SSE 7780 Course Syllabus

Division: Teacher Education
Course: SSE 7780, Readings in Social Studies Education
CRN for 2008: 12760
Course Credit: 3 hours
Fall Semester: Thursdays, 5:00-7:45
Instructor: Dr. Bob Pettapiece
Co-Instructor:
E-mail: pettapiece@wayne.edu
Office: 271 Education
Office Hours: Thursdays 3:30-5:00 p.m. (on days the class meets) by e-mail appointment

Teaching Assistant: Cetaura Bell

Course Description: A reading seminar in social studies, with an emphasis on teaching strategies and goals in secondary education.

Expected Outcomes of the Course (Objectives):

• By reading five books, you will increase your understanding of your teaching field [knowledge]
• You choose the books to read [constructivist]
• You will give an oral & a written report on the books you read to the class [sharing/community]
• You will add to the database [contributing]
• Through former students and the database, become aware of other books to read [legacy]
• Realize you need to first win the heart of your students before their head
  
• See the methods used in this class as a model for constructivist teaching

Assignments:

1.  Read five (5) books of at least 100 pages each appropriate to your interest(s) in social studies (suggestion list).  These should include, but not be limited to, a biography, historical fiction, historical non-fiction & one about someone who is not from your culture.  The content (ideas or direct use) of least three of the books should be considered for use in your classroom.

2. (75%) Prepare a wordprocessed copy of your review of each book for each student in the class and send a copy in .rtf format through BlackBoard to everyone, plus print one copy to turn in.  The written review should include a summary, a critique and a written strategy for use in your classroom.  The maximum pages for each review is three (3).  Spelling, grammar & organization count. 

3. (25%) Be here and meaningfully participate.   When you discuss the highlights of your review relate what you read to today.  Being late or leaving early may cause a loss of credit.

4. You are also expected to fill out a Books Read form (download from this link) to turn in each time so we may add your title to the database.

Evaluation & Grading: Each review (15% + 5%) will be evaluated on the written quality & interesting oral presentation of your work.

A=94-100, A-=90-93, B+=87-89, B=83-86, B-=80-82, C+=77-79, C=73-76 (of a possible 100 points).

An incomplete (I grade) may be given only for good reason, after completing a contract with the instructor and may not be for a grade higher than a B.  The grade of B is considered worthy and respectable.  The grade of A will be a result of excellent reviews which are interesting & perceptive, both on paper and in class.

Be aware of the WSU grade policies.

Extra Credit: Bring evidence of attendance (tickets or registration) at a social studies conference during the semester.

Class Policies:

• Each student is expected to meaningfully participate in each class meeting.
• Telephones and beepers are not expected to be heard in the classroom. 
• You are expected to use your WSU e-mail account.
• You are expected to understand Academic Integrity & not commit Plagiarism in this class.
• If you need the assistance of Educational Accessibility Services (EAS) you should do so before the start of each semester or no later than the first class.

Class Schedule:  Details of course assignments will be designed by the instructor in consultation with the students during the first meeting of the course.

Meeting Dates for Fall 2008 were determined the first night.  The remaining dates are-

September 25

October 9

October 23

November 20

December 4

Attendance:

• If you are absent for any reason, you automatically lose 5% credit for that day.
• Once this semester, if you know you will be absent, you may present one (1) report in advance and turn in a printed copy for full credit.
• You may fall behind in only one report and must make it up the next meeting.

Citing a Book in Your Report:

When citing the book in your review, include the following information-

1. Author
2. Full title
3. Publisher
4. Copyright date
5. Paperback or hardcover
6. Number of pages & illustrations when applicable
7. Type of book; Biography, text, historical novel, etc.
8. Social Studies Area(s) & period
9. Rating of general interest from 1-10

Example-

Clancy, T.  Patriot Games, the Berkley Publishing Co., 1987.  A work of historical fiction, 503 pages whose social studies topic is the American History (1946-1990).  Rating=7.
 

This web page last updated 9/10/08