Level 3 American University
Summer Quarter
Class Meetings: T-TH 1:20-2:30PM
Instructor: Michael
Buckhoff
Phone:
Office: Language Lab (Home phone)
Classroom: Office Hours: 12:00-1:15 M-W
Class Period: T-TH 1:20-2:30PM and by appointment
Materials
ºThree ring binder/notebook, 200
sheets loose-leaf college ruled notebook paper, and five reinforced index
dividers.
ºSummer Session Class Schedule
ºCatalog for CSUSB
Course Description
This course is designed to introduce you to a wide range of topics within
American Colleges and Universities. We will discuss topics such as: public
vs. private colleges; criteria for choosing a university, a major and
courses; student activities and issues; classroom behavior; and study
skills.
Grading
The number letter grading scale is set as follows:
A 95-100
A- 90-94
B+ 87-89
B 84-86
B- 80-83
C+ 76-79
C 70-75
NP 69& below
Scoring Grade
Your final grade will be calculated as follows:
Attendance and Participation 30%
Take home quiz # 1 10%
Take home quiz # 2 10%
Take home quiz # 3 10%
Midterm Project 10%
Final Project 10%
Statement of Purpose Letter 10%
Time Management Exercise 10%
Total 100%
Open University next quarter
In order to attend open university next quarter at CSUSB you must pass
this class. In other words, you must satisfactorily complete the requirements
for American University Level three as outlined in this syllabus before you may
attend open university level four.
Late Work
Assignments submitted after the due date will not be accepted. In
other words, you will receive no points. I will only allow you to make up missed
work if you have a written documented excuse from someone stating the urgency of
the situation (e.g. Doctor’s note, CHP accident report, etc.). Homework and
Projects are to be completed before the class on the day that they are due. Late
work will not be accepted.
Attendance
Your attendance is required at all class meetings. Only written
documented excuses for an absence may result in your making up an assignment or
graded daily work. Absences endanger your grade simply because you are missing
out in the learning process. Three absences will result in an overall
reduction of one full letter grade and five absences will result in a failing
grade for this class.
Come to class on time. Three tardies will be counted as an absence. If you
arrive fifteen minutes late or more, you will be counted absent for that class
period. If you do come late to class, please enter quietly so as not to distract
the other students. Do not explain to me why you are late.
Guide for Midterm and Final Projects
L
Both of these projects are
required!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Midterm Project
U
Attend a nonacademic event on campus
UProject due August 1
UNonacademic event observation form
must be completed, and turned in by August 1
UOral presentation of project due
August 1
Suggested Format for the Nonacademic Event Observation Form and
possible format of a 2-4 minute Oral Report.
I. Event Observation: Introduction. What was the purpose of this event?
A. Behavior of students/faculty/public
1. Interest of students
2. Boredom of students
3. Were students comfortable? Did they seem to enjoy themselves?
Did you enjoy yourself?
B. Interaction and participation
1. Did you participate in the event? How many people were there?
2. Did anyone agree or disagree at the event?
a. Were they polite when they disagreed?
b. Who was in charge of the activity?
c. Was the event organized?
3. How did the participants interact at the event?
a. Did they ask questions, sing, dance etc.?
b. How did you interact? Did you just watch or did you participate?
c. Write down any other noticeable things about the event
II. Cultural differences
A. Differences in this event and non academic events in your country?
B. Any differences in politeness?
C. Any other differences between this event and those in your country?
Final Project
UAttend a regular university
class
(Look through the CSUSB Course
Schedule and select a course
that you would like to observe
(Choose a 100 or 200 level course
(Two students may not choose the
same class meeting
(Do not let this class conflict
with your ACLP classes
(Tell the professor of your purpose
and ask permission to visit his/her class.
UFor example: Tell the professor that
you are studying English in ACLP and that you are planning on attending the
university as an undergraduate or graduate student. Tell the professor that
one of your assignments is to visit a university class and that you would like
to visit his/her class. BE SURE TO MENTION THE SPECIFIC DATE/TIME AND BE
SURE THAT THIS DOES NOT INTERFERE IN THE REGULAR CLASS SCHEDULE (like a test
day). When you finish your conversation, remember to thank him/her for the
opportunity.
Note: If you have trouble contacting the professor, call the department and
leave a message with the secretary.
UAttend the class. Be sure to arrive
early and sit near the back or near the edge of the classroom. (You do not
want to interfere with the class or take someone’s seat) Remember you are a
guest, so don’t leave the class for any reason, or talk for any reason, or
talk with anyone while the professor is talking.
