Introduction to Honors

IDH 1931 Spring Semester 2015

Instructors
Korrin Anderson
M: 8:30 AM 9:45 AM, GC 289
Office hours: By appointment, GC
189/WUC 256
anderskl@fiu.edu, 305-348-6414
Veronica Diaz
T: 8:00 AM 9:15 AM, GC 274
Office hours: By appointment, PC 125
diazver@fiu.edu, 305-348-2346
Eric Feldman
Th: 9:30 AM 10:45 AM, AHC5 212A
Office hours: By appointment, GL 461
efeldman@fiu.edu, 305-348-4145
Adam Gorelick
M: 9:00 AM 10:15 AM, GC 274
M: 11:00 AM 12:15 PM, GC 272
T: 12:30 PM 1:45 PM, GC 271A
Office hours: M: 12:30 PM 4:30 PM and
by appointment, DM 233
agorelic@fiu.edu, 305-348-4100

Melissa Hernandez
F: 2:00 PM 3:15 PM, CP 107
Office hours: By appointment, CBC 121
melihern@fiu.edu, 305-348-3402
Louis Macias
M: 9:30 AM 10:45 AM, AHC5 212A
Office hours: By appointment, GC 216
lmacias@fiu.edu, 305-348-2436
Evan Northup
W: 9:00 AM 10:15 AM, GC 274
W: 11:00 AM 12:15 PM, GC 274
Office hours: By appointment, DM 233
enorthup@fiu.edu, 305-348-4100
Anthony Rionda

M: 12:00 PM 1:15 PM, DM 164

F 12:30 1:45 PM, GC 278A
Office hours: By appointment, PC 249
arionda@fiu.edu, 305-348-2892

Jose Rodriguez
W: 2:00 PM 3:15 PM, GC 274
Office hours: By appointment, DM 233
rodrigej@fiu.edu, 305-348-4100

Nanett Rojas
F: 2:00 PM 3:15 PM, DM 144
Office hours: By appointment, BT 224
rojasn@fiu.edu, 305-348-7464

Ricky Sant
F: 12:30 PM 1:45 PM, CP 107
Office hours: By appointment, BT 231
santr@fiu.edu, 305-348-0153
Patsy Self
T: 9:30 AM 10:45 AM, DM 163
Th: 9:30 AM 10:45 AM, GC 272
Office hours: By appointment, ZEB 237A
Selfp@fiu.edu, 305-348-3388
Allen Varela
W: 2:00 PM 3:15 PM, GC 273A
Office hours: By appointment, DM 233
alvarel@fiu.edu, 305-348-4100

Juan Carlos Espinosa

Course Coordinator
Office hours: By appointment, DM 233
espinosj@fiu.edu, 305-348-4100

Course Description
The second semester of Introduction to Honors focuses on leadership, group work, and
service-research. Students will continue to develop their written, research, and oral
presentation skills. The main activity of the semester is the Student Action Project, a
combined group-individual project where students get to identify, study and make
recommendations on major questions faced by the FIU community in the coming years.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of the course, you will be able to demonstrate the ability to completely and
accurately address the following:
What are the basic principles of academic and rhetorical writing and how do I use
them?
How can I access and analyze authentic and reliable information sources?
What is data-driven research and how do I undergo a research project?
What are basic principles of leadership and how can I develop my leadership style?
How can complex issues be identified, described, and analyzed in a group context?
Texts
Warren Bennis, On Becoming a Leader (Summary)
John W. Gardner, The Tasks of Leadership
Roselinde Torres, New Leadership Rules
Videos
Drew Dudley, Leading with Lollipops
Derek Sivers, How to Start a Movement (First Followers)
Roselinde Torres, What it takes to be a great leader
Web Resources
How to Write a White Paper, Purdue OWL (webpage)
How to Write a White Paper, Purdue OWL (video)
How to do Group Writing, UNC-Chapel Hill (guide)
FIU Resources
FIU iReal Commission White Paper
Any other course material assigned by your instructors will be available via Blackboard.
Guidelines for Written Work
All written assignments MUST be typed and must conform to the instructions of the
instructor. Papers and other written assignments must include your name, Panther ID
number, course number and the name of the instructor. They must be double spaced, 1-inch
margins (top, bottom, left and right) and in 12 point font, Times New Roman or Calibri and
consistently adhere to the MLA Formatting and Style Guide. Students are advised to carefully
proofread all papers before submitting them. All students are encouraged to take advantage
of the University resources for writing to be found in the Center for Excellence in Writing, a
full-service writing center providing writing assistance and feedback to university students.
For more information, go to http://writingcenter.fiu.edu/.
Notice
Announcements and all guidelines for assignments will be posted on Blackboard. It is your
responsibility to actively monitor the Blackboard site for information and any changes to the
syllabus, schedule, or events.

Assignments

Essay on Leadership: Students will write an essay about the role of leadership and
followership in their lives, using a public figure (living or dead, someone you view as
a leader in any capacity) as support. They must refer to at least two of the assigned
readings. The Torres video can replace one of the readings. The essay makes up 20%
of the final grade - 500 word minimum.

