The UTD First Year Experience

Rhet 1101
Critical Thinking and Oral Communication
Syllabus
Section: 050
Rooms: Tuesday - CB 1.102 Thursday - SOM 2.722
Instructor: John Jackson
Office Hours & Location: OPEN & MP 2.240 Email: johnja@utdallas.edu
First Year Leader: Karina Flores Email: kpf041000@utdallas.edu

Required Materials:

• UTD Student Planner & Guide

• Cohen, Harlan, (2005). The Naked Roommate, Sourcebooks, Inc. Naperville.

• DiTiberio, John, K. & Hammer, Allen, L. (1993). Introduction to Type in College, CPP,
Inc. Palo Alto.

• UTD student email account

Course Objectives:

• To enable you to learn from various departments on campus the critical information
necessary for successfully navigating UTD.

• To connect you with the UTD campus community by way of meeting other students,
getting involved, and learning how to make a difference.

• To provide you with a conceptual understanding of the college experience and the
value of a liberal arts-based education.

• To help you discover your personal learning style and ways to use that knowledge to
achieve greater success and enjoyment in your classes.

• To present tips, tactics, and techniques for more effective learning, emphasizing time
management strategies and critical thinking.

• To enhance your communication skills through opportunities for both oral and written
expression.
Coursework & Grading Philosophy

• Rhet 1101 is a required course for all incoming freshmen as it has been effective in
raising GPA’s, retention from the freshman to sophomore year, and overall student
satisfaction and success.

• UTD is a selective admissions institution with one of the highest average Freshman
class SAT scores in the state, the refore performance and participation in Rhet 1101 is
expected to reflect the caliber of students and academic standards of the university as a
whole.

• The course objectives for Rhet 1101 represent goals which are fundamental to student
success both inside and outside of the college classroom.

• Grading will focus on two primary elements of students work:

o College level communication of ideas presented in a high-quality format.
o Correct, well thought out, and/or researched content which significantly
addresses all required assignment elements.

Course Requirements

• Class Attendance & Participation

• Academic Autobiography
• Two Campus Events and Reaction Papers
• Library Tour
• Oral Presentation: Expert Testimony
• Group Project & Presentation: Becoming a Part of the UTD Campus Community

Class Attendance and Participation

Small Class Meetings – We will meet every Tuesday in CB 1.102 to explore a variety of
topics through interactive discussions and exercises. Attendance and participation is a
significant aspect of this course, thus you will receive a daily participation grade for small class
meetings.

Participation Evaluation: This is a discussion-based course in which you will spend a

significant amount of time working in small groups. Your participation will be observed and
subsequently evaluated by your instructor according to the following guidelines:

10 points/day – Significant participation: assuming roles in group activities, relevant

contributions to discussions, and submission of any required written work ge nerated in class.

0 points/day – Minimal to no participation: absent from class, doing homework during class
time, letting others complete group objectives with little or no input/insight/feedback from you,
not turning in written work generated during class. Disruptive or disrespectful behavior will
also result in 0 participation points for the day.
**Participation evaluations are at the instructor’s discretion. Point allotments will be based on
the objectives for the day and the instructor’s determinatio n of the level of participation he or
she deems appropriate for the exercise.

Large Group Meetings – We will meet Thursday in SOM 2.722 with several other sections to
hear presentations from various departments on campus and engage in various activities.
Attendance and participation is a significant aspect of this course, thus you will receive a daily
attendance grade form large group meetings. *Note in the schedule that there are several
classes that meet in a different location.*

Attendance Policy and Grading: For each large group meeting, you will receive 10 points
for full class attendance.

• Sign- in attendance sheets will be placed in the same location each week in the lecture
hall. You must sign in by your name within the first 5 minutes of class after which
point attendance sheets will be collected and those who have not signed in will not
receive attendance points for the day. However, attendance in class – even if you are
late – is important so that you do not have an unexcused absence (see box below.)

• Signing in for anyone else will result in loss of attendance points for you and the person
you signed in for.

• If you leave early from class, you will not receive attendance points for the day.

**If you know you will be late for any reason, or must leave early, inform your instructor
before the class day.

In addition to the grading policy for attendance (large groups) and participation (small class),
your final course grade will be lowered a full letter grade for each class missed after two
unexcus ed absences.

