HON 110: Honors Freshman Seminar Express Yourself!
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 HON 110 readings whenever possible (referencing of course.) You will always have the opportunity to revise your drafts.
A. Imagine Your Reality. Choose one of these topics to write about. Due: Sept 4
1. Goals: Why are you here? What are your goals in attending college? What's the difference between and 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? Describe specific examples you have encountered over the semester.
B. Impressions of College. Choose one of these topics to write about. Due: Sept 11
1. After the class meeting with the Chancellor, consider whether any points in the Chancellor's presentation or readings surprised you. What questions do you still have? What did you learn preparing for meeting with her?
2. Would you have thrived at
3. What did you think of Tompkins' class- teacher, students, syllabus? Do you hope to have a similar class in college? Why/Why not?
C. Choose one of your favorite quotes or scenes in Never Let Me Go and develop a short essay. Please provide the page numbers you are writing about. Due Sept 18
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 25
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.
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.
F. Community. Choose one of these topics to write about. Due October 9
1. Friendships: 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)?
2. Community: What is your perfect community- your utopia? What ideals are important to you? Why? What are problems and advantages of your perfect community? Are you living in it now? If not, why not?
G. Making a Difference: Choose
one of these to write about. Due November 11
1. Making a Difference 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? Comment on Dr Meinhold’s lecture
in your response.
2. Making a Difference 2: Consider the
purpose of the Albert Schweitzer Honors Scholar Awards, and the idea of how one
person can make a difference. We will not all be Albert Schweitzers or Paul Farmers but what are ways that single
individuals can effect change? Whom do you admire and why? Comment on the presentation by Jean Beasley,
this year’s Schweitzer Honors Scholar in your response.
H. Critical Thinking:
Theme/Due November 25
1. How do you come to believe what you
do? Cite examples related to readings about your theme that have affected
what you believe. Be specific in your discussion. Have you ever been
swayed by a well-presented, but fallacious, argument (describe)? Did
that experience change you?
2. What is it about sources that
validates them? How have you developed your skills as a critical reader
this semester? In what ways did you learn to evaluate the sources described in
the NYT articles (or other sources) on your theme? Give specific examples.
3. Compare and contrast two NYT
articles from this semester related to the class theme.
EXTRA CREDIT. Explore and Soar: Choose one of these to
write about.- Due by Dec 2
1. Research one national or
international scholarship or fellowship (eg. Truman or Fulbright) that you may apply for in the next 5 years.
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?
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. You can do one bonus (extra credit- see aove) essay- also worth 10 points.
10 Excellent: Writing shows real thought, analysis and
engagement with the readings and class discussion. Written in an
imaginative manner, nice “turn of phrases.” (These ratings are
rare.)
9 to 9.5 Very Good: Writing shows real thought analysis, and
engagement with class readings or class discussion.
8- 8.5 Good: Demonstrates you have read the material and given
some thought to how it relates to your experiences.
7-7.5 OK: You’ve read the material but have not analyzed it
in your essay.
under 7 Insufficient: You turned something in, but it is very
short and/or superficial. Try harder!
You should keep all these assignments, as
well as your cultural and service write-ups as part of your HON 110
portfolio. You make keep either paper or electronic versions, but you
will want to refer to your portfolio throughout the semester and possibly use
some of your work to help with your final reflective essay. The final
essay will be described in more detail later in the semester.