This semester you will create a portfolio of short
essays reflecting on your first semester in college and many of the topics we
cover in seminar. One of the goals of seminar is to offer you the
opportunity for feedback on your writing and expression of ideas. Each
essay should be about 2(-3) typed pages (double spaced) and you
should incorporate ideas from your
A. Choose one of your favorite quotes or scenes in A Long Way Gone and develop a short essay. Please provide the page numbers you are writing about. Due Aug 27
B. Imagine Your Reality.
Choose one of these topics to write about. Due: Sept 3 Sept 11 (Friday, by 5 pm. Bring to honors office)
1. Goals: Why are you here? What are your goals in attending college? What's the difference between an education and a degree? What are the topics you really want to learn more about? What have you always wondered about? What are the things that capture your imagination? How do you find out how to find out more about these things? What is your plan?
2. Opportunities and Challenges: What
do you see as the new opportunities your college experience opens to you?
What should you do to optimize your experience and achieve your goals?
What worries you about your ability to succeed in college? What specific
measures can you take to strengthen yourself and dispel any self-doubt you may
have?
C. Impressions of College. Choose one of these topics to write about (or you can write about both if you like). Due: Sept 8
1. Would you have thrived at
2. What did you think of Tompkins' class- teacher, students, syllabus? Do you hope to have a similar class in college? Why/Why not?
D. Transition to College. Choose one of these topics to write about and turn in with your time diary and reactions to keeping the time diary. Due Sept 17
1. Learning Environments: How are you shaping your environment to maximize your success? What are ways that this helps or detracts from your time management? If you live in a dorm: How are you turning your dorm environment into a study/learning environment? How do you communicate your needs about this? If you live at home: How have you structured a study environment? What changes have been necessary? For all: In general, how are you coping with the new freedoms associated with starting college- any unexpected concerns?
2. What is your relationship with time? Is it your enemy? Do you procrastinate? Why or why not? Can you think of a time when "getting it done" really paid off? When "Putting it off" really hurt you? What time management strategies have worked for you? How is your daily schedule in college different from what you are used to? How will you use your awareness of your own energy cycle to set a study schedule? In general, how are you coping with the new freedoms associated with starting college- any unexpected concerns?
E. Making a Difference/
Community: Choose one of these to write about. Due Oct 8
1. How can you make a difference and
effect community change when necessary? Are you registered to vote?
Why? Why not? Have you joined any organizations at UNCW? Why/Why not? Have you considered leadership positions?
Why/Why not?
2. What are ways that you can direct your new
friendships toward learning and enhancing your education? E.g., what
things can you do with your friends that will help you move beyond social
excursions? Why is this important (or not)?
F.
1. Is the title Tracy Kidder chose
to title his biography of Paul Farmer (
2. Compare the role of Paul Farmer to
that of Ophelia Dahl or Jim Kim or Tom White or Tracy Kidder. Whom do you
most relate to? Why? Give Specific examples.
3.
Come up with your own essay on Mountains
Beyond Mountains.
Indicate pages numbers related to what you are writing about.
G.
Explore and Soar: Choose one of these to write about.- Due Nov 24
1. Research one national or
international scholarship or fellowship (eg. Truman or Fulbright) that you may apply for in the next 5 years.
Why choose this one? How will you become
competitive for such an award?
2. Consider study abroad
opportunities. Research at least one program you may want to participate
in while a student at UNCW. Why that program? What are your goals
for studying in that culture and country?
Option: National Student Exchange
can also be considered.
Grading
You may be asked to read your
essays in class. That's a hint: re-read each essay to improve its presentation;
excessive grammatical and spelling errors are one indication of the effort you
put into the assignment. No, this is not an English class, but what
better place than freshman seminar to learn how to present your ideas clearly
and effectively to a non-English discipline instructor. Spelling and
grammar count, and they will for the rest of your life!
You can earn up to 10 points for each essay. You can re-write your drafts to improve your score.
10 Excellent: Writing shows real thought, analysis and
engagement with the readings and class discussion. Written
in an imaginative manner, nice “turn of phrases.” Full 2-3 pages. (These
ratings are rare.)
9 to 9.5 Very Good: Writing shows real
thought analysis, and engagement with class readings or class discussion. 2-3 pages.
8- 8.5 Good: Demonstrates you have
read the material and given some thought to how it relates to your experiences.
Could be more in depth and longer.
7-7.5 OK: You’ve read the material
but have not analyzed it in your essay. Could be more in
depth and longer.
under 7 Insufficient: You
turned something in, but it is very short and/or superficial. Try harder!
In all cases, errors of grammar and spelling
will affect your score. Also read aloud to try to catch any awkward wording. You should expect to do more than one draft
before you turn in your essay.
You should keep all these assignments, as
well as your cultural and service write-ups as part of your