Syllabus

	Objectives
	Class meetings
	Required Reading
	Assignments
	Grading

Back to top

Course Description

Seminar to focus on topics/elements/expectations for the exam option culminating experience: test preparation and tips, exam writing, practice exam questions, time management, and community building with other students. Students will complete reading and writing assignments related to each exam area and prepare for an exam question related to an approved elective topic of their choice. Students will submit an exam petition to be reviewed and approved by the departmental exam committee, including an annotated bibliography and proposed exam questions for the focal topic.

Back to top

Course Objectives
  

Back to top

Back to top

Required Reading

Readings from the course are selected from a variety of texts on academic writing, effective essay writing, exam/study skills, and critical thinking and reading. Due dates for readings are listed on the course schedule. Please complete the assigned reading before Tuesday's class meeting. 

Students are also responsible for material on the exam reading list, established by the departmental exam committee, from which exam questions will be drawn.

Assignments

All of the course assignments serve the purpose of preparing students to begin study for the comprehensive exam and enrollment in CHDV 505. More detailed handouts are available on by clicking the blue links below:

Attendance/participation in class discussions & activities. A good deal of the course is set up for peer discussion and feedback, practice exam questions, as well as the establishment of important peer support for studying for your exam. If you do not attend regularly, you will miss out on these important sessions! Please plan to attend…and to do the assigned reading/work. Failure to attend and participate in class sessions may result in having to repeat the course.

Response Papers – Short response papers and other written assignments are due throughout the semester. Response paper handouts are linked to the course schedule.

Annotated bibliography for focal topic - A research article summary and an annotated bibliography (a list of citations for books and articles related to your focal topic followed by a brief descriptive paragraph) are due early in the semester. This bibliography is submitted with the Exam Petition.

Exam Petition - The petition, a summary of your proposed focal topic, study plan and related materials is reviewed and approved by the departmental exam committee prior to enrollment in CHDV 505. Two drafts of this petition are due during the semester. Petitions will be considered by the committee during November. Thus, final petitions must be submitted by November 17th. 

Back to top

Grades and Grading Policy

This course is graded on a credit/no credit basis. Each area of review (below) will be assigned an unsatisfactory, satisfactory or excellent “grade”. To receive credit for the course, you must demonstrate at least a satisfactory grade in each of the following areas:

1. Attendance/Participation in class discussions
2. Response Papers/Written assignments related to exam preparation
3. Annotated Bibliography for focal topic
4. Exam Petition

In most cases, assignments deemed unsatisfactory can be resubmitted. Please note that incomplete grades are only given to students with special circumstances that prevent them from finishing the course, not for unsatisfactory work. Unsatisfactory work may result in the student needing to repeat the course. Missing more than two scheduled class sessions may result in an unsatisfactory grade for participation.