http://www.simpson.edu/faculty/teaching/las/simpsonforum.html

Objective: As a result of LAS, students should become acquainted with Simpson’s Forum program.

Implementation: Please require following on your syllabus:

Fall Convocation
At least three other Forum Events

Forum cards are used to take attendance at each forum event. When students arrive at the forum event, they will be offered a card. On this card, students write their name, the name of the forum event, and their advisor’s name. The cards are collected at the end of the forum event, so that students only get credit for attending the event if they attended the entire event. The completed cards are sent to the Registrar’s Office where they are sorted and sent via campus mail to the student’s advisor.

Optional Supplement: Writing Assignments

Although students need not be required to write about the forum events they attend, including such a requirement encourages students to reflect on their experiences and to develop critical thinking skills.

Option 1: Journal

If students are already keeping journals consider requiring them to write entries over each forum event that they attend. Encourage them to evaluate the forum event and to offer evidence to support their views. Unless pushed, first year students are likely to indicate whether or not they liked the event without providing reasons to justify their reaction. First year students also tend to focus on delivery rather than on the content of the remarks unless taught to do otherwise.

Option 2: Reflective Essay

Students could also be asked to write one reflective essay about their overall experience with forum events rather than writing one essay about each event attended. For example, students could be asked to write an essay regarding why Simpson has forum events and why LAS students are required to attend them. Another possibility is to have students write about how forum events contribute to the Simpson College community. Students could be asked to include comments about the specific forum events they attended to support their more general argument regarding forum events.


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Simpson Forum Objective: As a result of LAS, students should become acquainted with Simpson’s Forum program. Implementation: Please require following on your syllabus: Fall Convocation At least three other Forum Events Forum cards are used to take attendance at each forum event. When students arrive at the forum event, they will be offered a card. On this card, students write their name, the name of the forum event, and their advisor’s name. The cards are collected at the end of the forum event, so that students only get credit for attending the event if they attended the entire event. The completed cards are sent to the Registrar’s Office where they are sorted and sent via campus mail to the student’s advisor. Optional Supplement: Writing Assignments Although students need not be required to write about the forum events they attend, including such a requirement encourages students to reflect on their experiences and to develop critical thinking skills. Option 1: Journal If students are already keeping journals consider requiring them to write entries over each forum event that they attend. Encourage them to evaluate the forum event and to offer evidence to support their views. Unless pushed, first year students are likely to indicate whether or not they liked the event without providing reasons to justify their reaction. First year students also tend to focus on delivery rather than on the content of the remarks unless taught to do otherwise. Option 2: Reflective Essay Students could also be asked to write one reflective essay about their overall experience with forum events rather than writing one essay about each event attended. For example, students could be asked to write an essay regarding why Simpson has forum events and why LAS students are required to attend them. Another possibility is to have students write about how forum events contribute to the Simpson College community. Students could be asked to include comments about the specific forum events they attended to support their more general argument regarding forum events.
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