Your first impressions of academic life in the United States may be confusing. Foreign students often comment that U.S. students are competitive but don't seem to study very hard, and that beyond the informality of the classroom the professors are very demanding. Some of these apparent contradictions can be explained by the values that underpin them. Creativity, tolerance, and flexibility are, in general, valued above tradition and respect for authority in the United States. Teaching styles and classroom attitudes vary widely and are influenced by many different factors. Even where tradition does dictate professorial or student behavior, the patterns may not be evident to someone coming from a different tradition.

Faculty at Northern are personable and concerned about the success of their students in classroom. If you have questions about coursework, assignments, a grade on a paper, quiz or exam, take time to discuss the concern with the professor.

Who is Your Teacher?

Professors are the core of the teaching staff at Northern State University. Northern State University is not typical of most universities in the United States in that all classes at Northern are taught by faculty, including freshmen courses. Northern emphasizes teaching by its faculty. A professor's informal style of dress or speech must not be taken to mean that he or she has a relaxed attitude toward assignments, class attendance, or the quality of your work. Informal attire and the omission of titles in interpersonal communication are common in American university teaching; beneath this largely informal surface lies a wide variety of individual expectations and preferences concerning student behavior. Take time to get to know your professor. Stop by their office during office hours and spend sometime getting to know them and giving them a chance to get to know you as well.

You should feel free to approach faculty with your questions. Indeed, they will probably know your name from the beginning of the course and you should not hesitate to ask their advice about course work, grades, or other matters.

Lectures, Seminars, etc.: A Typology of Classes

Lectures are the primary form of undergraduate instruction at Northern State University. Lecture courses may enroll as many as 100 students or be as small as 10 or 20 students. Although attendance may not be recorded, you are nevertheless expected to attend. Material covered in a lecture class may be closely related to the reading assignments or may be completely new material. Doing the reading before attending class is a sure way to improve your comprehension of the lecture. You might wish to record lectures on tape, especially if you are having trouble following spoken English in your first weeks of school.

A discussion section (also called a recitation, review, or quiz section) is a class in which material presented in a lecture is reviewed and discussed. (Not all lecture courses include discussion sections.) Discussion is considered an important element of American education; indeed, "class participation" may count for a certain percentage of your grade. If you do not feel confident about giving your opinion in class, be ready to answer basic questions about the material. You can also ask questions of the instructor after class or during office hours.

In so-called independent studies or guided research courses, you may study a topic under the direction of a professor but without any classroom instruction. Such arrangements are usually reserved for advanced undergraduates and graduate students. They generally involve a great deal of reading or work in a laboratory but allow you to focus on a topic of particular interest to you.

Seminars are often associated with undergraduate honors courses or graduate study. Seminar courses usually enroll fewer than 20 students. They often cover specialized topics and involve discussions and presentations by the students under the supervision of the professor. Internships are practical work or training experiences that allow students to apply in a work situation what they have learned in class. Some institutions offer academic credit for internships, others do not.

At Northern, University College offers help for students having difficulties in course work. There are groups called Supplemental Instruction and Tutoring (SI). These groups provide discussion and review of materials covered in class. The SI groups generally meet once or twice a week and help students who are having difficulty understanding the material. If you would like to participate in one of these groups contact University College.

Tests, Exams, and Quizzes

Northern State University faculty use tests, quizzes and papers to determine the extent to which a student is learning the material presented in the course.

Quizzes, short tests on assigned material, are used most frequently in language and mathematics courses. "Pop quizzes," unannounced tests, are given by the professor to see if students are keeping up with their reading assignments or to verify that students understand the material being presented in the course.

Examinations may call for specific, short replies or for longer responses in the form of essays. Often examinations are a combination of both forms. So-called objective questions have only one right answer. Types include true-or-false, sentence completion ("fill in the blanks"), multiple choice, and matching. They cover a broad range of material and demand a particular type of study. If the class is large, you may be asked to record your answers on a machine-readable form. In such cases, be sure you understand how you are to mark your answers on the answer sheet. Students sometimes fail machine-graded exams simply because they put their answers in the wrong place. If you have a question, be sure to ask.

Many exams include one or two questions requiring essays of several pages, or several questions requiring only a paragraph or two. Essay questions generally specify how you are to approach the material. The questions may be long or short. Terms often used in essay questions include: analyze, compare and contrast, criticize, define, describe, discuss, evaluate, explain, illustrate, interpret, justify, outline, prove, review, summarize, and trace. You will become familiar with these forms soon enough, but if you have trouble, see your instructor, your academic adviser, or the foreign-student adviser.

Homework

The typical undergraduate course involves three hours of lectures each week, an additional lab or discussion section, reading assignments, quizzes and tests, a mid-term examination, and a final examination, as well as one or more research papers or projects. Keeping up with the work is important.

Foreign students are sometimes dismayed by the amount of reading assigned for their courses, especially if English is not their native language. It is important, therefore, to be clear about the role of the reading assignments in a course. In some courses, the reading is central; you must read the texts closely and know the material for exams. In other courses, readings may be supplementary or optional. It probably will not be possible for you to read thoroughly everything that is assigned. You will have to prioritize: read the most important material first and carefully; then skim the less important assignments.

If you find yourself falling behind or feeling terribly pressured about your assignments, discuss your problem with the professor after a class or during office hours. Don't hesitate to get help if you are having academic problems.

Research papers are another aspect of homework that may seem overwhelming. Some students are unable to express themselves clearly or eloquently in written English; others do not know how to use the research tools in the library; others may not be familiar with American academic writing styles and conventions. Many American students share these problems, and help is seldom far away. University College offers writing and research skills for students who need help. In your writing, you will be expected to know when and how to "paraphrase" or summarize another writer's ideas in your own words.

