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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

31. We will have a quiz next Thursday!

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