FRESHMAN SEMINAR (CRITICAL WRITING SKILLS)

WHAT IS SEMINAR?

Seminar is a course that is here to help you navigate some of the specific academic skills you will need to succeed at CVHS with an emphasis on writing skills. It is a support course meant to help you improve in individual skill needs, to provide an extra space for working on self-management skills, and to give you a little bit of help or space for assignments in other classes. You have been invited to join this course based on data from your 8th or 9th grade STAAR and PSAT tests, grades, or possibly on the recommendation of a teacher. 

CVHS Survival Skills

Learning Styles and Habits

School Relationships and Decision-Making

Building Academic Skill Sets with an emphasis on reading and writing

STAAR Support and Practice

Essay Writing and Peer Editing 

OUR KEY TECH TOOLS

Canvas: for assignments and communication

HISD Digital Resources including various print media such as The New York Times

Vocabulary.com

Grading

Weekly Canvas Activities 50%

Agenda/Time Management Activities 25%

Reading/Writing Skills Mastery     25%

But what will we be doing?

1. Individual skills will be addressed through Canvas. You may also have individual work on other platforms as needed.
2. We will do whole-class lessons about time management, planning, and other skills, including reading and writing.
3. Most of the assignments will be done in class for this course. Sometimes I may ask you to apply a skill to homework for another class, though. 

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Please respect the school’s policy on plagiarism. Copied work will receive a 0. Ask if you need help with this!