Syllabus

This is an online seminar course designed to help students make the transition from their home university in China to a North American university by imparting knowledge, skills, and aptitudes requisite for success in a North American university course of study. This course should not be mistaken for an English course. It is a writing course which is designed to help students succeed in a North American academic culture.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

To assist students in making a successful transition from their home university in China to a North American university community.To help students better understand and succeed in a North American academic culture.

To provide an orientation of the nature, the functions, and the resources of a North American university.To provide training in study and learning skills needed for success in North American university studies.

To help develop the attitudes and habits needed to succeed in a North American university setting.To provide a foundation for both an active, life-long learning model, and career success.

To help students define both their short term and long term goals more clearly and give them the skills and tools required to help them achieve their academic and personal life goals.

McWhorter, K.T. (2005) Study and Critical Thinking Skills in College. Seventh edition. Toronto: Pearson Longman. (ISBN13: 9780205734801 or ISBN10: 0205734804).

Fowler, H.R. and Aaron, J. E. The Little Brown Handbook, Tenth edition. Toronto: Pearson Longman (ISBN-10: 0321389514 or ISBN-13: 9780321389510)

Please Note: The Little Brown Handbook will serve as a reference guide for students registered in the course when writing their research papers....

Students are required to read the posted materials on their own, as the Mid-Term and Final Exam will contain questions from this material. The instructor reserves the right to alter the course syllabus as required. All assigned reading materials MUST BE READ before the beginning of each weekly learning session.

All assignments must be completed as a MS Word document and will be submitted to the instructor via email by Friday morning each week at 9:00 am Central Standard Time (USA). Assignments submitted which are not submitted as a MS Word document will not be marked and the student will receive a mark of zero (0) for their paper. Late assignments will not be marked unless previous arrangements have been made with and agreed to by the instructor.

FINAL GRADES:

A+ = 95 - 100 (Exceptional), A = 86 - 94 (Excellent), B+ = 78 - 85 (Very Good), B = 73 - 77 (Good), C+ = 66 - 72 (Satisfactory), C = 60 - 65 (Adequate), D = 50 - 59 (Marginal), F = below 50 (Failure)