issues and concepts.

Activity:         

in-class discussion of advantages and disadvantages of diversity

Quiz 2

Reading:       

Supplementary Essays on pages 183 and 217

Assignment:  

Prepare a personal story to explain a diversity issue.

 

　

　

　

　

　

　

Week 11: Nov. 8

   

Objective 5:   

To encourage students to explore the connection between  university study and life enrichment, life-long learning, and civic responsibility.

Activity:       

Tell your understanding of the constitution and community building

Reading:      

Common experience reading (continued)  The US Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation

Assignment:  

Understand Texas State Resources by conducting individual research

Discuss how to write short paper 2 (collaborate). Topics: any topic from

The US Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation.  Due:  Nov. 23.

　

        

     

 Week 12:  Nov. 15

      

Objective :

To encourage students to explore the connection between  university study and life enrichment, life-long learning, and civic responsibility.

Reading:

US 1100  Notebook  Sustainability

Activity:

Discuss how you can use Texas State Resources

Assignment:

Read US 1100 Notebook and prepare to discuss sustainability.

Prepare for quiz 3
Reminder:  Common experience events:
November 9
Join the Discourse Event:
Panel: "Politics, Values, and Religion"
with Dr. Arnold Leder and Guests
Wednesday ， 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. ， Evans Liberal Arts 118
An in-depth discussion of the role politics, values, and religion play in shaping the way Americans think and interact with their government on a daily basis. Co-sponsored by Pi Sigma Alpha.
November 15
Discourse in Democracy: Alumni Panel
with Dr. Vicki Brittain, Faculty, and Graduate Assistants
Tuesday ， 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. ， Evans Liberal Arts 114
Co-Sponsored by Pi Sigma Alpha.

　

　

Week 13:  Nov. 22      

Objective :

To encourage students to explore the connection between  university study and life enrichment, life-long learning, and civic responsibility.

Reading:

Chapter 16 of the textbook

Activity:

Discuss how  we can maintain sustainability; quiz 3

Assignment:

Review your notes and summarize the skills and strategies .

Prepare for the course evaluation

　

 

　

 

Week 14:  Nov. 29

      

Objective :

To encourage students to explore the connection between  university study and life enrichment, life-long learning, and civic responsibility.

Reading:

Course Evaluation notes

Activity:

Discuss in groups of the skills and strategies you learned

Assignment:

Do course evaluation

　

　

  I reserve the right to make updates on the schedule when I see necessary.