TFR 105 – Advanced Multidisciplinary Studies

TFR105 Syllabus

Course summary:  The purpose of TFR 105 is to combine, synthesize, and analyze knowledge of multiple areas of study to determine the precise location of the 2012-2013 Taylor Family Reunion.  Professor Corey, Professor Niki, Teaching Assistant Charlotte and Lab Monkey Peter will post lessons from time to time on the Taylor Family Reunion Blog, but such lessons are guaranteed to be neither instructive nor informative.  This class is intended to draw from your life experiences as well as your ability to utilize the resources at your disposal.

Course guidelines:
1.  Coursework will be assigned on the Taylor Family Reunion Blog.
2.  Completed coursework should be turned in to Professor Niki at nikistringer@gmail.com.
3.  All answers will be graded and subsequently posted on the blog.
4.  Any questions regarding coursework should be posted as comments in the blog, and they will be answered there as well.
5.  Each assignment will have one question that asks the location of the Taylor Family Reunion.  We will not post your answer to this question on the blog – it will remain confidential.  We also will not reveal whether your guess was correct until July 1, 2012.
6.  The first workgroup (see below) to correctly guess the location (country, city, state, and location within the city – the more specific, the better) will win a prize.  We will not announce the winner of the prize until July 1.  To qualify for the prize, however, you must fully complete all of your assignments on time.  There is no extra credit and there are no make-up assignments.

Workgroups:  Each Taylor Family Member is hereby assigned to a workgroup to complete each assignment.  You may divide the workgroup’s workload as you see fit, but only one answer set may be submitted per workgroup.

Workgroup A (Team SC) Granny & Grandpa Taylor

Workgroup B (Team PA) Martha & Doug

Workgroup C (Team DC) Erin & Katie

Workgroup D (Team TC) Dave, Lisa & Ellie

Workgroup E (Team GR) Don, Stephanie, Quinn & Maisie

Workgroup F (Team OT) Larry, Barbara

Course outline:

Section I – Advanced Topics in Literature

Assignment:  Read one book from the assigned reading list and answer questions.

Date of assignment: December 18, 2012.

Due date: February 15, 2012

Instructions: Each workgroup may claim one (1) book from the list below.  Comment to this assignment on the blog to claim your book – first come, first served. Two workgroups may not read the same book. Please read the book and answer the questions below.  You may obtain each book from your local library.

Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer
I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowlings
These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery
Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard and James Marshall

Questions: (Answers need to be one paragraph or less.)
1. Who was the main character?  Was the main character a sympathetic character or not?
2. Does the setting of this book play an important role in the story?  Why or why not?
3. What happened in the climax of the book?  What lessons did the main character learn as a result of the climax?
4. If you were the main character, how would you have solved the problem facing the main character at the climax?
5. Where will the 2012-2013 Taylor Family Reunion be held?

Section II – Geography and History

Assignment: Correctly answer 10 geography questions (to be disseminated on the blog).

Date of assignment: February 15, 2012

Due date: April 1, 2012

Section III – Mathematics

Assignment: Solve 4 math problems (to be disseminated on the blog).

Date of assignment: April 1, 2012

Due date: May 15, 2012

Section IV – Thesis

Assignment: Submit a thesis statement stating the location of 2012-2013 Taylor Family Reunion (full instructions for this will be posted on the blog).

Date of assignment: May 15, 2012

Due date: June 15, 2012

Final grades posted: July 1, 2012