This syllabus was last updated 07 Jan 2002
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PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT (G.S.101)

• Instructor:    D. Mark Nygren

• E-mail Mark Nygren

• Office:            Smith Building- Room 407 (Available by appointment)

• Phone:            356-1846

• Texts:            Inner Victory (Book)
                         Principles of Inner Victory Guidebook
                         A planner or personal management tool

• Credits:        3 Semester hour    

Course Description

The capacity to determine one's success in college and in life begins from within, from the way we see the world we live in, and the attitudes we use to approach it.  Every public victory begins in the quit chambers of the mind and heart.  Somehow, the extent to which we are successful in college, on missions, in marriage, family relationships, professional pursuits, church callings, civic duties, and every other area of 'earth life' stem from the timeless and eternal principles designed by our creator.  Agency, responsibility, consequences, to act and be acted upon and the hundreds of attendant principles--impact our daily life.  This course examines principles which will help you to be more successful in college and beyond.  if you apply yourself, this course has the potential of being the most helpful of all your college classroom experiences.  Why this class?  First, because the subject is YOU. . . no other class is as intent on application to your daily life (now and in the future).  Second, because the principles taught and applied will make you more successful in all of your other classes.  Do your very best to attend, learn, apply, and teach what you learn to others!  Make your Creed Documentation the best product of your college experience.  You will be blessed by this process!  So will all those you serve.

Grading Components

Evaluation:  Grades will be based on the following point system. 1320 possible

1. Attendance:  *3 or more absences will affect your grade.*  Perfect attendance, 100 bonus points.

2. Regularly assigned Creed Documents (245 points)

3. Final Creed Document (255 points)

4. "R" Menu (200 points)
                The Printable SRSE WORKSHEET

               The Printable R Menu Tracker

    5.    Success Books (100 points)

    6.    Teaching Sharing (240 points)
        The Printable Teaching Sharing TRACKER

    7.    Success Talks (280 points)
        The Printable Success Talks tracker

Attendance:

Perhaps the most important part of your grade and certainly what you get out of the class will be your attendance.  I have the responsibility to provide an environment which will stimulate you to think and learn.  you have the responsibility to attend.  Perfect attendance qualifies you for a "NO ABSENCE BONUS."  "NO ABSENCE" means "no absence". . .for any reason.  If you are sick . .  stay home and get better!  If you are going on a field trip. . .go, have fun, and learn!  If you must go to the airport to see a brother depart for his mission. . .be there!!!!  You will not be penalized for 'excused absences' . . except that you will miss out on important information.  AND neither will you qualify for the BONUS points reserved for those who have perfect attendance.  Any absence for any reason eliminates the opportunity for the "No Absence Bonus."

Your 'core' grade comes from your Creed Document, R Menu, Reading Assignment, and Study Group Participation.  Then, the core grade will be factored by your attendance or the lack thereof as follows:

0 Absences	100 Bonus Points
1-2 Absences	NO grade drop
3 Absences	1 grade drop
4-5 Absences	1.5 grade drop
6 absences	2 grade drop
7-8 Absences	2.5 grade drop
9 or more Absences	"F" Grade

Creed Document:

A set of plans or blueprints are to the building--as a Personal Creed document is to your life.  IT IS THE END PRODUCT OF THIS COURSE.  It will include among other things which you may want to add, your mission statement, details regarding your values (things which matter most to you), specifics about your goals, and other important information to help you guide your life.  There will be seven (7) parts to your document.  You will be given a due date for each part of the document.  You will receive points on each part based on, 1) Timeliness of completion, and 2) perception of thought investment into this piece.  The final document will be completed and graded at the end of the term and will be graded in a face-to-face interview during finals week.  the Creed Document is 50% of your grade but more importantly it is a beginning to the rest of your life.  Each part is worth 35 points when they are due, for a total of 245 points.  If they are late they will be worth only 15 points.  The final copy is worth 255 points.  Criterion for the grade will be:  Is it typed?  Does its cover suggest it is important to you?  Does it show investment of thought and time?  Does it contain visual content?  Is it impressive?

Assignments 1-7:

R Menu:

"R" stands for "Resourcefulness."  It is a primary ingredient to successful living.  When presented with a seemingly insurmountable challenge, the masses of humanity will concede failure before the battle begins.  There will always be excuses for the masses!  However, "resourcefulness" as an external drive or attitude, like an automatic sensor--explores alternatives, searches, finds, tries, and ultimately discovers other approaches to solve a problem or perhaps identifies in the process a better primary choice.  Resourcefulness, as an inner attribute, comes with us at birth--but with most of us, it has been lost and therefore must be relearned.  This part of the course gives you an opportunity to become familiar with and apply the principle of "Resourcefulness" at Rick's College.

