FYS Winter 2015 // Wright

First-Year Seminar
Course Syllabus
FYS 1004-01 9:30-10:20am MWF
FYS 1004-03 11:30-12:20pm MWF
Winter 2015
Instructor Contact Information:
James Wright: 110 Old Morrison // jwright@transy.edu
Office hours: Hours listed below and by appointment
Monday
3:00-4:00 pm

Tuesday
3:00-4:00 pm

Wednesday
3:00-4:00 pm

Thursday
3:00-4:00 pm

Friday
3:00-4:00 pm

Course Description: Many of you are entering First Year Seminar having completed First Year
Seminar in Expository Writing (FYSE). Others of you are taking the course as transfer students.
For whatever reason you may be taking FYS this term, note that the course sequence in which
you are participating is a little different from that explained on the TU webpage, given that you
have enrolled in FYS in the Winter term.
In this section of FYS, we will pose a few questions of concern throughout all cultures: What is
health? What does it mean to be healthy? How does our sense of wellbeing depend upon
culture? In this FYS course, we will examine the influences of culture on the definition and
practice of human and environmental health. We will critically read, talk, and write about the
values, beliefs, and behaviors that inform interpretations of wellbeing across communities,
cultures, and subculturesboth in the United States and abroad. In particular, we will grapple
with the challenging and frequently volatile intersections of these interpretations in intercultural
societies that continue to negotiate different modes of knowing, being, and healing.
A major focus of our study depends on the connection between reading and writing. You will
learn to clearly, concisely write about what you read. Through essay assignments and shorter
writing assignments (SWAs), you will develop your ability to analyze and argue as part of the
academic community.
Equally important is the opportunity to foster cross-cultural understanding and sensitivity. We
will read interesting texts from various genresall of which will address values and viewpoints
that cut across culture and subculture. The texts will derive from such diverse places as essays,
films, professional blogs, art exhibitions, and so on. Ultimately, we will work toward confident,
clear, and convincing expression of our own thinking on matters of global importance.
Required Texts
Fadiman, Anne. The
Spirit Catches You and
You Fall Down. New
York: FSG, 1997.

Graff, Gerald and

Cathy Birkenstein.
They Say, I Say.
New York: Norton,
2014.

FYS Winter 2015 // Wright

Maimon, Elaine P. et al.

A Writers Resource.
New York: McGraw-Hill,
2012.

Course Policies and Expectations

FYS is one (1) of three (3) First-Year Seminars. The policies that govern it are the same as
those that govern the other two Seminars. Students enrolled in FYS will eventually enroll in
FYRS in Fall Term 2015 or Winter Term 2016.
Expectations to help create a productive environment where we all learn from and with each
other:

Attend and participate in every class session. Missing class, arriving unprepared, or
engaging in non-class related activities during class time may lower your final grade. Of
course, illness or other unpredicted emergencies will occurand one or two emergency
absences will not hurt your grade, but more than two will take a toll. Keep in mind that there
are no excused absences and all absences will be recorded. If you are late for or absent
from a scheduled and required individual or group activity, you will not receive credit for that
activity. If you miss class, you are responsible for learning what you missed (find at least one
classmate to swap phone numbers and/or email addresses with).

Come to class prepared. We will consider our time together in class to be a time devoted to
conversation. You need to come to class prepared to discuss what you have been
assigned for that class period, to reflect upon and express your interpretation of assigned
reading, and to test your interpretation of the text in light of what others have to say. Please
complete all assigned reading and writing assignments prior to class time. Take time to
carefully read assigned texts at least once fully, to look up any unfamiliar terms or
references, and to compose annotations so you are prepared to discuss the text. Then, be
sure to bring annotated copies of texts to class on days they will be discussed. If you choose
to access texts electronically (i.e., on a laptop or tablet), you are responsible for having an
app or program with which you can annotate. If you are having trouble understanding
anything, communicate with classmates, writing center consultants, ACE peer mentors, and
Mr. Wright. Were here to help you, but we cannot read minds.

Complete all assigned prewriting (e.g., proposals, outlines) and revision work (e.g., revision
plans) for essays, and attend a minimum of three (3) small writing group conferences to
discuss drafts of each essay.

Take yourself seriously as a student/scholar/writer, but remember this also means allowing
yourself time and permission to make mistakes and learn from them.

