FIRST YEAR SEMINAR
INT 115 WY 4
FALL 2005
Theme: Migration and Transformation
Diane A. Forbes Berthoud,
Ph.D. Meeting Time: T/TH
Office:
MAIN 499
Email: forbesd@trinitydc.edu
Office Hours: T/TH
Course
Goals
The First Year Seminar is an introduction to
liberal learning providing students with critical thinking skills and the
foundations for civic engagement. First year students participate in
rigorous college level reading, writing and discussion, with opportunities to
integrate real world experiences into academic learning through an
interdisciplinary exploration of the concepts of migration and transformation.
Objectives
Students will improve reading, writing and
communication skills through close examination of texts, numerous
short writing assignments, and frequent in-class discussions.
Students will learn to integrate life experiences into abstract, academic learning
through a community based learning experience.
INT 115 WY4
This INT
section will provide you with the opportunity to explore the study of Migration
and Transformation from feminist perspectives, which pays particular attention
to women’s concerns and perspectives. The
course will emphasize the importance of culture, identity, globalization and
empowerment in women’s lives and you are invited to reflect on women’s global
dilemmas and reflexively learn about your own assumptions about women,
community, and resistance.
The
theme Migration and Transformation characterizes movement, a journey from
powerlessness and myopia to empowerment.
This course will challenge you to learn new methods, new ways of knowing
and help you to develop the competencies needed to understand and interpret
various cultural norms related to gender roles and expectations. Learning about leadership and empowerment is critical
in this course section. You will examine
your assumptions about leadership, your own leadership potential and engage
ideas about the possibilities that exist for women, and indeed for you.
The
course focuses on the following sub-themes:
Intercultural context and globalization; Feminist Narratives and
community; and Empowerment, resistance and enlightenment: Experiences of women
of color.
You will
participate in experiential learning through Community Based Learning. Everyone
will serve in an organization as a volunteer to learn more about women’s
transformation as you pay particular attention to issues of culture, work, and
empowerment. We will be working with ________________________ for the
Community Based Learning component of the class. Each student must complete 20
hours with our community partner by the end of November 2005.
You will
be required to keep ongoing notes about your experience at your service site in
order to be able to complete the community based learning portfolio due on Dec.
1.
The
academic journal is your ongoing academic reflection on the readings assigned
for class and your community site experience.
Some of the journal reflection
questions also require you to integrate your work in the course with your
community based learning experience. They
will be due on the dates by which the reflection questions are written. You will also be required to write four short
papers throughout the semester.
1.
Excellence:
Please maintain a high standard for yourself and your class
members. Mediocrity is not an option in
this class. Do your very best all times, so that you may challenge yourself and
develop as a professional. Aristotle
once said: “We are what we repeatedly
do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but
a habit.”
2. Participation and Preparation: The classroom dynamics are
co-constructed. Communication between us
in this learning environment is collaborative and participatory, i.e.
two-way. It is expected that you prepare
course materials and attend class with the intention to share your
insights. This will great enhance your
learning experience if you also take some responsibility for the culture we
create in the classroom.
3. Attendance: In order to maximize our benefit in the
class, you need to be present. Your
participation grade will suffer if you repeatedly miss class. Missing
a substantial number of classes can affect your grade by as much as a deduction
of a letter grade. It is your
responsibility to make up/catch up whatever you have missed. If you know you need to be away from class,
notify me, if possible. Also, please be punctual
for class meetings.
4. Academic Dishonesty: Cheating or any form of plagiarism will not be tolerated in this course. The penalty is automatic failure of the
course and a referral for appropriate disciplinary action. There will be no exceptions. Please be
conscientious in citing those ideas that are not your own. If you have any doubts about this policy or
to read more in detail, please consult your Student Handbook.
Community Based Learning
Portfolio 25%
(pre-flection,
reflective notes, post-flection,
observational
notes and one poster presentation.)
