SYLLABUS-Get in the Game!
Collin College, 0300 College Success Course
Course Instructor:
Associate Professor, Michelle L. Brown, M.A. Counseling (The Coach)
Professor Email:
mlbrown@collin.edu (Available to meet by appointment)
You may also leave messages for me at the Adjunct Faculty Office ________________
Email is the preferred method of communication
Credit Hours:
3.0
Class Time/Location:
________________________________________ Semester________________
Textbook:
Essential Study Skills 6th Edition, Linda Wong, (Course Outline and other assignments
located on the course website at http://iws.ccccd.edu/mlbrown)
Course Description/Objectives: (Game Strategy):
Description: A Global Positioning System shows your current location and gives specific and detailed directions to
the requested destination. If a turn is missed, the GPS system automatically re-calculates the route to cause a return
to the correct path to reach the expected destination. This course is an opportunity to re-calculate the academic
preparation needed to get to the desired outcome of a degree by insuring students are on the right track with all
pertinent study skills. For our purposes, this College Success Course is a GPS system-A Great Place to Start.
Students will learn how to use their learning styles to tailor their approach to learning, process information more
efficiently, manage time effectively, set goals, increase concentration, increase motivation, reduce stress and
procrastination, read college textbooks more effectively, take notes from textbooks and lectures, improve listening
skills, use a variety of note taking systems, prepare for tests, and perform well on different kinds of tests.
Objectives:
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Demonstrate the use of effective strategies that utilize his or her preferred learning styles;
Explain the Information Processing Model and the Working Memory Model and explain the implications of the models
for learning new information;
Demonstrate an understanding of the Twelve Principles of Memory and apply the Principles of Memory to his or her
study strategies;
Develop and use self-management strategies that include time management, goal setting, concentration, motivation,
stress management and procrastination management;
Create appropriate mnemonics for selected information;
Organize information and create a study plan to prepare for tests;
Reduce or eliminate test anxiety before and during a test;
Demonstrate a variety of textbook reading or comprehension strategies that involve active reading, levels of reading,
vocabulary skills and paragraph skills
Annotate textbooks by using highlighting, notes within paragraphs and marginal notes
Generate textbook and lecture notes by using a variety of formats such as Cornell notes, visual mappings,
hierarchies, comparison charts and index card notes
Apply test preparation and test-taking techniques recommended for objective, recall, math and essay tests
Use the strategies presented throughout the course to tailor his or her approach to learning academic material and
course content
Course Supplies (Equipment):
Textbook-Essential Study Skills, 6th Edition, Linda Wong
3 ring binder-divided into six sections (Syllabus/Course Outline/Covenant, Reflective Writings/Chapter Profiles,
Homework, Notes, Tests, Extra Credit/Article Reviews
Loose leaf notebook paper for the binder,
Black pens-all homework assignments should be typed or written in black ink. Some assignments are required to be
typed.
Please have your notebook put together no later than the second class meeting.
Class Environment (Playing Field):
The environment of this course is important because you will be sharing your experiences, working in group settings
and striving to improve strengths and non strengths. A Class Commitment Form will be signed by each class member
and by the instructor to insure that our course environment is positive, supportive, energetic, confidential and
respectful. Please turn all cell phones off. Laptops, IPod’s and Bluetooth are not allowed in the classroom. Do not
participate in outside activities during class time. Leave all disruptions outside of the classroom. Be respectful to
others and do not be a distraction. Distractive behavior will be grounds for dismissal from the classroom, at which
time you will lose all attendance and classroom participation points. If you must leave the room for a bathroom break
please do so quietly as to not disrupt. Do not wear any offensive t-shirts or inappropriate attire to class.
Class Attendance (Rules):
Timely arrival is expected to avoid interruption and to allow our class time to flow smoothly with everyone functioning
on one accord. Please come in quietly.
Although missing a class should not be an option, if you do not attend class you will miss the attendance/participation
points of 3 points per class. Students must attend classes regularly, with no more than three (3) absences. If a
student is late (10 minutes) or leaves class early three (3) times, it will count as one (1) absence. It is noted, if you
miss 3 classes you may fail the course. After the fourth (4th) absence you will no longer be eligible to earn
attendance points. You will receive zero (0) attendance/participation points for the remaining class meetings.
Students will be expected to follow the Course Outline at all times and will be responsible to complete and turn in
assignments on the due dates as they are presented on the Course Outline unless changes are made by the
professor. Homework is to be completed the first class night of each week for the first 12 weeks. I.e. MW class you
know that you will have homework every Monday night that is to be turned in on Wednesday. For a TR class you will
be responsible to complete homework each Tuesday night and turn in on Thursday. You may decide to develop a
system to complete your Notebook assignments on the second class night of each week.
Missed Homework Assignments-Since you have access to the Course Outline you will be expected to turn in
homework assignments when they are due even if you miss the class in which they are regularly assigned.
Homework turned in after the due date will be given partial credit-5 points. If you miss the class that the
homework is due which would be a Wednesday for a MW class or Thursday for a TR class you must email your
assignment to the professor before Friday at 12:00 pm.
Class Participation (Be a Team Player):
Class Participation is expected and will be included in your attendance points. Be alert and active. You will be asked
to participate individually and in groups to work as a team during class time. Engage, participate and do not sit on the
sidelines!
