Syllabus
Freshman Seminar (CW 101)
Fall 2001

faculty instructor: Dwight Moore, Ph.D.
office - Science Hall 144
phone - 341-5611
email - mooredwi@emporia.edu
http://www.emporia.edu/biosci/moorbiol.htm

Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday and Friday 11:00 - 12:00, Wednesday 9:00 - 10:00, and by appointment. In addition, I am usually on campus by 7:30 am and do not leave until after 5:30 pm.    my schedule for fall 2001

peer instructor:Crystal Glidden
email - drcrystalg@netscape.net

section: CW 101 PA, 10:00-10:50, Tuesday, Science Hall 172

texts: Katz, J. R., C. Carter, J. Bishop, and S. L. Kravits. 2000. Keys to science success. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. 332pp. (bookstore)

Thomas, L. 1979. The Medusa and the Snail: More Notes of a Biology Watcher. Viking Press, New York. 175pp. (bookstore)

2001 - 2002 Student Handbook/Academic Planner, Emporia State University

Undergraduate Catalog, 2001 - 2002, Emporia State University
I. Course description:
Freshman seminar is a course designed to increase your success in college by assisting you in obtaining skills necessary to reach your educational objectives. Topics in this course include time management, test taking, study techniques, use of university resources, university procedures, communication skills, and personal issues that face many college students. In addition, this section is specifically for students in the Learning Community in Biology, and will also include specific skills necessary for success in a science major. These skills will include; library skills, computer skills, ability to produce and interpret graphs and tables. You will also be introduced to the Department of Biological Sciences, its faculty, students, and student organizations. The purpose of the course is to help students learn and adopt methods to be successful at Emporia State University.

II. Course format:
Some material will be presented in the form of lectures, while at other times material will be covered in small group discussion. The lectures and discussion will be taken from the readings. It is important that you read the material before coming to class. You will get much more from the class if you come to class well prepared. The peer instructor will also lead discussions, especially in smaller groups.

Class is designed to encourage discussion. You should feel free to ask questions at any time. In addition, if you have a question that can not wait until class time or did not want to ask in class, please e-mail any of the instructors. We will send you back an answer quickly.

III. Objectives:
At the completion of this course you will be able to do those things listed below.
  1. Discuss how you are responsible for your college experience.
  2. Describe ways you can create a successful and satisfying college experience.
  3. List and describe specific methods to do the following:
    1. Manage time more effectively,
    2. Read a textbook with improved retention,
    3. Listen with good comprehension to a lecture.
    4. Take effective notes,
    5. Improve ability to recall information,
    6. Present clear reports, both written and verbal,
    7. Prepare for and take tests
  4. Report in writing and verbally to fellow students and course instructors current experiences of college including problems, frustrations, and successes.
  5. Use e-mail to contact faculty and students.
  6. Be able to interpret and produce the types of graphs and tables typically found in the science literature.
  7. Look up relevant literature on any topic in biology and be able to use the library effectively.
  8. Understand what it means to be a biology major.
  9. Examine personal ideas and decisions regarding issues typically faced by college students such as personal relationships, drug abuse, health related practices, and budgeting money.
  10. Identify available resources to assist you with problems related to health, academics, personal relationships, discrimination, substance abuse, on-and off-campus living, library research, course changes, part-time work, financial aid, independent study, social issues, etc.
  11. Develop into a community of learners in which all students and faculty contribute to the success of everyone.
IV. Tentative Schedule
Your first hour-long test will occur in most of your classes in four or five weeks. The first four weeks of freshman seminar will be to introduce you to the tools that you need to be successful on that first test. Assignments for each week will be updated on the web page, thus you should check this page often.
ClassDateTopic
121 Aug Introductions; purpose of freshman seminar; some thoughts on taking notes; sign-up for e-mail.
Electronic Mail at ESU; College Study Skills


Assignment for 28 August:
Read: pages 25 - 38 in textbook and 167 - 175 in textbook
Complete: 1) a paragraph on what you want to get from CW 101 and the Learning Community, 2) exercises 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, and 7.1 based upon your notes from 24 August in GB 140 and CH 123

26 AugBack-to-School Party for Biology, Jones Park,

228 Aug Careers and expectations in biology; send e-mail, continuing discussion on note taking (bring your notes from 24 August in GB 140 and CH 123.
Student E-mail


Assignment for 4 September:
Read: pages 89 - 99 in textbook and page 10 in the planner
Complete: 1) do exercise 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4 in textbook, 2)fill out time management handout and then see how close you follow the schedule.