Academic journal writing 20%
Paper writing assignments
(Extended
Definition, Summary, Instructor’s Choice,
Critical
Analysis) 40%
Class participation
(Evidence
of reading, Attendance
and general attitude) 15%
A 93-100
A- 90-92
B+ 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C-
70-72
D 60-69
F 59 or less
COURSE SCHEDULE
Aug. 25 Welcome,
Introduction, Expectations
Course
Overview and Summary
Aug. 30 Introduction
to the Service Learning Component
Intercultural context and
globalization
Sept. 1
Community Based Learning Site
Orientation
Sept. 6 Intercultural
Communication: A Reader by Samovar and Porter
Sept. 8
Intercultural Communication by
Eckert
Academic Journal Reflection
Question: In what ways do you see culture at work at your community site? Who
is primarily served at the site? And how do you see culture as primary in their
life experience?
Sept. 13 The
psychology of globalization reading
Deadline
for completion of 2 CBL hours
Paper 1 topic provided: Assignment will be related to culture.
Sept. 15
The psychology of globalization
reading
Sept. 22
Paper 1 Due.
Discussion of reading.
Class Exercise.
Sept. 27
Service Learning Reflection – You will discuss your experiences at your
site
with the class. You will note
interesting observations, what you are learning and what you intend to focus on and
improve in your partnership.
Sept. 29 Service Learning Reflection – You will
discuss your experiences at your site
with the class. You will note
interesting observations, what you are learning and what you intend to focus on and
improve in your partnership.
Feminist Narratives
and Community
Women of Color: Resistance,
Empowerment, and Enlightenment
Oct. 4
Oct. 6 Film: Whale Rider. Discussion of film.
Academic
Journal Reflection Question: What
current constraints do you think the community at your site faces? What are some contemporary expectations and
constraints that our/your culture places on women? How do you respond to
these?
Oct. 11 Discussion
of film(cont’d). Discussion of second
paper.
Oct. 13 Paper 2 Due. Class Exercise.
Deadline
for Completion of 10 hours of CBL
Oct. 18 “Women Writing Borders, Borders Writing
Women: Immigration, Assimilation and the
Politics of Speaking,” by Aimee Rowe
Oct. 20 Service Learning Reflection – You will
discuss your experiences at your site with the class. What are you learning
about women’s dilemmas and empowerment?
Paper 3 topic provided: Compare and contrast women’s
dilemmas in the film and the dilemmas women face in our global society.
Oct. 25
Service Learning Reflection – You will discuss your experiences at your
site with the class. What are you learning about women’s dilemmas and
empowerment?
Oct. 27 Film:
Rabbit Proof Fence – Discussion of film.
Academic Journal Reflection
Question: What similarities and
differences do
you see between the Australian dilemmas portrayed in the film and current
dilemmas in our society?
Nov. 1 Discussion
of film continued. Reflect on your
community site and the connectedness
between the women of the Rabbit Proof fence and your community partner.
Paper 3 Due
Nov. 3 An immigrant’s story
“The Greatest Danger:
the State,” in The Revolt of the Masses
by Ortega y Gasset
Nov. 8 Picking up pieces by Maria Walker
Nov. 10 Service
Learning Reflection – Review your last two months of service at your site. What
growth have you experienced personally and what are you learning about leadership? In what ways do you see transformation among
those you serve?
Paper 4 topic provided: Critical Analysis.
Nov. 15 Moving among cultures and identities
Reading “Playfullness, World-Traveling, and Loving
Perception,” by Maria
Lugones
Nov. 17 National Communication Association
Convention – NO CLASS
Nov. 22 Discussion
Paper 4 Due
Poster Guidelines Provided
Nov. 24 Thanksgiving
Nov. 29 Discussion of Posters and Portfolios
Dec. 1 Last Day
of Class J
Poster Presentations Due
Portfolios
Due
During the week of December 5th
you will present your Community Based Learning (CBL) posters to the community.