Syllabus

Syllabus for //A Long Way Gone//


 * Unit Setup: **
 * Activities are listed and arranged by their corresponding week on the online learning environment, starting with Week 1 and ending with Week 6. Assignments for each week are due __by midnight Saturday__ of that week. Please keep in mind that, although you have the entire calendar week to work at your own pace to complete the assignments, you are required to log on to the online environment **** at least 2 times **** per week; this includes posting your original response to the weekly blog prompt __by midnight Wednesday__, and posting 2 comments on other classmates’ responses __by midnight Friday__ (for a total of 3 interactions with the blog per week). Late postings will result in a lower discussion grade for that particular week. **

** Each time we meet F2F in the classroom, please come with the following: **
 * Materials Required: **
 * ** something to write with, **
 * ** your notes & class notebook, **
 * ** the required reading – in this case, the memoir //A Long Way Gone//, which you will receive on the first day of class, and **
 * ** any material from our online learning environment that you might require (such as downloaded related readings/articles and/or notes on these materials). **

** To access and work with our online learning environment, you will need the following: **
 * ** Internet access, **
 * ** a working email address, and **
 * ** Microsoft Word or similar word-processing software. **

Face-to-Face Syllabus

 * Face-to-Face Activities ** : With a few exceptions (see unit calendar for specific dates), our face-to-face class time is set to meet on Mondays and Thursdays for a 45-minute class period in room D-101. During our face-to-face time, you will be engaged in the following activities:
 * discussing, in groups and whole-class, the assigned text chapters and related readings,
 * completing reading checks,
 * viewing and discussing related videos,
 * working on group project,
 * presenting group project, and
 * taking the unit exam (last class).

The following is the schedule for our face-to-face class times. It is subject to change as the instructor deems necessary. Time in the F2F classroom will be broken up among discussion of texts/articles, formative reading checks & rechecks (as requested), and group project work. __Please note that listed chapters are to be read **//prior//** to meeting in the F2F classroom__ (for example, before coming to class on May 9, it is expected that you have read chapters 1-4 of the text already). You can also access the unit calendar here.

May 2: (1st class): introduction to unit; online platform orientation; background information scavenger hunt; anticipation statements

May 5: **pre-reading assignments due**

May 9: **chapters 1-4 due**; chapter discussion; group project introduced + groups assigned

May 12: chapter reading check; group role-play activity

May 16: **chapters 5-9 due**; chapter discussion; work on group project

May 19: chapter reading check; work on group project

May 23: **chapters 10-13 due**; chapter discussion; work on group project

May 26: chapter reading check; work on group project

May 30: Memorial Day – no classes

June 2: **chapters 14-17 due**; chapter discussion; chapter reading check; write outline of United Nations speech & pair-discuss

June 6: **chapters 18-21 due**; chapter discussion; work on group project

June 7: **group projects due**; chapter reading check; group project presentations begin

June 9: group project presentations conclude

June 13: (last class) **summative unit exam**

Online Syllabus

 * Online Activities ** : You are expected to log on to our online learning environment on the days we do not meet face-to-face in order to complete the assignments and discussions. At our online learning environment, you will be engaged in the following activities:
 * introducing yourself through initial ice-breaker activities,
 * completing chapter readings & related article readings,
 * participating in weekly class discussions via Edublogs,
 * collaborating on the group project,
 * completing formative assessments (content quizzes), and
 * viewing the movie //Blood Diamond// and submitting a reflection paper and critique of the movie.

The following is the schedule for our online learning environment times. It is subject to change as the instructor deems necessary. You can also access the unit calendar here.

Week 1, 5/1-5/7: pre-course survey; complete icebreaker activity (1st blog discussion): view RUF intimidation slideshow via Flickr & complete 2nd blog discussion "RUF Intimidation"

Week 2, 5/8-5/14: complete assigned chapter reading; “//In His Crepes//” text response (3rd blog discussion); content quiz for ch.1-4

Week 3, 5/15-5/21: complete assigned chapter reading; “One’s Opinion”(4th blog discussion); content quiz for ch.5-9; collaborate on group project

Week 4, 5/16-5/28: complete assigned chapter reading; “Safe?” (5th blog discussion); content quiz for ch.10-13; collaborate on group project

Week 5, 5/29-6/4: complete assigned chapter reading; “//What Importance is Memory?"// (6th blog discussion); content quiz for ch.14-18; finalize group project; movie reflection due

Week 6, 6/5-6/11: complete assigned chapter reading; view CBS video via YouTube; "Reflection on Resilience" (7th blog discussion); content quiz for ch.19-21; complete review quiz in preparation for unit exam