AGRI 320 – SPRING 2015
AGRI 320
SUCCESS STRATEGIES IN AGRICULTURE
SPRING 2015
Instructor:
Dr. Samantha (Sam) Cunningham, Assistant Professor
B12 Knoblauch Hall
Office Phone: 298-1288
Cell Phone:
979-220-5681
Email: s-cunningham@wiu.edu
Office Hours: M & W 1:30 to 3, T 10 to 12, or by appointment
Class Time:
Lecture:
Th
1-3 p.m.
in 307 Knoblauch Hall
Communication:
Email is the preferred form of communication, as I respond most promptly to email
correspondence. Please be sure to include the course in which you are enrolled in any emails.
Required Text:
The Energy Bus. Jon Gordon. 2009. John Wiley and Sons.
Reference Text:
The Very Quick Job Search, 3rd ed. Michael J. Farr. 2004. Jist Works, Inc.
Additional Course Materials:
Any additional course materials may also be found online on Western Online:
www.westernonline.wiu.edu
Prerequisite:
Sophomore standing
Course Description:
This course has been designed to assist students in developing adaptive and transferrable skills
to be successful upon graduation. Topics will include problem solving, communication,
interpersonal relations, resume preparation, and interviewing. Student participation will be
emphasized.
Course Objective:
A. The student will learn to identify his/her long and short term career goals. As well as, identify
his/her key skills, attributes and preferences related to their profession.
B. The student will be able to effectively construct a powerful cover letter and resume.
C. The student will develop networking strategies and explore various interpersonal
communication skills.
D. The student will examine the job searching process to develop a plan for their own personal
internship and job search.
E. The student will learn to effectively research a specific company prior to an interview. As well as,
utilize resources to obtain a desired position.
AGRI 320 – SPRING 2015
Course Objective cont’d:
F. The student will gain knowledge and understanding of the entire interviewing process, including
appropriate reactions during an interview. The student will complete a mock interview.
G. The student will explore and produce artificial interview follow-up letters and professional email
communications.
H. The student will review ethics and recognize the difference between work ethic and professional
ethics.
I. The student will establish a profile on Leatherneck Link through the WIU Career Center
J. The student will create and establish a LinkedIn profile.
Attendance:
Attendance and participation are important components of this course, and are crucial for
learning. Attendance is expected and will be monitored at each lecture meeting. Students
having 1 or fewer unexcused absences will be eligible for a curve at the end of the semester.
Students having 3 or more unexcused absences will have their final course grade reduced by a
letter grade at the end of the semester.
If you anticipate an excused absence, notify me in advance, prior to an exam, quiz, or homework
due date, for example. Accepted excuses would include university related activities/events and
personal health. Please submit notification in writing, i.e. a letter from a faculty sponsor or a
doctor’s note. All other excuses will be handled at the discretion of the instructor. The student
is responsible for any missed information and/or class material, as well as making arrangements
for making up any missed work.
ADA Compliance:
In accordance with University policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
accommodations in the area of test and note-taking may be made for any student who notifies
the instructor of the need for accommodation. It is imperative that you take the initiative to
bring such needs to my attention, as I am legally not permitted to inquire about the particular
needs of students. Furthermore, I would like also to request that students who may require
special assistance in emergency evacuations contact me as to the most appropriate procedures
to follow in such an emergency.
Academic Dishonesty:
Any violation of the Academic Dishonesty Policy in Student Handbook will result in an automatic
failure in the course. Plagiarism and cheating are areas of concern for the course. This course is
designated to enhance your writing and presentation skills within your academic area, not the
ability to copy thoughts and ideas.
Attention Education Majors:
The changes within the state certification requirements, which go into effect immediately
for all of those students who graduate in the spring 2012 and after, you are required to
receive a grade of a "C" or better in this course in order to meet these new requirements.
With the new university +/- grading system, receiving a "C-" or below will require you
to retake this course or find a substitute course to meet School of Agriculture graduation
requirements.
AGRI 320 – SPRING 2015
Class conduct:
Asking of questions and discussion of relevant information in and outside class is highly
encouraged; however, talking to neighbors, texting, sleeping, or studying for other courses
during class time will not be tolerated. Come to class ready for discussions (you will be called
upon).
NO CELL PHONES. If you have a cell phone that rings during class, you will automatically receive
an unexcused absence for that class meeting. If you have an emergency situation where you
need to have a cell phone on during class, let me know ahead of time. Cell phones, blackberries,
iPhones, or other electronic communication devices with built‐in calculators cannot be used for
exams and will not be tollerated; only actual calculators will be allowed.
