This document appears to be notes from the first class of a college English course. It outlines what students can expect from the challenging course workload and introduces various icebreaker and team-building activities. It informs students that they will need to commit 18 hours per week outside of class to be successful. Students complete a syllabus agreement, discuss survival rankings as a team-building exercise, and fill out a schedule to ensure they have time for the demanding course. They are notified there will be a quiz on the syllabus content next class.
1. What is the average salary in the United States for
a person with a bachelor’s degree?
A. $32,478
B. $46,159
C. $58,613
D. $62,782
E. $70,426
Compared to $31,283 for a high school
graduate!
2. This class is practically impossible
and will take more from you than
any other class you have taken
before (and probably more than any
class you will take after)
You are more likely to be successful
in this class if you work as a team
3. Free write—write without picking up your pen or
pencil until I say stop. Do not worry about
grammar, spelling, or sounding silly. Start
with the prompt and go where your mind takes
you.
Prompt:
How much do you know about what you will
be doing in this class?
What would you like to know about the class?
About me? About each other?
What questions do you want answered today?
8:007:307:006:306:005:305:004:304:003:303:002:302:001:301:00:30:00
4. Please write every question you have
about the class on the handout
Compare with the person sitting next
to you
As a pair, compare with another pair
5.
6. Number off to eleven
You will have three minutes at
each station to answer as many
of your questions as you can
7. See if your group found answers to
questions that you didn’t
Think about other questions that
popped up
Make a list on one piece of paper
per group of unanswered questions
Bring the list to me
8. Do you have the answer to any
of the questions on the board?
Do you have any questions
about the answers that we need
to add?
9. This class is unique and I want you to think
long and hard about your participation in it
You will be challenged and pushed to your
limit, but you will have a lot of support
Ultimately, the responsibility for learning in
this class falls on the student’s shoulders
Your goal should be developing as much as
possible as a reader and writer, not simply
passing
10. The class is 3 hours a day, 2 days a week for 16
weeks=96 hours in a classroom
For each class hour, you should be committed
to 3 hours of time outside class=18 hours a
week outside of class
THAT’S A PART-TIME JOB!
Demanding workload
11. The class is 16 WEEKS rather than 3
SEMESTERS!
You have the opportunity to move directly into
English 101A (transferrable English) after one
semester
12.
13. Read through the syllabus on your own
Make sure you understand the difficulty and
the level of commitment you will need to have
Initial and sign where indicated and bring the
agreement back Thursday
This is your first homework assignment and it
will count as an assignment
14.
15.
16.
17. You and your companions have just survived the crash of
a small plane. Both the pilot and co-pilot were killed in
the crash. It is mid-January, and you are in Northern
Canada. The daily temperature is 25 below zero, and the
night-time temperature is 40 below zero. There is snow
on the ground, and the countryside is wooded with
several creeks criss-crossing the area. The nearest town is
20 miles away. You are all dressed in city clothes
appropriate for a business meeting.
18. Your group of survivors managed to salvage the following
items:
1. a ball of steel wool
2. a small ax
3. a loaded .45-caliber pistol
4. a can of Crisco shortening
5. newspapers (one per person)
6. cigarette lighter (without fluid)
7. extra shirt and pants for each survivor
8. 20 x 20 ft. piece of heavy-duty canvas
9. a sectional air map made of plastic
10. one quart of 100-proof whiskey
11. a compass
12. family-size chocolate bars (one per person)
Your task as a group is to rank the above twelve items in order
of importance for your survival. List the uses for each. You
have five minutes.
19.
20. In a group, agree on the ranking of
the items.
You MUST come to an agreement as a
group.
Rank the items and explain your
rationale.
You have five minutes.
21.
22.
23.
24. • To award points, look at the ranking numbers on
this answer sheet.
• Award points to each team’s top choices according
to the numbers here.
• For example, the map would earn 12 points, while
the steel wool would earn 2 points.
• Lowest score wins (and survives).
25. Please answer the questions honestly
Your group will not see your answers!
We will work on this for five minutes.
Jot down quick answers to remind
yourself
Due Thursday
26.
27.
28.
29. You cannot succeed in this class without help
Sometimes asking for help is difficult because
we are proud
Your assignment in the first two weeks is to ask
for help
You can ask a peer, a PASS leader, an
instructor in the Learning Center, a Writing
Mentor, me, or anyone else who is a resource
You can ask for help with any aspect of the
class and you will have to tell me about your
experience next Thursday
30. Put in your entire schedule
Classes
Work
Any other commitments you have
Be honest—
If you have a must-see TV show
If you don’t work well in the morning or the evening
When you need to sleep
When you need to spend time with family/loved
ones/your dog
32. This class is practically impossible
and will take more from you than
any other class you have taken
before (and probably more than any
class you will take after)
You are more likely to be successful
in this class if you work as a team
33. Get the book and materials
Syllabus Agreement
Getting to Know You
handout
Survival Debrief
Schedule
Study for the syllabus quiz