Presentation of Essay on Leadership: Utilizing the person you chose to highlight

in your personal essay, present your paper about the role of leadership and
followership to your classmates in a dynamic way. You can use Powerpoint, posters,
create a diorama or anything that supports your vision on what leadership is to you.
The presentation makes up 10% of the final grade five (5) minutes maximum.

Student Action Project: A service-research project addressing issues faced by the

FIU community, SAP has group and individual elements. Students will work together
to prepare a White Paper for their class, present their research at an Honors Hour,
and then write a reflection paper as individuals.
o

Group element: The preparation of a White Paper. Each section will tackle one
question (or two if the section is large), and generate a White Paper, a report
advocating a position or proposing a solution to a particular problem.
Students will use the results of their StrengthsQuest as a guide in the
distribution of roles or tasks related to the project. Students will share the
results of their study at an Honors Hour at the end of the semester. The group
portion of the SAP (including the White Paper) makes up 40% of the final
grade.

Individual element: A personal reflection about what you learned about

yourself as a leader and as a follower, and makes up 20% of the final grade.
The reflection paper is a minimum of 500 words.

What is a White Paper? Originally, the term White Paper was used as shorthand to
refer to an official government report, indicating that the document is authoritative
and informative in nature. Writers typically use this genre when they argue a specific
position or propose a solution to a problem, addressing the audience outside of their
organization. Typically, the purpose of a white paper is to advocate that a certain
position is the best way to go or that a certain solution is best for a particular
problem. (Purdue OWL). The White Paper is the culmination of the group project
and should be prepared in the format recommended by Purdue OWL. The final
document is the product of the entire class and should be no longer than 15
pages. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT EACH STUDENT MUST WRITE A 15 PAGE PAPER,
BUT THAT ALL STUDENTS MUST CONTRIBUTE TO THE CREATION OF A FINAL PROJECT.
The White Paper could be a digital document or it can take the form of a website.
Action research always involves the same seven-step process. These seven steps
become an endless cycle for the inquiring researcher. How the steps are determined
is based on the class schedule, but the process is organic and different classes may
move at different paces. The steps are listed below:
1. Selecting a focus

2. Clarifying ideas and

approaches
3. Identifying research questions
4. Collecting data

5. Analyzing data
6. Reporting results
7. Taking informed action

8.
Participation: Every student is expected to participate in discussion board
conversations. All students must post a minimum of two replies to every
other student. Students will be graded on the quantity and quality of
discussion board posts. Students must also attend one full session of the
ARCH Conference.
9.
First Annual Undergraduate Research Conference Review: The
conference is an annual event sponsored by the Honors College to show the
best work in research by our students. The event will feature academic
posters, oral presentations and workshops. Students who wish to earn up to
5 extra credit points, may submit a review of the conference focusing on a
particular panel or poster 200 word minimum.
10.
11. Assignment Grading Scale
12.

19.

13.
Assignment Category
Percent
14.
Essay on Leadership
15.
Essay Presentation
16.
Student Action Project (White Paper and Presentation)
17.
Student Action Project Reflection Paper
18.
Participation
20.
100

Weighted
20
10

40
20
10

TOTAL:
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

Scale
+ 93
89-87
79-77
69-67

A
B+
C+
D

92-90
86-83
76-73
66>

AB
C
F

82-80 B72-70 C-

26.

Attendance/Classroom Etiquette
27. Attendance is required and will be reflected in the final grade. You are
expected to be on time for class and to remain in class for the duration of the
lecture. Material will be covered in class that is not covered in the readings,
thus each absence will negatively affect your ability to do well on
assignments. Students will be allowed 2 absences. All other absences will
adversely affect your grade. Please see the chart below for more information.
28.
29. Number of
30. Esti
31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41.
Unexcused
mat
Absences
ed
Grad
e
42.

55. 2

43. A

44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54.
A B B B
C C C
D D D F

56. A

57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67.
A- B B B- C C C- D D D F

68. 3

69. B

70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80.
B- C C C- D D D
F F
F F

81. 4+

82. F

83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93.
F
F F F
F F
F
F F
F F

94.
95. Students will behave in a courteous manner at all times. Talking in class is
disruptive and shows a lack of respect for the lecturer, your fellow students
and others present in the room. The use of electronic devices (cellphones,
laptops, tablets, etc.) may be prohibited during certain activities at the
discretion of the instructor.

96.COURSE CALENDAR
97.
98.
101.
102.
100.

Assignments (to be
done for before your next
class or by posted due date.
All materials are found on
Blackboard (BB) unless
specified

99. Week

106.
107.
16
108.
109.

Week 1
January 12

116.
Week 2
117.
January 19
- 23
118.
MLK Day
No class on
Monday
122.
Week 3
123.
January 26
- 30
124.

129.
130.
6
131.

Week 4
February 2

138.
139.
- 13
140.