Example Coursework Grade = A+

3 Unexcused Absences B+
4 Unexcused Absences C+
5 Unexcused Absences D+
6 Unexcused Absences F

Requirements for an excused absence (no exceptions!):

• All students participating on UTD competitive teams (athletic and intellectual) must bring
an official Intercollegiate Competition Memo signed by John Jackson prior to any
sanctioned absences. Students must inform the instructor of the impending absence at least
2 weeks prior to the absence. If this does not occur, it is at the instructor’s discretion to
excuse or not excuse the absence.
• Any anticipated absence arranged through Disability Services must be shared with the
instructor at least 2 weeks prior to the absence. If this does not occur, it is at the
instructor’s discretion to excuse or not excuse the absence.

• Students observing a holy day must inform the instructor before the class day to be missed

Assignment Format

All assignments are due on the specified due date – NO LATE WORK WILL BE
ACCEPTED!! Also all work must exhibit the following format:

• A coherent essay that addresses all required elements of the assignment.

• Typed, double spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font with one- inch margins.

• Students should include their name, section number, and date on all work.

• Papers should be free of typos, spelling, grammatical, and formatting errors.

• Vocabulary should reflect that of a college student, and writing style should be mature and
cognizant of the instructor as audience.

• If submitted via email, papers must be sent as an attachment, from your UTD email
account, following the above format and submitted on or before the specified due date.

Failure to adhere to any of the above will result in:

• A 10 % deduction for incorrect format.
• A 5 % deduction for multiple typos, spelling and grammatical errors.
• A 5 % deduction for poor language use and/or a disrespectful voice in the paper.
• No points for work turned in after the specified due date.

Grading
Class Attendance 100 points
Class Participation 100 points
Academic Autobiography 100 points
Two Campus Events & Reaction Paper 60 points (30 each x 2)
Oral Presentation: Expert Testimony 50 points
Library Tour 40 points
Group Project & Presentation 150 points
Total 600 points
Grading Scale*
600 A+ 462 – 479 C+
564 – 599 A 438 – 461 C
540 – 563 A- 420 – 437 C-
522 – 539 B+ 402 – 419 D+
498 – 521 B 378 – 401 D
480 – 497 B- 360 – 377 D-
359 & below F

*Point totals prior to adjustments based on unexcused absences.

Your Rhet 1101 grade WILL contribute to your cumulative GPA at UTD.

*Rhet 1101 is a requirement for graduation. If you drop the course or fail it, you must
take Study Skills (DRDG 0v94) in the Spring. It will be recoded as Rhet 1101 in order to
give you credit for the course and enable you to replace your low grade or W.

Classroom Policies

• Cell phones should be turned off during class and calls and text messages are not to be
answered or placed during class time.

• Laptop computers are not necessary for any reason in this course. Please do not open
them at any time during class or you will be counted absent.

• Arriving late is disruptive to class activities and may affect your attendance and
participation grade. If you have a legitimate reason for being late, please inform your
instructor ahead of time or immediately after class.

The University of Texas at Dallas is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter
of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 - The Rehabilitation Act
of 1973 as amended. With the passage of new federal legislation entitled Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed
focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens.

As a faculty member, I am required by law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to

students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Student
responsibility primarily rests with informing faculty of their need for accommodation and in
providing authorized documentation through designated administrative channels.
Information regarding specific diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining academic
accommodations can be found at www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/hcsvc.html. Please visit the
office of Disability Services in Student Union (1.610) or call at 972.883.2098 to obtain proper
paperwork for this class.
 Small Class Meeting Schedule

Week of August 23 & August 25

Introductions, Ice Breakers, Syllabus Quiz
Week of August 30 & September 1
Paragon Learning Styles Inventory
DUE: Academic Autobiography
Week of September 6 & September 8
Campus Involvement: read chapters 5 and 6
Week of September 13 & September 15
Academic Success: read chapter 7
Week of September 20 & September 22
Relationships: read chapters 3, 4, and 8
DUE: Campus Event Reaction Paper #1
Week of September 27 & September 29
Oral Presentations: Expert Testimony
Week of October 4 & October 6
NO CLASS!
Week of October 11 & October 13
Basic Survival: read section 95
Week of October 18 & October 20
Risky Business: read chapters 9, 10, and 11 and sections 100, 101, and 103
DUE: Campus Event Reaction Paper #2
Week of October 25 & October 27
Living on campus vs. off campus: read chapter 2 and sections 6 – 8, 88 – 94, 96, and 104
Week of November 1 & November 3
Group Project Presentations
DUE: Group Project Evaluation Papers
Week of November 8 & November 10
Wrap up
DUE: Last day to turn in proof of Library Tour attendance.
 Large Group Presentation Schedule

