Welcome to 8 Skills for the Welcome to 8 Skills for the Effective Paralegal StudentEffective Paralegal Student

Prepared by Adjunct Professor Prepared by Adjunct Professor Josette ValtierraJosette Valtierra

AgendaAgenda

Personal Introductions by class Personal Introductions by class and profand prof

Review of Syllabus/Ground Review of Syllabus/Ground RulesRules

The Importance of PersistenceThe Importance of Persistence How to Persist in the face of How to Persist in the face of

Obstacles to SuccessObstacles to Success

Who Are We?A little bit about me

• I want to know and your classmates want to know.– Post full introductions to the

discussion board in Unit 1– Get to know each– Earn 25 points in Unit 1 just

for being social

• You are on this journey together. It helps to know who the other travelers are!

Who are you and who wants to know?

So what is the purpose of So what is the purpose of this course?this course?

The purpose of this course is to lay The purpose of this course is to lay the groundwork for the skills that you the groundwork for the skills that you will need to do well at your courses will need to do well at your courses at Kaplan at Kaplan

And get a good working overview of And get a good working overview of some skills that you’ll need as a some skills that you’ll need as a paralegal. paralegal.

What is my goal for this What is my goal for this course?course?

To help you maximize To help you maximize your learningyour learning

Help you earn an “A” in this Help you earn an “A” in this course course

and and All your other courses at All your other courses at

KaplanKaplan

The Sky’s the limit!The Sky’s the limit!

That’s code for…….That’s code for…….

Important H-R Tip• Here is an important thing to remember as you

go through your courses! Every professor, every instructor that you deal with is UNIQUE! We are not all the same. • Some of us giggle and some of us do not

• Some of us are somber and some of us are light hearted

• Some of us care deeply about the placement of a comma and some of us do not

• We are from all over the country. We hold all sorts of different beliefs.

• We are unique. • You need to know this to know how to deal

with us and you need to know it because it will come up on the MIDTERM EXAM.

• You see some of us give away the farm on a regular basis and some of us do not!

• I like to give hints very specifically as to what you can expect on an exam in our seminars!

• Which brings me to my next point… SEMINARS!

What if I miss a Seminar?What if I miss a Seminar?• Do the Alternative Assignment so that you Do the Alternative Assignment so that you

don’t lose your points or miss important tips!don’t lose your points or miss important tips!• How to do that? How to do that?

– 1. Go to the Archives and Review the Seminar1. Go to the Archives and Review the Seminar– 2. “2. “In order to earn the lecture points, you must complete an In order to earn the lecture points, you must complete an

alternative assignment and submit it as a Word document attached to alternative assignment and submit it as a Word document attached to an email.  Send the email to your professor within one week of the an email.  Send the email to your professor within one week of the lecture. The professor has the right to reject late alternative lecture. The professor has the right to reject late alternative assignments. assignments. The alternative assignment must provide at least a The alternative assignment must provide at least a clear synopsis of the material covered at the lecture along with clear synopsis of the material covered at the lecture along with your analysis of that material. It should be no less than two your analysis of that material. It should be no less than two pages and no longer than three pages and must be submitted pages and no longer than three pages and must be submitted within 7 days of the missed lecturewithin 7 days of the missed lecture.” – the Syllabus! .” – the Syllabus!

– I do I do NOTNOT accept late alternative accept late alternative assignments.assignments.

Review the Review the SyllabusSyllabus

Dude, do I have to like read like

whole thing?

Yes, you do! Every little word, and be sure and click on the links, too!

And where’s my apple?

You are responsible for knowing everything in the syllabus and even

things that are referred to in the syllabus

NOBODY ELSE BUT YOU!!!!HINT!!!!

Course Outline/GradingCourse Outline/GradingCourse OutlineCourse Outline

This tells you what This tells you what each unit will covereach unit will cover Which items are graded Which items are graded

and not and what you and not and what you need to readneed to read

Do and DueDo and Due is another is another version of this.version of this.

The The To Do List To Do List on the on the home page of each Unit home page of each Unit highlights this as well.highlights this as well.

Use both to plan your Use both to plan your Kaplan academic weeksKaplan academic weeks

GradingGrading Just because there isn’t an A+ Just because there isn’t an A+

at Kaplan doesn’t mean you at Kaplan doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go for it. shouldn’t go for it.

Understand your gradesUnderstand your grades IncompletesIncompletes – a helping – a helping

hand with conditions. Note hand with conditions. Note the last day to ask for an the last day to ask for an incomplete. incomplete.