34 Sep Time management; study sessions; student advising center.
Time Management; Student Advising Center.


Assignment for 11 September:
Read: pages 137 - 155 in textbook, pages 2 - 5 in the planner, and the first four essays in "The Medusa and the Snail..."
Complete: 1) execises 6.1 and 6.2 in textbook, 2) schedule an interview with an advisor in your major through the Student Advising Center (PH 206, 341-5421) and turn in the date, time, and the name of the advisor for your appointment, and 3) by 10 Sep, e-mail a question to Crystal through the university's e-mail system.

6 SepPizza Night at Godfather's Pizza

411 Sepinterview a faculty member, The Biology Faculty, use of your textbooks, are you ready for that first big test?, career portfolio.


Assignment for 18 September:
Read: pages 42 - 46 and 176 - 190 in textbook, and the next four essays (pages 27 - 44) in "The Medusa and the Snail..."
Complete: 1) write a reaction paper to Hornet Days: what was good about, what did you not like, what should be added, what should be dropped (at least 200 words, typed) 2) do exercises 7.2, 7.3, and 7.4 in textbook 3) schedule an interview with a faculty member (summary of interview due 25 September.

15-16 SepField Trip to Quivira National Wildlife Refuge and Cheyenne Bottoms

518 Sep Student Life and Counseling Center (presentation by Kathy Tidwell), group study sessions


Assignment for 25 Sep:
Read: handout labeled chapter 9
Complete: 1) exercise at the end of handout, 2) summary of your interview with a full-time faculty member in biology

625 Sep The first test! How did it go?  Biology Student Organizations, Terms, symbols, and definitions.


Assignment for 2 Oct:
Read: pages 44 - 47 and 87 - 101 in the catalog, and the Sequencing Guide for Biology Majors
Complete: 1) complete a 4-semester sequence of courses, 2) list three electives that you would like to take and explain why

72 OctMore on terms and definitions, some thoughts on note taking, biology curriculum and general education


Assignment for 9 Oct: None

4 OctPizza Night at Mazzio's

89 Oct Second round of tests; midterm grades; policy on withdrawals; terms, definition, and figures.


Assignment for 16 Oct:
Complete: the scavenger hunt for information on William Allen White Library

916 Oct Tour of the library (meet in the lobby of WAW Library).

1023 Oct Figuring out figures; university resources; university policies.

27 OctTrip to the Museum of Natural History in Lawrence

1130 Oct Essay answers, multiple-choice questions; careers in biology.

126 Nov Student Life & Counseling, Roomates

1313 Nov Analyzing test results; evaluating web pages; tour of the division.

1420 NovNo Class; Thanksgiving Break

1527 NovHigh School versus College; Preparing for final Exams

164 Dec Wrap up; evaluation; final exam

V. Grading
You will receive a letter grade (A - F) for your performance in this class. It counts as one hour of elective credit in the 124 hours that are needed for graduation and it counts in the calculation of your grade point avergae. Your grade will be based upon the total points (approximately 600) accumulated during the semester. There is no proviosion for doing outside or extra credit work to raise your grade. If you have:

A  = 92.0% to 100%
A-  = 89.0% to 91.9%
B+  = 86.0% to 88.9%
B  = 83.0% to 85.9%
B-  = 79.0% to 82.9%
C+  = 76.0% to 78.9%
C  = 70.0% to 75.9%
D  = 60.0% to 69.9%
F < 60.0%

  1. attendance (5 points for each class for a total of 80 points)
  2. participation in class
  3. all assigned work (each assignment is worth 10 points and is due at the beginning of class; there maybe more than one assignment due for any given day and they will not be accepted late; total of approximately 200 points)
  4. all quizzes (quizzes will be announced during the class before and you can not make-up quizzes if you miss one; 4 quizzes for approximately 60 points)
  5. reaction papers (there will be at least three reaction papers that are each worth 30 points for a total of 90 points; these must be at least 200 words long, typed, and will be graded based on grammar and freedom from typos)
  6. final exam (50 points)
  7. participation in the activities of the Learning Community (10 points for each event for a total of approximately 70 points)
If you miss a class, you should contact me immediately and arrange to make up the work.

VI. Home Page:
There is web page for this course. The URL is http://academic.emporia.edu/mooredwi/cw101/index.htm In addition to this syllabus, there are links to useful sites on the Internet. We strongly suggest that you explore these sites and remember where they are so that you can refer to them as needed in the future.

VII. Academic Dishonesty:
Any student who permits another student to use his/her work will get a zero on the assignment. Finally, any copying or other forms of cheating during a test will result in a zero on that exam. The Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences will be informed of all acts of academic dishonesty and the action taken against the offender. Be sure to review the Policies on Academic Dishonesty of Emporia State University and the Department of Biological Sciences.

Last updated on 8 October 2001.
Provide comments to Dwight Moore at mooredwi@emporia.edu.
Return to the Biological Sciences' Home Page at Emporia State University.