You are enrolled at a college which is one of the greatest places on the planet for your first two years of post high-school education.  Ricks has a wonderful combination of resources to enhance your experience and prepare you for your continuing educational and life experience.  If you desire to become a better student--you can find a way!  If you need more help in identifying a major and mapping your education pathway--you can find assistance and design a plan that works!  If you struggle with the challenge of funding your education--you can find a way!  If you desire to be marketable in the job market--you can find ways to begin that process here and now!  If you want to design a life and education which will be a greater blessing to others and make a difference in the world, and become more prepared to live happily--you can!

Review the R Menu and self-select those which you feel will most appropriately assist you to understand and embrace our Ricks College Resources.  You will need to accumulate 200 points during the semester.

Success Books:

Reading the inspiring words of or about a successful person is very motivating in one's life.  The following books have been highly recommended for personal success; however, you may choose any book of your choice.  Additional recommendations are included in this syllabus under the heading, "Suggested Reading List."  To qualify for this assignment, the book must be read during the semester and cannot have been read before.  At the end of the semester, you might be asked to make a short verbal presentation to the class about the value of the book you have read.  you will also prepare a one-page typed summary for your Creed Document entitled "success book," wherein you summarize the principles of success that you have learned from you reading.  Your "Success Book" reading and write-up is worth 100 points.

*Biography of Auto-Biography of: Gordon B. Hinckley, Joseph Smith, Howard W. Hunter, Ezra Taft Benson, John Taylor, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, etc.

Inspirational:  Man's Search for Meaning, The Hiding Place, Les Miserable, The Miracle of Forgiveness, Believing in Christ, etc.

Motivational:  Covey-Seven Habits of highly effective people, or First Things First, Smith-10 Natural Laws..., etc.

Teaching/Sharing:

You will identify another person who you will meet with once each week for twelve (12) weeks to accomplish three primary purposes.

1. Discuss your reading and impressions from Inner Victory.
2. Support each other and share ideas for the creation of your Creed Document.
3. Complete short assignments given by the teacher.

You will want to determine a time and place to meet each week.  Generally, a half hour will be plenty of time for you to accomplish this task.  You must take ownership in making this a beneficial experience.  Stay on task and focus.  Share ideas, thoughts, and feelings about the subject at hand . . . refraining from any inclination to chit-chat and deviate from your purpose.

You will track this exercise on a weekly basis on the Teaching-Sharing Tracker.  At the end of the semester you will certify and turn in the Teaching-Sharing Tracker for grading.  Each Teaching-Sharing session is worth 20 points, for a total of 240 points.

Success Talks:

From the list provided, listen to all 14 talks available on tape, in the Reserve Library.  A list if provided in this syllabus under Success Talks.  You should also make clear and comprehensive notes of each talk in a way that is most beneficial to you and which will be included in your Creed Document.  Come prepared to discuss each talk on a day indicated by your teacher.  Each success tape write-up is worth 20 points for a total of 280 points.

Grading Scale:

1. No assignment will be accepted late. You need to learn to be responsible and complete your assignments on time. If an assignment is late due to a medical emergency or family tragedy, leave a message on my telephone and I will work with you. Trips home, etc. are not excuses for late work unless emergencies exist, so plan accordingly. You may turn work in early if you are planning to miss a class.

2. The Code of Honor and Dress & Grooming standards apply and will be enforced.

3. Plan on taking the final exam at the date and time indicated on the schedule. Check travel plans now. I cannot accommodate everyone who wants to leave early.

4. If you have a diagnosed disability, or believe you have a disability that may require reasonable accommodation on the part of Ricks College, please call 1-800-we-care to make an appointment with Red Taylor, Director at the center for students with disabilities.  "In compliance with the applicable disability law, qualified students with a disability may be entitled to 'reasonable accommodation.'  It is the student's responsibility to disclose to the SSD office any special needs he/she may have and to provide the appropriate documentation of the disability.  The SSD office is located inside the Learning Assistance Center, McKay Library 1st floor."

5. The emphasis in this course will be on material discussed in class; therefore, attendance is very important. Because the course will be conducted primarily on a discussion basis, it is very important that the student read the text and other materials so that he or she is prepared to participate in class discussions.

6. Learning outside the classroom: What happens out of the class can be as important, or more important than what happens in the class. For every hour of class, you should spend 3 to 6 hours a week in out-of-class learning activities. Learn to Love Learning!

