The UTD First Year Experience

Rhet 1101
Critical Thinking and Oral Communication
Syllabus
Section: 13 - MW in CBW 1.101
Instructor: Thomasina Hickmann First Year Leader: Jimmy Liao
Office Hours & Location: 9-10am, CN 1.126
Email: hickmann@utdallas.edu Email: chl062000@utdallas.edu

Required Materials:
• Cohen, Harlan, (2009). The Naked Roommate, 3e. Sourcebooks, Inc. Naperville.
• DiTiberio, John, K. & Hammer, Allen, L. (1993). Introduction to Type in College, CPP,
Inc. Palo Alto.
• UTD student email account

Recommended Materials:
• Cohen, Harlan, The Naked Roommate 2009 – 2010 Planner Sourcebooks, Inc.
Naperville

Course Objectives:

• To connect you with the UTD campus community through department presentations,
campus involvement, community service, and interactions with peers.

• 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, critical thinking, and the use of campus resources.

• 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, therefore 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.

Course Requirements and Grading

• Class Attendance 300 points

• Academic Autobiography 100 points
• Campus Event Attendance 400 points
• Service Project Participation 200 points
• Oral Presentation: Expert Testimony 100 points
• Group Project & Presentation 150 points
• Risk Project 160 points
• Final Exam 150 points

Total 1560 points

1560 A+ 1201 – 1247 C+

1450 – 1559 A 1138 – 1200 C
1404 – 1449 A- 1092– 1137 C-
1357 – 1403 B+ 1045 – 1091 D+
1294 – 1356 B 982 – 1044 D
1248 – 1293 B- 936 - 981 D-
Below 936 F

*Rhet 1101 is a requirement for graduation. If you drop the course or fail it, you must
take Study Skills (DRDG 194) 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.

Class Policies

• Cell phones must be turned off or to vibrate and are not to be answered or used for text
messaging during class time.
• Unless otherwise noted, laptops are NOT necessary for taking notes in class and should not
be opened at any time.
• Food and drink should be kept to a minimum and put away once class begins.
• 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.

Class Attendance (300 points)

This is a discussion-based class that involves collaborative learning and interactive exercises in
order to explore a variety of topics relative to your transition to college life and The University
of Texas at Dallas. Therefore, it is critical that you come to class to take part in the activities
and contribute to the class dynamics.

For an excused absence, you must adhere to the following:

• 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

Academic Autobiography (100 points)

You will write a minimum 5 page paper about your life as a student thus far and considering
where you want to go with your major and career, examining your experiences in the context
of your learning style, based on your score on The Paragon Learning Style Inventory (PLSI).

Oral Presentation: Expert Testimony (100 points)

You will prepare a 2 – 2½ minute talk about something familiar to you and that you would like
to share with the class.
Group Project & Presentation (150 points)

You will work with a group of your classmates to explore issues related to making a successful
transition to college life through The Naked Roommate and other sources. Your findings will
form the basis of a minimum 8 minute oral presentation to the class.

UTD Campus Exploration (400 points)

You will attend a variety of four on-campus events in order to discover what UTD has to offer
in the way of student services, personal resources, social opportunities, and entertainment.

UTD Community Service Project Participation (200 points)

You will participate in at least one campus-sponsored service project event. Community
service is a strong initiative for the University of Texas at Dallas and it offers a wonderful way
to develop skills related to your future career, make connections with the community, socialize
with fellow Comets, and give back to your local community.

Take A Risk (160 points)

You will identify ways in which getting out of your comfort zone will help you grow as a
person and enable you to successfully achieve your goals. You’ll take a risk, then write about
the thoughts and experiences leading up to it and your conclusions about the experience
afterwards in a minimum 4 page paper.

Final Exam

This will be your opportunity to demonstrate what you have gained over the course of the
semester.

Written Assignment Format

All assignments are due on the specified due date – NO LATE WORK WILL BE
ACCEPTED!! Also, unless otherwise stated, 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.

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.
 Course Schedule (MW)
August
24 First Day of Class, Syllabus Overview, Welcome Week Event Highlights
26 Human Bingo, UTDAT, Introduction to the Academic Autobiography
31 Syllabi: Critical Tools for Success (*bring syllabi from all your courses)
September
2 Introduction to The Naked Roommate Group Project: Group work day
7 Labor Day: No Class
9 DUE: Academic Autobiography; Identifying Your Comfort Zone
The Importance of Public Speaking & Elements of a Good Oral Presentation
14 DUE: Campus Event #1
Meet in SOM 1.118 (Davidson Auditorium) - Presentation: Academic Integrity
16 DUE: Assessing Your Comfort Zone, Class discussion on taking risks
21 Oral Presentation: Expert Testimony
23 DUE: Planning Your Change, TBA
28 Meet in SOM 1.118 (Davidson Auditorium) - Presentation: Counseling Center
30 TBA
October
5 DUE: Campus Event #2, TBA
7 TBA
12 Group Presentation #1 and follow-up discussion
14 TBA
19 TBA
21 TBA
26 Group Presentation #2 and follow-up discussion
28 TBA
November
2 DUE: Campus Event #3, TBA
4 TBA
9 Group Presentation #3 and follow-up discussion
11 TBA
16 TBA
18 TBA
23 DUE: Campus Event #4 + OSV Event, Group Presentation #4
25 TBA
30 TBA
December
2 DUE: Risk Paper, TBA
7 Last Day of Class – Final Exam
 Academic Autobiography
Goal: To give you the opportunity to reflect on your life as a student and incorporate your
understanding of your learning style. Write a paper discussing the following items and provide
insight as to the influence of your learning “personality” on these experiences. Be specific,
using information from the Understanding Type in College book to illustrate your points. Your
paper should be a minimum of 5 full pages in length.
(100 points)

