Collegiate Communication 101 Syllabus
Fall 2012
Instructor Information:
Adrienne Spitzer
Academic Adviser
School of Health Sciences
3075 Human Health Building
alspitze@oakland.edu
Course Information:
Section: 41176
Class Location:
313 Wilson Hall
Wednesdays, 3:30-4:50
September 5th - November 21st
Course Purpose:
This course is designed to help you become successful in college and in life.
Course Objectives: In this course, you will…
 Learn about campus resources and how to use them
 Build positive relationships with peers, faculty, and staff
 Explore personal strengths, abilities and interests and how they contribute to your college
experience
 Learn skills for successfully navigating the college environment
Student Responsibilities
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Show up! Choose to attend every scheduled class period in its entirety.
Do the work! Choose to do your best work in preparing all of your assignments and hand them in on
time.
Participate actively! Choose to stay mentally alert in every class, offering your best comments,
questions, and answers when appropriate.
You are responsible for your own learning.
You are responsible for doing your best thinking and most professional work for each class.
Please put your cell phone on vibrate and there is no TEXTING allowed during class time. At certain
points a laptop will be allowed please check with the instructor.
Other expectations – keep syllabus handy, check Moodle/OU email regularly, maintain a safe
classroom environment.
Academic Integrity:
The highest level of academic integrity is expected. Students are expected to submit their own work.
Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. A complete listing of Academic Conduct Regulations is
available in the OU Student Handbook (http://www2.oakland.edu/deanofstudents/handbook/). The course
is graded and a passing grade is required to earn credit for the course.
Special Accommodations:
If you need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability, you should contact the instructor to
arrange an appointment as soon as possible, preferably within the first 10 class days. At the appointment
we can discuss the course format, anticipate your needs, and explore potential accommodations.
Students with a disability must also register documentation with Disability Support Services (121 North
Foundation Hall, 248-370-3266). All discussions and documentations will remain confidential.
Required Text:
Downing, Skip. On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and in Life – Study Skills
Plus Edition, 1st Edition.
The textbook can be purchased at Barnes & Noble at OU or rented from the publisher, Cengage
Learning. Visit www.cengagebrain.com/isbn/1439085226 for more information on renting the
textbook.
Grading:
120 points
80 points
60 points
50 points
50 points
40 points
Attendance & In-Class Participation
Group Project
Writing Assignment
Personal Interaction
Campus Involvement
On Course Self Assessments
400 Total Points Available
COM 101 Grading Scale:
4.0
380-400 points
3.0-3.9
320-379 points
2.0-2.9
280-319 points
1.0-1.9
250-279 points
0.0
Below 250 points
Attendance & In-Class Participation: Weekly (up to 10 points per week 120 points total)
Ten points are given for each class session in which the student attended and actively
participated. Active participation means that students come to class prepared (read the assigned
materials, completed homework and/or project assignments) and contribute to the discussion
and activities during the class session. Partial credit or no credit may be given for each tardy
and/or absence. Presence of body does not necessarily mean presence of mind. A student who
misses more than two class sessions will automatically fail this course (this applies to all
sections of COM 101). Please reference the chart below:
0 Points





Missed Class
Unprepared
Disruptive
Inattentive
Did not
participate in
any class
activities
5 Points




Mostly Prepared
Somewhat attentive
Participated in
some class
activities
Arrive late/leave
early
10 Points