Late work policyLate work policy: : ““All written All written assignments must be submitted assignments must be submitted no later than the date they are no later than the date they are due. A late assignment’s grade due. A late assignment’s grade can be lowered up to 5%, as can be lowered up to 5%, as determined by the instructor, determined by the instructor, unless extenuating unless extenuating circumstances exist.” Syllabuscircumstances exist.” Syllabus

Most important Most important Assignments!Assignments!

Unit 4 Timed Test – Unit 4 Timed Test – 25 pts 25 pts Unit 5 Midterm Exam – Unit 5 Midterm Exam – 100 pts100 pts Unit 8 Writing Project – Unit 8 Writing Project – 195 pts195 pts Unit 9 Final Exam – Unit 9 Final Exam – 170 pts 170 pts

Now what – put them in your calendar and make Now what – put them in your calendar and make certain that you have planned time to prepare each certain that you have planned time to prepare each

item – WHY? –49% of your grade!item – WHY? –49% of your grade!

Quizzes are open book and open note. Take them until you get a perfect score… Really, don’t miss points

unnecessarily!

5th Week Policy5th Week Policy( In a Nutshell)( In a Nutshell)

• You’ve got to carry a grade average of You’ve got to carry a grade average of 65% or better for units 1-5. 65% or better for units 1-5.

• If you are under 65% by the end of Unit 5, If you are under 65% by the end of Unit 5, you will be become “reversed”.you will be become “reversed”.

• In short, you’re don’t get to continue. In short, you’re don’t get to continue. • The good news is that you are not on the hook for The good news is that you are not on the hook for

any $$$ except for the nonrefundable dough you put any $$$ except for the nonrefundable dough you put up! up!

• The bad news is that your academic journey will be The bad news is that your academic journey will be delayed for a year, unless you can get a waiver. delayed for a year, unless you can get a waiver.

Discussion Board Discussion Board GradingGrading

• Read the rubric, but the bottom line is this… Read the rubric, but the bottom line is this… • ______________________________________________________________• Post a minimum of Post a minimum of 55 postings postings 33 different different

days to inspire good discussion and create days to inspire good discussion and create an opportunity for a perfect score on the an opportunity for a perfect score on the Discussion board. – This is a Discussion board. – This is a MINIMUM MINIMUM – first – first hint towards success --hint towards success --

• KNOW WHAT THE MINIMUM IS ONLY TO KNOW WHAT THE MINIMUM IS ONLY TO EXCEED IT!!! EXCEED IT!!!

Examples of good and bad Examples of good and bad DB postingsDB postings

Bad postingBad posting I agreeI agree What he saidWhat he said DittoDitto I tink so to ( note the I tink so to ( note the

misspellings)misspellings) i agre wth what mary i agre wth what mary

seays becuz stat mean seays becuz stat mean si into the rufel o done si into the rufel o done ( note that this is ( note that this is completely completely unintelligible) unintelligible)

Good postingGood posting Mary has a great point, Mary has a great point,

because as we can see because as we can see from the case, the from the case, the defendant was missing defendant was missing all the evidence that all the evidence that would have shown him would have shown him to be innocent. to be innocent. However, I don’t quite However, I don’t quite understand why the understand why the prosecution couldn’t prosecution couldn’t use the gun evidence? use the gun evidence? How did that happen?How did that happen?

SeminarSeminar Show up and have fun! Show up and have fun!

Tardiness and Non Tardiness and Non AttendanceAttendance I will nag you, but I can’t and won’t come I will nag you, but I can’t and won’t come

to your house and drag you to your to your house and drag you to your computer.computer.

You have to want to do this You have to want to do this Attitude is everythingAttitude is everything

This is your journey – this is your choice! This is your journey – this is your choice!

Plagiarism and Academic Plagiarism and Academic DishonestyDishonesty

Read this section carefullyRead this section carefully Plagiarism is serious businessPlagiarism is serious business We use We use www.turnitin.com Do Not Ruin your opportunitiesDo Not Ruin your opportunities

Its better to take a Zero for not doing the Its better to take a Zero for not doing the assignment or blowing the assignment than for assignment or blowing the assignment than for cheating. One type of zero can be eradicated, cheating. One type of zero can be eradicated, the other keeps on going like the energizer the other keeps on going like the energizer bunnybunny

FEELING OVERWHELMED?

PERFECTLY NORMAL!

And then there are the FMW’s to deal with….. Sheesh!

How do you deal with all of this?

• New Academic Load• Your Life• And inevitable FMW’s

(Frequent Monkey Wrenches of life)

• PERSISTENCE!!!!!

