FTS-100-264
Immigration: Past, present and future
Instructor: Debra (Deb) Pitton, Ph.D.
Office phone: x7456
Office: 115 Mattson Hall
Email: dpitton@gustavus.edu
Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00 - 10:30 and by appointment
Course meets: Tuesday and Thursday, 10:30 – 12:30 in Beck Hall
Course description: This First Term seminar introduces students to critical thinking and a discussion of values, and develops oral and written communication skills through an investigation of immigration issues. Students will examine the reasons individuals choose to leave their homes and come to the United States as well as the impact of this decision on the immigrant and the community where they settle. Starting with a look into our own ancestors' backgrounds and examining the local immigrant population and stories of immigrants, we will critically examine the topic.
Important Notes:
1) Special Needs:
Students with documented learning disabilities or any other handicap that would interfere with their ability to meet the requirements of this semester should see the instructors to outline how reasonable accommodations will be made. This should also be shared with your cooperating teacher and supervising teacher in a timely and appropriate manner.
National Guard and Reserves:
Students who need to be away for National Guard or Reserve Training will need to notify the instructors and supervisors in writing as soon as possible so accommodations can be made to complete all work.
2) The grading is based on papers, projects and in- class participation. The final exam will be an essay exam. The final grade is a cumulative score based on the total work for this course. There will be required individual conferences during finals week.
3) All students need to have an e-mail account and should check it daily. I often communicate with students about class information through e-mail so it is crucial that you read your mail daily.
Student Expectations:
1) Participation:
I expect you to engage in discussion and class dialogue daily and to
thoughtfully address all topics. This is the place to enhance your comfort level and skill set related to classroom interactions, writing, speaking and critical thinking.
2) Attendance:
In this class you have the professional responsibility to show up having read the material and being prepared to talk about it in class. Consequently, your on-time attendance for each class is important. There are times when each of us, however, may have necessary absences. These may include sick days, absences due to team or sports- or performance-related events, field trips required by another professor, or other personal or professional needs. If you have a medical condition, which necessitates frequent absences, please speak with me immediately or email me prior to class. HOWEVER! If you are missing classes without a justified reason, OR your absences are very frequent and impacting your ability to participate in class discussions, your grade will be affected. The instructor will make this determination during conferences with the student.
3) Timely Work:
Assignments are carefully planned to allow for instructor and peer
feedback. If written assignments are not completed on the due date, they can not be reviewed in a timely fashion. In addition, grades may be reduced for late work. (See rubrics). If you cannot be in class, give your assignment to a friend to bring to me.
NOTE: Please DO NOT send assignments through the P.O. for any reason. Please bring them to my office, give them to a friend to bring to class, or give them to me in class or send them to me over e-mail as an attachment.
5) Honor Code: It is expected that all work completed by the students will be their own. The use of materials gathered from other sources must include a citation identifying where the information originated.
Required Texts:
The Everyday Writer (2005, Third edition) by Andrea Lunsford.
Oral Presentations in the composition course (included with The Everyday Writer) 2006, by M. Duncan and G. Friedrich.
The Middle of Everywhere by Mary Pipher. (2002, Harcourt Books).
Literature Crcle text - to be assigned