1. You are expected to attend all seminar classes and required meetings in the course. Three unexcused absences mean failure in the course.

2. Freshman Seminar writing requirements:

A. An orientation week essay of approximately 500-750 words. This is a diagnostic essay. Students are expected to revise this essay.

B. Three 750-1000 words, thesis-focused essays.

C. A variety of writing exercises (500-1000 words weekly) such as response papers, text summaries in the form of formal or informal writing. (essays or journals)

D. A comprehensive essay final examination and quizzes.

3. Grading guidelines:

30%-------formal papers (A and B above)
20%-------writing exercises (C above)
20%-------oral communications in class
30%-------quizzes and final examination

4. Section Differences

Beginning with the course philosophy from the Monmouth College catalog, the current freshman seminar instructors collaborated on choice of theme, texts, videos, convocation speakers, writing requirements and grading guidelines for the course. Even though we have been diligent in our processes we would all agree that some variation must and does exist between each section. Individual instructors may assign greater value to some of the assignments within the grading guidelines categories and some instructors may require closer to 1000 words than 500 weekly. We feel some difference is inevitable and even welcome.

As your section begins to discuss the issues raised in each text you may wish to explore with other Freshman Seminar students what their section is doing with the particular material at hand.