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Sample Syllabus

The following is a sample syllabus from the Fall 2000 semester. Syllabi are subject to change, but this provides an overview of what may be expected.  This particular syllabus was done in the theme of the "Survivor" series.

Twenty two college freshman are brought together in a course called RHET 1101. It is a required course - mandatory for all those seeking a degree at The University of Texas at Dallas. The students will be combined into 3 separate tribes, and for the next 15 weeks will challenge each other for Final Immunity, meet in tribal council to vote for their most competent tribemates and work together to learn what it takes to be a COLLEGE SURVIVOR.

THE GOAL: To outlast the semester with an "A". Survival requires that the students put in time and effort. There are assignments to complete and challenges to overcome. For the students who do so, not only survival, but success, will come easily.

THE REWARD:For those who survive, it's the realization of all the necessary skills that will take them through the college experience in the most positive and rewarding way.
**Also, there will be some really cool prizes awarded to the fittest survivors!

SURVIVAL GUIDE: Your Guide to College Success
Bring it to your weekly tribal gatherings unless otherwise informed.

HOW IT WORKS

Tribal Gatherings - Class time will involve a variety of activities, discussions, and presentations on a number of topics relevant to college survival. *ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY!  Your involvement is key in making the course beneficial, thus 60% of your semester grade will come from attendance and participation.

You will begin the semester with 300 attendance/participation points - they are yours to lose:

• Missed class -20 points
• Late -5 points
• Sleeping -15 points
• Reading newspaper -15 points
• Doing work for another class -15 points
• Excessive talking while another is talking -15 points
• Ringing cell phone or pager -15 points (keep them off!)

The rest of your grade will come from the following:

• 10% - Campus Event Reports:All RHET 1101 students are required to attend 2 on-campus events. There are so many things happening at UTD all the time, we want you to see how much is available to you right here! You can attend theater presentations, concerts, art exhibits, invited speakers, club meetings, rallies, sporting events, etc. (just no movies, please). After attending each event, simply turn in proof that you went, along with a one page, type-written report of your experience. Each report is worth 25 points.
• 10% - AIDS/Alcohol Software: All Rhet 1101 students are required to complete the two software assignments dealing with AIDS, and with alcohol use. Software is checked out of the library and is to be used on campus. Each assignment takes approximately 30 minutes to complete and is worth 25 points.
• 10% - Chapter Presentations: Each tribe is responsible for presenting to the class material from two chapters of the text. Tribes have complete creative freedom as long as the significant information from the chapters is covered. You may do your presentation in any manner, with any materials, and through any medium you decide is effective. Tribes must work together as a team, but may organize themselves and delegate tasks in any way they choose. Presentations should be approximately 30 minutes.

  Creativity is encouraged (especially by those on the receiving end of the presentation) and there will be a challenge as to the most creative presentation. Keep in mind, however, that the presentations should be informative, accurate, and taken seriously. Material from the chapters will be covered on the final, so it is important that both the presenting tribe and members of other tribes learn the material. Each presentation is worth 25 points.

• 10% - The Final: We will cover a lot of important information over the course of the semester - most of it is very practical and will serve you well in your survival and success in college. Whereas tou will not have weekly assignments to read or write about these important topics, you will be called upon to demonstrate your attention and understanding as we dealt with these issues in class. A list of topics that you will be responsible for on the final will be provided so that you may prepare in any way necessary throughout the semester. The final is worth 50 points should you have to take it....

A series of tribal challenges will be offered throughout the semester. The tribe that wins the most tribal challenges wins Final Immunity.

EXTRA CREDIT: Each week through November 2nd, a different activity/assignment will be offered for extra credit points. They are entirely voluntary - you may do as few, or as many as you choose. Each week's extra credit activity will be due the following week in class - NO EXCEPTIONS. Each activity is worth 3 points.

TRIBAL CHALLENGES

The purpose of the tribal challenges is to motivate you to employ and develop the following skills necessary for college survival and success:

• Listening
• Information processing
• Effective recall
• Interpersonal communication
• Self-discipline
• Commitment
• Personal responsibility
• Responsibility to others

All of these contribute to doing well in school and success in your career that follows.

All activities associated with tribal challenges affect your personal grade and are not simply part of a "game". Thus doing well benefits both you and your tribe; however, if others slack off, it affects the tribe's standing, but it cannot hurt your individual grade.

All members must be present in order for a tribe to be eligible to win a challenge on a particular day (with the exception of students who register late and are not on the roll for the first day of class).

A tie between two (or three) tribes may occur and in that case, each tribe will get credit for a win towards Final Immunity.

The tribe who has won the most tribal challenges by the end of class on November 9th will win Final Immunity. 70 points will be added to their grades and they will not have to attend class, ot take the final exam on November 16th. (**They will still be required to attend the last day of class on November 30th!)

CAMPUS SCAVENGER HUNT - Tribes will compete to see who can locate and visit important campus resources and services the fastest.

KNOW YOUR TRIBE MATES QUIZ - Tribes will compete to see which tribe knows the most about each other by the second week of class. The tribe with the most members having the most complete knowledge wins.

LIBRARY TOUR QUIZ - Tribes will compete to see who remembers the most from this very valuable activity. The tribe with the most members having the most correct answers wins.

CAMPUS EVENT ATTENDANCE CHALLENGE - The tribe who has the most members attend a campus event together and turns their reports in the soonest wins. (Proof of attendance along with names and social security numbers required).

CAMPUS EVENTS COMPLETION CHALLENGE - The tribe in which all members turn in both campus event reports the soonest wins.

AIDS/ALCOHOL SOFTWARE COMPLETION CHALLENGE - the tribe in which all members turn in both sets of software assignments the soonest wins. (Answers must be correct to count).

CLASS ATTENDANCE CHALLENGE - The tribe with the fewest absences over the course of the semester wins.

TRIBAL PRESENTATION CHALLENGE - the tribe voted to have the most creative and informative chapter presentation wins. (All tribes will participate in voting).

CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING QUIZ - Tribes will compete to see who remembers the most from this very valuable (and popular!) presentation. The tribe with the most members having the most correct answers wins.

EXTRA CREDIT CHALLENGE - The tribe with the most extra credit assignments turned in by the end of the semester wins.

MYSTERY CHALLENGES - In addition to those above, there will be several surprise challenges throughout the semester.

*In many cases, tribe members will participate in challenges individually, with the winning tribe determined by the greatest cumulative effort of its members.

*Winners will be based on the tribe having the greatest percentage of correct answers, etc., in the event of uneven tribe members.

CALENDAR