Well prepared
Fully attentive
Participated in all
class activities
Group Project: OU’s Best Kept Secret (80 points) Due Week Five: October 3rd
Objective: Learn about campus resources, how to use them & build positive relationships with
students.
Students will be divided into groups. Each group will work together to investigate a campus
resource, the services they provide, and how they can help students. Teams will be randomly
assigned during week three. Groups will choose their best kept secret as a group on a first
come, first serve basis. Groups will have 2 weeks to prepare including limited class time.
Presentations will be held on October 3rd. Each group will have 10 minutes to present.
Demonstrations (if applicable) and handouts are encouraged for maximum points. Grades will
be assigned by the instructor but each group member will provide feedback on each members
contributions. Equal participation is expected.
Writing Assignment: Online Career Exploration (60 points) Due Week Eight: Oct 24th
Objective: Learn skills for successfully navigating the college environment & Explore personal
strengths
As part of understanding and utilizing the OU Career Cycle students will be given the
opportunity to explore careers based on majors the School of Health Sciences offers. Students
will explore several websites (handout provided on moodle) find the careers that interest them
and then answer 10 questions based on that information. Students must submit all answers in
their own words and a two-paged typed summary of their findings and reactions.
Personal Interaction: Interview a Faculty Member (50 points) Due Week Nine: October 31st
Objective: Build positive relationships with faculty & learn skills for successfully navigating
college
Students will be responsible for interviewing an Oakland University faculty member, and
reporting back to the class. Develop no less than 10 questions to ask a faculty member. The
questions should be pertinent to Oakland University, the students major or career path, the
faculty members’ interests and area of expertise, as well as asking for general advice. The
meetings should be about 25 minutes in length.
Campus Involvement: The “Do Something” Challenge (50 points) Due Week Eleven: Nov 14th
Objective: Explore personal strengths, abilities and interests and how they contribute to your college
experience
The “Do Something” challenge will be conducted through the course of the semester. Students
will be given a “Do Something” checklist and asked to set an involvement goal with the minimum
requirement being 5 activities. Students will turn in their “Do Something” worksheets during
week 10 and we will discuss the benefits of campus involvement.
On Course Self-Assessment: (50 points) Due Week Two & Twelve: September 12th &
November 21st
Objective: Explore personal strengths, abilities, and interests and how they contribute to your college
experience
At the beginning and end of the course, students will complete the Self-Assessment available in
the text book and also online at http://TinyUrl.com/OC6Assessment Part 1 will be completed at
home and brought to class during week 2 along with five semester goals or things you would like
to improve over the course of the semester including a brief description of each. Part 2 will be
completed at home and brought to class on week 12 with a one page semester reflection paper.
This assignment is worth 40 points (20 for the first part and 20 for the second part).
Course Calendar & Assignments:
Week One: September 5
Lesson: Course overview and teambuilding
Due:
 Enthusiasm for the start of your college journey!
In class:
 Welcome to COM 101! So happy you are here!
 Review syllabus and class expectations
 Activity: Who are you? Who are we? Icebreaker
Week Two: September 12
Lesson: Synergy: Interdependence
Due:
 Read chapter 5: pp. 185-89
 Complete self-assessment online at http://TinyUrl.com/OC6Assessment and bring a copy of
your results to class.
 Write down 5 items you want to accomplish over the semester with supporting rationale (1-2
sentences). See on course assessment above for explanation (last paragraph).
In class:
 Activity: Scavenger Hunt: campus resources
 Discuss Reading- Why do we need each other?
Week Three: September 19
Lesson: Study Skills + Organization
Due:
 Read Chapter 4:pp 158-162,174
 Bring a planner and every class syllabus to class today! If you do not have a planner let your
instructor know prior to class.
In class:
 Discuss Reading
 Activity: Get Ready, Get Set, Plan!
 Activity: Study Idea Share and Circle of Support
 Random Assignment to groups for Group Project
Week Four: September 26
Lesson: The Power of Choice
Due:
 Read chapter 1: pages 2-4, 9-10
 Send your instructor a professional email from your OU email account:
alspitze@oakland.edu. See moodle document if you need assistance.
In class:
 Activity: TBD
 Discuss Reading- How will we use our power?
 Class time to work on group project
 Presentation tutorial
Week Five: October 3
Lesson: Presentations
Due:
 Group Project PowerPoint Slides
In class:
 Activity: Icebreaker to minimize presentation nerves
 Presentation of Group Projects! Remember: We are all here to help and encourage each
other!!
 Peer rating of group
 Discuss writing project
Week Six: October 10
Lesson: Library Resources and Research
Due:
 TBD: Check Moodle
In class:
 ***We will be meeting at the library today- Rm. 222***
 Group Presentation grades available
 Guest Speaker: Katie Greer, First Year Experience Librarian (TBD)
Week Seven: October 17
Lesson: Be Proactive: Personal Responsibility
Due:
 Read chapter 2: pp. 31-35, 39-40 (do journal entry 5 in class)
In class:
 Activity: TBD
 Discuss Reading
 Discuss Faculty Interview
 Thank You to speaker
Week Eight: October 24
Lesson: Put First Things First: Self-Management and Time Management
Due:
 Read chapter 4: pp. 131-133, 135
 Writing Project
In class:
 Activity: TBD
 Discuss Reading
 Guest Speaker: Career Services Peer Mentor
Week Nine: October 31 Happy Halloween!!
Lesson: Exploring personal strengths, abilities, and interests
Due:
 Read chapter 1: pp.20-22
 Faculty Interview
In class:
 Activity: Personal License Plate
 MBTI
 Discuss “Do Something” Challenge
 Writing project returned with grade
Week Ten: November 7
Lesson: Using Your Strengths & Motivation
“
Due:
 Read chapter 3: pp. 85-90
 Read chapter 3: 79-84
 Bring your MBTI code to class
In class:
 Activity: Human Machine
 Discuss Reading and codes
 Faculty Interview grades available
Week Eleven: November 14
Lesson: Successfully navigate college environments
Due:
 Read Chapter 6: pp. 225-233
 “Do Something” Challenge
In class:
 Activity: TBD
 Discuss Reading and challenge
Week Twelve: November 21
Lesson: Semester Reflection and Celebration!
Due:
 Complete self-assessment online at http://TinyUrl.com/OC6Assessment and bring a copy of
your results to class
 Semester reflection (1 typed page)
In class:
 Last class fun!
 Semester awards
 Activity: Words of Encouragement
 “Do Something” grades available
 Discuss final grades