IS-1111 First Year Seminar
Tentative Schedule

ASSIGNMENT: To be completed before class on the day listed

• (In class) Discuss Merchants of Cool.

1. What is IS1111 about?
2. Introduction to the text.
3. Introduction to Blackboard.
4. What is the main point of the video?
5. Does watching the video make you feel differently about how you are influenced by advertising.

• Read Chapter 1

Reading response assignment :

1. What do the authors mean when they talk about good whys?
2. What do you think the authors would say about the following statement: All weird things are false.
3. What does the following statement (from page 13 of our textbook) mean? Unfortunately, our educational system spends much more time teaching people what to think rather than how to think.
4. Do the paranormal profile on page 11.

• Read two articles on the influence of video games. They can be found on Blackboard in the Reading folder in the VideoGames subfolder. Answer the questions in the next column and be prepared to hand these in.
• Due Sept 18: Paper assignment on video games reading. Find at least one scholarly article and one web site beyond the reading that allows you to support your argument. Write a 2-3 page paper that communicates your perception of the influence of video games. Be sure to adequately support your ideas, and be sure your paper has an introduction, three or four main points and a conclusion.

In class discussion:
1. From the readings what arguments support the benefits of video games?
2. From the readings what arguments indicate that video games are harmful?
3. Do you feel that video games have been or would be beneficial or harmful to you? What evidence do you have?
4. How would you persuade someone who does not play video games of their harm or benefits?

• Read the General Education section (pages 64-69) of Plymouth State University's 2008-09 Academic Catalog.
• Read The Educated Person by Thomas Jones (available on Blackboard) pp 7-12.

1. What is general education?
2. What words would you use to describe PSU's general education program?
3. What qualities does Jones (the author of The Educated Person) suggest an educated person possesses?
4. Do you agree with Jones? Why or why not?
5. What would Thomas Jones say about PSU's general education program?

• Read Chapter 2 (video game paper is due)

Reading response assignment :

Answer the study questions on page 31 of the textbook.

• Read Chapter 3

• Evaluate the 10 claims on pages 58-59 of the textbook. Are they reasonable? Why or why not?

• More discussion of chapter 3

• Do study questions (pp 57-58) 1 through 15

• Read Chapters 1-7 of the Online Library Materials (which can be found here.
• Choose the group that you will work with on the semester portfolio project by today. Each group must have 2 or 3 students in it.

1. Be sure you understand the answers to the review questions at the end of chapters 3-7.

• Read the Academic Integrity section (pages 42-44) of Plymouth State University's 2008-09 Academic Catalog
• Bring your completed materials from Library visit
• Your group must have your portfolio topic approved by me by today

1. What is academic integrity?
2. What is the procedure that will be followed in cases of academic integrity violations?
3. What are some examples of violations of PSU's academic integrity policy?

• Read Chapter 4
• Bring completed materials from Library visit

1. Answer study questions on page 96.
2. Evaluate claims 1-5 on page 96.

• Continue discussion of Chapter 4

• Read Chapter 5

1. How might the constructive nature of your perceptions play a role in what you experience while you're walking at night through an old house said to be haunted?.
2. Answer the following based on Passage 4 on pages 158-159.
   • What is the speaker's evidence for claiming to see the Loch Ness monster?
   • Is her claim justified? Why or why not?
   • Are there any reasons for doubting the evidence of her personal experience? If so, what are they?
   • Do you find her argument convincing? Why or why not?
3. Answer study questions 2-12 on page 157 .

• Read the first half of Chapter 6 (pages 164-190--stop at the section called Creationism, Evolution, and Criteria of Adequacy)

1. Evaluate claims 1-5 on page 221

• Read about TV violence (readings are available in Blackboard in Readings folder).
• Write a 2-3 page paper that answers the following question: Is television generally harmful to children? Why or why not? Be sure your paper has an introduction, three or four main points (with evidence to back them up) and a conclusion. Find at least one additional scholarly source and one credible web site that support your perspective. Due Nov 6th.

1. Is TV violence harmful to children? Why or why not? List four reasons discussed in the reading that supports your view.

• Read the first part of Chapter 7 (pages 228-235--stop at the section called Homeopathy)
• Your topic outline with embedded bibliography is due today.

Reading response assignment:

1. What is the SEARCH formula?
2. Choose two of the six claims on pages 301-302. Evaluate them using the SEARCH formula.

• No class : Arrange for a peer review of your TV violence paper. You may use this time or arrange for another time. Save your original version and you review to hand in on Nov. 13.

• Revised TV violence paper due today. Please include your original paper with peer-review.
• Review for exam
• We will view and discuss a documentary on media bias.

1. What kinds of information will be on the critical thinking test?
2. What have we learned so far this semester?
3. Is there anything that you would like to go over again?

• CRITICAL THINKING EXAM

• Your first reflective paper for the portfolio project is due today.
• Read about how the Internet helps/hinders our ability to be informed. (Two articles in the Blackboard Readings folder.) Paper is due Nov. 25 (next class!) . Write a 2-3 page paper that answers the following question: Are we better informed as a result of the Internet? Be sure your paper has an introduction, three or four main points (with evidence to back them up) and a conclusion. You must be in class today for me to accept this paper without penalty.

• Internet paper due today. You must be in class to hand in the paper. (10% will be deducted otherwise)

In class discussion:

Are we better informed as a result of the Internet?

• Discussion of influence of the pharmaceutical industry practice of advertising medications.

1. Is the pharmaceutical industry putting profits before our well-being?

• The second reflective paper for your portfolio assignment is due today

• Select and read two readings from the Blackboard Readings sub-folder Advertising to Children. Be sure to print these out and bring them to class with you for our discussion.

1. Is it ethical to advertise to children? Why or why not?
2. Is there evidence of harm to children?
3. Are there any benefits to children?

• Your group portfolio (including your group paper) is due today. You will have time in class to work on your group presentation so you should come to class with everything you need to do so.