Longwood Seminar
LSEM 100-12
Fall, 2003
M 10:00 - 10:50
Dr. Eric L. Laws (Peer Mentor - Kelly Putman)
Office:                           PL 002
Phone:                           395-2841 (Office)
Email:                     elaws@longwood.edu
Office Hours:         M:  1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
                                            T:  10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
                                            Th:  10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
                                                also TBA

Recommended Materials:
       Longwood Seminar e-text.

Longwood University Catalog Description: The goal of the Longwood Seminar is to 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 for college success.

Course Objectives:  The main purpose for this course is to better prepare you for your Longwood experience, and to provide you with the skills necessary to succeed long after college.  There are a number of important objectives for this course, which include but are not limited to: Attendance: “Students are expected to attend all classes.  Failure to attend class regularly impairs academic performance.  Absences are disruptive to the educational process for others.  This is especially true, when absences cause interruptions for clarification of material previously covered, failure to assume assigned responsibilities for class presentations, or failure to adjust to changes in assigned material or due dates.  Instructors may assign a grade of “0” or “F” on work missed because of unexcused absences.  Instructors have the right to lower a student’s course grade, but no more than one letter grade, if the student misses 10 percent of the scheduled class meeting times (1.4 of the Longwood Seminar class meetings) for unexcused absences.  Instructors have the right to assign a course grade of “F” when the student has missed a total (excused and unexcused) of 25 percent of the scheduled class meeting times (4 of the Longwood Seminar class meetings).  Students must assume full responsibility for any loss incurred because of absence, whether excused or unexcused.  Instructors should permit students to make up work when the absence is excused.  Excused absences are those resulting from the student’s participation in a college-sponsored activity, from recognizable emergencies, or from serious illness.  Faculty may require documentation for excused absences.  Student Health Services can provide documentation only for students hospitalized locally or absent at the direction of Student Health Services personnel.”
Statement for Students with Disabilities:  Reasonable accomodations will be made for students who, at the beginning of the semester, provide written documentation of their disability, which should be obtained through consultation with the Academic Support Center.
Honor Code: Strict adherence to the Longwood University Honor Code is expected at all times. All instances of cheating, stealing, falsification, plagiarism, and academic dishonesty  will involve the immediate notification of the Longwood University Honor Board.
Course Requirements

There are a number of requirements that will be used to determine your performance in Longwood Seminar.  Much of the course requirements consist of attendance and active participation in class, as well as the completion of several projects and activities.  LSEM IS graded, and therefore point values will be assigned to each individual course component.  The course components and their corresponding point values are provided below, along with a space for you to record your own score.

5. Activity, exercise or assignment designed to foster awareness of and involvement in events on campus and in the surrounding community.  Students must attend at least 2 events (music, art, theatre, sports, service learning) that involve their peers.  Each event will be worth 5 points. Check with instructor to determine appropriateness of event. Students will write a summary of their involvement in events focusing on their perception of sense of community on campus and in Farmville, 1 - 2 pages.  Due: Monday, November 24th. (50 Points) _________.

6. Activity, exercise or assignment designed to demonstrate use of the library and electronic information resources to produce an analytical/critical paper using word processor software.  Each student will use the library and internet to find information with the purpose of answering a critical thinking question provided by their instructor.  The paper will be 1 - 2 pages paper highlighting your findings.  This paper will serve as the  writing sample to be linked to your Web-Based Portfolio (See Below).  Due:  Monday, November 17th.  (50 Points)  _________.

8.  Class Participation.  You will gain (or lose, depending) points for attending class and actively engaging in classroom discussions and activities.  (100 Points) __________.

9.  Web-Based Portfolio.  Consistent with the strategic plan of Longwood University, all students will be required to create a web-based portfolio in order to graduate.  You will start this process now by building a web-based resume that will serve as a foundation that can be built upon for the next four years.  A template for the webpage, as well as training time will be provided.  Due:  Monday, November 24th.  (100 Points)  _________.
TOTAL POINTS        300
A = 270-300 points
B = 240-269 points
C = 210-239 points
D = 180-209 points
F = 179 and below

Course Schedule
Tentative Schedule of Events: