Welcome Spring 2008 Students!

Today, you will receive your syllabus and we will talk about the nature of this course. Check back often for updates on class assignments, links to readings, and general information.

Would You Like Fries With Your Turkey?/Final Assignment

For next Monday/Tuesday, make sure to read these two sections from Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation (New York: Perennial, 2002).

Think about the following questions as you read:

Why is the fast food industry so successful? Why does the food taste so good? How does the "fast food mentality" affect other areas of our lives?

Enjoy, and happy Thanksgiving.

Introduction to Fast Food Nation

"Why the Fries Taste So Good"

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FINAL ASSIGNMENT: SEMESTER SUMMARY PAPER

The primary theme of this course has been “what it means to get an education.” We have talked about many factors related to this theme in two primary ways: 1) functioning well at the university and 2) thinking in new ways by challenging existing assumptions, conventional wisdom, and entrenched beliefs.

Here is a list of the major topics we have covered to jog your memory.

●Thinking about “time” and how we measure our lives
●Using technology and thinking about globalization, and how they affect us
●Using academic libraries for research
●Evaluating learning styles
●Examining how we read, study, think, remember, and ask questions
●Discussing the importance of general education, majors, and applicable skills
●Understanding American culture through readings and exercises on diversity
●Examining our individual and collective environment and our experiences
●Discussing “engagement” and the value of campus/community involvement
●Discussing health and wellness including sleep, diet, exercise, quality of life, etc.
●Discussing Freakonomics and critical thinking

This final writing is worth 50 points. Each student will present this paper in class during the final week of classes. This 2-3 minute presentation will be worth 20 points.

THE ASSIGNMENT

1. How has thinking about these ideas shaped your view of “getting an education?” Use specific examples from Foundations, Freakonomics, other readings, class exercises/discussions, or other courses taken this semester as support.

2. Reflect on what has occurred in other classes, the residence hall, campus activities, etc., and how these components fit together. Identify common threads present in these various components of university life.

PAPERS ARE DUE IN CLASS ON MONDAY/TUESDAY DEC 3/4. No late assignments will be accepted.

Freakonomics #5 Writing

Writing due on Wed/Thurs (Nov 14/15): Freakonomics, 163-191.

Is there a discernible pattern in how certain names move through the population over time? If so, describe it.

Summarize the purpose of Freakonomics. What does this book aim to do?

Death, Radiohead, and Homecoming

Death
Check out this highly entertaining and informative cartoon on the death industry.

Radiohead
It appears that Radiohead "sold" 1.2 million copies in their pay-as-you-will release of their latest album In Rainbows. Worldwide, the average paid for the album was $2.26. This is still a considerable amount more per album than bands traditionally get.

Campus Events Galore
There are a raft of events this week for homecoming. Highlights include:
FRIDAY
--Homecoming Parade: 4 p.m. Parade begins at Alumni Drive and College Heights Boulevard.
--Big Red Street Fest: Following the parade at Diddle Arena Auxiliary Gym. The annual event includes children’s activities, inflatable games and prizes. The first 200 fans to arrive at Street Fest receive a free ticket to the Lady Topper and Hilltopper basketball games.
--Women's Hoops: Lady Toppers vs. East Tennessee State: 6 p.m. at Diddle Arena.
--Men's Hoops: Hilltoppers vs. Kennesaw State: 8:30 p.m. at Diddle Arena.
--Big Red’s Roar: 8:30 p.m. at Diddle Arena. During the men’s game, WKU students will participate in the annual pep rally featuring Coach David Elson, the 2007 football team, Big Red, WKU Marching Band, cheerleaders, Topperettes and Homecoming Queen candidates.
SATURDAY
--Football game: WKU vs. Troy: 4 p.m. at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. WKU welcomes its first I-A opponent and future Sun Belt Conference rival. The 2007 Homecoming Queen will be crowned at halftime.
--Annual National Pan-Hellenic Council Step Show: 8 p.m. at Diddle Arena.

Assignments, Parenting

Next week, we will begin talking about diversity.

For Mon/Tues (Oct 29/30): Please look at UNIT 7 in Foundations and familiarize yourself with its content. Generate ideas/questions about diversity in our society. What IS diversity? Is it desirable and/or valuable ? Why or why not?

For Wed/Thurs (Oct 31/Nov 1): Read Freakonomics Chapter 5: "What Makes a Perfect Parent?"

Type a two-page, double spaced paper that addresses the following question(s):

According to Freakonomics, how much does having "good parents" contribute to a child's academic success? How might having "bad parenting" affect children? Use evidence from the book to support your claims.

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In other news:
The WKU Hilltoppers men's basketball team kicks off the season with a Red/White scrimmage this Thursday night at 7 pm in Diddle Arena. This is an excellent campus event opportunity. No charge.

Assignments, Poker, Immigration

Next Week:
Mon/Tues: General Education, Spring class scheduling, degree programs, credit through testing, graduating "on time," majors, etc. Be prepared to ask questions about these items.

Wed/Thurs: Writing. We will look at common problems in writing college papers, and ways to improve writing and research.

In other news:
The online poker cheating scandal at Absolute Poker has been blown wide open. See how a part owner of Absolute Poker appears to have been involved. This is a good lesson in Freakonomics' emphasis on trust in business dealings.

The Freakonomics blog posted an interview with British economist Phillip Legrain on how more immigration would actually help the U.S. economy. Legrain also argues that "freedom of movement is one of the most basic human rights." This idea seems to go against much "conventional wisdom" regarding immigration. Are more fortified borders "good" conventional wisdom or "bad" conventional wisdom?

Paper, Quiz, Library Assignment

For this Wed/Thurs: Read chapter four in Freakonomics, pp 105-132. In a two page, typed, double-spaced paper, answer the following question:

What are the most compelling explanations for the drop in crime during the 1990s? What makes these explanations so convincing?

LIBRARY ASSIGNMENT DUE BY MIDNIGHT OCT 18 (Tues-Thurs classes)/OCT 19 (Mon-Wed classes).
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In other news:
College basketball is officially underway. Teams began practicing this past weekend. Here are WKU's men's and women's schedules. The men have six home games and the women have four home dates before Winter Break. Great campus event opportunities.

Also, check out the link to campus events on the left. This link has oodles of events every day. Today's highlights: Homecoming blood drive and the Study Abroad Fair.