Syllabus
Freshman Seminar (CW 101, sec. PB)
Fall 2007

instructors: Dwight Moore, Ph.D.
office - Science Hall 144
phone - 341-5611
email - dmoore@emporia.edu
http://www.emporia.edu/biosci/moorbiol.htm
Facebook me!

Office Hours:Monday and Friday 9:00 - 10:00, Tuesday 9:00 - 11:00, 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

Aniesa Slack, Peer Instructor
Senior, Biology Major with a Pre-medical emphasis
email - aslack@emporia.edu

section: CW 101 PB, 1:00 - 1:50, Tuesday, Science Hall 156

texts: Frederick W. Drewes, Kristin L. D. Milligan, and Kristin Milligan. 2002. How to Study Science, 4th edition. (Paperback). McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math. 128pp. (bookstore)

2006 - 2007 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 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.

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.
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.
ClassDateTopic
121 Aug    Introductions; purpose of freshman seminar; some thoughts on taking notes; e-mail and buzzin.
Electronic Mail at ESU

Assignment: a) Send an e-mail to one of the instructors via your ESU account
b) Bring your notes from GB 140 class on 27 Aug (Monday) to class on Tuesday, 28 Aug.

228 Aug    Careers and expectations in biology; career portfolio; continuing discussion on note taking.

Assignment: a) Take the assessment inventory in the Discover program and turn in the inventories summary page on 4 Sep .

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

411 Sep    presentation by the Director of Career Services, June Coleman-Hall

Assignment: a) Using your results from the first test in GB 140, complete the assignment at the end of chapter 15 and turn in pages 114 through 116 for 25 September. b) For 18 Sep., Bring the list of questions for the student panel that was e-mail to you to class.

518 Sep   panel discussion with upper-level biology majors

625 Sep   interview a faculty member from the Biology Faculty, Biology Student Organizations, Planning your courses (biology curriculum and general education)

Assignment: 1) Interview a faculty member in Biology and turn in a summary by 9 October and 2) Using the catalog, produce a plan for which courses you will take during the next three semesters and turn in on 2 October.

72 Oct    group study sessions, calculating your GPA

149 Oct    policy on withdrawals; midterms grades;

816 Oct    mid-course discussion; policy on withdrawals; how to use your textbooks.

Assignment: 1) Complete the worksheet at the end of Chapter 8 and turn in on 23 Oct. 2) Write-up (300 words) your experience with your initial interview and your enrollment appointment in the Student Advising Center and turn in on 30 Oct.

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

1030 Oct    Student Life and Counseling Center, university policies .

Assignment for 6 Nov.: 1) Complete and turn-in your scavenger hunt for the library. 2) Review (50 words each) three policies that you think might be important to you.

116 Nov    Faculty Panel; party at Wheat State Pizza at 6:00 pm.

1213 Nov    High School versus College

Assignment for 27 Nov.: 1) Write a 500-word (about 2 full pages typed) essay on the differences and similarities between high school and university life. 2) Complete the worksheet for chapter 13 (pages 99 to 102).

1420 Nov   No Class, work on your essay and chapter questions.

1327 Nov    Analyzing test results;

154 Dec   Preparing for final Exams; essay exams versus multiple choice

1613 Dec    Wrap up; evaluation; tour of the department

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 average. Your grade will be based upon the total points (approximately 500) accumulated during the semester. There is no provision 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; 3 - 4 quizzes for approximately 45 - 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)
If you miss a class, you should contact one of the instructors and 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.

VIII. Accommodations for Disabilities:

Emporia State University will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students need to contact the Director of Disability Services (Lower Level Memorial Union, 341-6637) and the professor as early in the semester as possible to ensure that classroom and academic accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. All communication between students, the Office of Disability Services, and the professor will be strictly confidential.

IX. important and useful information from the registrar.

Last updated on 3 September 2007.
Provide comments to Dwight Moore at mooredwi@emporia.edu.
Return to the Biological Sciences' Home Page at Emporia State University.