Tuesday, August 23 UTD Information Scavenger Hunt: Student Planner & Guide
Thursday, August 25 UTD Information Scavenger Hunt: Student Planner & Guide

Tuesday, August 30 Consumer Credit Counseling Service

Thursday, September 2 Consumer Credit Counseling Service

Tuesday, September 6 UTD Counseling Center

Thursday, September 8 UTD Counseling Center

Tuesday, September 13 Judicial Affairs: Academic Integrity

Thursday, September 15 Judicial Affairs: Academic Integrity

Tuesday, September 20 Office of the Registrar

(Meet in SOM 1.118)
Thursday, September 22 Office of the Registrar
(Meet in SOM 1.118)

Tuesday, September 27 UTD Library

Thursday, September 29 UTD Library

Tuesday, October 4 No Class

Thursday, October 6 No Class

Tuesday, October 11 Women’s Center/Health Ed./Campus Police

(Meet in SOM 1.118)
Thursday, October 13 Women’s Center/Health Ed./Campus Police
(Meet in SOM 1.118)

Tuesday, October 18 UTD Multicultural Center: Diversity Table Talks

(Meet in SU Galaxy Rooms)
Thursday, October 20 UTD Multicultural Center: Diversity Table Talks
(Meet in SU Galaxy Rooms)

Tuesday, October 25 Information Technology

Thursday, October 27 Information Technology

Tuesday, November 1 UTD Career Center & Office of International Education

(Meet in SOM 1.118)
Thursday, November 3 UTD Career Center & Office of International Education
(Meet in SOM 1.118)

Tuesday, November 8 TBA

Thursday, November 10 TBA
**Vote for you favorite to receive the Students’ Choice Award for Best Presentation!
 Appendix
Rhet 1101 Course Assignments
 Academic Autobiography
Goal: To help you reflect on your life as a student thus far, including the
people and experiences which have prepared you for this new level of
higher education. And to get you thinking about what you want to
accomplish as a student at UTD.

Assignment: Write an autobiography – beginning with your earliest

memories of school – and illustrate your life as a student. Include the
following in your paper:

• What has been your best academic experience thus far? How has it
affected your approach to school?

• What teachers influenced you the most and in what ways?

• What has been the biggest challenge with regard to your education
thus far? How did it change your perception of yourself as a student
and/or your attitude toward school and learning?

• Was going to college always one of your goals growing up? If not,
when did you realize it would be a part of your education?

• In what areas do you feel you need to grow and improve in order to
reach your goals in the next several years?

• What are you most looking forward to academically at UTD?

• What other aspects of the college experience are you anticipating?

 Campus Events and
Reaction Papers
Goal: To introduce to you what is available to do on campus, and
encourage you to take advantage of opportunities for involvement and
entertainment.

Types of Events: You must choose events from two different categories

Cultural Multicultural
-Art Barn -Cultural Celebration
-Musical Concert -International Performance/Fair
-Theater Production

Student Life Academics

-Athletic Event -Speaker (faculty or invited guest)
-SUAAB sponsored events (Cooking Guy) -Meeting of a major-based organization
-Counseling Center workshop -Department brown bag/seminar
-ELP or other campus organization -LRC Calculus Pizza Party Review
-Meteor Theater (**5 points extra credit for attending the Freshman Event 8/25 or 26)

Events that do NOT qualify: Greek life events for your fraternity or sorority and Waterview
Apartment events.

Check This Week @ UTD for a complete list of campus happenings.

Reaction Paper: You must write a minimum one full page summary of your experience, which
includes the following information:
• The name of the event and what interested you in going to this particular event.
• What took place during the event.
• Your reaction to the event (enjoyed it, it was a hassle, etc.)s
• Suggestions for what might have made it more enjoyable/worthwhile.

*You must submit proof of attendance with your paper.

