Lib A 497 Course Syllabus
Fall 2009
| Instructors: | Tom Whitacre, Carla Michaelsen |
| Phone: | 509-335-8731 |
| E-mail: | liba497@wsu.edu |
| Text: | Guide to Integrated and Critical Thinking Symbolic Representation Models Consult the Visual Representation Model document for an example of a Symbolic Representation Model. Self-Assessment for Writing Assignment End of Semester Intern Performance Evaluation If you do not have Adobe Reader, please click here to download. |
| Meetings: | Via phone/Internet/e-mail |
Catalog Description
Extended Degree Program Internship V 2-16 Prereq junior standing. Extended Degree Program student participation as paid or unpaid intern in a government unit or a non-profit organization.
Credit: Academic Regulation 27 - One semester credit is assigned for a minimum of 45 hours of time commitment. For independent work such as Lib A 497, nine (9) hours per week average for a three (3) credit internship during a 15-week semester is expected.
General Studies majors have the opportunity to participate in our Lib A 497 internship program. The goal of the program is to provide opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in professional work environments related to their work and career interests. This internship course is open only to certified general studies majors.
A maximum of six (6) credits may be applied to the major areas of the general studies degree program.
A proposal and complete Internship Description MUST be submitted prior to enrollment in the Lib A 497 Internship course.
After we receive two documents, the Proposal and the written Internship Description, we will coordinate your registration with the Center for Distance and Professional Education. This course has a restricted line number and we will register you in the course.
Proposal
To be considered for enrollment in Lib A 497, you must write and submit a short (1/2 page is fine) proposal that explains the internship experience for which you want to receive academic credit.
Please include a justification for how this internship will enhance, enrich, or otherwise augment your general studies degree program. We will consider the proposal in light of its relevance and pertinence to your degree program and total educational experience as a general studies student. State the number of credits you wish to earn.
Internship Description
You may not work for an organization or business owned by you, your family, or relatives.
The Internship Description must be submitted within two weeks of beginning the work hours. It must be signed and dated by you (the intern) and your work supervisor.
This description must be written on company or organization letterhead (1-2 pages). Please include:
- Your name, WSU ID#, and complete contact information.
- Your supervisor's name and complete contact information.
- Your responsibilities, listed in bullet point.
- The minimum number of hours per week you will be working, the start date, the end date.
- The number of credits you want.
- The calculated hours over the 15-week semester should correspond with the credit level (see next section)
- The supervisor must agree to provide us with a short written evaluation of your work at the end of the internship.
Please remember to submit an Internship Description that has been:
- Signed and dated by the internship supervisor (include a business card from the supervisor).
- Signed and dated by the intern.
- Written on company or organization letterhead.
The completed Internship Description may be faxed to the College of Liberal Arts General Studies and Advising Center office. The fax number is 509-335-1708. If the Internship Description is faxed, the original document must be sent to:
Lib A 497
General Studies and Advising Center
College of Liberal Arts
P.O. Box 642512
Pullman, WA 99164-2512
Assignments
The specific required assignments (academic work) depend on the credit hours that are being earned. Assignments are to be completed in addition to "on-the-job" hours. You must complete 45 hours of "on-the-job" time for each academic internship credit you expect to earn and complete the assignments for your designated credit level.
| 2–5 Credits (Work hours to be completed between 08/24/2009 and 12/11/2009) 2 (90 hrs), 3 (135 hrs), 4 (180 hrs), 5 (225 hrs) |
|
| Assignment 1 | Journal |
| Assignment 2 | 5-page paper |
| Assignment 3 | Self-Assessment of Writing |
| Assignment 4 | Symbolic Representation Model |
| Assignment 7 | Intern Performance Evaluation |
| 6–11 Credits (Work hours to be completed between 08/24/2009 and 12/11/2009) 6 (270 hrs), 7 (315 hrs), 8 (360 hrs), 9 (405 hrs), 10 (450 hrs), 11 (495 hrs) |
|
| Assignment 1 | Journal |
| Assignment 2 | 5-page paper |
| Assignment 3 | Self-Assessment of Writing |
| Assignment 4 | Symbolic Representation Model |
| Assignment 5 | 10-page paper |
| Assignment 7 | Intern Performance Evaluation |
| 12–16 Credits (Work hours to be completed between 08/24/2009 and 12/11/2009) 12 (540 hrs), 13 (585 hrs), 14 (630 hrs), 15 (675 hrs), 16 (720 hrs) |
|
| Assignment 1 | Journal |
| Assignment 2 | 5-page paper |
| Assignment 3 | Self-Assessment of Writing |
| Assignment 4 | Symbolic Representation Model |
| Assignment 5 | 10-page paper |
| Assignment 6 | 20-page Research Project |
| Assignment 7 | Intern Performance Evaluation |
Assignment Prompts
All assignments are due in the General Studies and Advising Center office no later than Friday, December 11, 2009 (unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor).
