BereaCollege

GSTR 203 US Traditions E-Pluribus Unum

(Dr. Winston T. Gittens)

February 2, 2006

FIRST DAY AGENDA

ORAL INTRODUCTIONS:Teacher and students introduce themselves

WRITTEN INFORMATION FROM STUDENTS:On a sheet of paper address each item in the box below and turn your sheet of paper in to me.

  • Name
  • Major
  • Year in College/Rank
  • Things you Like
  • Hobbies
/
  • Things you Dislike
  • ContactPhone Numbers
  • Contact E-mail Addresses
  • Home Address

OVERVIEW OF COURSE

Associate Deans’ Memorandum

  • Discussion on Associate Dean’s memo, including diagnostic writing assignment.
  • Contextualizing my course description section with Dr. Burnside’s memo

GSTR 203 Gittens,W. T.:This section of US Traditions will both examine and challenge historical events that have constructed the USA to better understand our journey and destiny. How can we create equity and equality to build a democratic framework that will better live up to such constitutional imperatives? How can we better grapple with our culturally complex makeup? Since we are the most culturally diverse and complex nation in the history of humankind, how can we better make it work to promote humanity in its diverse forms? Essentially, this course is part of a beginning to empower students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to help create a better society. This complex journey will involve critical reading of texts—written, film, pictorial (stills), etc., and argumentative and inductive essay writing that requires critical and contextual thinking. The social, economic, political, historical, and cultural dimensions of meaning-making will be examined in relation to what we discuss and engage. A variety of pedagogical strategies will be involved.

  • Discussionon aims and objectives of GSTR 203

IN GROUPS OF 3 STUDENTS EACH DO THE FOLLOWING:

  • What would you like to achieve in this course?
  • What important things would you like on the syllabus?
  • How would you like to be assessed in the course?
  • How would you like the class taught?

(PS: Submit to me one sheet of paper per group)

HOMEWORK FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2006

1)In-class essay writing for 50 minutes: See guidelines at bottom of handout that begins with “Dear Student.”

2)Discussion on Readings: See handout in box format that says “First Week Calendar for GSTR 203.”