UTake notes during the class and
complete the University Class Observation Form. Hand in the form with the
notes that you took no later than August 23.
University Class Observation Form and Guideline for Oral Presentation
Note: The questions and guidelines below are to assist you in observing a
class and at the same time give you a suggested outline of important things to
talk about with the rest of the class when you give your oral presentation.
I. Classroom Observation: Introduction. What is your purpose in giving this
presentation?
A. Behavior of students
1. Interest of students
2. Boredom of students
3. Are students comfortable?
B. Note taking of students
1. Did students take notes?
2. Are their notes organized?
3. Can you borrow a copy of a student’s notes to show to our class?
C. Interaction of students
1. Did they have any group activities?
2.. Did the students agree or disagree with each other?
a. Were they polite when they disagreed?
b. Was their a discussion leader in the group?
c. Did the group seem organized?
d. Did students take notes during the group activity?
3. How did the students interact with the professor?
a. Did the students ask questions or disagree with the professor during
or after class?
b. Did the students interrupt the professor?
D. Interaction of professor with the students
1. Did the professor ask specific students questions?
2. Did the professor lecture most of the time?
3. What types of visual aids did the professor use?
a. Slide projector
b. Transparencies
c. Tape player
4. What clues did the professor give to let the students know the topic
and the main points of the lecture?
5. Did the professor assign homework? What was it?
E. Write down any other noticeable things about this class.
II. Cultural differences
A. Differences in teacher/student interaction between this class and a
class
in our country.
B. Any differences in politeness between classrooms in America and your
country?
C. Any other differences between this class and your country?
American University Course Outline
Level Three
Week One
June 25 CSU, UC, CC, and Private Schools; Higher Education in California/US
27 Choosing a University: How to decide
Week two
July 2 Group Activity: Which University do you want to attend?
4 Holiday
Week three
9 Understanding a university catalog: vocabulary
11 Applications and Procedures; Take-home quiz #1
Week four
16 Writing a Statement of Purpose
18 Writing a Statement of Purpose continued
Week five
23 Choosing a major, understanding General Education requirements
25 Choosing Classes and schedules; take-home quiz #2
Week six
30 Facilities tour
August 1 Student life/issues; Midterm project and oral presentations due
Week seven
6 Library Tour
8 Understanding the professor, and his/her expectations/style; Time
management techniques. Take-home quiz #3
Week eight
13 Classroom behavior: Do’s and don’ts; reading textbooks
15 Reading textbooks continued; taking notes
Week nine
20 Test taking strategies; classroom issues; take home quiz #4
23 Final Project due, Oral presentations of project
Week ten
27 Review next quarter: Adjunct and Open University
28-30 Final Exams-There is no final for this class.
Take Home Exam # 1
Instructions: Complete all of the attached pages of the exam. It must be
finished and handed in to me by Thursday July 18. You may use your notes, the
CSUSB catalog, the Summer Session schedule, the Handout on "Finding
Answers: Your College Catalog and Academic Advisor or Counselor" or you may
discuss your answers with other members of the class. Good luck!
1. What is the difference between a college and a university?
2. What is the difference between a public and private school?
3. Describe the three California public systems of higher education. What
degrees are offered at each level?
4. What kinds of things make a University a good school?
5. What kinds of college courses do college students have to take?
6. What kinds of homework should you expect to have in college?
7. How does the US system of higher education differ from the system in your
country?
8. What are the summer campus hours for Cal State San Bernardino?
9. When is the last day to drop classes without University approval for
Summer Session III?
10. List three nonacademic events that will take place during Summer Session
96 for CSUSB.
11. What is academic advising? Why is it important for students?
12. Why is it important for you to understand the general academic
regulations of a University?
Take Home Exam # 2
1). According to the catalog, give at least three missions or purposes of the
International Student Services (ISS).
2). What is the difference between the Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) and
the ISS?
3). What services are offered by the ASI?
4). What is escape?
5). Where do you go if you want to learn about writing a resume or for
finding future employment?
6). If you need help writing an undergraduate or graduate paper, where do
you go?
7). If you want to go to school during Spring Quarter 1996 at CSUSB, when is
the earliest time that you can fill out an application (month, day, year)?
8). What is the difference between a classified and an unclassified student?
9). What is the minimum number of units that a student must take each quarter
if he/she wants to graduate in four years?
10). What are the upper division requirements regarding writing?
11). What page can you find information on the Pre-engineering Program?
