GUST 1270—COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING
INSTRUCTOR: Ms. Vonda J. Hughes, M.Ed.
713-924-1627 AHS or 832-443-5722 cell
E-mail: vonda.hughes@hccs.edu or vhughes@houstonisd.org
Houston Community College/Austin High School
Class meeting times: M-F 11:45am-12:30 pm
Textbook: Becoming A Master Student, 13th edition
Course Description:
This course is designed to prepare students for the demands of college and for
success in the world of work. The course emphasizes setting priorities, time
management, effective listening, note-taking, concentration techniques,
retention of information, book analysis and comprehension techniques and
test-taking skills. This course also incorporates modules that are designed to
facilitate the use of library databases in conducting research, planning and
setting educational objectives, lifelong career assessment and decision-making,
financial aid, tutoring and student support services, enabling the student to
maximize the use of college resources (2009-2011 HCC Catalog p.287)
Course Purpose:
Your primary reason for Becoming A Master Student is to improve and
increase your self-knowledge, self-awareness, and self-acceptance. Such
knowledge will allow you to emerge from this experience with the skills
necessary to meet the requirements and challenges of college in particular and
life in general. But more importantly your goal is to become a more effective,
responsive, reflective, critical, and appreciative life-long learner.
Required Text/Materials:
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Text: Ellis, Becoming a Master Student, 13th Edition.
Black Binder w/front clear view, dividers, loose-leaf paper
College-level dictionary and thesaurus (Example: Merriam-Webster’s New
Collegiate Dictionary and Roget’s Thesaurus)
E-mail account
Reliable Computer and Internet Access
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COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Increase self-knowledge by identifying
learning preferences, academic
strengths, academic challenges, and
consequences of personal choices.
Examine personal ideas and decisions
regarding issues typically faced by
college students such as establishing
healthy and supportive relationships,
budgeting time and money, drug and
alcohol abuse, and health-related
practices
Identify HCCS and Community
resources that assist students
managing issues that impede college
success
Develop a comprehensive collegiate
and career plan that depicts
S.M.A.R.T. Goals. (SMART equals
Specific, Measurable, Realistic, and
Timely)
List and describe specific methods to:
a. Improve the ability to recall
information
b. Manage time more effectively
c. Use meta-cognition, active
listening, and active learning
skills to improve interactions
with text and classmates.
d. Use the 3 Levels of Reading
Comprehension and the 5
Thinking Strategies of Good
Readers to improved retention,
comprehension, an application
of text and other media
e. Prepare for and take tests
f. Comprehend, and construct the
4 Types of questions
g. Expand Vocabulary Repertoire
and Skills
h. Take effective notes
i. Use technology to engage, share,
and acquire knowledge and
information
ASSESSMENT
Class Discussions and Performance,
Discovery Statements, Intention
Statements, Affirmations, Journal
Entries, Career and Personality
Inventories
Oral and written responses to
essential, exploratory, and reflective
questions which emerge from factual
and/or fictional situations
Discussion of effective Advising
meeting and Journal Entries of
Campus and Community Resources
Class Discussions and Journal
Entries Completed Degree and/or
Certificate Plan Career Project/Paper
Contributions to Class Discussion;
use Blackboard to successfully
complete and submit assignments,
assessments, and quizzes; provide
class assignments that demonstrate
effective time management skills,
note-taking, active reading,
questioning, and test preparation
skills
Disclaimer: This syllabus is tentative and changes may be necessary. A revised syllabus may be issued at
the discretion of the instructor.
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COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING
Describe and use effective models of
communication, both written and oral
Well written paragraphs, summaries
and oral presentation of individual
and group assignment/projects
Teaching Strategies Instructional Procedure:
Students will engage the course content in multiple ways such as group
discussions, cooperative activities, independent projects, oral presentations,
guest lectures, audiovisual presentations, personality and career inventories
and assignments outside of class. Lecture or reciprocal conversation will be
used to introduce new material and give students practice taking lecture notes.