These assignments are designed for you to examine and reflect critically on your experiences as an intern, and they function as an occasion for you to assess what you have learned while completing your bachelor's degree in social sciences or humanities. This is an opportunity to evaluate your college education, in terms of achievements, struggles, and powerful learning experiences in a work environment. This effort needs to be part reflective and part research, utilizing all available resources relevant to the discussion, rather than writing papers limited to personal narratives.
Assignment 1: JOURNAL
Write and maintain a journal of activities and accomplishments during your internship—each entry should be approximately 100–200 words, at least one entry per week. The journal may be handwritten in a notebook (must be readable) or may be written in a format to e-mail (e.g., Word document). The journal provides proof of your reflection about the internship experience and it provides you with notes to draw from for writing your paper.
Assignment 2: 5-PAGE (minimum) PAPER
Write a reflective paper. Analyze what you have learned in completing a Lib A 497 internship as part of your social science or humanities degree program. Use the Guide to Integrative & Critical Thinking to steer your analysis of the internship, how it relates to your formal education, and how the learning experience impacts your personal and professional goals. Discuss how your university course work has prepared you for the responsibilities, duties, and challenges of the work you are doing. Demonstrate the relationship of your major academic areas to your internship experience... Include an analysis of the perspective of other "players"—coworkers, clients, supervisor, management, etc.—and how those perspectives relate to your own position and perspective. Discuss your ability to consider, examine, and integrate multiple sources of data or evidence (information) needed to make decisions. You may draw from additional educational and/or extracurricular activities (workshops, community college work, study abroad, athletic programs, clubs, etc.) that are relevant to the discussion.
Pay careful attention to the organization and presentation of your paper. Because this course is for students with junior standing (or higher), effective writing style, as well as correct grammar and syntax, are expected. Evidence of critical thinking skills (in written form) will be considered when a grade is assigned for this course.
Assignment 3: SELF-ASSESSMENT OF WRITING
Complete a self-assessment of your writing of the 5-page paper. This self-assessment will ask you to rate your own writing according to the Guide to Integrative & Critical Thinking. It will also ask that you give some feedback about the assignment and the guide. Your response will not affect your grade for the course. Print and complete a copy of the self-assessment form.
Assignment 4: SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION MODEL
Design a Symbolic Representation Model and write a short description of the model, explaining the significance of the components. This will be a chart, diagram, graph, or other symbolic representation on paper or computer-designed. Consider your own personal attributes, history, education, employment, significant life events, and anything else that can be considered part of your life experience. The model can be a specifically targeted representation of an aspect of your life or it can be a more broadly drawn model of your life experience. Be creative!
Consult the Visual Representation Model for one example of a Symbolic Representation Model. You may create a similar model or design your own.
Assignment 5: 10-PAGE (minimum) PAPER
Write a second reflective paper. Relate your personal interests and skills to a long-term career plan. Include a comprehensive self-assessment of your current and existing assets and abilities and how these traits will enhance opportunities for future employment. Allow for a realistic assessment of your strengths and areas that need improvement. Consider additional skills and tools that you anticipate you will need to develop for a job search, e.g., networking ability, specialization training, promotional tools, etc. Research, identify, and evaluate one potential job this internship could help you prepare for.
Assignment 6: 20-PAGE (minimum) RESEARCH PROJECT
Author a comprehensive research project. Use and analyze on-line educational and career Web sites that focus on professional opportunities. Apply your academic preparation and experiential learning (including the Lib A 497 internship) to evaluate two potential future career options. Compare the two career options in terms of:
- Entry level requirements
- Initial and mid-range benefit packages (including health benefits, life insurance, retirement plans, company stock plans, etc.)
- Training/educational opportunities
- Travel opportunities
- Personal and professional growth opportunities
- Other comparisons as relevant
Try to be as realistic as possible and include a discussion of the "negatives" associated with either career option, e.g., time away from family, long hours, potential stress factors that may be part of the job. After completing the comparison, select the career option you would be most interested in pursuing and provide a final evaluation, relating it to your educational preparation. Include a bibliography and cite all resources.
Assignment 7: Return INTERN PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
This form MUST be completed and signed/dated by your internship supervisor at the completion of your internship experience. You may deliver the form to the General Studies and Advising Center office with the other relevant assignments. The final Supervisor’s Evaluation may be faxed to 509-335-1708. Click on the link for the form to print and give to your supervisor:
Please type your paper(s): double-spaced, 12-point font, and 1" margins. You might wish to consult texts you used in writing courses (Engl 101, [M] classes, technical writing courses) or standard style manuals (APA, Chicago Manual of Style) for assistance. Footnotes are not required unless you quote something. Your Lib A 497 letter grade will be partially determined by evidence that you understand and apply these conventions when you write your paper(s).