Begin by stating your learning style according to the PLSI and give a brief summary of the
elements of this style.

Then, discuss in autobiographical format, the following:

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

• Who are the teachers that influenced you the most, and in what ways?

• What has been the biggest challenge with regard to your education thus far?
• What made it such a challenge?
• Did it change your perception of yourself as a student?
• Did it affect your attitude toward school and learning?
• How did you get through it?
• In what ways do you limit yourself, or hold yourself back in some way?

• When did you first sense the particular ways in which you prefer to learn?
• How did you discover your learning style?

• Discuss your current thoughts about a career path.

• If you don’t know what direction you would like to go, what majors/careers might
you look into based on your learning style?
• Explain why these have good potential.

• If you have selected a major/career path:

• What is appealing about it to you?
• How do the job possibilities mesh with your learning style?
• Are there any particular challenges to this major/career path that may result from
your learning style? Explain.

• Now that you know your learning style, what can you do to get more out of your
classes and reach your academic goals?

• What are you most looking forward to during your college experience at UTD?
 Excellent Average Weak
The paper focuses on The paper focuses on The paper
the assigned topic, the assigned topic insufficiently focuses
establishing clear and, for the most part, on the assigned topic.
connections among establishes clear Connections among
Focus the writer’s academic connections among the writer’s academic
experience, personal the writer’s academic experience, personal
learning style, and experience, personal learning style, and
college/career goals. learning style, and college/career goals
college/career goals. are often missing
and/or unclear.

The paper discusses The paper discusses a The paper discusses

all of the elements. substantial number of only a few of the
the elements. elements.
Narrative
Elements

The paper adequately The paper adequately The paper fails to

explains the writer’s explains the writer’s adequately explain
personal learning personal learning the writer’s personal
style and thoughtfully style but does not learning style.
Analysis considers the way it sufficiently consider
might enhance the way it might
possibilities and/or enhance possibilities
create challenges in and/or create
academic and challenges in
professional life. academic and
professional life.

The overall For the most part, the The overall

organization of ideas overall organization organization of ideas
and events is clearly of ideas and events is and events is
Organization
arranged. clearly arranged. confusing.

Paragraphs are Paragraphs Paragraphs often lack

unified and coherent. occasionally lack coherence and/or
coherence or unity. unity.
 EXCELLENT AVERAGE WEAK
The details are For the most part, the The details are
relevant to and details are relevant to frequently irrelevant
sufficient for and sufficient for to and/or insufficient
developing the paper. developing the paper. for developing the
Development paper.

The paper conveys The paper generally, The paper frequently

the writer’s but not consistently, conveys a voice that
personality in conveys the writer’s is impersonal and
expressing a voice personality in bland or one that
that is appropriate for expressing a voice lacks a suitable level
Style a personal reflection that is appropriate for of formality.
essay. a personal reflection
essay.

The sentence The sentence

The sentence structure is structure is often
structure is varied and occasionally uniform and
interesting. repetitious. monotonous.

The paper contains The paper contains The paper contains

Mechanics very few errors. only occasional errors frequent errors,
that do not create a distracting or
Grammar, Usage, distraction for the confusing the reader.
Spelling, Punctuation reader.

The paper displays The paper displays a The paper displays an

the required format. few errors in the incorrect format or
required format. frequent errors in the
required format.

Presentation The overall For the most part, the The overall
presentation is overall presentation is presentation
polished, indicating polished but would generally lacks polish
careful revision. have been improved and would have been
by some further improved by
revision. considerable revision.
 Guidelines

Focus: To give you the opportunity to reflect on your life as a student and incorporate
your understanding of your learning style.

Narrative Elements:
What has been your best academic experience thus far? How has it affected your
approach to school over the years?
Who are the teachers that influenced you the most, and in what ways?
What has been the biggest challenge with regard to your education thus far?
What made it such a challenge?
Did it change your perception of yourself as a student?
Did it affect your attitude toward school and learning?
How did you get through it?
In what ways do you limit yourself, or hold yourself back in some way?

When did you first sense the particular ways in which you prefer to learn?
How did you discover your learning style?

What are you most looking forward to during your college experience at UTD?