The Internet, Blackboard, and various forms of multimedia will also be used.
The instructor’s role is to be a facilitator/guide in your learning experience.
Attendance:
Students are expected to attend classes regularly. Students are responsible for
material covered during their absences, and it is the student’s responsibility to
consult with instructors for makeup assignments. Class attendance is checked
daily by instructors. Although it is the responsibility of the student to drop a
course for non-attendance, the instructor has the authority to drop a student
for excessive absences.
A student may be dropped from a course for absenteeism after the student
has accumulated 5 absences.
Make-up/Late Policy:
NO makeup on tests or in-class quizzes will be allowed unless the instructor
deems otherwise. Late assignments will lose a letter grade each day.
Therefore, please communicate with your instructor if your work will be late
due to something beyond your control or an extenuating circumstance.
Withdrawal Procedure:
Administrative drops are at the discretion of the instructor.
Disclaimer: This syllabus is tentative and changes may be necessary. A revised syllabus may be issued at
the discretion of the instructor.
GUST 1270 4
COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING
Students with Disabilities:
The Disability Support Services Office assists students with documented
physical, learning, or emotional disabilities in developing independence and
self-reliance. Services include adaptive equipment and reasonable
accommodations for admissions assistance, testing, academic advising,
registration, and classroom instruction. Interpreting service is provided for
students who are deaf/hard of hearing and assistive technology devices are
provided on a case-by-case basis. Students should request interpreting
services as soon as possible or no less than 30 days prior to each academic
semester they plan to attend HCC. The Disability Services Office cannot
guarantee that services will be in place if insufficient student notice is provided
(2009-2011 HCC Catalog p. 25).
Expected Student Conduct:
…no student may disrupt or otherwise interfere with any educational activity
being performed by a member of the College System…Any student failing to
abide by appropriate standards of conduct during scheduled College activities
may be asked to leave that day’s class or activity by the instructor or another
College official (HCC Student handbook p. 34)…
Classroom Etiquette:
The instructor has the responsibility to create and maintain a learning
environment that is safe and conducive to learning. Your cooperation in this
significant matter is needed. Therefore, please adhere to the following:
1. Respect, value each other’s physical, emotional, ideational, and personal
assets.
2. Refrain from all disruptive behavior such as having side conversations
while the instructor or a student is presenting information or has the
floor.
3. Respect and value all property in the classroom here at Houston
Community College.
4. Turn off Mobile Devices when they are not used for teaching and
learning. Refrain from using telecommunication devices such as: cell
phones, iPhones, iPods, iPads, PDA’s, MP3’s, etc…This also includes
texting, checking your phone, or answering your phone (this includes
leaving class to check). If you choose to engage in such behavior, you
may be asked to leave the class. If you have an emergency situation,
please notify your instructor at the beginning of class and keep your
phone on vibrate.
Disclaimer: This syllabus is tentative and changes may be necessary. A revised syllabus may be issued at
the discretion of the instructor.
GUST 1270 5
COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING
Academic Honesty:
Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and
integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary
proceedings may be initiated by College System officials against a
student accused of scholastic dishonesty. “Scholastic dishonesty”
includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and
collusion. “Cheating” on a test includes:
Copying from another student’s test paper; Using materials during a test
that are not authorized by the person giving the test; collaborating with
another student during a test without authority; knowingly using,
buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the
contents of an un-administered test…”Plagiarism” means the
appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation
of that work in one’s own written work offered for credit…
Possible punishments for academic dishonesty may include a grade of
“0” or “F” on the particular assignment, failure in the course, and/or
recommendation for probation or dismissal from the College System
(HCC Student Handbook p. 35).
Additional Information:
 I DO NOT TEACH SOLELY FROM THE COURSE TEXTBOOK. You
will be given supplemental materials for the purpose of enhancing
your learning experience by exposing you to different challenges,
perspectives, and opportunities.
