First-Year Symposium Info
What is it?
According to the University College department, “First-Year Symposium (FYS) is a two-day event held at the end of each fall semester that involves all 2,000+ first-year students. Students work individually or in small groups to present posters based on the work in their First-Year Seminar class and/or learning community. The event is open to the public to provide students with an audience for whom to demonstrate their learning, as well as to celebrate their successes in transitioning to life as an Islander.”
You can read more about last year’s Symposium here.
Note: For our class, you will be presenting with your group from the Team Informative Presentations, and you will be presenting on the same topic. Instead of presenting with a Powerpoint, however, you will be presenting with a Trifold poster.
When is it?
Triad L (POLS) will attend and present on Thursday, November 21 from 9:00-3:00
Note: Your posters will be due in Seminar on Tuesday, November 19. You will be receiving your Symposium grade on this day. If your group is unhappy with the grade you receive in Seminar on Tuesday, you will have a chance to be regraded on Thursday.
Where is it?
The UC Anchor Ballrooms
What do I wear?
Business casual, clean-cut, professional attire. (What would you wear to a job interview at a classy business?)
Dress warmly if the weather is looking rough. Also, the room may be chilly.
Wear comfortable shoes. You will be on your feet a good bit.
Not sure if your outfit is appropriate? Take a pic (either of you wearing the clothing or of the clothing on a hanger) and send it to me (mary.hood@tamucc.edu) or ask me in class.
What if I don’t have clothing like that?
You do not have to purchase new clothing for this event if you do not want to. If you do not have any business casual attire, you should stop by Izzy’s Career Closet and choose a suitable outfit. (You will have to leave a $5 deposit that will be returned to you when you return the clothing.
What does our group need?
You will need a large trifold poster. (36″ x 48″)
You may be interested in using the I-Create Lab at the Mary & Jeff Bell Library to print items for your poster. (Room 217)
If it looks like it may rain, bring a plastic garbage bag to shield your poster.
To whom are we presenting?
You will be scheduled to present for a thirty-minute slot on the 21st (though your presentation will not take that long). You will present to any interested audience member (it could be a friend, other students, or a faculty member).
Unlike your presentations in COMM, you will not be presenting to a large audience. There will be groups and individuals from all Seminar classes (think 2,000+ students!) presenting over the course of the event, meaning that multiple presentations will be going on at the same time in the same room.
How will my group be graded?
Your group will be graded on four elements:
–Visual (25 points)
–Organization (25 points)
–Research (25 points)
–Presentation (25 points)
We will present in Seminar class in the days leading up to the Symposium. You will receive a grade during class. If you’d like to change your grade, I will review your presentation again at Symposium.
Your Symposium grade will be out of 100 points (10% of your final grade in Seminar).
What will I be doing during Symposium when my group isn’t presenting?
You will be required to listen to at least two presentions (they don’t have to be from our class). A worksheet will be provided for you. Each student will fill out a worksheet (this is not a group assignment). You will turn your worksheet into me before you leave.
Important Dates
Tuesday, November 12. We will be having class in the CASA Writing Center. We will hear a presentation on how to create effective posters. We will be meeting in the Writing Center (Glasscock 112).
Suggestion: Tuesday, November 12 – Monday, November 18. Get together with your group and make your poster.
Tuesday, November 19. Posters due in Seminar & Practice presentations. You will be receiving your Symposium grade on this day. If your group is unhappy with the grade you receive in Seminar on Tuesday, you will have a chance to be regraded on Thursday.
Suggestion: Tuesday, November 19 – Wednesday, November 20. Get together with your group and tweak your poster as needed.
Thursday, November 21. First-Year Symposium
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