January 21, 2014

What is the average salary in the United States for a person with a bachelor’s degree?A. $32,478B. $46,159C. $58,613D. $62,782E. $70,426

Compared to $31,283 for a high school graduate!

Questions about the Class

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

Number off to make seven groups

Syllabus Scavenger Hunt

You will have three minutes at each station to answer as many of your questions as you can

Please do not touch the paper!

Compare with Your Group of Four

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

Answering Questions As a Class

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?

Consider the Cost/Benefit Carefully!

This class is unique and we 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

Costs

The class is 3 hours a day, 4 days a week for 16 weeks=183 hours in a classroom

For each class hour, you should be committed to 3 hours of time outside class=36 hours a week outside of class THAT’S A FULL-TIME JOB!

Demanding workload Should probably be the only course you

are taking

Benefits

Should probably be the only course you are taking=EXTREME FOCUS!

You will carry a full load (12 units) with this one course

The class is 16 WEEKS rather than 3 SEMESTERS!

You have the opportunity to move directly into English 101A (transferrable English) after one semester

ONLY YOU CAN DECIDE IF THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH

THE COSTS!!!!!

Syllabus Agreement

Do not do this right now! 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

SI LEADER INTRODUCTIONS

HANDOUT: GETTING TO KNOW YOU

You have ten minutes to complete this form so that I can get to know

you!

BREAK

Survival

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.

Survival

Your group of survivors managed to salvage the following items:1. a ball of steel wool2. a small ax3. a loaded .45-caliber pistol4. a can of Crisco shortening5. newspapers (one per person)6. cigarette lighter (without fluid)7. extra shirt and pants for each survivor8. 20 x 20 ft. piece of heavy-duty canvas9. a sectional air map made of plastic10. one quart of 100-proof whiskey11. a compass12. 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.

Survival

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 fifteen minutes.

SURVIVAL EXPLANATION

LIST YOUR TOP FIVE ITEMS ON THE BACK OF YOUR

GROUP PAPER

SURVIVAL RANKINGS AND RATIONALE

• 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).

Survival Debrief

Please answer the questions honestly

Your group will not see your answers!

You have ten minutes to complete this part of the activity

HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EVER WISHED YOU COULD DO BETTER ON TESTS? HOW MANY OF YOU FEEL

NERVOUS OR SICK BEFORE A TEST?

Surprise Test

When I give you the test, please leave it face down on your desk until I tell you to begin.

You have three minutes to complete the test. The test will be graded and used toward your

assignment points. There will be no talking during the test unless

you are specifically instructed to do so. Once you finish the test, please turn your paper

over on your desk and sit quietly until I give you further instructions.

The first students to finish will receive an extra prize.

Reactions to Surprise Test

If you didn’t finish the test, why were you unable to complete it? 

Why do you think some people were able to finish?

If you did finish, why do you think you were able to complete it?

Fixed Mindset vs.

Growth Mindset

I am a slow reader. I am not good at English. I am not good at school. I am bad at tests. I am stupid.

I am proving myself right!

Fixed Mindset vs.

Growth Mindset

I need to understand what is being asked of me. I need to find help. I need to focus on what I am doing and not be

distracted by those around me. I need to have confidence in my abilities. I need to realize that failure is perfectly fine, but

that not trying does not give me a chance to succeed.

I can learn to do this!

“BRAINOLOGY”

Asking for Help 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, an SI leader, an

instructor in the LRC, 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

BEGIN TO LEARN EVERYONE’S NAMES

We will have a quiz next Thursday!

Homework Get the book and materials

Syllabus Agreement Study for the syllabus quiz

Read “Brainology”