Extra Credit Event: DUI: A Powerful Lesson. Wednesday, November 2nd,

7:00 pm in the Galaxy Rooms. If you attend this event in addition to your two
required campus events and write up a reaction paper, you can earn up to 15 points
of extra credit to apply toward your class assignment grade.
 Oral Presentation:
Expert Testimony
Goal: To enable you to become more comfortable with public speaking in a small,
comfortable environment.

Assignment:
1. Prepare a 2 - 2½ minute presentation on a topic you know very well. This could be a hobby, a
particular academic subject, your home town, a favorite book, etc. No research should be
necessary.

2. Practice your presentation so that you are prepared and comfortable with what you are going
to say. You will not be allowed to use note cards or prompts.

3. The following are critical to appealing and successful oral presentations. You will receive a
score for each of the following:

• Posture and appearance – Dress appropriately for a graded assignment (which means
you need to impress your instructor.) Do not sit, rest, or lean during your presentation,
and keep hands out of your pockets. No hats or gum!

• Tone of voice: volume, clarity – Plan to project so that a room of 20 people can hear
you easily. Speak relatively slowly and enunciate clearly.

• Eye contact with audience – Your audience wants to believe they are important to you,
so look at individuals in the room as you speak. Make them feel that you are speaking
directly to them (but don’t just single one or two people out – try to catch most people’s
eye at least once – especially your instructor’s!

• Well organized presentation of information - Just because the information is familiar

to you, doesn’t mean everyone will know what you’re talking about. Rambling about any
topic is never going to make people want to listen to you. Deliver the information you
want to share or the story you want to tell in an interesting, easy to follow manner that
makes sense to the naïve listener.

• Substantial content appropriate for time frame – Even brief speeches must have
substance. Make yours and everyone’s time worthwhile by saying something worth
listening to.
• Ability to engage your audience – You’ll be listening a lot more than you’ll be talking
and you don’t want to be bored. Don’t be the one who puts everyone else to sleep.

• Adherence to time limit – Even professionals have a time limit. It’s critical to accomplish
what you want to in the minimal time you are given without going over or coming up
short. It takes practice to get this down.
 UTD Library Tour
Goal: To help you become familiar with the physical layout of
McDermott Library for future ease of use.

Assignment: You are to attend one of the scheduled library tours. Upon
completion you will receive proof of attendance from the library staff. Show this to
your Rhet 1101 instructor for credit.

Library Tour Days & Times

• Wednesdays 11:00 – 12:00 and 3:00 – 4:00

• Fridays 10:00 – 11:00 and 1:00 – 2:00

If you cannot make one of the times listed above, you may set-up a personal tour by
going to www.utdallas.edu/library/services/libins.htm
• Under “Information Literacy Links” go to “Request a Personal Tour”
• Fill out required information, including the fact that you are taking the tour to
fulfill your Rhet 1101 requirement.
• Don’t forget proof of attendance to show your instructor.
Group Project & Presentation
Becoming a Part
of the
UTD Campus Community
Goal: To provide you the opportunity to work with classmates in a small
group of 3 – 4 people while exploring your new college campus.

Assignment: As a group, choose one of the following aspects of the

UTD experience to focus on and develop a presentation to share with the
class.

1. What can UTD do for me?

Services and resources for students abound throughout the UTD campus
community. You can find help for academic success, social involvement,
entertainment, and personal development. This project will encourage you to
explore all that UTD has to offer you, how you can take advantage of it, and get you
thinking about what else you might like to see as part of the UTD campus support
community.

2. What can I do for UTD?

UTD is a very unique place because it continues to grow and change with each
new group of students. There are countless opportunities for you to make your
mark on the campus community, and personally contribute to the development of
your university. This project will provide you the chance to begin establishing your
role as a mover and shaker on campus. What is your vision for the future of UTD –
what do you want to see change now? Put the wheels in motion with this project.