Course Grade:
Resume
Cover Letter
Leatherneck Link
LinkedIn Profile
Mock Interview
Company paper
Portfolio
Final Exam
Other Homework/Quizzes
Etiquette Dinner
10%
10%
5%
5%
10%
5%
20%
15%
15%
5%
Grading Scale:
90 to 100
87 to 89
82 to 86
80 to 81
77 to 79
72 to 76
70 to 71
67 to 69
62 to 66
60 to 61
< 59
A
B+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
Homework and Quizzes:
If they are turned in one to seven days after the due date, the student will receive an automatic
25 point discount. Assignments turned in over 7 days late WILL NOT be accepted, and the
resulting grade will be “0”.
Students resumes and cover letters will be evaluated by peers (draft 1), Career Services (draft 2),
and the instructor (draft 3). Students are responsible for coordinating these evaluations and a
placement file with Career Services (http://www.wiu.edu/student_services/careers/) prior to
due dates. Students are expected to participate in an etiquette dinner for which date and time
are TBA. Additional assignments related to the text and reading will be assigned. All
assignments are due at the beginning of class.
Written assignments should be typed using 12 pt. font, double spaced, and 1 inch margins
unless otherwise specified.
Resume:
Evaluated on overall effectiveness and organization
Sample resumes will be provided
Your resume should reflect the style preferred by the industry you are entering
You will have 3 drafts evaluated: 1-peer; 2-career development center; 3-instructor
AGRI 320 – SPRING 2015
Cover letter (Letter of Application):
Evaluated on overall effectiveness and organization
Sample cover letters will be provided
Your cover letter should reflect the job requirements listed in the position announcement
You will have 3 drafts evaluated: 1-peer; 2-career development center; 3-instructor
Placement file (Leatherneck Link):
Created using software provided by Career Development Center. Each profile will be checked via
employer access number. Accuracy and completeness is a must. Employers do check these
files.
Mock Interview:
Completed at Career Development Center (309-298-1838) before the date listed in the course
schedule. The student will set up an interview and give the interviewer the mock interview
form at the interview. This will be a face to face interview.
Company paper:
Completed by each student on a company that they are interested in working for in the future
and present information (fringe benefits, size, scope, types of positions, education required,
etc.) on this particular company of interest. Companies will not be duplicated. Students will
write a 3 to 4 page paper about the company of choice.
Portfolio:
Complete portfolios will contain all work that was turned in and graded for this course not to be
limited to a resume and cover letter, a transcript, and a thank you.
Etiquette dinner:
Students are expected to attend an etiquette dinner. Date and time are TBD.
Other Homeworks/Quizzes:
Homework assignments will include, but are not limited to, memos, thank you notes,
transcripts, papers/assignments pertaining to the assigned books. The instructor reserves the
right to use both announced and unannounced quizzes.
***INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AGRI 320 – SPRING 2015
Tentative Course Schedule
Jan
22
Th
Course Introduction
Constructing High Quality Resumes
In Class Resume Activity
29
Th
Cover Letters, Thank You Notes
DRAFT 1 RESUME DUE
Peer Review of Resumes
Feb
05
Th
Tour Career Center (Memorial Hall 125)
**TAKE A LAPTOP/TABLET (iPad, etc.) WITH YOU!!**
Leatherneck Link
LinkedIn
Feb
12
Th
LINCOLN’S B’DAY NO CLASS
19
Th
DRAFT 1 COVER LETTER DUE
THANK YOU NOTE DUE
Peer Review of Cover Letter
Who I Am and What I Want
26
Th
Etiquette Basics
Career Development Center in-class review of Resumes and Cover Letters
WHO I AM PAPER DUE
05
Th
DRAFT 3 RESUME AND RESUME DUE FOR INSTRUCTOR REVIEW
Etiquette/Dress for Success
The Etiquette Advantage in Business
12
Th
Interviewing Skills/Key Interview Questions
The Interview
19
Th
NO CLASS—SPRING BREAK
25
Th
Interview & Dress for Success Review
Interviewing, Personal Presentation, First Impressions
Mock Interview Preparation
Mar
Mar
(March 30 to April 3—Mock Interviews With Career Development Center—by appointment ONLY)
Apr
02
Th
Professional Letters and Email Communications
The Good Writer
09
Th
Job Searching and Internship Preparations
Researching Job Descriptions
Job Descriptions homework assigned
AGRI 320 – SPRING 2015
Apr
16
Th
Identifying Skills
The Skills Resume
JOB DESCRIPTION HOMEWORK DUE
Apr
23
Th
Alternative Interviews—Phone, Skype, etc
Figuring a Budget
PORTFOLIOS DUE
30
Th
TBA
07
Th
TBA
14
Th
FINAL EXAM, 1 pm
May