LSEM 100 - 28
Longwood Seminar
Fall 2010

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Instructor: Dr. Harbour                                    Peer Mentor:  Bobby Smith
Office: East Ruffner 228                                         Phone: cell
Office phone: 395-2219                                         E-mail address: robert.smith@live.longwood.edu
Office hours: MWF 11:00-12:00                     Class Time: M and W 10:00-10:50
                      TR: 9:30-10:30                           Classroom:  East Ruffner 256
E-mail address: harbourwr@longwood.edu

Course Description: The goal of the Longwood Seminar is to help develop citizen leaders for the common good by promoting critical thinking and analysis in all aspects of the students’ lives and by developing the knowledge and skills that lead to college success.

Texts:  Students are required to get a subscription to the New York Times from the Bookstore (also required for Posc 150)
             Students are also responsible for the summer reading: This I Believe II

Course Objectives:
1.     Develop academic knowledge and skills to promote a broad range of success at Longwood.

2.     Establish goals for personal academic success.

3.     Explore academic majors and discipline-related career options.

4.     Develop strategies to promote personal social awareness and skills needed by citizen leaders.

Outcomes: Students will

* Understand the mission of Longwood University and how it applies to the college experience

* Understand the application of critical thinking skills to multiple situations

* Develop the knowledge and skills that lead to college success

Course Requirements:
1.  Developing an academic plan for success. Students will set goals and plans for the year (for 10 points).  For an additional 10 points they will write an evaluation at the end of the course on how well they are advancing towards their goals and offer any appropriate revisions to those goals and plans.
2. The activity designed to demonstrate the use of the library resources will involve participation in class meeting on that subject (10 points).
3. The activity designed to involve students in critically thinking and writing about their most important beliefs will be writing a three page essay on the summer reading This I Believe II (10 points).
4. The activity designed to demonstrate an understanding of the Longwood Code of Honor and learning about Longwood traditions involves attendance at the Honor Program (10 points).  
5. Three page essay involving New Lancer Days reflection. (10 points).
6. The activities designed to demonstrate an exploration of relevant career fields is our program with the director of the career center and development of a professional resume and web based portfolio.  (10 points)   
7. The exercise designed to demonstrate awareness of time management issues will be completion of time management study in class (10 points).
8.  Development and use of an academic calendar/planner. (10 points)
9.  The assignment designed to develop civic awareness involves daily reading of the New York Times.  Informed citizenship requires a knowledge of current events.  Student participation in class discussion of current political developments will count for part of their grade for Longwood Seminar.  (20 points for test on knowledge of current events given on the last day of class.)
10. The assignment designed to demonstrate the application of critical thinking is completion of an essay in which the student critiques an editorial in the New York Times.  10 points  
11.  The activity designed to demonstrate civic engagement is participation in at least 2 meetings or activities of the Political Science Club (20 points).
12.  Mylongwood registration certification with Peer Mentor. (10 points).
13.  Development of a tentative two year academic schedule.  (10 points).
14.  Participation in a political campaign or community project.  (10 points).
15.  Oral presentation on topic of interest to the student.  (10 points).
16. Completing the College Persistence Questionnaire (CQP) Survey. (10 points).
17. Individual advising meeting with Instructor. (10 points).

TOTAL POINTS        200
A = 200-180 points
B = 179-160 points
C = 159-140 points
D = 139-120 points
F = 119 and below

As one can see, part of the grade for the semester is based daily reading of the New York Times.  For the fall of 2010 students will be asked to pay special attention to this year’s Congressional elections, the war in Afghanistan, other conflicts in the Middle East, issues involving terrorism, rival assessments of the performance of the Obama administration, the national debate over immigration, issues involving the intersection between science and politics, debates over environmental issues, issues involving the diversity of the American population, analyses of public opinion, and coverage of breaking crises.  Part of each class will be devoted to discussion these matters. Students will also be introduced to publications on the left and right that view the world differently than the principal editorial writers in the Times.  Students will write a critique of at least one Times editorial.  

Class attendance is expected and the college attendance policy will be followed: Missing 10% (2 classes) of these meetings will result in a lowering of one letter grade. Missing 25% (4 classes) of these meetings (for any reason) will result in an automatic “F” for the course, which must be repeated during spring semester.  Excused absences are those resulting from participation in a college-sponsored activity, from recognizable emergencies, or from serious illness.  Documentation will be required for all excused absences.

**If you are a student with a disability, it is your responsibility to register with the Office of Disability Support Services and to notify your instructor at least two weeks prior to a needed accommodation so reasonable accommodations can be made.

Course Outline:

LSEM class begins August 20 - Orientation and Introduction to Longwood Seminar; expectations, and discussion of personal responsibility in and out of the classroom 
Aug. 23  Developing Study Skills; Effective Listening, Note Taking, Preparing for Tests
Aug. 25  establish long-term goals for attending University; establish short term goals for personal and academic achievements during the first semester; discussion on professional behavior; effective studying, (turn in essay on goals on Aug. 25) 
Aug. 30  Discussion of Summer reading (hand in essay on This I Believe II) 
Sept. 1 Information literacy -  Library resources in political science (in regular classroom) 
Sept. 6  Labor Day and no classes
September 8   Class will meet at the Career Center in the basement of Lancaster (room G09)
September 13  Test taking strategies; turn in resume
Sept. 20  Stress management - and visit to Counseling Center  (room 305)?
Sept. 27  special program on internships, globalization, and study abroad
Oct. 4  University academic regulations and requirements, advising issues (turn in two year academic plan), introduction to Mylongwood registration certification
Oct. 11-12 Fall Break
Oct. 18 Writing and critical thinking skills (turn in critique of a New York Times editorial); oral presentations
Oct. 25  Oral presentations
Nov. 1  Oral presentations (complete Mylongwood registration certification)
Nov. 8 Test on New York Times stories and current events; turn in essay review of original goals; Last day of LSEM; Finishing the semester well
Nov. 15-19 Individual meetings with instructor