3. Learning from the Locals

A campus community is made up of people - and the faculty, staff, and your
peers are the support system you have at UTD. The saying “It’s not what you know,
it’s who you know” has a great deal of truth to it, and while you need to know a lot
to succeed at UTD, the more people in the campus community that you become
acquainted with, the greater your college experience will be. This project will get you
meeting and talking with people from all over campus and learning from their
knowledge about how to be successful and engaged in university life at UTD.
The Details
Experiences Paper (50 points – Group grade)
This paper will enable your instructor to get the full picture of your experiences with the
project, and it will provide the substance and material for your in-class presentation. Papers should
include the following:
• A description of the experiences group members had during the project.
• Detailed information members gained from interactions with people, places, and activities
throughout the project.
• Group members’ assessment and discussion of the value of experiencing the UTD community
in the context of the project.
• Addressing all required specific elements listed in the individual project descriptions.

Presentations (50points – Group grade)

Each project will culminate in a presentation that your group will make to the class. The
final product will convey your experiences with the topic that you have selected. Your Experiences
Paper will provide the basis for this presentation.
Presentations must include all required elements described in the project descriptions on the
following page.
Any oral introduction or explanation given prior to the presentation done in class must be shared
by all group members.

The format of your presentation may take one of three forms:

• Video – Create a video/DVD
• Photo Slide Show – Put pictures on a CDRom to be shown via computer.
• Skit – All group members will perform live in class.

PRESENTATIONS SHOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 8 MINUTES IN LENGTH.

Individual Reaction Paper (50 points – Individual grade)

This paper will give you the opportunity to evaluate your experience working with your
group. This is an independent effort in which you will discuss – from your own perspective - the
workings of your group, the contributions of each member, and consider your own strengths and
challenges when working with others towards a goal. Include the following in your paper:

• Who held what responsibilities for completion of the project?

• How were these roles determined?
• How did the group communicate and was it effective? Explain.
• What were the group’s biggest strengths?
• What were the group’s biggest challenges?
• What was your greatest contribution to the group?
• What was your biggest challenge working in this group?
• What did you learn about yourself with regard to working with others in this context?
.
What can UTD do for me?

1. Begin by identifying the campus services and resources that are available to help students in the
areas of
• Academic Success
• Social Involvement
• Entertainment
• Personal Development

2. Select one or two in each area and take advantage of them yourself. Get a good sampling of
experiences with these services by using them for a significant period of time, trying out different
ones, etc. A single visit or meeting is not going to give you a true picture.

3. Create a presentation that includes the following:

• An introduction to the services and resources available to students on campus.
• Your experiences with those that you selected:
o How did they work (where do you go, do you need an appointment, did it cost $$?)
o How were they beneficial?
o Best thing about each? Worst thing?
o Who did you meet (staff, students, etc.)
o What would you change about this service?
o Ideas for other campus services/resources.

What can I do for UTD?

1. Begin by identifying some ways that you would like to see UTD change. These can be global
changes (a future vision for the university) or specific changes (those with a more immediate
impact on student life.)

2. Explain why you would like to see these changes and what your vision for UTD is relative to
your ideas for change.

3. Determine the steps you would need to take to begin implementing the change. Consider:
• Who needs to be involved (what university administration/staff/student organizations should
be consulted, included in the change effort?)
• What is the first step? Next?
• What resources are necessary?
• Is there student support for the change? How do you know?

4. Begin to follow the steps you have mapped out.

5. Create a presentation that illustrates your vision, the reasons behind wanting the changes you
do, and what you have done – and what remains to be done – to bring about that change. Don’t
hesitate to use your presentation to drum up support and help in making the changes you are
working for!
Learn from the locals

1.Identify some things that you need or want to learn from each of the following:
• A faculty member/instructor
• Your academic advisor
• A UTD staff member
• A UTD student leader (First Year Leader, Peer Health Educator, Orientation Team Mentor,
Peer Advisor, Student Government officer/representative, Multicultural Peer Advisor, etc.)
• An experienced UTD student
• A new freshman
• Someone with a different background from your own

2. Meet with each (make sure you make appointments when necessary) and discuss the issues you
have identified. Don’t hesitate to go further and learn more if the conversation allows.

3. Summarize what you discovered and present the different contributions and perspectives of the
people you have talked to.

4. Your presentation should include the following:

• An introduction to the people you met during this project (get their permission to use their
picture/video for the presentation. If they do not agree to that, simply talk about their
contribution in your paper and presentation).
• A summary of what you learned when talking with the different people you spoke with.
• What you have learned about being a student at UTD.
• What you have learned about the people who make up the UTD community.
• How this experience has changed your perspective of UTD. Of college. Of yourself.