If you are not a native English speaker this may seem difficult, even foolhardy, and you may be tempted to quote your sources word for word. Because this practice can lead to a charge of "plagiarism" (see below), it is essential that you acquire the skill of paraphrasing. You will find that if you truly understand the ideas you are dealing with, you will be able to express them clearly. Find an instructor or U.S. student, perhaps a volunteer tutor or conversation partner, who will read your papers, point out passages that are unclear, and help you find phrasing that conveys your meaning. You may have to sacrifice the elegance of the original quotation, but your paper will gain coherence from the effort you put into synthesizing all of the material you use.

Plagiarism is the use of another's words or ideas without acknowledgment of their source. Although in some cultures incorporating the words of revered scholars is an important part of the style of academic writing, it is not acceptable in the United States; indeed, it is considered a serious offense. The consequences of proven or even suspected plagiarism can be severe (for example, a failing grade or expulsion from class or the university). Borrowed words and ideas must always be clearly documented. If you expect to experience writing difficulties, you should get help as soon as possible.

An important distinction exists between group work and individual work. In general, papers, homework assignments, quizzes, and tests should be done individually, and evidence (or even suspicion) of collaboration can result in a failing grade for the work or expulsion from the class or institution. Studying with others is a good idea, but before you collaborate with others on homework, papers, or tests, make sure the professor has specifically authorized such collaboration.

The ability to use computers is essential to success at Northern State University. Most professors do not accept handwritten papers (except exams). U.S. students typically write their papers on computers, which are usually available for student use in the library or computing center and in residence halls or other locations.

Grades

International students sometimes find that their U.S. classmates are preoccupied with grades. This can be explained partly by the spirit of individual competition that is fostered and supported by American society. It is also a pragmatic matter, as grades are an important factor in gaining admission to graduate school or getting a job after graduation. The basis for grading in each course will be determined by the professor. The weight given to exams, papers, class participation, and other factors will be clearly specified at the beginning of the term.

Grades are important because they will have a significant impact on your ability to participate in honors course, be hired for internships and to get into graduate school. The most significant years are your freshman and sophomore years. Below is a chart of what the difference is.

These students are enrolled in the same classes with the same instructors and the same major, accounting. They have different motivational levels their first year. Student X does her homework, attends classes and concentrates on her studies. Student Y, for his first year, enjoys being away from home and spends a significant amount of time with friends and partying. At the end of the first year, Student X has a GPA (grade point average) of 3.5 and Student Y has a GPA of 2.1.

The second year student Y settles down and becomes serious about his GPA. At the end of that year, both Student X and Student Y earn GPA’s of 3.3. The cumulative GPA though is much different. Student X has a cumulative GPA of 3.4 and is asked to join the accounting club and business honor society.

The third year both students again do well in their classes and both receive a 3.3 GPA for the year. The cumulative GPA is much different with Student X having a cumulative GPA of 3.4 and Student Y having a cumulative GPA of 2.9. Both students apply for summer internships with a prestigious accounting firm. Student X is given the internship because of her GPA and leadership roles in the business honor society and the accounting club. Student Y does not receive an internship because of his overall GPA and because of his lack of significant leadership roles on campus.

While student Y is intelligent and perfectly capable of receiving the same grades as student X, the decision to not become serious about his grades until later in his academic career has had a significant impact on his early college and career opportunities.

English as a Degree Requirement

At most universities and colleges in the United States, undergraduate students-American and foreign-must successfully complete a series of writing or composition courses offered through the institution's Department of English. Moreover, at most institutions this requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to take upper-level courses. Many schools offer sections of these lower-level composition courses specifically designed for international students. Because instructors who are trained and experienced in teaching English to foreign students teach these courses, they tend to be particularly helpful. Before you enroll in an English-composition course, check with the Department of English or your adviser to make sure you are enrolling in the appropriate section.

Northern has a writing center or tutorial center from which foreign students can obtain help with their writing. At such a center you have the opportunity to work with an individual tutor on written assignments from your courses. Short programs such as seminars or workshops on graduate-level writing are also available at Northern. Though not designed specifically for international students, these programs can be very useful. The personal attention you receive in tutorial programs can be more beneficial than standard writing

Assistantships for Graduate Students

Since research universities began operating in the United States, graduate students have assisted professors by teaching undergraduate students. Teaching assistants (TAs) not only relieve their professor of some teaching responsibilities (often so that the professor can spend more time doing research), they also learn how to teach the subject matter of their own field of study. In many fields, the experience and training gained as a TA are viewed as necessary preparation for becoming a faculty member. TAs may be in charge of lab and discussion sections, or they may be required to grade the homework and exams given by the professor. In some cases, TAs may give lectures. The responsibilities of TAs vary considerably from institution to institution, department to department, and even year to year in a graduate student's time as a student. For example, the TA may begin by grading papers, then taking charge of a lab, and finally teaching the class.

If you are given a research assistantship, you will be expected to assist a faculty member, or perhaps a group of faculty members, in performing research related to your field of study. You can expect to work about 20 hours per week at times when you are not taking classes. Many research assistants (RAs) work at night and on the weekends.

Before you receive an assistantship, some universities will require you to demonstrate that your spoken-English skills are adequate for teaching. One way to do that is by taking the Test of Spoken English, or TSE. Another way universities or departments determine oral proficiency is by calling candidates on the telephone. Some universities will ask a representative in your country to interview you. Be sure that you know which method you are expected to use to demonstrate your ability to communicate in English.

Even if your English proficiency is good, your university may require you to take an English test after you arrive on campus, even if you have already submitted evidence of your English ability. Some universities will require that you take a special course, workshop, or orientation program before you are allowed to teach.