7. Attendance Policy: One of the most important parts of your grade and certainly what you get out of the class will be your attendance. We both have the responsibility to be active participants in the classroom. If your not here, we all miss out!! Attendance will effect your grade as follows:

8. Learning Styles: We all have different learning styles. It is challenging to hit every ones Hot Button every time we meet. As a teacher, you can interest all of your students some of the time; you can interest some of your students all of the time; but you can't interest all of your students all of the time.

---

PRINCIPLE:

SPEND CALCULATED AND CONSISTENT TIME ON IMPROVING AND SHARPENING YOURSELF. . . AND YOUR CAPACITY TO PERFORM WELL IN YOUR STUDIES AND EDUCATION IS MULTIPLIED MANY TIMES.

One might say "Yes, but I am in education and I am constantly improving myself. . . as a student, it's what I do all day. . . I don't need to spend more time on self improvement.  Don't buy into that philosophy without real examination of the principle.  Steven R. Covey calls it 'Sharpening the Saw'.  Remember the story of the two men who cut down trees. . . the one who stopped periodically to 'sharpen his saw' cut the tree down significantly faster than the man who tried to do it all by sweat and brawn.  Sharpening your Saw daily will bring dividends at grade-time, employment time, and even dinner time!  Your spiritual, social, educational, emotional, and physical capacities increase and so does your JOY.

Make this a great semester!  I'm glad our paths are crossing here at BYU-Idaho!  I believe there is a reason. . . I know the Lord is in the details of our lives!

-- D. Mark Nygren

 

 

"Take Time to Think"

"Our lives become extremely busy.  We run from one thing to another.  We wear ourselves out in thoughtless pursuit of goals which are highly ephemeral (lasting only one day or are short lived at best).  We are entitled to spend some time with ourselves in introspection, in development.  My dear father was a great example. . . he would go sit on a rock wall and would sit for a time thinking, meditating, writing, pondering.  he never ceased growing.  Take TIME TO THINK! -- President Gordon B. Hinckley

YOUR CREED DOCUMENT

Remember. . .your Creed Document is the tangible END PRODUCT of this course.  Begin now with the end in mind.  Determine to make your. . . your best effort!  This may be the only time in your adult life when you will have the luxury of taking time to think, ponder, prepare, and create your beginning Creed.  It is likely, the products and papers of your other classes will not become a lasting part of your life.  However, this product may well be the basis of a document which you carry throughout your entire life.  You will share it with your spouse, your children will be impacted by it, and your contribution to life and others will be enhanced by the things which you ponder, record, and live by.  Make it the BEST product of your college experience.

Begin TODAY. . . .

What will the cover look like?  Will you include it in your planner or will you have a special cover for it?  How will you protect the pages?  Do you plan to carry your document with you or will you give it a special place where you can access it frequently as you THINK about and set the course of action for your life?  Will the cover have a picture?  What color will it be?

THINK. . .pictures which have meaning to your life. . .poems which inspire you. . . quotes which remind you of your purpose-passion -plan. . .scripture references which help you maintain proper focus. . .images which symbolize your life's direction. . . your patriarchal blessing which you have studied and pondered. . . a special conference talk. . . a photograph or two identifying your course. . . a letter from another person which has lasting meaning. . .perhaps a LOGO or representation of all that you stand for.

Success Talks 

Directions:

The following list of talks are on RESERVE at the library circulation desk.  they can be checked out for a two-hour time period.  Personal copies of each talk can be purchased at the Bookstore for minimal cost.  For this assignment, listen to all 14 tapes.  As you listen, please take notes on each talk and organize your notes into a meaningful summary.  THESE NOTES WILL BE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT IDEAS YOU WILL LEARN!  Each tape you listen to and take notes on is worth 20 points.  The final day for receiving any points will be announced in class.  Each talk will be discussed on Wednesdays as time permits.

Suggested Reading List

*There are many other acceptable books, but if they are not on this list they must be approved by me in advance.

Name ________________________     Due __________________________

1.     All seven typed Creed Document assignments

         70 points possible ________

 

 

2.     Visual Effect including: pictures, borders, cover page,

        binder, selected talks, poems, scriptures, personalized, creative and organized.

         100 points possible _______

          3.     Success Talks:  typed notes that indicate a good understanding of 14 success talks.

                   55 points possible _______

 

4.      (Optional) Success Book:  one or two page typed summary of success book
          report.
         30 extra points possible ______

                  255 Total Points: ________

OTHER SYLLABUS' 
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