Analysis:
If you don’t know what direction you would like to go: What majors/careers might
youlook into based on your learning style? Explain why these have good potential.
If you have selected a major/career path:
What is appealing about it to you?
How do the job possibilities mesh with your learning style?
Are there any particular challenges to this major/career path that may result from your
learning style? Explain.

Now that you know your learning style, what can you do to get more out of your
classes and reach your academic goals?
UTD Campus Exploration & Community Service Project
Goals – To show you the variety of things UTD has to offer in the way of
• Sports
• Entertainment
• Cultural & multicultural experiences
• Academic support & enrichment beyond the classroom
• Personal wellness & development
• Extracurricular clubs and organizations
• Social opportunities
• Community Service & Volunteerism

Course Requirements

• You will attend 4 on-campus events/experiences over the course of the semester, one from
each of the designated categories. Each event/experience is worth 100 points, for a total
possible of 400 points.

• You will participate in 1 UTD-sponsored community service event worth 200 points.

Event Cards

• For each event you attend, complete one Event Card and attach some form of official proof
of your attendance. Proof can either be something distributed by staff at the event, a paper
punch or ink stamp on your card, a program agenda or program, or other event materials.
Instructors have information as to legitimate proof for each event. Any questionable
submissions may result in no credit being awarded for attendance.

• For your community service project, you will receive an OSV card as proof of
participation.

Deadlines for Submission

Campus Event Cards and your OSV card may be turned in at any time following your
campus/service experience, within the following parameters:

First due date: YOU MAY TURN IN UP TO 4 EVENTS.

Second due date: YOU MAY NOT TURN IN MORE THAN 3 EVENTS.
Third due date: YOU MAY NOT TURN IN MORE THAN 2 EVENTS.
Fourth due date: YOU MAY NOT TURN IN MORE THAN ONE EVENT.

[Over for Campus Event Categories]

Campus Event Categories
You must attend at least one event from each of the different categories highlighted
below. The events listed are just examples, and many more events are likely to qualify for this
assignment. If you are uncertain as to whether or not an event counts for this assignment, or
which category it belongs to, please ask your instructor.

You can find a complete list of campus happenings through:

• The Online or hard copy of the Comet Calendar
• The Mercury
• The Electronic Sign by the Conference Center
• The Arts & Humanities Events page
• Your First Year Leader or Instructor
• Bulletin Boards and Flyers

Campus and Social Integration

NCAA Athletic Events (Volleyball, soccer, basketball)
Welcome Week Games/Waterview parties
Meteor Theater Movies
SUAAB Events (Casino Night, Karaoke Night, etc.)
Intramural Sports Participation
Club Sports Participation
Student Government Meeting Attendance
Campus Club or Organization Meeting Attendance
SOF Meeting Attendance

Personal Wellness
Women’s Center Seminars/Speakers
Counseling Center Seminars
Health Education/Health Center Seminar or Event
Disability Awareness Week
Office of Student Volunteerism

Academic Enhancement
Career Center Seminar
McDermott Library Tour
Learning Resource Center (calculus study session, use of writing lab, etc.)
Office of International Education Seminar
Office of Judicial Affairs Seminar & Academic Integrity Week
Academic Department Brown Bag or Speaker

Cultural Awareness
Multicultural Center Event
International Student Services Event
Musical Concerts and Theater Productions
Theater Productions
Art Barn Exhibit
 Oral Presentation:
Expert Testimony
Goal: To enable you to become more comfortable with public speaking and develop
your communication skills in a small, familiar 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, prompts or
PowerPoint.

3. Consider the following:

• 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.

4. This assignment is worth 100 points. Check your syllabus for presentation
date.
Rhet 1101 Weekly Class Blog
Extra Credit Option

If you would like to share your thoughts and experiences with your Instructor, First Year
Leader and classmates, and earn some extra points as well, consider joining the class Facebook
group and checking out the weekly blog posts.

You will need to have a basic Facebook account and “friend” your instructor/First Year Leader
in order to participate. It is not required that you post personal information or pictures of
yourself.

Blog postings that are appropriate, relevant, and substantial will receive 2 points, for a total
possible of 20 – 30 extra credit points depending on the number of questions posted.

Appropriate – While you should feel comfortable expressing your true thoughts and
feelings through this medium, please recognize that you are communicating with university
staff as well as a diverse group of classmates. Please refrain from using profanity or
expressions that might be offensive. Express your views appropriately for a class assignment.

Relevant – The prompts posted by your instructor have a purpose related to the course
content. Your responses should reflect your thoughts, ideas, experiences, etc. related to that
topic. You are welcome to expand and add your own prompt for classmates on other issues, but
in order to receive credit for your response, it must address the issue(s) put forth by the
instructor.

Substantial – In order to receive credit for your response, you must contribute a distinct
thought, or share a unique experience or example to illustrate your point. It is not acceptable to
simply say “I agree with X on this point.” Read through other people’s posts and consider their
responses when giving your input. Make a contribution that other’s can gain from – either
through a new perspective, interesting story highlighting the issue, or a useful strategy.

It is the instructor’s decisions as to whether or not your blog post meets these requirements and
receives the possible extra credit points.