Academic success is what all college students strive for. Unfortunately, many do not acquire the appropriate skills to achieve this and are on probation or dismissed for poor academic performance within the first year. At UMBC they have LRC 101A, a course that is available to encourage students to explore and develop their personal responsibility, self-motivation, interdependence, and self-esteem, and to make wise choices that create successful results.
Enrollment in LRC 101A at UMBC has grown steadily since the original three sections were offered in 2005. Eight sections are now offered each semester and both transfer and non-transfer students are advised to take the course. The curriculum for the class is based on the program “On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and Life” by Dr. Skip Downing. It focuses on proven strategies for empowering students to become active, responsible partners in their education and to achieve greater success in college and in life.
During the course students will also learn how to develop the study skills they need to excel in college: reading, taking notes, studying, memorizing, test taking, writing, and self-management skills.
Here is a sample of the syllabus:
Required Text: On Course, 2nd Edition, by Skip Downing
Course Description: This course is designed to help you create greater success in college and in life.
Course Objectives: In this course you will learn how to . . .
1. Take charge of your life.
2. Learn what kind of learner you are and your preferences for conveying information.
3. Increase self-motivation.
4. Improve personal self-management.
5. Improve your public speaking skills.
6. Develop interdependence.
7. Increase self-awareness.
8. Maximize your learning.
9. Develop emotional intelligence.
10. Raise your self-esteem.
11. Write more effectively.
12. Improve creative and critical thinking skills.
13. Master effective study skills.
Method: By reading On Course you’ll learn empowering strategies that have helped others create great success. We will use many diverse learning strategies in class to assist you to learn in a way that speaks to you – journaling, group work, lectures, movies in class, role-playing, public speaking, artistic expression and in class and out of class writing assignments.
Course Projects:
1. 5 Quizzes (10 points each) 50 points
2. 32 Success Journal Entries (5 points each) 160 points
3. 1 Personal Philosophy of Success Essay 40 points
4. Two workshops sponsored by the OAPA 20 points
5. Successful Person Interview 15 points
6. Class Presentation & feedback points 10 points
7. Career Visit 5 points
Total Possible Points- 300
Each of these seven components of your grade is explained below.
1. Quizzes (50 Possible Points)
This is a course for students who wish to be successful in college life. One of the most important factors of success in any endeavor is consistent and active participation. To encourage and reward your preparation for active participation, 5 quizzes on the readings will be given in class. If you have read the assignment and completed your journal entry, you should have no trouble earning the maximum points (10) for each quiz. No quiz may be made up. Great success is created one small step at a time.
2. Success Journals (160 Possible Points)
Your Success Journal provides an opportunity to explore your thoughts and feelings as your experiment with the success strategies presented in On Course. By carefully examining each strategy in your journal, you will discover which ones will assist you to create a personally fulfilling life. Although I will be reading your journals, write your journal for yourself, not for me. Your journal entries may occasionally be read by your classmates.
Journal Writings: During this semester, you will type thirty-two numbered journal entries on-line from our textbook (1-2 pages each) using Blackboard. These entries will be written outside of class. At various times you will have an opportunity to read a journal entry to one or more classmates. Therefore, please bring your textbook to class each day.
Journal Evaluations: I will collect journals through Blackboard. I will evaluate your journals to verify the completion of each assignment and to give credit for a job well done. I read journal entries to get a sense of the issues you are working on.
Journal Points: Each journal entry will be awarded up to 5 points. Thus, all thirty-two journal entries will be worth a possible total of 160 points. Late journal entries will not be accepted (unless you have a documented excused absence). Journal entries cannot be made up. A journal entry will be awarded the maximum of 5 points if it fulfills the following two criteria:
• The entry is complete (all steps in the directions have been responded to), and
• The entry is written with high standards (an obvious attempt has been made to dive deep).
Grammar, spelling and punctuation will NOT be factors in awarding points in this journal. You are free to express yourself.
3. Personal Philosophy of Success Essay (40 Possible Points) due last day of class.
As your final project, you will write an essay in which you present your own Personal Philosophy of Success. The purpose of your essay is to define the success strategies that you will use for years to come. This essay is your opportunity to write the script that will keep you on course to a personally fulfilling life! The minimum length of this essay is 3 typed pages (12 pt. font, double spaced).
An “A” paper will . . .
1. Demonstrate the writer’s careful consideration of three or more important success strategies.
2. Contain extensive support (examples, experiences, evidence, and/or explanation) for each strategy, and
3. Show a commitment to excellence in preparation, including professional appearance and a command of Standard English.
Important Note: Your Philosophy of Success Essay must be completed to earn a passing grade in the course. All papers must be turned in by the deadline indicated on the syllabus.
4. Workshops (20 Possible Points)
You will be required to attend two (2) workshops sponsored by the Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising. The office is located in the Academic Services Building. A calendar of the workshops being offered will be provided for you. The workshops are held on Mondays/Wednesdays during free hour.
5. Successful Person Interview (15 Possible Points)
Interview a successful professor or person currently in your desired work field. In your interview, discover this person’s definition of success as well as the behaviors and beliefs that led to his/her success.
An "A" project will...
1. Begin with a paragraph that introduces your reader to the successful person (Who is he/she? Why did you choose him/her? Why do you consider him/her successful? When/where did you do the interview?),
2. Present twelve or more of the question/answer pairs from your interview; these answers should reveal seven or more success strategies that the person used to create his/her extraordinary life, including personal examples or experiences from the person’s life.
3. Conclude with a summary of the strategies you learned/relearned from this person about creating success in college and in life. It is important to identify the relationships of the strategies from your successful person and those from On Course.
4. Show a commitment to excellence in preparation of your project, including professional appearance and a command of standard English.
Paper Option: The minimum length of this project is 4 typed pages (12 pt. Times New Roman font, double spaced, all margins: 1”) and must include the interviewee’s full name, affiliation, daytime phone number, email address.
Video Option: If you would prefer to submit a video of your interview plus your analysis of the 7 plus strategies you may submit a video for this project. Remember to obtain your interviewee’s permission prior to taking the video. You must have his/her consent. Important Note: All assignments must be turned in, in class, by the start of class on the date indicated on the syllabus.
6. Class Presentation (10 Possible Points)
You will present a 3-5 minute class presentation to tell your story. Part of this assignment includes feedback points submitted to me critiquing your peer’s presentations. 10 points max.
7. Mandatory visit to Career Center and possible use of FOCUS Assessment – see memo – due by last day of class. (5 points)
Important Note: All assignments must be turned in, in class, by the start of class on the date indicated on the syllabus.
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