Week 5
February 9

147.
Week 6
148.
February
16 20

153.
Week 7
154.
February
23 - 27
155.

103.
110.
Register for
StrengthsQuest
111.
Click here to purchase
StrengthsQuest code
112.
Click here to register
for StrengthsQuest
119.
Take StrengthsQuest
120.
Read Gardner

125.
126.

Read Bennis, Torres

Watch First Follower

132.
Watch Torres
133.
Prepare first draft of
essay
134.
Workshop essay on the
class
135.
discussion board
136.
141.
Complete final essay
142.
143.
Essay on Leadership
due on Sunday,
144.
February 15 by 11:59
PM
145.
149.
Review FIU iReal
Commission White Paper

156.
Draft research
questions

104.
105.

During Class
Session

113.
Introduction,
Syllabus Review
114.
Introduction,
StrengthsQuest
115.
121.
Discuss
StrengthsQuest

127.
Watch TEDx
Toronto Leading with
Lollipops
128.
Discuss
leadership, define
qualities and
characteristics
137.
Panther Alumni
Week Presentations

146.
Presentation of
Leadership essay

150.
Introduction to
SAP
151.
Introduction to
topic(s)
152.
Outline roles
and tasks
157.
Select
research questions for
White Paper

158.
159.
6
160.

Week 8
March 2 -

167.
Week 9
168.
March 9
14
169.
SPRING
BREAK
170.
175.
Week 10
176.
March 16
20
177.
ARCH,
March 17 18

187.
188.
27
189.

Week 11
March 23 -

193.
Week 12
194.
March 30
April 3
195.
199.
Week 13
200.
April 6 10
201.
204.
Week 14
205.
April 13 17
206.
A&V
Exhibit opens,
April 15
209.
Week 15
210.
April 20 24
211.
Presentati
ons
217.

161.
Review Purdue OWL
White Paper
162.
guidelines (web and
video)
163.
171.
172.

NO CLASSES

164.
Discuss White
Paper format
165.
Project
planning and research
design
166.
173.
174.
NO CLASSES

178.
Read How to do group
writing
179.
180.
Groups meet to plan
research
181.
strategies and goals
182.
183.
Attend FIU
Undergraduate Research
Conference
184.
185.
190.
Collect data (group
work)
191.

186.
Begin filling in
outline

196.
Collect and analyze
data (group work)

197.
Analyze and
discuss data
198.
Start
assembling White
Paper
203.
Workshop
White Paper section
drafts

202.
Collect and analyze
data (group work)

192.
Share and
discuss collected data

207.
Complete work on
White Paper (group work)

208.
Prepare
materials for Student
Action Summit

212.
White Paper due on
Sunday, April 19 by 11:59 PM
213.
Personal reflection due
on Friday, April 24 by 11:59
PM

214.
Student
Research Day
215.
Thursday, April
23, 3:30 PM
216.

218.
219.
220.

Honors College Requirements and Policies

221.
Registration in this course implies an acceptance of and
compliance with the Honors College policies for students and the FIU
Code of Academic Integrity.
222.
Honors Citizenship Requirements
223.
Beginning in Fall 2014, Honors College students are required to
accumulate at least 20 citizenship points each academic year (Fall and
Spring) by attending Honors College activities. Students attending only one
semester (Fall or Spring) are required to accumulate 10 citizenship points.
See Honors College Citizenship.
224.
225.
Student Portfolios
226.
The Honors College will be using a portfolio method to assess students
learning outcomes. The portfolio allows for maximum flexibility in gauging
student learning. Students decide (with instructor consultation) what
artifacts or assignments to include for consideration in their portfolios to
demonstrate successful achievement of each of five key student learning
outcomes over the 4-year Honors experience. See Honors College Portfolios.
227.
228.
Academic Misconduct Procedures and Penalties
229.
In The Honors College, the term honor refers both to academic
accomplishment and character. Students in Honors should therefore adhere to
and be held to the highest standards of personal academic accountability.
Academic dishonesty in any form, including plagiarism, is antithetical to the
very definition of being an Honors student at FIU. Consequently, an Honors
College student found responsible for academic misconduct will be dismissed
from the College.
230.
231.
An Honors faculty member may bring charges of academic misconduct
against an Honors student if the faculty member suspects plagiarism or other
forms of academic misconduct. The faculty member will decide whether to
pursue informal resolution, file formal resolution charges, or take no further
action, and will follow the procedures outlined in the Honors College website
(http://honors.fiu.edu/academics/policies/).
232.
233.
234.
235.

Please refer to the following documents for additional information:

236.

FIU Honors College Academic Misconduct Policy

237.

FIU Code of Academic Integrity

238.
239.
Religious Observances
240.
Every effort will be made, where feasible and practical, to
accommodate students whose religious practices coincide with class
requirements or scheduling. Please make sure to notify your instructor at the
beginning of the semester of which dates you will be absent or any
anticipated problems with completing course work.
241.
242.
Physical, Mental and Sensory Challenges
243.
Every effort will be made, where feasible and practical, to
accommodate students who are so challenged. Should you require

accommodations, contact the Disability Resource Center, if you have not done
so alread