Homework Assignments/ Notebook Assignments /Article Reviews/ Self Reflection Paper/Extra Credit
Assignments/Textbook Reading (Training/Workout):
Homework Assignments will be completed in the students designated organized study space area outside of the
classroom. There will be 12 Homework Assignments in this course as presented on the Course Outline.
Notebook Reflective Writings and Chapter Profiles will be assigned weekly as well as they are listed on the
Course Outline.
Two Article Reviews with attached questions that will encourage critical thinking skills to be utilized to solve and
discuss issues students face and preparations a student must make to be successful in and out of the classroom.
There will be a 3-5 page Self-Reflection Paper formatted MLA style. This paper will allow the student to express
and evaluate their experience during this course and how the presented information will impact their college success
along with presenting their student style. A more detailed description is listed on the course website under Self
Reflection Paper along with the grading rubric.
Extra Credit Assignments-Extra credit assignments are listed on the Course Outline and must be turned in the
week in which they are listed on the Course Outline. Extra credit assignments must be completed with thought and
clarity while completing the assignments thoroughly. These assignments are also located on the course website
under Extra Credit Assignments. There will be 3 Extra Credit Assignments that will be worth seven (7) points each.
Textbook Reading-Reading each chapter thoroughly and taking notes on the chapter prior coming to class will be
imperative to be successful in this course. Please prepare to stay current on all reading to be able to answer
instructor posed questions and participate in group discussions. You must read to succeed in this course!
All grading rubrics are online at the course website: www.iws.ccccd.edu/mlbrown or on the Professor’s website page
at www.ccccd.edu under Michelle Brown.
Tests (Performance):
The tentative dates are as follows:
First Test Chapters 1-5 _______________________
Second Test Chapters 6-11 _____________________
If you miss a test you must report to the testing center before the next scheduled class and take the test. This will
be your responsibility. This will be the only option for make-up. Five (5) points will be deducted for taking the test
late. It is recommended that you come to class on the date the test is scheduled. The final will only be given in class
on the scheduled date. There will not be any make up options for the Final.
Outcome Assessment
The outcomes for course objectives will be assessed by one or more of the following:
Notebook assignments, homework exercises and assignments, group activities and discussion, article reviews
performance tests and final exam with the option of extra credit.
Grading Scale (Score Sheet:
AD 450-500
BD 449-399
CD 398-348
FD 347-0
A DD will not be awarded during this course.
Grading System):
Attendance/Participation
Homework Assignments
Notebook
90 points (3 points per class) (After 4th miss-0 points)
120 points (12 assignments @10 points each)
30 points (2 Notebook checks @15 points each)
Quiz (2)
Self Reflection Paper
Article Reviews
Final
90 points total (2@ 45 points each)
50 points
20 points (2 articles@ 10 points each)
100 points (20% of your final grade)
You must take the final, there will be NO Exceptions. If you do not take the final you will receive an FD.
Course Withdrawal Policy: The last day to withdraw from this course is______________. You must have my
signature in order to withdraw from the course. If you simply stop attending, and do not formally withdraw from this
course, you will receive an FD
This syllabus can be changed or updated at the instructor’s discretion. Students will be given notice and
made aware of changes.
ADA Statement: It is the policy of Collin County Community College to provide reasonable and appropriate
accommodations for individuals with documented disabilities. This College will adhere to all applicable Federal,
State, and Local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required
affording equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to contact the ACCESS Office (G-200) or
972- 881-5898, (TDD - 972- 881-5950), in a timely manner if he/she desires to arrange for accommodations.
Academic Ethics: Students should obtain and read the CCCCD Student Handbook, which is available at the
Information Desk. The College District may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of scholastic
dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to applications
for enrollment or the awarding of a degree and/or the submission as one's own work or material that is not one's own.
Scholastic dishonesty may involve, but is not limited to, one or more of the following acts: cheating,
plagiarism, collusion, use of annotated texts or teacher's edition, and or/falsifying academic records.
R 07/21/08
Plagiarism is the use of an author's words or ideas as if they were one's own without giving credit to the
source, including, but not limited to, failure to acknowledge a direct quotation.
Cheating is the willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner during an
examination, illicitly obtaining examination questions in advance, copying computer files, copying internet
material, using someone else's work for assignments as if it were one's own, or any other dishonest means of
attempting to fulfill the requirements of the course.
Collusion is intentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty, including
but not limited to, providing a paper or project to another student; providing an inappropriate level of
assistance; communicating answers to a classmate during an examination; removing tests or answer sheets from a
test site, and allowing a classmate to copy answers.
Evaluation of Instruction: CCCCD seeks to improve the learning experience of all students. To assist in
evaluating courses, students will be requested to complete an Evaluation of Instruction form near the end of the fall
and/or spring semester(s).
Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Policy: The TSI was mandated through action of the 78th Texas Legislature to
replace the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP). Like TASP, TSI is designed to measure competency in reading,
writing, and mathematics and to provide developmental courses in areas identified as deficiencies. The
developmental courses are designed to promote student success and to ensure college readiness and students are
encouraged to complete the required developmental course(s) early in their college career.
Please Sign Syllabus Signature Page
Syllabus Signature Page
Collin County Community College
Instructor:
Michelle Brown
Course:
COSU0300
Semester:
__________
I __________________________________, do agree that I received a copy of the course
Syllabus for the class mentioned above. I understand the course requirements and that I
am expected to attend class meetings.
___________________________________________
Print Full Name
___________________________________________
Signature
_________________
Date