COURSE SYLLABUS
Guidance 120
Instructor Information:
Instructor:
Mary Silva
Website:
http://silvam.faculty.mjc.edu:
https://yccd.blackboard.com/
Office:
Yosemite 154 (West Campus)
Hours: _______________________
By appointment – email or call
Phone:
(209) 575 7721
Email:
silvam@mjc.edu (best way to contact
me!)
Required Materials:
Text: College and Career Success, 5th Edition by Marsha Fralick (Purchase new!)
Semester Calendar (Any type, including Computer Program such as Outlook)
Modesto Junior College Catalog, 20013-14
10 scantrons (#882)
3x5 index cards
1 scantron (#886) for final
(All of the above items are available at the Pirates’ Bookstore on campus or online at
__________________ )
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Course Description:
Guidance 120 is a transfer-level class designed to help develop the skills necessary to make
you a more effective student. An effective student is able to understand and adapt to the
college environment, create an academic plan to meet his or her educational goal and fulfill the
demands of the course of study required. Along the way, it is my goal that you also learn how
to learn, a skill that will benefit you in all your future learning experiences, both work and play.
To this end, this class will include the following areas: personality, time management, reading,
note-taking, test-taking, learning styles, research and presentation, career exploration,
educational planning and how to transfer.
Because this class also satisfies the guidance requirement for graduation from MJC, you must
complete an educational plan. If you have already done so, please submit a copy to me as
soon as possible. We will spend time in class working on this or you may chose to work with
me or a counselor of your choice outside of class. Please make an appointment before the end
of September!
This class is designed for students who place in English 101 and Reading 184 and who intend
to transfer to the university. If you have questions about the suitability of this class for you,
please talk to me immediately.
Instructional Methods:
This is a highly interactive class that will include a wide variety of instructional experiences
including discussion, lecture, online activities, small group work and student presentations.
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Course Policies
 Attendance is essential for a good grade. Due to the interactive nature of the class, if
you are not present, you cannot participate and therefore cannot earn that portion of the
grade. Participation includes listening, speaking in discussion, and contributing in small
groups. You are expected to inform me of impending absences and keep up with
assignments completed during your absence.
 Plagiarism will be punished!! If you chose to use the work of another student you will
receive zero for the assignment and may also fail the class. Be sure to cite all of your
sources in all papers submitted.
 Assignments will be due at the beginning of the class on the due date. Late
assignments will be marked down 20% and will not be accepted two weeks after the
original due date.
 No make-up quizzes will be given. The final may be taken at an alternate time with
advance notice.
Course Requirements
 Every week there will be a reading quiz on the assignment for that week. These quizzes
will usually be multiple choice and/or true false and will cover material from the text.
 There will be a final covering Chapters 10-14. See the class outline for dates.
 There will be eight assignments. Further details will be given in class. You can preview
each at https://yccd.blackboard.com/. All papers should be submitted in MLA format.
Some of these assignments require working with other students. You may submit this
work via Blackboard, MJC’s learning management system.
 Class participation and attendance will make up 20% of your grade. Class participation
includes journal writing, individual and group exercises, note-taking. These points
cannot be made up if you are absent.
Course Assessment and Grading
Your grade will be reflect the following components:
Weekly Quizzes
Final
Eight Assignments (25-100 points each)
Academic Support Services Available
 Tutoring Center. As an MJC student you are entitled to academic support
services without cost. Tutors are available for most subjects and will work with
you individually or as a group. Locations are changing due to construction.
 The Health Center. Nurses are available to provide first aid and other general
health services. There is a cot room should you need a nap! Call 575 6360 or
visit Yosemite 114. On East Campus call 575 6037 or go to Morris 108.
 Career Development and Transfer Center is located on the East Campus in
Library Annex Room 103. The staff and resources there provide career planning
services, job hunting assistance and information on transferring to four year
schools. Call 575 6239.
 The Center for Learning Assistance provides self-paced, computerized
instruction in reading, writing, and math. Call 575 6475.