Be respectful. This includes paying attention when others are speaking, reading others work
carefully and thoughtfully, being considerate of other students feelings, using appropriate
language, not monopolizing class conversations, and making your points without being
combative or confrontational. Disagreement with others ideas or statements is perfectly
acceptable, even encouraged; thats part of learning to think about and engage with the
different ideas and worldviews around you. However, if you disagree with someone, explain
why you disagree without attacking the person. Ask questions that will help you understand

FYS Winter 2015 // Wright

what a person means before you decide to counter what they are saying. Hateful,
discriminatory language will not be tolerated in the classroom, in your writing, or in any
space related to coursework.
Assignments and Assessment
Participation and Attendance (20%)
A Rubric for Participation and Attendance Grade
An A grade:
Actively engages and listens to professor and peers, including careful note-taking
Arrives fully prepared to every class session
Completes all writing and presentation assignments
Attends and contributes fully to all (7) required ACE/FYS Academic Peer Mentor
sessions
Reflects weekly on professional blog readings, as well as on classmates blog posts
Plays an active role in full-class and/or group discussions
Class comments advance the level and depth of discussion
Level of class/group discussion is always better because of students presence
A B grade:
Makes a sincere effort to engage professor and peers
Arrives mostly prepared to nearly every class session
Completes all writing and presentation assignments
Attends and contributes fully to most (6) ACE/FYS Academic Peer Mentor sessions
Reflects on professional blog readings on most weeks and comments on classmates
blog posts
Participates fully in full-class and/or group discussions
Makes relevant class comments
Level of class/group discussion is occasionally better because of students presence
A C grade:
Limited interaction with professor and peers
Preparation, and therefore level of participation, are both inconsistent
Completes most writing and presentation assignments
Attends and contributes fully to some (5) ACE/FYS Academic Peer Mentor sessions
Reflects frequently on professional blog readings, as well as on classmates blog
posts
When prepared, participates in full-class and/or group discussions.
Rarely makes relevant class comments
Level of class or group discussion is not affected by the students presence
A D grade:
Almost no interaction with professor and peers
Rarely participates in full-class or and/or small group discussion
Completes few writing and presentation assignments
Attends few of the ACE/FYS Academic Peer Mentor sessions
Rarely reflects on professional blog readings and rarely comments on classmates
blog posts
Never makes relevant class comments
Level of class or group discussion is not affected by the students presence
An F grade:
No interaction with professor or peers
Rarely prepared
Multiple absences

FYS Winter 2015 // Wright

Completes none of the writing and presentation assignments

Demonstrates a noticeable lack of interest in the material
Level of class or group discussion is harmed by the students presence

Shorter Writing Assignments (20%)

You will write a minimum of ten (10) shorter writing assignments (referred to as SWA in the
schedule). Each of these will be responded to and evaluated using the rubric below. The
purpose of these assignments is to get you to question and respond to class readings or
classmates, to ask (and possibly answer) complex questions, and to work toward your three
(3) longer essays. These shorter writing assignments are less formal than your essays, so
you should relax and enjoy them. However, you should still take them seriously and allow
time to address them with respect and attention, which includes using the best grammar,
spelling, and mechanics you can.
0
Not submitted
or late

Submitted on time,
Submitted on time,
but not on topic or is on topic, sufficient
underdeveloped
thought/content

+
Submitted on time, on
topic, strong
thought/content

Essays (60%), which includes:

o Summary-Analysis Essay (15%)
o Argument Critique/Response Essay (20%)
o Argument Essay (25%)
You will receive detailed assignment sheets about each essay closer to its due date.
Academic Honesty: All students at Transylvania University are expected to adhere to the
highest standards of academic integrity. Students who are found guilty of academic dishonesty
will be sanctioned in a manner that is appropriate to the infraction. Sanctions may include
receiving a failing grade on the assignment or being assigned a failing grade in the course. For
more information, see the undergraduate
catalogue: http://www.transy.edu/academics/catalog/1213/acad_program.pdf.
Learning Abilities: We all have different learning preferences, styles, and abilities. If you are
having any trouble with course delivery methods or expectations, talk with your professor to
determine how to best address the situation. Additionally, Transylvania University adheres to
the Americans with Disabilities Act: Qualified students with disabilities needing appropriate
academic adjustments should contact the professor as soon as possible to ensure that their
needs are met in a timely manner. To request accommodations or discuss accessibility at
Transylvania, please contact Brenda Dennis, student affairs specialist and disability services
coordinator, at (859) 281-3682 or bdennis@transy.edu.
Writing Center Services: For personal, one-on-one assistance with writing assignments, visit
the Writing Center located in Haupt Humanities 12 and 15. Please schedule an appointment by
contacting Becky Mills by email at bmills@transy.edu, or consider visiting her at the Center to
schedule your appointment. You may also arrive without an appointment for a walk-in session,
but remember the Center is a busy place. So, always schedule an appointment to secure time
with a writing consultant. If you have any questions, please call (859) 281-3594, visit Becky, or
see the Writing Centers webpage: http://transy.edu/academics/writing.htm.

FYS Winter 2015 // Wright

Learning Skills: If you would like to sharpen your study, reading, and test-taking skills, then join
the Learning Skills Program and take Master Student classes with Greg Strouse. For more
information, visit the Learning Skills Program (LSP) webpage:
http://outside.transy.edu:2054/pages/learning_skills/. You may also contact the director of the
LSP, Professor Greg Strouse, at gstrouse@transy.edu.