Persistence• This will be our theme for the entire term and should

be your theme for your entire time here at Kaplan and maybe beyond.

• Persistence – – Webster's defines persistence as “the act of persisting”. To persist means “to

continue steadily or firmly in some stated purpose or course of action especially in spite of opposition, remonstrance; or to last or endure.”

• Your Cornerstone Text book states as follows: “ Persistence. The word itself means that you are going to stay—that you

have found a way to stick it out, found a way to make it count, and found a way to not give up.” (Cornerstone, pg.38)

If you strike a thorn or rose,Keep a-goin'!

If it hails or if it snows,Keep a-goin'!

'Taint no use to sit an' whineWhen the fish ain't on your line;Bait your hook an' keep a-tryin'--

Keep a-goin'!

When the weather kills your crop,Keep a-goin'!

Though 'tis work to reach the top,Keep a-goin'!

S'pose you're out o' ev'ry dime,Gittin' broke ain't any crime;

Tell the world you're feelin' prime--Keep a-goin'!

When it looks like all is up,Keep a-goin'!

Drain the sweetness from the cup,Keep a-goin'!

See the wild birds on the wing, Hear the bells that sweetly ring,When you feel like singin', sing--

Keep a-goin'!

What’s our Objective? • To Show you How to Persist in the face of obstacles!• Step 1: Understand WHY your are on this journey? Write it

down! • Step 2: Find your Persistence Heroes. Know their stories

and use them to inspire your actions.• Step 3: Use the Resources Available to you here at Kaplan• Step 4: Visualize Your Success• Step 5: Set Reasonable Achievable Goals• Step 6: Respect Your achievements• Step 7: Be Present for your Education

Keep a Journal

• Write down all the reasons WHY you are doing this? Come up with as many as you can. You’ll find that you’ll add to it as time passes and as you learn more

• Why?– Because when the going get’s

tough and the monkey wrenches are flying, you need to look back at that journal and REMEMBER why you are here

Use the Journal to keep track of your dreams, your motivation,

your success. Reread it and note how much

you’ve changed . Keep a record of your growth!

Darla Roesller

Chief Master Sergeant Tony Travis

Erik Weihenmayer

Maya Angelou

Thomas Edison

Antonio Villaraigosa

Martin Luther King

Ghandi

Einstein

Justice Sonya Sotomayor

Jesse Owens

Take Advantage of All the Academic Help Offered.

• Talk to your Advisors.• Use the KU writing center and all of

it’s resources.• Talk to your professors.• If you need help, ask for it.• If you don’t think you need help, at

least find out and explore what’s offered.

• Familiarize yourself with our announcement boards in the class and in your KU home page. All of this stuff is for YOU – the student!

– Student Help Desk– KU writing Center– Academic Advising are all available to

you.

Seek Academic help early in the term Don’t wait till the last minute!

Work Hard to Develop a Sense of Community

• Get to know your classmates by participating actively on the Discussion Board.

• Make friends/ Create Study Groups.

• The DB really is your CLASSROOM.– Hang out there.

• Join organizations. – KU Student Organizations

Budget your Time and Money Wisely

• Attend lectures and make DB work a regular part of your calendar.

• Put it at the same priority as brushing your teeth in the morning. Something you just do and that’s that

• Get a calendar and USE IT! • Watch your $$$! Nothing can sink you faster

than money troubles. Don’t succumb to “credit-carditus”.

Visualize your success!

Set Realistic Achievable Goals

• What does that Mean?

• 1st Ask yourself this question

HOW DO YOU EAT AN ELEPHANT?

RESPECT YOURSELF! BE PROUD OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS.

Taking responsibility for your choices and their consequences is empowering!

WHAT IF I MAKE AN F?Take personal responsibility for it! Examine how it happened and how it can be

avoided NEXT time. Did you really give the project the time it deserved? Did you ask for help? Did you do the basic things that the instructor asked of your Did you follow directions? Did you miss the point or objective of the assignment? Did you focus on the wrong things? Did you omit a key rubric element?

Next ask yourself these questions Did you come to class regularly? Did you participate fully in the discussion board and your professors postings?Did you go to your DB instructors office hours or make an appointment? Did you read the announcements? Did you read the syllabus?

And Finally..?

• Understand what’s expected of you by your instructors.

• Think about the tools that we’re showing you for Persistence.

• Next week we’ll talk about Time Management – concrete ways for you to live your life and get your work done!

• I want you to keep this image in mind and try a little motivational mumbo jumbo!

BE THE BUNNY!Keep going and going and going…

Have a Great week!

Welcome to 8 Skills!