Course Contents (as of June 2000):

IS 1001 (sections 22 & 30). First Year Seminar - What Makes a Family?
Fall 2000


2 credit hours.

Instructor : Dr. Peh Ng --

Instructor's OFFICE: Sci 2330

Instructor's OFFICE HOURS: 8:20-9:10 MWF & 9:00-10:00 TTh or by appointment

Instructor's PHONE: 589-6318

Instructor's E-MAIL: pehng@morris.umn.edu

Course Objective: To help students to :

Please note: the basic foundation of this course is to provide an avenue for developing critical thinking in a small, informal and yet with academic rigor, class setting. Topics and specific contents in the course are for the purpose of instigating and providing a setting for discussion. The current theme of this course, "human diversity", provides a topic for discussion that will enhance critical thinking. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COURSE IS NOT TO SOLVE EVERY DIVERSITY RELATED ISSUE, NEITHER IS IT A COURSE TO TEACH THE "CONTENTS".

REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS:

To facilitate in-class discussions and for you to show your in-class participation, it is necessary that you do readings of the text when assigned and before class.

PRE-REQUISITES FOR THIS COURSE: Willingness to work hard, to spend at least 4 hours weekly outside of class time on this course, to think analytically & critically, and to participate in constructive discussions.

MATERIAL COVERED: (in chronological order)

Part 1. FYS Common Reader. (Weeks 1-3.)

Part 2. Historical perspectives of Families. (approx 2 weeks.)

Part 3. Perceived Types . (approx 2 weeks.)

Part 4. Classifications & Differences relating to: (approx 4 weeks.)

Part 5. Commonalities. ( approx 2 weeks.)

ASSIGNMENTS: Multiple homework sets (short and long papers) will be assigned within and outside of class. No late assignments will be accepted unless arrangements are made with the instructor PRIOR to the due date.

COURSE PROJECT: (Jamboree) Course Project will be assigned at the end of the third week of the semester. The handout given will contain all the details and mechanisms.

COURSE GRADE: The weights of assignments, course project, in-class participation and course final presentation & report are given below.

HOMEWORK: 50%
IN-CLASS PARTICIPATION: 10%
Jamboree: 20%
Course final project: written report & oral presentation: (in groups) 20%

Course Grades
GUARANTEED GRADE IF TOTAL PERCENTAGE x is
A 93 <= x <= 100
A- 90 <= x <= 92
B+ 87 <= x <= 89
B 83 <= x <= 86
B- 80 <= x <= 82
C+ 77 <= x <= 79
C 73 <= x <= 76
C- 70 <= x <= 72
D+ 67 <= x <= 69
D 60 <= x <= 66

PLEASE FEEL WELCOME TO SEE ME OUTSIDE OF THE CLASS, ANY TIME, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PROBLEMS, OR COMMENTS PERTAINING THE COURSE WORK.

This page's URL is http://www.morris.umn.edu/~pehng/Is1001/syllabus.html

Back to Peh's FYS Homepage or
back to Peh's Teaching Page .

The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Minnesota.