 Students will develop a learning portfolio. Put all class materials,
notes, homework, quizzes, and papers in your portfolio (this will
come in very handy at the end of the term!)
 The “Getting to Know Your Employer” project and portfolio are
mandatory assignments. If you choose not to do them—you are
choosing to adversely affect your Final Course Grade.
 Reading assignments MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE
CLASS PERIOD FOR WHICH THEY ARE DUE. Class discussions
are more interesting, engaging, and enlightening when everyone is
able to participate by sharing their thoughts about the assigned
readings.
 Writing and/or other HLA’s (Home Learning Assignments) will
often accompany reading assignments and are due at the
beginning of the class period.
Disclaimer: This syllabus is tentative and changes may be necessary. A revised syllabus may be issued at
the discretion of the instructor.
GUST 1270 6
COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING
 Technology problems seem inevitable. Hard Drives crash, printers break,
data gets lost, etc…Therefore, please plan to use your options. Back up
your data and store it on more than one drive. If you have printing
issues, use the Computer Labs and/or library. Submitting an
assignment late because of a technical complication will carry very little
credibility.
 All writing assignments, including book exercises, are expected to be at
college level. Hastily written work, without depth or thought, will be
returned. The 1st occurrence can be resubmitted for a grade, all other
occurrences will result in a loss of points.
 Please come to class prepared. Bring all materials, handouts, pens, and
paper to each and every class. Students who choose to come to class
consistently unprepared may endanger a failing grade.
 Practice note taking. Take lecture notes (including those from guest
speakers), or Power Point presentations.
 Refer to course syllabus and course calendar often. Updates and
changes will be made as needed.
GRADING:
It is encouraged that you keep track of all assignments and their grades.
A= 100-90; B=89-80;
C=79-75;
D=74-70;
F=70 or less
FINAL EXAM PERIOD:
Final Exams will be administered the week of December 13-19, 2010.
Disclaimer: This syllabus is tentative and changes may be necessary. A revised syllabus may be issued at
the discretion of the instructor.
GUST 1270 7
COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING
COURSE OUTLINE FOR BECOMING A MASTER STUDENT
This course will include discussion about self-knowledge, affirmations, power,
agreements and agreement keeping, planning, managing time, building an
educated vocabulary, critical thinking, test preparation, and many other areas
related to student success. During the semester you will receive a variety of
learning material and will use the internet to complete various assignments.
Chapter Assignments:
The following are tentative chapter assignments for the semester. Other
assignments will be given intermittently. The entire assignment must be
completed in order to earn credit for that chapter. NO PARTIAL CREDIT WILL
BE GIVEN. You must include a cover sheet including your name, date,
assignment title and class period on each assignment submitted.
Packet 1—Chapter 1 p. 48-53
1) Create a one-page, Typed, DS, 12 font, essay on “The Value of Higher
Education”
2) Create a one-page, Typed, DS, 12 font, essay on “The Importance of
Possessing a Positive Attitude”
3) Complete Exercise 6—Reprogram Your Attitude p. 53
Packet 2—Chapter 2 p.67-89
Read: The ABC Daily To-Do List
1) Complete “Practice Critical Thinking” Exercise on p. 78
2) Create your own personal monthly calendar for the month of November
and submit it with work schedule, class assignments, and other activities
filled in for the appropriate days. Feel free to be creative and use pictures
to designate activities, assignments, work schedules, etc.
Packet 3—Chapter 4 p. 123-141
Read: Muscle Reading
1) Write a one page summary on “How Muscle Reading Works” p. 124-129
2) Complete Journal Entry 2
3) Complete Exercise 16 p. 133 Write a descriptive paragraph explaining
your results.
Disclaimer: This syllabus is tentative and changes may be necessary. A revised syllabus may be issued at
the discretion of the instructor.
GUST 1270 8
COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING
Packet 4—Chapter 5 p. 149-166
Read: The Note-Taking Process Flows—Complete Journal Entry 13 p. 149
1) Complete Journal Entry 15 p. 159
2) Complete Exercise 17 p. 162—Type your observation and submit.
