LA&S 494

Spring 2022

Professor: Dr. Dale Urie Office: 303 D Bailey Hall

Email: durie@ku.edu Office Hours: Virtual and by appointment

Course Objectives
This course serves as the capstone course for Bachelor of General Studies in Liberal Arts and Sciences. Students
will analyze a contemporary issue through various disciplinary lenses, synthesize their findings in research papers,
and develop a portfolio for presentation to employers. LA&S 494 fulfills the two Learning Outcomes within KU
Core Goal 6, Integration and Creativity. At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to analyze and
combine information from different areas within or across disciplines to approach and explain existing questions and
problems from new perspectives, pose new questions, and generate new ideas.

Blackboard
This course utilizes the Blackboard learning management system. https://courseware.ku.edu/. Here one finds the
syllabus, announcements, all course content and current grades. Students are responsible for checking Blackboard
regularly. I will post announcements so please look frequently.

Attendance Policy in the COVID-19 Era

It is important that you spend the necessary time working in this course to achieve the expected outcomes by the end
of the term. If you face challenges to fully participating at any time during the semester, please let me know, and
please contact me if you expect to miss scheduled assignments. I am available and ready to support your success.
Additionally, if you need to report an extended illness or serious accident, please contact Student Support and Case
Management at course-adapt@ku.edu or 785-864-4060. A case manager will send email notifications to your
instructor(s) on your behalf. When you are able, you will need to follow up with your professors to coordinate a
temporary arrangement regarding missed instruction and coursework.

KU Writing Center
The Writing Center http://writing.ku.edu/how-it-works offers a variety of ways for students to get feedback on their
writing. Below is a brief description of the services they offer. I highly recommend you take advantage of this
resource during this class. The people at the WC are familiar with the various types of writing you will be doing.

Face-to-Face Consultations
The Writing Center offers a variety of locations and hours. Face-to-Face Consultations allow you to work
closely with a trained writing consultant. Learn more about Face-to-Face Consultations. You may make
two appointments per week, per schedule.

Online Consultations
Because many writers like face-to-face consultations but have complicated schedules, they also offer
consultations online. Whether you choose to talk via text chat, audio chat, or video chat, online
consultations enable you to have a real-time conversation with a consultant about your writing--from
anywhere you have internet. Learn more about Meeting Online. You may make two appointments per
week.

eTutoring
For those writers who learn best from written feedback, we suggest sending your writing to us online and
receiving eTutoring feedback. Though you do not have to meet in person or online, you will schedule a
time with a consultant--so you know when to expect a response. Learn more about eTutoring Feedback.
You may make two appointments per week.

Email
Email represents the most effective means to communicate with me outside of class. However, I receive a multitude
of emails every day. To ensure that your email does not end up in the deleted folder or mixed up with another class,
use the following heading every time you email me: LA&S 494: Subject Matter. Any emails that do not carry this
format in the subject heading may be deleted unread. Students are responsible for checking their email regularly. I
will reply to emails within 24 hours Monday through Friday and within 48 hours on weekends.

Assignments and Grading

Students will be evaluated on six elements over the course of the semester. All assignments must be submitted
through Blackboard no later than the time posted on the Course Schedule below. Emailed assignments and late
submissions will not be accepted. All papers submitted through Blackboard will be checked with the SafeAssign
anti-plagiarism software. Instances of plagiarism will result in an automatic zero for the assignment and may result
in a charge of plagiarism being filed against you with the University. Details on the required MLA style for the
research papers and final paper can be found at https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/. Papers will
receive a five point deduction for each page (250 words) below the required assignment length. I advise that you
plan ahead for upcoming assignments so due dates do not “sneak up” on you during this eight week class.
Remember, a lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.

1. Syllabus Quiz
This assignment, due no later than 6:00 p.m. on 1/81, consists of five questions on the content in this
very document. You can take it as many times as needed to receive a 100%, but you must make a
perfect score to access the course assignments in Blackboard (including your first discussion post
due at 10:00 p.m. the same day). You can find this under the “Syllabus” tab in Blackboard.

2. Academic Integrity Quiz

This assignment, due no later than 6:00 p.m. on 1/18, consists of five questions on the University’s
Academic Integrity policies found in the two links provided in the assignment prompt. You can take it
as many times as needed to receive a 100%, but you must make a perfect score to access the course
content in Blackboard (including your first discussion post due at 10:00 p.m. the same day).
You can find this required quiz under the “Syllabus” tab in Blackboard.

3. Discussion Posts
Over the course of the semester, students answer discussion posts prompts on Blackboard addressing
topic creation, research, and writing. Posts should be at least one paragraph (five sentences minimum)
and clearly address the subject given in the prompt. These are not just “make-work.” This interaction
with me is a chance for me to see how you intend to proceed and to provide feedback before mistakes
are made and to guide you to resources you may be unaware of. A rubric for online posts can be found
on Blackboard.

4. Issue Paper
Students will submit a short paper establishing their research agenda for the rest for the semester. The
paper should address their personal interest in the topic, the issue they will focus on within the larger
topic, prior experience with their two chosen two disciplines, what they hope to find during their
research, and connect the issue to two current newspaper stories from the list of approved newspapers
on Blackboard. Papers must be no less than 500 words, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, double spaced,
with one-inch margins, and follow proper MLA citation style. A rubric for this assignment can be
found on Blackboard.

5. Annotated Bibliographies
Students will develop an annotated bibliography for each discipline compiling the source material they
will use in their two research papers. They should each include at least six articles from scholarly
journals. Each source should include no less than one paragraph providing the author’s biographical
information, the source’s relevance to the topic, and why it was chosen. For assistance in determining
appropriate source material, students should make an in-person or virtual appointment with a librarian.
For assistance on writing an annotated bibliography, see
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/01/. A rubric for this assignment can be found on
Blackboard.

