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First Year College

Summer Reading 2008

Colleges and universities are discovering that students get more out of their college experience if they truly connect with their campus.  Summer readings can help jump-start those connections.  FYC’s summer reading this year is Sounds of the River, by Da Chen.  This book asks questions that you may already be asking yourself:  what will I get from my college education? What’s truly valuable to me? What do I hope to make of my life?  Read the book and talk about it with your family and friends, then complete the writing assignment.  You’ll be discussing it with your fellow FYC-ers and your adviser this year.

• You can buy Sounds of the River at the NCSU Bookstore or at your local bookstore or online.  You can also probably borrow it at the public library, but if you want to take notes in the book, you will have to buy it!

 

• You can get this packet (including the assignment) and some information about the author at:

 

www.ncsu.edu/fyc/summer

 

• Da Chen will be the guest speaker at NC State’s Wolfpack Welcome Week Convocation Festival.  All FYC students are required to attend Mr. Chen’s talk and to reflect on it in writing (the talk and reflection are also part of your USC 101A course requirements).  Your adviser will attend, too.  The Convocation Festival is Monday, August 18, 7:00, at the RBC Center.  Information on transportation will be available in August.  To get credit for attendance and to submit your written reflection, go to www.ncsu.edu/fyc/forum/

 

This packet includes some questions to help you organize your thoughts about the book and to prepare you for the “Circle of Life” writing assignment.  The writing assignment is due the first day of your USC 101A class.

 

 

Purpose of this assignment

Every class you take and every assignment you do have “learning outcomes”:  that is, the instructor has goals for you to reach and skills for you to practice and learn.  The “learning outcomes” that helped the advisers in First Year College design this assignment and prepare for discussions and activities in USC 101A are as follows.

Students will be able to:

• Identify their values and explain why they are important to them
• Describe the factors that have shaped their values
• Explain how their values may have changed or been challenged over the last four years
• Evaluate how their experience in college may shape or challenge their values
• Apply knowledge of values through oral and written presentation assignments
• Gain an appreciation of the values articulated by their peers
• Begin to build a sense of community with their peers in the First Year College

 

Definition of Values

We have provided you with several definitions for the term ‘values’.  These definitions were collected from First Year College advisers as well as adapted from reference sources.  You may also choose to write your own definition, if you wish.

• Values are those things/ideas/people that are important to us, central concepts that give meaning to our lives, a set of guiding principles that help us make decisions and chose a path.

 

• Values are the things in our lives that shape our behavior and define who we are.  The stronger they are, the less willing we are to change or compromise them.

• Values are things (tangible or intangible) that we find of great significance.

 

• A value is a principle, standard or quality considered worthwhile or desirable.  Values are beliefs that people have which serve as the basis for their decision-making. Value commits a person to action.

• Values are a cohesive system of beliefs, which are freely chosen by the individual, prized, publicly affirmed, and acted upon.

 

• A principle, standard, or quality considered worthwhile or desirable (www.dictionary.reference.com)

• Your definition: 

 

 

ASSIGNMENT – PART ONE

 

In Sounds of the River, Da Chen writes about his time at Beijing Language Institute and his first years as a professional once his studies are completed.   Many times his experiences played a role in the confirmation and enhancement of his values.

On a separate sheet of paper, type your answers to the following questions:

What were five experiences described in the book that you feel were significant to the confirmation and enhancement of Da Chen’s values?   Describe each experience and why you feel it was significant.  

What is one experience you’ve had that was significant to the development of your own values?  Describe the experience and why it was significant to you.

 

 

ASSIGNMENT – PART TWO

 

Circle of Life

Using the definition you select for ‘value,’ create a circle that represents your values now.  You may choose to use size, shape, color, placement, etc. to represent the importance of each value.  You can use any medium to create your circle – i.e. computer graphics, markers, crayons, pens, glue, magazine clippings, photographs, etc. Three-dimensional objects are fine.  Be as creative as you would like. (In past years, students have made a collage; some made poster-sized circles; one student made a quilt!)

Once you have created your Circle of Life take at least 5 paragraphs (at least 5 sentences each) to answer the following questions (you can write more if you like):

• Explain your circle.  Describe each value, why you chose to represent it the way you did, why each value is important to you, etc. 

 

• Describe how your circle would have looked 4 years ago.

• How do you think your circle will look at the end of your first year of college?  Be honest.  Why do you think your circle will look that way?

 

 

Some Details

This assignment asks you to think and talk about your own ideas.  Don’t be afraid to say “I”!  But it is also intended for others to view and read, so look at it with the reader’s eye.  Ask yourself:  if I were someone who didn’t know me or the way I think, would this make sense to me?  Would it be interesting?  You might show your work to your friends or family and get their input.

Type the written part of the assignment, proofreading it for spelling, punctuation, grammar, and word choice.  Put your name at the top of every page and staple the pages.  Be sure to make a paper copy for yourself.  Look at the grading rubric below.  Have you met the expectations it describes?

 

Requirement	Possible Points
Five of Da Chen’s experiences are described
Your experience is described
Circle of Life (visual component)
It is easy to see what values are being represented
The information is conveyed visually; it uses visual elements to get its ideas across
Circle of Life (written component)
The writing is focused and clear overall
The writing addresses the questions in the assignment
The writing is specific—it gives examples and details to illustrate and expand on its points
The writing shows thoughtfulness or insight
It is proofread for spelling, grammar, and punctuation
It is at least five paragraphs long
It is typed, double-spaced, 1-inch margins, stapled, student’s name and page number on every page
It is turned in on time (first day of your USC 101A class)
Total Points possible

Be sure to ask your USC 101A instructor how many points the assignment will be worth and write it in.   

Note:  Attending the Opening Convocation is a separate requirement for your USC class with additional points.

 

 

This page last updated by zpcook - June 24, 2008 11:30 AM