Packet 5—Chapter 6-TESTS p. 177-198
1) Create a 1-page typed Double-spaced essay on “What To Do Before a
Test”
2) P. 185—use each of the terms in “Words to Watch for in Essay
Questions” in complete sentences.
3) Complete Exercise 19 p. 191—“20 Things I Like To Do”. Type your
exercise answers.
4) Follow the directions and complete Journal Entry 17 p. 192
5) Follow the directions and complete Journal Entry 18 p. 192
Packet 6—Chapter 7-THINKING p. 205-218
1)
Read p. 205-215. Write a 2 page, typed, double-spaced essay on a
topic you have a “hot spot”—issues that trigger strong emotional
reactions, about.
2)
Read p. 216-218. Write a descriptive paragraph (5-7 complete
sentences) stating what logic means to you.
3)
Write a one paragraph essay (5-7 complete sentences) defining the
term ‘fallacies’ and what it means in relation to logic.
Packet 7—Chapter 8-COMMUNICATING p. 235-263
1)
Read p. 235-238. Create a one-page, typed, DS, 12 font essay on
“Effective Communication”.
2)
Read pages 239-241. Create a one-page, typed, DS, 12 font essay on
Exercise 25, p. 241.
3)
Read “Discover Communication Styles” p. 242 Complete Journal
Entry 22, p. 242.
4)
Read p. 244-246. Complete Journal Entry 23, p. 245.
5)
Complete Exercise 26 V.I.P.s (Very Important Persons) p. 249
6)
Read “Staying Smart in Cyberspace”, p. 251-252. Write a one page
summary on “Safe Social Networking”.
7)
Read p. 253-254. Complete Journal Entry 24.
8)
Read p. 256-259. Incorporate these writing tips in your essay portion
of your “Getting To Know Your Employer” project.
Disclaimer: This syllabus is tentative and changes may be necessary. A revised syllabus may be issued at
the discretion of the instructor.
GUST 1270 9
COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING
9)
Read p. 260-263. Incorporate these speaking tips in your presentation
of your “Getting To Know Your Employer” project.
Packet 8—Chapter 10-MONEY p. 295-311
1) Complete Journal Entry 29 p. 301
2) Read p. 295-311. Create a three page, typed, DS, essay on “Managing
My Money Successfully”. Include information about your current
financial responsibilities, spending habits, preparing for college, savings,
and your financial plans for the future.
**Keep all chapter packets that are given to you as you will need to refer
to them to prepare for the final exam.
Disclaimer: This syllabus is tentative and changes may be necessary. A revised syllabus may be issued at
the discretion of the instructor.
GUST 1270 10
COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING
ACADEMIC PROTOCOL
Protocol can be defined as a certain set of procedures, standards, behaviors, or
guidelines that govern an individual or organization. For example, many
chemical companies utilize protocols to insure safety. As members of a
learning community you will adhere to and Academic Protocol to maintain high
academic standards, produce and present quality assignments, ans
successfully achieve our educational goals.
The following protocol (unless stated otherwise) will govern all assignments
submitted for grading in this course:
1. All assignments will be submitted on the due date.
2. All assignments from chapter packets must be typed unless otherwise
instructed.
3. All hand-written assignments must be written in blue or black ink.
Writing must be neat and legible.
4. Assignments submitted that violate these established protocols will be
either penalized or not accepted.
5. If deemed necessary by the instructor, the Academic Protocol will be
revised.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The Academic Protocol is in a place so that you can
produce academic work that reflects high educational standards, effective
presentation and communication skills, and your desire in Becoming A
Master Student.
I have read and fully understand the Academic Protocol. My signature
below states that I agree to adhere to these standards.
____________________________________
_________________________________
Print Name
Signature
____________________________________
Date
Disclaimer: This syllabus is tentative and changes may be necessary. A revised syllabus may be issued at
the discretion of the instructor.