First Year Seminar
Chuck Stull
Office: Dewing 309

phone: X-7023

cstull@kzoo.edu

Course Description
This seminar will explore the future from a variety of perspectives. We will examine change over time and the impact of technology on society. We will consider means of forecasting, predicting, and planning for the future. We will look at past changes and future possibilities. We will develop scenarios for Kalamazoo’s future. We will work to improve fundamental academic skills in investigation, analysis, communication, and collaboration through our readings, discussions, writings, research, and presentations.

Books

1) The Art of the Long View, Peter Schwartz; Doubleday 1991

2) The Diamond Age, Neal Stephenson; Bantam Books, 1995

3) Harbrace College Handbook

On-Line Readings

A. One of the following writings on urban design

1. “Home from Nowhere” James Howard Kunstler http://www.theatlantic.com/atlantic/issues/96sep/kunstler/kunstler.htm

2. “A Good Place to Live” Philip Langdon http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/96sep/kunstler/langdon.htm

3. “A Critique of Neotraditionalism” Randal O'Toole http://www.teleport.com/~rot/neotrad.html

4. “Reshaping America” Christopher B. Leinberger and Charles Lockwood http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/95nov/malls/howbiz.htm

5. “What Main Street Can Learn from the Mall” Steven Lagerfeld http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/95nov/malls/malls.htm

6. “Hot Spots: A Field Guide to Your Local Economy” Joel Garreau, http://www.inc.com/incmagazine/archives/27950511.html

B. “Jihad vs McWorld” Benjamin Barber http://www.theatlantic.com/atlantic/election/connection/foreign/barberf.htm

C. These articles on privacy and surveillance

1. “Caught” Phil Patton

NEW ADDRESS:  http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/3.01/caught.html
[obsolete--http://www.wired.com/wired/3.01/features/caught.html]

2. “The Transparent Society” David Brin

NEW ADDRESS
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.12/fftransparent.html
[obsolete--http://www.wired.com/wired/4.12/features/fftransparent.html]

Class Requirements

A variety of activities will be used in this class to develop and refine academic skills. These will include presentations, interviews, computer assignments, and papers of varying types. Discussion is an important part of any seminar. Your participation is crucial to the success of this class.

Journal
In addition to the papers assigned in class, you will be asked to maintain a journal of less formal writings. This journal should contain personal reactions to our readings and discussions, responses to topics suggested in class, and personal reflections on topics of your choosing. The journal provides practice in putting your thoughts into writing. The more focused and specific your journal entries, the better you will develop critical thinking and writing habits. You should write at least 2 pages in your journal weekly.

Portfolios
Self-evaluation and assessment are important to developing skill. This class asks you to direct these processes in two ways: 1) through the Kalamazoo Portfolio, a computer-based portfolio, and 2) through a collection of your graded and ungraded writing. We will devote a class session to learning basic web authoring skills for the Kalamazoo Portfolio. You will need a folder to collect your writings.

Conferences
Individual conferences will be a time to review progress and set goals. You will need to bring your Journal and your folder of writings to each conference.

Forums
First-Year Forums are intended to assist students with the big step from high school to college and to recognize the extra effort they will give this endeavor in the first term. From a wide range of choices, students will select five forums to attend. A complete list of First-Year Forums can be found in the Kompass. Attendance is taken in the same way as LAC events and a student’s participation counts as 10% of the Seminar grade.

Grades

Resources project 10% Time and change project (interview and city design) 20% Multicultural action plan 10% Technology project(Surveillance/Privacy) 10% Scenarios project 10% Web portfolio project (portfolio w/written expression) 10% Final review, including ungraded writing and revisions 10% Class participation 10% First Year Experience Labs 10% Total 100%

Meeting deadlines is an important part of college and professional life. Late work will be penalized.

The class participation grade will combine attendance and contribution to class discussion and activities.

Honor System The Kalamazoo College Honor System covers all aspects of this course. Be sure to properly cite sources if you use others’ ideas or words.

Any student who needs an accommodation or other assistance in this course should make an appointment to speak with me as soon as possible.

Calendar

The Next Century--class page

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