If you are unsure about your writing skills, you should visit the Writing Center in the Smith Center for Undergraduate Education (CUE) or at the Web site. The information on this site can help you gain the necessary skills for writing a college-level paper.
All assignments are due in the General Studies and Advising Center office no later than Friday, December 11, 2009 (unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor).
Grading
Lib A 497 is a graded course. You must complete and deliver all assignments for your designated credit level. Read the assignment prompts carefully. Your grade will be determined by the quality of your written paper(s), evidence of critical thinking in written form, your supervisor's evaluation of your work performance, and the "on-time" submission of all of the assignments. Late submission of any assignment will only be approved if extraordinary circumstances merit the case. Late submission of any one assignment (without approval) will result in lowering your final grade by a full grading step (A to B, B+ to C+, B- to C-, etc.). Late submission of any two assignments (without prior approval) will lower the final grade by two full grading steps. Late submission of any three assignments (without prior approval) will result in a failing grade for the course. Please consult with the instructor if there are extraordinary circumstances which prevent you from meeting the deadline for submission.
Critical Thinking & Symbolic Representation Resources
Washington State University has identified Six Learning Goals of the Baccalaureate. These goals are designed to prepare graduates for active and productive lives, effective relationships, and access to opportunities. A link to the Six Learning Goals of the Baccalaureate is provided to help you understand the purpose of the Liberal Arts Internship experience and related academic assignments.
- The first Learning Goal states that WSU graduates will become proficient critical thinkers. Critical thinking is one of the most important and valuable qualities that college students can develop. This skill not only applies to the college setting but in the professional arenas and everyday life as well. The Critical and Integrative Thinking Guide helps you understand how to direct your thought processes in an "integrative & critical manner" as you communicate, analyze, or consider issues of importance. Critical thinkers are able to assess situations from multiple perspectives, leading to relevant solutions, goals, or conclusions.
- You will note that the first seven "Evaluation Factors" on the Self Assessment for Writing form correlate to the "thinking points" on the Guide to Rating Integrative & Critical Thinking. You may use a copy of the Evaluation Factors, in conjunction with the Critical Thinking Rubric, to guide the writing of your paper(s).
- The second Learning Goal states that WSU "graduates will demonstrate … symbolic reasoning by their ability to draw conclusions from … symbolic representations in order to check the logic and validity of statements." Graduates will "employ symbolic reasoning to … represent the variety of discourses underlying the search for truth … in the humanities and social sciences." An individual possesses unique values, attitudes, strengths or weaknesses, experience, goals, etc. A Symbolic Representation offers a succinct approach to presenting these unique personal elements and how they interrelate to shape the whole person you are at this point in your life.
- You will be provided with examples of Symbolic Representation models. See "Text" section at the beginning of the syllabus.
Students with Disabilities (DDP-Based Students)
Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented disability. DDP and the Disability Resource Center (DRC) work together to provide reasonable accommodations for students who have documented disabilities and who are registered both with DDP and the DRC. DDP's liaison to the DRC will assist you in getting started. To begin this process, contact DDP (800-222-4978 or distance@wsu.edu). We strongly recommend that you notify us as soon as possible. All accommodations must be approved through the Disability Resource Center (DRC).
If you have any questions, please contact Rosie Pavlov at pavlovr@wsu.edu or 509-335-3417 or check on our website at www.drc.wsu.edu
Students with Disabilities (Other Campus-Based Students)
Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented disability. If you have a disability and may need accommodations to fully participate in this class, please visit the Disability Resource Center (DRC). All accommodations MUST be approved through the DRC (Washington Building, Room 217). Please stop by or call 509-335-3417 to make an appointment with a disability specialist.
If you have any questions, please contact Rosie Pavlov at pavlovr@wsu.edu or 509-335-3417 or check on the DRC Web site at www.drc.wsu.edu
Academic Integrity
You are expected to uphold the WSU standard of conduct relating to academic integrity (Academic Integrity Standards and Procedures). You assume full responsibility for the concent and integrity of the academic work you submit. The guiding principle of academic integrity shall be that your submitted work, examination, reports, and projects must be your own work. Evidence of egregious plagiarism will result in a failing grade for Lib A 497.
Past Lib A 497 Syllabi
- Summer 2009
- Spring 2009
- Fall 2008
- Summer 2008
- Spring 2008, Pullman students
- Spring 2008, DDP students