Course Description and Rationale

COURSE PLAN GEN 010 02 Strategies for College Success Instructor: Corey Auen Class Times: Tues./Thurs. 11:00-12:15 Office: Worship & Ministry Building Class Room: Worship & Ministry 121 (Academic Support Office) Office Phone: 513-244-8420 Email: [email protected] Cell Phone: 513-205-4311

Course Description and Rationale Competency in reading and writing is critical for success in both college and ministry. This course will provide the incoming college student with a variety of strategies for reading and writing at the college level. Emphasis will be placed on identifying the skills needed to be successful during your college experience.

Course Objectives Upon completion of the course, you will be able to:  Assess and inventory your current strengths and areas for growth.  Identify your specific learning styles and develop strategies for completing college level work in a way that complements your gifts and talents.  Use your course syllabus to plan an effective study schedule, set semester goals, and map assignments.  Apply various composition strategies to diverse writing assignments.  Apply various reading strategies to diverse reading assignments.  Apply various note-taking strategies to take effective notes in class.

Required Course Texts (These books will be available at the CCU bookstore for purchase. You will need to bring both your Bible and Becoming a Master Student to class every day.)

Ellis, Dave. Becoming a Master Student: Concise. 13th Edition. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2011. The Bible (Your instructor does not require a specific translation, KJV, NIV, NASB etc., but it is strongly recommended that you bring a Bible to class that is both on your reading level and contains study helps).

Recommended Course Texts (This book may be helpful but is not required for successful completion of assignments).

Aaron, Jane E. The Little Brown Brief Handbook. 3rd Edition. New York: Pearson, 2008.

Library Course Texts (These books will be checked out from CCU’s library or checked out over the Ohio Link book exchange).

DiCamillo, Kate. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, some Soup, and a Spool of Thread. Cambridge: Candlewick Press, 2003. (You DO NOT have to purchase this book. It will be ordered through Ohio Link during the semester.) Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. San Francisco: Harper, 2001. (Likewise, you DO NOT have to purchase this book. It will be checked out from CCU’s Library in the Crouch Building.) COURSE SCHEDULE Date Topic / Devo Assignment Reading August 23 “Orientation” Bring a paper copy Becoming a Master Daniel 9:1-19 of all your class Student pgs. 1-19 syllabi to this class. (Introduction). August 25 Special Guest Coping With Stress

August 30 Semester Goal Setting Becoming a Master Hebrews 12:1-7 Student pgs. 20-47 (Chapter 1). September 1 Time Management Becoming a Master Matthew 24:42-46 Student pgs. 48-75 (Chapter 2). September 6 Self Assessment— Turn in your Becoming a Master finding your strengths Semester Map. Student pgs. 76-93 Exodus 4:10-17 (Chapter 3). September 8 Basic Hermeneutics Bring your Journal Becoming a Master Isaiah 29:9-12 to class for Student pgs. 94-113 accountability. (Chapter 4). September 13 Reading Strategies Bring Mere Read “The Shocking Mark 12:18-27 Christianity to class Alternative” chapter in Mere Christianity. September 15 Note Taking Mere Christianity Becoming a Master Esther 2:19-23; 6:1-5 Chapter Reaction Student pgs. 114-133 Paper is Due. (Chapter 5). September 20 Note Taking Read “How to Mark Deut. 17:15-20 a Book” available on Moodle. September 22 Special Guest Self Assessment of Your Semester September 27 Study Strategies Ezra 7:6-10

September 29 Test Taking Bring your Journal Becoming a Master Daniel 1:17-21 to class for Student pgs. 134-153 accountability. (Chapter 6). October 4 Cheating, Lying, and Cognitive Theft Genesis 27:1-40 October 6 Fall Break (No Class) October 11 College Writing— Begin work on MLA Read “The Writing MLA Formatting assignment for your Process: Invention” Matthew 4:1-11 English class. available on Moodle. October 13 College Writing— Bring your Journal Read “Arrangement” Forming a Thesis to class for available on Moodle. Proverbs 3:19 accountability. October 18 College Writing— Read “Drafting and Drafting Revising” available Genesis 1:1-30 on Moodle. October 20 College Writing— Read “Editing and Bibliography Proofreading” Proverbs 13:20 available on Moodle. October 25 College Writing— English Class MLA Revision Assignment is due. Jeremiah 36:11-32 October 27 Special Guest Journals are Due Verbal Communication November 1 Student—Teacher Arrange an Becoming a Master Communication Academic Lunch Student pgs. 174-193 Acts 17:16-32 with a professor. (Chapter 8). November 3 Internet Resources Order The Tale of Becoming a Master Jonah 1:1-4:11 Despereaux over Student pgs. 154-173 OhioLink. (Chapter 7). November 8 Library Resources Mark 2:1-12

November 10 Critical Thinking Read The Tale of Matthew 18:15-35 Despereaux

November 15 Critical Thinking Bring The Tale of Luke 18:9-14 Despereaux to Class.

