STDY 0311 STDY 0311 Assignment Guidelines

Exams (100 points each)

All 4 exams (including the final) are based on class lectures/discussions and assigned reading material. Although the material is relatively easy to comprehend, you will have to study in order to do well. The final exam is comprehensive and must be taken on Wednesday, December 12th, 7:45 am - 9:45 am.

Quizzes (20 points each)

There will be a total of 5 quizzes this fall semester. They will not be announced and they will be over the reading assigned for that particular day.

Try it Reflections (100 points each)

A Brief Note about Reflection
One of the objectives for this course is to improve your communication skills, both oral and written. Personal experience is one of a writer's most valuable resources, and recording this experience for personal reflection and development is an important reason for writing (from Write for a Reason by Patricia Teel Bates). In order to reflect on your learning and writing effectively, you must practice writing in a variety of ways, including journal-type writing. A journal is a place to experiment with your writing style, practice organizing your thoughts, and discover more about yourself. So, the reflection portion of these assignments should be written in the first person and may be a bit less formal than a composition.

Assignment
There will be a "Try it Reflection" due Tuesday, Sept 25, Tuesday, Oct 30, and Tuesday, Nov 20 (for a total of 3). I will assign the topic well in advance of the due date.  Each assignment will consist of 2 parts:

1.    A "Try It" portion in which you will try a particular technique or idea presented in class or in your   reading.  There will undoubtedly be "paper work" involved in your trying the idea and you will be required to turn in that paper work as evidence of your "trying it".

I will calculate your grade as follows:

Each part - "Try It" and "Reflection" must be included to earn a passing grade on the assignment.

"Reflection" portion - 3/4 of your grade is based on content; 1/4 of your grade is based on your success in communicating.
 

Oral Presentation (50 points)

You will give an oral presentation over a topic to be determined later in the semester.  We will discuss effective oral communication and the presentation assignment on Tuesday, November 6th.  Tuesday, November 13th the class will meet in the library and you will have the opportunity to research your topic.

In-Class Assignments (50 points)

Throughout the semester you will complete assignments during the class meeting.  These assignments are designed to give you the opportunity to apply a skill or an idea presented in class.