Da Vinci Science High School
Spring 2013
12th Grade “College Writing” – College Skills Preparatory Seminar
Mr. Mike Montgomery (mmntgomery@davincischools.org) – (323) 842 3872
Spring Seminar Description
As a second semester senior college preparatory seminar, the purpose of the Spring
semester of “College Writing” is to prepare students for the social, academic, and
financial rigors of college. The course will survey a variety of topics, found below,
which will culminate in a series of college level article analyses presentations
Methodology
This class will be taught with a focus of 3 main components of college readiness:
1) Financial Literacy Workshops & Certification
a. Students will complete a 10 week on line financial literacy program with final
during week of March 25th.
b. Students will respond to a writing prompt (4 paragraphs) about the week’s
financial literacy topic to be submitted no later than that Friday at 7pm.
2) Lectures/ note-taking with final quiz at culmination
a. UC Berkeley- “Sociology 1” - Professor Ann Swidler
i. A broad introduction to sociology focusing primarily on three issues: 1)
culture and religion in modern societies: 2) inequalities of class, gender,
and status; and 3) political sociology--the study of power and political life
b. Students will learn & practice college note taking with final during the week of
March 25th on lecture material.
3) Article Analysis & Professional Participation
a. *Students, in pairs, will review research journals and analyze a research article for
content, methodology, and implications for education policy in order to become
familiar with the process of reading and analyzing college texts and presenting. *
b. Students not presenting expected to participate meaningfully and continually,
remaining professional & critical at all times.
Week
TASKS
20
January 21st
*No school on
Monday,
January 21st*
Tuesday
Administrative Day/ Set Up
Thursday
Exemplar Article Analysis by Mr.
Montgomery
*Financial Literacy
Writing Response due no
later than Friday @ 7 on
My Big Campus.
21
January 28th
Financial Literacy Workshop
“Overview” &“Savings, Types of Saving &
How to Save”
Soc. 1 - Lecture 1
Note Taking Workshop & Intro Lecture
*Financial Literacy
Writing Response due no
later than Friday @ 7 on
My Big Campus.
22
February 4th
Financial Literacy Workshop
“Banking, Choosing a Bank & Getting a Bank
Account/ Credit Union”
Soc. 1 - Lecture 2
*Financial Literacy
Writing Response due no
later than Friday @ 7 on
My Big Campus.
Financial Literacy Workshop
“Making Payments, Investments & Credit
Cards”
Soc. 1 - Lecture 3
*Financial Literacy
Writing Response due no
later than Friday @ 7 on
My Big Campus.
* REVIEW LECTURE
NOTES
Financial Literacy Workshop
“Credit Scores and the Long Term Effect of
Your Credit Score”
*NO FINANCIAL LIT.
Component – Study for
Mid Term next week
23
February 11th
*No school
February 15th*
24
February 18th
*No school
February 18th*
Deliverables
NO LECTURE – PEER REVIEW GROUP
25
February 25th
SOCIOLOGY MIDTERM
Financial Literacy Workshop
“Financing My Higher Education”
*Financial Literacy
Writing Response due no
later than Friday @ 7 on
My Big Campus.
Soc. 1 - Lecture 4
26
March 4th
Financial Literacy Workshop
“Renting vs. Owning”
Soc. 1 - Lecture 5
27
March 11th
*No school
March 11th*
Financial Literacy Workshop
“Taxes & Insurance”
Soc. 1 - Lecture 6
*Financial Literacy
Writing Response due no
later than Friday @ 7 on
My Big Campus.
*Financial Literacy
Writing Response due no
later than Friday @ 7 on
My Big Campus.
28
March 18th
Financial Literacy Workshop
“Consumer Fraud”
Soc. 1 - Lecture 7&8
* HW: Financial Literacy Workshop
“Investing”
29
March 25th
Financial Literacy Final Quiz
Sociology 1 Final Quiz
30 - 32
April 8 – April
26th
Student Article Analysis Presentations
*Financial Literacy
Writing Response due no
later than Friday @ 7 on
My Big Campus.
* Study for Soc – 1 final
quiz and Financial
Literacy final quiz.
* Financial Literacy
Workshop
“Investing”
 Soc Lecture 8 for
HW
SPRING
BREAK ENJOY 
Materials (non-optional)
1) Notebook or Laptop
a. Lecture notes
b. Financial literacy notes
2) Earphones
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
How Grade is Earned
Weekly online writing assignment (My Big Campus)
a. On time (That Friday by 7:00pm)
b. Written meaningfully, with reflection and is 4 paragraphs
Final Lecture (Sociology 1) Quiz
a. Week of 3/25/13
Final Financial Literacy Quiz
a. Week of 3/25/13
Earn Financial Literacy Certificate
Article Analysis Presentations
a. April 8th-26th
b. Professional, engaging, knowledgeable
Professional Participation
a. Expected at all times, especially during Article Analysis