November 17 Self Assessment of The Tale of Your Semester Part 2 Despereaux Paper is 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Due. November 22 Thanksgiving Break Thanksgiving Devo. Read Romans 11:33- (No Class) 12:8 in a version of your choice. November 24 Thanksgiving Break Eat turkey. (No Class)

November 29 College & Worship Class will meet in the Romans 11:33-12:8 chapel. December 1 Crunch Time— Surviving finals week 1 Thess. 4:13-18 December 6 Crunch Time— Sleep Becoming a Master and Nutrition Student pgs. 194-211 1Kings 19:1-9 (Chapter 9). December 8 Crunch Time— Submit your report Studying for finals on your Academic John 19:16-30 Lunch. December 13 Final Exam

Assignments

I. Semester Map ( 15% of your Final Grade )

A. Requirements: a. Using a medium of your choice—daily planner, calendar, or a computer program like Microsoft Outlook—plot the due dates for every assignment you will have due this semester. This information will be contained in your course syllabi. b. Use some sort of organizing principle (color coding, stickers, or marginal notes) to indicate which assignments will take the most time. c. In addition to plotting you assignments, also include activities that you can use to reward yourself or gage your progress. Make sure to plan for at least one social or campus activity a week. Likewise, plan personal time for devotions, a routine eating schedule and rest. These little joys will be your most treasured moments once crunch time for assignments and finals arrives. B. Due: September 6, at the beginning of class (or before class if submitting an electronic calendar).

II. Devotional ( 10% of your Final Grade )

A. Requirements: a. One the first day of class you will pick a date to give your devotional. The devotional should be short (2-5 minutes) and use only a single scripture reference. b. If you are a worship leader, you may choose to lead the class in a single song. The 2-5 minute time limit still applies. c. While it may be controversial to some students to allow the female students in class to participate in this assignment, please keep in mind the examples in scripture of women who have been used by God to deliver His word and the fact that I am not relinquishing authority. I am allowing you all (both males and females) to address the class as children of God equally. B. Due: Varies. III. Mere Christianity Reading & Reaction Paper ( 10% of your Final Grade )

A. Requirements: a. Check out a copy of Mere Christianity, by Clive Staples Lewis, and bring that copy to class. CCU’s library has multiple copies and your professor is not picky about which edition of the text you check out. b. Read the selected text in class (about 4 pages) with your small group of fellow students and make a list of difficult words or concepts. c. Discuss those difficult words and concepts later with the class. d. Submit a short paper (1 page or less) explaining your reaction to Lewis’ argument about Jesus’ atoning work. This is not a pressure assignment. If you are totally lost by the way Lewis uses language you may simply say, “I did not understand what he was saying.” Your professor is using this assignment to gage your reading comprehension so your paper should reflect your level of understanding. B. Due: Bring Mere Christianity to class on September 13th. The paper is due September 15th at the beginning of class.

IV. English Paper from Concept to Completion ( 15% of your Final Grade )

A. Requirements: a. Select a paper that is due for your English class after the date of October 27th. b. Use two weeks, from October 11th to October 25th, to outline, draft, edit, and finish the paper so that it adheres to MLA formatting standards and measures up to the quality standards of college level writing. B. Due: Monday, October 25th, at the beginning of class.

V. Journal ( 10% of your Final Grade )

A. Requirements: a. Keep a journal for a two solid months. b. Practice writing on a daily basis, even on the weekends. c. Begin making journal entries starting on Friday, October 1st, and make entries of a paragraph (approximately 5 sentences) every day. You do not have to write about anything special in particular. The goal of this assignment will be to get you in the habit of writing deliberately. B. Due: Your October journal is due on Friday, October 25th at the beginning of class. You should have a minimum of 60 entries (approximately one for each day). VI. The Tale of Despereaux Integration Paper ( 15% of your Final Grade )

A. Requirements: a. Check out a copy of The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, some Soup,and a Spool of Thread, by Kate DiCamillo, through Ohio Link and bring that copy to class. So that we have matching copies, you should order the 2003 edition. b. Read the entire text on your own outside of class and pay special attention to the way the author stresses the theme of forgiveness. c. Write a 1-2 page paper (300-500 words) on the way the book presents the theme of forgiveness. Your response should include at least a paragraph explaining whether or not Despereaux’s understanding of forgiveness is a Biblical understanding. Use scriptures and quotes from the book to back up your opinion. B. Due: Friday, November 19th, at the beginning of class.

VII. Quizzes ( 20% of your Final Grade—4% each )

A. Requirements: a. To insure that you are doing your readings for class five quizzes will be administered during class on the assigned reading for that day. b. These quizzes will be unannounced. Come prepared to take a short quiz on any day that a reading assignment is due.

VIII. Attendance ( 5% of your Final Grade )

Attendance in this class will be critical for success. While this class is graded on a pass/fail rubric, it is possible to fail because of absences (FA). You are allowed a maximum of 4 absences. On the 5th absence you will be dropped from the class roster. Dropped students may apply to be reinstated at the office of the registrar with the understanding that extra course work will be expected along with a renewed commitment to attendance should an exception be made and reinstatement granted.

IX. Extra Credit ( +10 % of your Final Grade )

A. Requirements: a) Meet with a Professor of your choice over lunch sometime this semester. The purpose of this assignment is to get you use to talking with your professors on both personal and academic levels. During your hour lunch meeting you should bring up the following questions. 1) Describe your freshman year of college (most CCU professors are also CCU grads so this may be very interesting.) 2)What kind of research are you currently working on? 3)Which class is your favorite to teach and why? B. Due: Friday, December 8th, at the beginning of class. Grading

This class is graded as Pass/Fail. Students will pass the class if they have a grade of C- or higher. The grading scale used in this class is based on the scale used regularly at CCU. Also keep in mind that failure to achieve a passing grade will result in the student having to retake this class next semester.

A 95-100 C 77-79 A- 93-94 C- 74-76 B+ 89-91 D+ 71-73 B 86-88 D 68-70 B- 83-85 D- 65-67 C+ 80-82 F Below 64

Disclaimer

While this course plan is my intended guide for class policy, it is important that you understand that I reserve the right to change any of this contract concerning the schedule, procedures and assignments, with fair notice. This general plan is subject to Divine or human veto and may evolve regularly in response to the needs of individuals or the class as a whole.