 The Writing Center, located in Founders 224 on East Campus and in Sierra Hall
214 on West, provides services to assist students in their writing. Tutors will
work with you on any writing-related task. Call 575 6682 (East) or 575 7847
(West).
 The Math Drop-In Center is designed to help students with problems that arise
during math homework. The center is located in Founders 128C on East
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Campus and on West it is in Sierra 214. Call 575 6662 (East) or 575 7845
(West).
Please see your catalog for a complete listing of other services available.
IMPORTANT DATES THIS SEMESTER. (PUT IN YOUR PHONE TODAY!)
: Last day to drop a class without a W showing on your transcript
: Last day to withdraw from this class (so you get a W and not a bad grade.)
: Last day of class. Last day to turn in educational plan.
Student Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the class students will
Motivation
 Use motivation techniques to persist in college
 Set up an effective study environment
 Complete a behavior modification project to establish habits that lead to success
Personality
 Describe their personality types and list majors that match
 Describe their ideal work environment based on personality type
 Describe how personality type affects decision making and time management
Learning Style and Intelligence
 Identify 20 factors that affect learning style
 List learning strategies that match their learning style and personality type
 List multiple intelligences
Interests and Values
 Make a list of personal interests and values
 Identify interests using Holland’s theory of career interests
 Discuss the concept of a balanced lifestyle ( work/study, leisure, social)
 Practice using values in the decision making process
Career and Education
 Understand generational differences and how they affect the world of work
 Examine career trends of the future and how they affect career choice
 Research a career that matches personality and interests
 Practice the steps in a decision-making process
 Create an educational plan that matches skills, personality, interests and values
 Explain the process of transferring to a four year college
 View samples of resumes for college students
 Explore useful ideas for dealing with unexpected events and crisis situations
Memory and Reading
 Describe how the memory works
 Apply memory techniques to college studying and reading
 Apply the SQ4R reading system to college textbooks
 Use positive thinking about the future
Test Taking
 Use exam preparation techniques to adequately prepare for tests
 Apply techniques to deal with test anxiety
 Use test taking techniques to improve test performance
 Understand the importance of preparation for success in college, careers and life
Taking Notes, Writing and Speaking
 Apply listening techniques to a college lecture
 Practice note taking systems for a college lecture
 Use preparation, organization, writing, editing and revising (POWER writing) for college
writing projects
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Practice some basics of public speaking
Apply selectivity in identifying the main points for note listening, note taking, writing and
prioritizing
Communication and Relationships
 Describe how personality type affects communication style
 Practice effective communication techniques
 Discuss ways to improve relationships
 Explore ways deal in a positive way with failures and mistakes
Critical and Creative Thinking
 Describe the critical thinking process
 Identify fallacies in reasoning
 Apply critical thinking to problem scenarios
 Describe the creative thinking process
 Apply creative thinking to generate new ideas
 Use humor to deal with difficulties in life
Health
 Use government guidelines to develop a plan for healthy nutrition and exercise
 Increase awareness of addictions to smoking, alcohol and illegal drugs
 Read information about sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS
 Explain the necessity for getting adequate sleep
 Discuss information about stress and practice relaxation exercises
 List the steps for making positive changes in life
 Make a plan for increasing longevity
Diversity
 Discuss the importance of appreciating diversity
 Learn vocabulary for understanding diversity
 Practice techniques for communicating across cultures
 Increase understanding of sexual orientation
 Examine the stages of ethical development
 Appreciate individual differences
The Future
 Examine life stages
 Practice positive thinking
 Make a plan for happiness in life
Some Concluding Thoughts
While I expect you to take the above very seriously, please don’t be intimidated by
either the rules or my high expectations. It is my honest intention that this class not
only is educational, but enjoyable. If you find the class boring, irritating, or in any way
bothersome, please see me immediately. Similarly, if you find yourself confused or
“behind”, please see or call me right away to discuss the situation. However, don’t wait
until the end of the semester to bail out of a sinking ship! If you need special
accommodations because of a disability or otherwise please let us know. My ultimate
objective is to help you succeed in this class and at MJC. GOOD LUCK! ***
*******The instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabus based on individual and
class needs.
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