Journal Entries
Each week, you will be required to write a journal entry about your experiences as a college student. These may be handwritten as long as your TA can read your writing. Each week, you must comment on:
- the reading assigned by your TA AND
- an observation or reflection about your college experience (some topics to consider: an experience you had that affected you academically, socially or personally; a reaction to a Nexus article; your relationship with family, roommates or friends; dynamics amongst students in the class or on campus; an event you attended, etc.). Confidentiality of your journals will be maintained by your TA and Co-leader.
Experiential Activities
During the quarter, you will be required to select and attend 4 activities (one from each of the four lists below). You must attend at least 2 of your activities by May 2 and the other 2 must be completed by June 6. No exceptions will be made to these deadlines. After each activity, you must:
- submit some proof of your attendance to your TA (this can be a ticket, a signed note, a program, etc)
- and comment on the experience in your journal.
See separate handout for dates, times, and locations.
| List 1 — Student Life Issues |
List 3 — Major Selection and Career Planning |
| List 2 — Academic Skills & Support |
List 4 — Cultural Exploration |
Final Exam
A short take-home final exam consisting of essay questions will be given to you during the last lecture and is due to your TA on Thursday, June 14, by 5:00pm.
Critical Response Papers
You are required to write a critical analysis of your freshman year experience using the concepts and ideas presented during both halves of the course. Each paper should be 6-8 pages in length (typed, double-space with one inch margins). Utilizing concepts from lecture, readings, and discussion, you will synthesize the topics to make some kinds of conclusions about the freshmen year experience at UCSB. Paper #1 will focus on the academic experience and Paper #2 will focus on the social experience (see more information below). Papers are due at 6:30pm at the beginning of lecture — points will be deducted for late papers. The papers are weighted (see grading information). The first paper may be re-written once if you are not satisfied with your performance and the grades of the original and the rewrite will be averaged.
Paper #1 = Analyze and discuss the degree to which the ideas addressed in INT 20 (from lecture, discussion, reader, and book) help you better understand your academic experiences (successes, failures, struggles, and challenges) at the university. Due at lecture May 9. Rewrites of Paper #1 (along with original version) due at lecture May 23.
Paper #2 = The goal of this assignment is to help you reflect on your social experiences during your first year and to make sense of them through information you learn in this class. This paper will focus on COMPARING your social experience to that of a student who is different from you. The paper is due to your TA no later than 5:00pm on Monday, June 12.
- First, you will interview a freshman student. You must select someone who is very different from you (in terms of race, economic class, sexual orientation, ablebodiedness, high school environment, etc.) — interview him/her using at least 3-4 questions from the Student Experience Interview (to be given out in week 8). Choose the questions which most closely match the issues that were most important to you (family relationships, move-in day, social scene, etc.) or design new ones (but be sure to run these past your TA). Be sure to follow the instructions on the Student Experience Interview.
- Second, analyze the similarities and differences that exist between your experience and the student you interviewed.
- Finally, write your paper in which you will analyze and discuss the degree to which the ideas addressed in INT 20 (from lecture, discussion, reader, and book) help you better understand the similarities and differences between your social experiences and the student you interviewed.
Basics:
- Each paper should be 6-8 pages in length — no less than 6 but can be more than 8 if you need. Typed, double-space with one inch margins, and 12 point type.
- Reference sources with parenthetical citations. For example:
(Author, 1998, p. 237)
(Dr. Madison, INT 20, Spring 2001)
(Dr. Baldwin, Soc. 1, Fall 2000)
- Your paper should have correct spelling, grammar and punctuation, and be neat and clean. Remember — spellchecking and proofreading are two different things — please do both!
- Include a title page with your name and your TA’s name — your name should appear on the title page only. No file folders or binders will be accepted. Please staple your paper.
Assistance:
If you are unclear about the assignment or need some assistance, please visit your TA and/or attend one of the CLAS applied workshops mentioned in lecture (you must sign up in advance in Bldg. 477)
Grading Information
Grades will be determined by each TA for the students in their section. Students will earn their grade based on their performance on the following assignments:
| 60% |
Critical Response Papers (Paper #1=40%, Paper #2=60%) |
| 10% |
Experiential Activities with Proof of Attendance (4 total) |
| 10% |
Journals (8) |
| 10% |
Participation & Attendance (5%+5%) (10 sections) |
| 10% |
Final Exam |
Academic Integrity
We expect all students to submit original work and to adhere to the Academic Policies outlined in the General Catalog (p. 30-36) and the Campus Regulations (resource section). Any student suspected of cheating or plagiarism will be sent to the Dean of Students to face disciplinary action. We take this issue very SERIOUSLY.
