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Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart
and try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms
and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue.

—Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

Learning Expectations | Texts and Materials | Assignments and Evaluation | Grading Scheme | Policies and Accommodations

Learning Expectations

To demonstrate an understanding of three key concepts and strategies:

  • how to reflect on and assess your own learning
  • how to collaborate on a problem-based inquiry project in an interdisciplinary context
  • how to acquire and enhance skills essential for academic success

Texts and Materials

  • Learning to Learn: The Skill and Will of College Success by Scott VanderStoep and Paul R. Pintrich (2003) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall — available through the Associated Students Bookstore.
  • Other readings are available on this website and are linked from the class schedule.

Assignments and Evaluation

There will be no regular tests during the course of the quarter for this seminar. You will therefore be evaluated on whether you attend class, whether you complete the assigned readings, whether you hand in your assignments, and the quality of the assignments. All assignments and readings are due on the date specified on the class schedule. Students who choose to revise an assignment in order to achieve a higher grade, must turn in the revised assignments no later than one week after the assignment was graded by the instructor. Late assignments will not be accepted unless you have arranged with the instructor beforehand.

You will receive instructor feedback on all assignments and are also encouraged to come in and meet with your instructor or teaching assistant throughout the quarter. Specific assignment requirements are listed below:

 

Percent of Grade
(based on 1000 points)

Introductory Reflection—The Story Within (100 pts.)

10%

Group Paper , due in three parts

40%

     Part 1) Paper Plan (in-class)

     Part 2) Paper Itself (200 pts.)

     Part 3) Paper Revisions* (200 pts.)
     *based on peer and instructor suggestions

Reflective Essay (100 pts.)

10%

Presentation or Final Exam (200 pts.)

20%

Movie Screening Reports (100 pts.)

Watch 2 movies from the movie list, and submit a screening report for each; each report is worth 50 points.

10%

Reading Assignments and Activities (100 pts.)

Check the class schedule for reading assignments from your Learning to Learn textbook. There will be five assignments to be handed in--four worth 15 points each, and one worth 40 points.

10%

Note attendance requirements below.

Grading Scheme

Grade

Performance

A
 

  • Attend weekly seminar sessions with no more than 1 unexcused absence, and
  • 90% and above of the points available

B
  • Attend weekly seminar sessions with no more than 2 unexcused absences, and
  • 80-89% of the points available

C
  • Attend weekly seminar sessions with no more than 2 unexcused absences, and
  • 70-79% of the points available

D
  • Attend weekly seminar sessions with no more than 3 unexcused absences, and
  • 60-69% of the points available

F

Failure to meet the standards for a D grade

Policies and Accommodations

Western Washington University has an official policy concerning academic dishonesty that is published in the 2004-05 catalog on page 348. All students in this seminar are expected to abide by this and other policies listed in the official catalog.

To request disability accommodation or assistance related to required course procedures, please contact the Office of Student Life, x 3844.

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