6. Literature Reviews
Whether on paper or in digital format, conveying your ideas in writing remains
crucial to success in both academia and the workforce. Drawing on four sources from
each of their Annotated Bibliographies, students will discuss how scholars within
their chosen academic disciplines approach their chosen issue in two separate
literature reviews. Papers must be a minimum of five pages, in 12 pt. Times New
Roman font, double-spaced with one-inch margins, and follow proper MLA citation
style. A rubric for these two literature reviews can be found on Blackboard.

7. Portfolio
The Portfolio will consist of three different assignments: an Argumentative Research
Paper, a Narrated PowerPoint Presentation, a Project Assessment Report.

a) Argumentative Research Paper-Students will submit a five-page research paper presenting a

well-defined and supported argument concerning their issue to a specific employer, government
agency, or civic organization. This Argumentative Research Paper should (1) state the problem, (2)
explain how two academic disciplines have approached the problem, and (3) present a plan of action.
Papers must be a minimum of five pages, in 12 pt. Times New Roman font, double-spaced with one-
inch margins, and follow proper MLA citation style. A rubric for the final paper can be found on
Blackboard.

b) Narrated PowerPoint Presentation-Students will upload a short Narrated PowerPoint

Presentation to Blackboard (no longer than five minutes) that summarizes their research findings and
offers a possible plan of action on their issue. Presentations will be evaluated on organization,
language, delivery, supporting material, and overall message. To add narration to their presentation
students must use VoiceThread, accessed through http://technology.ku.edu/software/voicethread(you
may need to upgrade to the latest version of Adobe Flash). A rubric for presentation evaluation can be
found on
Blackboard.

c) Project Assessment Report- Students will complete a self-reflective Project Assessment Report
analyzing the skills they have learned over the course of the semester and how those skills apply to
their future career plans. Both the report and rubric for evaluation can be found on Blackboard.

Final Grade Tabulation

Assignment % of Final Grade
Syllabus Quiz 2.5%
Academic Integrity Quiz 2.5%
Discussion Posts 10%
Issue Paper 10%
Annotated Bibliography 15%
Discipline 1 40%
Discipline 2 60%
Literature Reviews 25%
Discipline 1 40%
Discipline 2 60%
Portfolio 35%
Argumentative Research Paper 50%
Narrated PowerPoint Presentation 35%
Project Assessment Report 15%

Grading Scale (based on %)

100-90=A
89-80=B
79-70=C
69-60=D
59-0=F
(.5-.9 rounded up and .1-.4 down)
Special Needs and Accommodations
All academic accommodations must go through the Academic Achievement and Access Center. Please note that
students must make an appointment with me (virtually) within a week of meeting their assigned specialist and must
bring their Accommodation Request Form to the meeting. To initiate the process please contact the Academic
Achievement and Access Center in Strong Hall Room 22, 785-864-4064, achieve@ku.edu. Details concerning the
accommodation procedure can be found at http://www.disability.ku.edu/accommodation-process.

Academic Misconduct
It is my opinion that higher education exists to expand ones knowledge and understanding of the world around them
so they can fully develop their potential. Unfortunately, this system utilizes grades to denote success and students
may become so focused on a letter that they take actions they otherwise would not. I will do everything in my power
to help you to achieve your potential in this course. However, as a fully online course it can be tempting to use
online material loosely. Be careful. I will pursue any incident of academic misconduct. The University’s Academic
Misconduct policy (2.6.1-2.6.7) can be found at http://policy.ku.edu/governance/USRR#art2sect6. All submitted
work must be original and your own.

Online Etiquette
Diversity in background and opinion leads to interesting and educational discussions. In order to achieve this level
of dialogue an atmosphere of respect must be maintained at all times. The subject matter of this course will
hopefully ignite debate, but differences in opinion should never denigrate into personal attacks. Everyone in this
class is an adult and I know you will all treat each other as such. Please read “Netiquette for Online Courses” found
under Start Here/Syllabus on the class Blackboard cite.

Course Calendar
LESSON 1 DUE: TOPIC CREATION
Tuesday, 1/18 Syllabus Quiz due, 6:00 p.m.
Academic Integrity Quiz, 6:00 p.m.
Discussion Post #1 due, 10:00 p.m.
Thursday, 1/20 Discussion Post #2 due, 10:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 1/25 Issue Paper due, 10:00 p.m.
Thursday, 1/27 Discussion Post #3 due, 10:00 p.m.
LESSON 2 DUE: PERSPECTIVE 1
Sunday, 1/30 Discussion Post #4 due, 10:00 p.m.
Thursday, 2/3 Annotated Bibliography I due, 10:00 p.m.
Sunday, 2/6 Discussion Post #5 due, 10:00 p.m.
Friday, 2/11 Literature Review I due, 10:00 p.m.
Sunday, 2/13 Discussion Post #6 due, 10:00 p.m.
LESSON 3 DUE: PERSPECTIVE 2
Tuesday 2/15 Discussion Post #7 due, 10:00 p.m.
Sunday, 2/20 Annotated Bibliography II due, 10:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 2/23 Discussion Post #8 due, 10:00 p.m.
Monday, 2/28 Literature Review II due, 10:00 p.m.
LESSON 4: DUE FINAL PAPER AND PRESENTATION
Wednesday, 3/2 Discussion Post #9 due, 10:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 3/8 Argumentative Research Paper due, 10:00 p.m.
Friday, 3/11 Narrated Presentation and Project Assessment Report, due, 5:00 p.m. (earlier than
normal)