First Year Experience Seminar

Response Papers

You are expected to complete 10 of the 12 Response Papers in a timely manner throughout the semester.  These short reaction-paper-type writing assignments will vary in length and scope given the specific assignment. They should be no longer than 2 pages, and often 1 page is sufficient.

Format:

  • 12 point font (Calibri preferred)
  • 1 inch margins; double spaced
  • printed both sides if longer than 1 page.

 

Response Paper #1: Expectations (DUE Sept. 14)

What do you hope to experience in college? What things (in and outside of the classroom) do you think will happen? What are your hopes and dreams for the “college experience” and how to you think they will come about.

 

Response paper #2: Sharpening your Words (DUE Sept. 21)

Write a one-page essay on your favorite television show but one that has gone through the four stages listed in the SBS book (1. pre-writing; 2. writing, 3. revision, 4. proofing). I will only require you to turn in the final product but may ask to see the intermediary stages in class.

 

Response Paper #3: Time Allocation [THIS ASSIGNMENT IS MANDITORY] (DUE Sept 28)

First make a list of ALL your responsibilities (work, school, home, etc.) and the hours per week you need to spend to accomplish them. Make sure you calculate in 7-8 hours of sleep per day. Then using your UML Day-Planner, go through EACH and EVERY syllabus of the classes you are taking this semester and fill in when ALL MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS (quizzes, exams, papers, presentations, etc.)

Each student will need to present the UML Day-Planner to receive credit for the day.

 

Response Paper #4: Sharpening Your Thoughts (DUE Oct. 5)

Select any article from the New York Times (online at http://www.nytimes.com/) and write a one-page essay that argues why or why not you were persuaded by the author of the article. How did this article sway you, and what could he or she have done to be more persuasive?

 

Response Paper #5: History is what History Does (DUE Oct. 12)

Write a one-page essay describing the type of history you wish to study. What geographic and chronological area do you find fascinating and why?

 

Response Paper #6: Note-taking (DUE Oct. 19)

Make a photocopy of a full page of notes taken from another class. How much detail did you include? How clear and legible are your notes? Does it accurately reflect what was taught in class?

 

Response Paper #7: Taking a Test (DUE Oct. 26)

Write an essay that describes how you should study for a test using one of the “Prepare” rubrics as explained in pages 90-1 of the textbook. Incorporate yourself and real people in one of your classes. This “story” should explain what you will do in one of the classes you are currently taking (but not this one.)

 

Response Paper #8: Sources (DUE Nov. 2)

Create an annotated bibliography on three books. These should not be “textbooks” but monographs for other history classes. If you have not been assigned any then go to the library. For more information on an Annotated Bibliography, see this website: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/03/

(please use the Chicago Manual of Style format at the bottom of the page.)

 

Response Paper #9: Research (DUE Nov. 9)

Print out for me the citation page of a journal article and a book review from JSTOR. You can find that database here: http://libweb.uml.edu/databases/defaultdb.html

 

Response Paper #10: Plagiarism (DUE Nov. 16)

Write an essay on the pros and cons of turning in someone else’s work as your own. Why does this action “cheat” the original author and yourself?

 

Response Paper #11: Health (DUE Nov. 30)

Write an essay on a typical week in your life and what you do to stay healthy. This could include diet, exercise, sports, sleep regimens, or other extra-curricular activities.

 

Response Paper #12: Clubs On and Off Campus (DUE Dec. 7)

Perform a 15 minute interview with one of the social clubs on campus. You may ask them anything you like but you need to reproduce a short transcript of the interview. You can choose from one of the following clubs: http://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organizations