Course Work

• Two short papers, 3 to 5 pages, each worth 15% of the final grade, and one long paper, 6 to 8 pages, worth 20%.  Assignment sheets with suggested topics will be passed out during the semester.
• Periodic, unannounced reading quizzes, about one per week.  At the end of the semester, the lowest quiz grade will be dropped, and the others will be averaged 20% toward the final grade.
• A final exam (20%).
• Active, constructive participation in group work and class discussion (10%).  Please keep in mind that this is not a lecture course; thus, the quality of your learning experience will depend largely upon how actively you engage the course material.   You are expected to bring the appropriate text for each class and to contribute to our discussion.  See the “Class Participation” handout for some specific suggestions on how to participate effectively.

House Rules
Absences: You are given four unexcused absences to use at your discretion, except on days when a paper is due or an exam is scheduled:  in fairness to those students completing the work on time, I must verify any excuse that results in an extension.   If you have used up your four absences and an emergency occurs that requires you to miss class, you must provide appropriate documentation to excuse the absence.  Drop by during my office hours or set up an appointment to discuss any work that you missed:  please, however, do not ask me to send you an e-mail message summarizing the previous day's discussion and assignments.  Students with more than four unexcused absences will have one full letter grade deducted from the final grade for each additional absence.

Late papers/missed quizzes and exams:  Papers and other assignments are due at class-time on the days noted in your syllabus.  A paper turned in after the due date will be penalized one letter grade for each day that it is late.  If illness or another emergency prevents you from meeting a deadline or sitting for an exam, please contact me as soon as you know that you cannot come to class. If you miss a quiz or arrive late for class while a quiz is in progress, you must make up the quiz during my office hours that day or the following class day.  It is your responsibility to arrange a prompt make up of any missed quiz; if not made up by the day you return to class, the quiz will be counted a zero (e.g., if you miss a quiz on a Monday, and you return to class the following Wednesday, it must be made up during my office hours that day; Friday would be too late).  If your schedule conflicts with my regular office hours, please let me know, and we will set up another time.

Classroom behavior: In general, avoid behavior that is likely to annoy your professor or your classmates.  Examples include arriving late; leaving class early; not bringing your book; and talking to a neighbor when you should be listening.  Students who habitually engage in any of the above risk failing the course.

Special accommodations: Students with documentation of special needs should arrange to see me as soon as possible.