Search

Transition Program
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.  TP’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 Transition Program participants 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) at:

http://www.ncsu.edu/transition/index.html

• Da Chen will be the guest speaker at NC State’s Wolfpack Welcome Week Convocation Festival.  All TP 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 ECD 101 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. 

• 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 ECD 101 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 the Transition Program design this assignment and prepare for discussions and activities in ECD 101 are as follows:

• Students will be able to identify their values and explain why they are important to them
• Students will be able to describe the factors that have shaped their values
• Students will be able to explain how their values may have changed or been challenged over the last four years
• Students will be able to evaluate how their experience in college may shape or challenge their values
• Students will be able to apply knowledge of values through oral and written presentation assignments
• Students will be able to gain an appreciation of the values articulated by their peers
• Students will be able to begin to build a sense of community with their peers in the Transition Program

Definition of Values

We have provided you with several definitions for the term ‘values’.  These definitions were 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.

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?