Assignments

Cultural Event Response Paper 0-15 points
due September 30th
3 pages minimum

Attend a cultural event on campus (music, drama, lecture, or something like that). Write a 3-page paper that explains what the event was, when it took place and where. Would you recommend this event to a friend? Explain the appeal or the lack thereof.

Major Exploration Report 0-15 points
reports due on October 26th
3 pages minimum

Choose a potential major at UMD. Write a 3-page overview of the requirements for the major, career possibilities resulting from it and advantages and disadvantages associated with choosing this major. What interests you in pursuing this course of study and/or career path?

Major Exploration Presentation 0-10 points
presentations begin on October 14th
5 minutes minimum

Use this presentation to present the major that you are writing about for the major exploration report. Explain why students should choose this major. You may also choose to collaborate with classmates on this presentation. A group can incorporate a debate about the merits of a particular major into its presentation, or it can compare related majors from different group members. The 5 minute minimum is for each member of a group in a group presentation.

CLA 1001 Website 0-20 points
to be completed by October 26th
150 words, one picture, and one link per student in each group

What would you tell next year's incoming students if you could tell them anything? This is your chance to send them a message about what to expect and how to get by in their first semester at UMD. This project will become part of the CLA1001 web page and remain visible to the public for the foreseeable future.

Students may work individually or in groups.

I will allocate time in class for groups to plan and write submissions to the web page and hold class in a computer lab (Kirby Plaza 143) on October 21st to facilitate this project.

Students may use this project to discuss anything about UMD. What appears on the final webpage is subject to my approval, of course, but I will post pretty much anything within reason. I will not approve of the posting of material that offends community standards or crosses certain legal or ethical lines.

CLA 1001 Journal 0-10 points
Due on most class days
Keep in-class writing assignments in the CLA 1001 journal that Jessica and I will provide in most class sessions. Assignments will be topics relating to what is happening in your first semester at UMD.

Opinion Piece 0-20 points
Due October 26th
7 pages
7 sources (3 of which may be online sources)

Assignment guidelines available upon request. This assignment takes place primarily outside of class. The option is only open to students who discuss it with me by October 7th.

Attendance 0-30 points
Students receive two points for showing up to class on time and staying for the duration. Arriving late or leaving before the instructor ends the class means losing one of these two points.

Grade Breakdown

This is a one-credit course in which students receive a grade ranging from A to F. Students earn points by completing the following assignments.

Grade Calculations

Any infractions against UMD's Scholastic Dishonesty provisions in the Student Conduct Code as stated in the UMD catalogue will receive serious attention and appropriate penalties.

Individuals who have any disability, either permanent or temporary, which might influence their capacity to perform in this class, are encouraged to inform me at the start of the semester. I can make special adaptations of teaching methods, assignments, materials, or testing as required to provide for equitable participation in the course. The Access Center is also available to assist students with disabilities. It is located in 256 Kirby Student Center and on the web at <http://www.d.umn.edu/access.>

There are several different ways to get the points necessary to passing this class, but showing up on time to each class makes this process the easiest. Points you lose from absences are points that you will have to make up by doing additional assignments. Furthermore, we will devote some class time to the completion of these assignments, so absences can have two negative impacts on your ability to receive the credit.