ATTENDANCE

Attendance is mandatory and will be taken for each class and any required outside events.  Since the class meets only once a week, your attendance is crucial.  All absences after the first will lead to a grade penalty of 5 points from the total 100 points for the course. Additionally, failure to appear for individual advising meetings will also drop the participation grade by 5 participation points each. More than five absences from the course will result in the grade of AF or Failure due to excessive absences.

EVALUATION OF CLASS PARTICIPATION

The quality of the class for everyone is in large part dependent on the quality of preparation and visible engagement of each individual participant. Below are concrete descriptions of different levels of participation. Please realize that although you may have prepared the readings or other assignments, and may be actively listening to others, if you do not actively demonstrate your preparation and ideas in discussion, there is no way to see and hence evaluate the quality of your preparation and participation.  We will perform self-evaluations at least twice during the semester for you to reflect upon your participation and receive a non-binding provisional grade from me. Below are guidelines to help you attain the participation grade you desire:

A Level: These students are visible and obvious class leaders. Such a student contributes consistently, regularly and enthusiastically to class discussion. But such a student also does not dominate. Talking a lot doesn't guarantee an A. Rather, talking in a way that develops the conversation, builds on the comments of others, and is thoroughly grounded in the text under discussion will lead to an A. A-level participants don't ramble. Perhaps the most noteworthy characteristics of the A participant is that s/he always has very clear evidence from the text when relevant (being able to point to relevant passages and concrete details). Moreover, s/he doesn't just talk to the instructor. S/he engages everyone in the class, asks questions or builds on the comments of others, and addresses others' remarks as well as promoting his or her own position. These students are excellent and exceptional in their performance in every class.

B Level: These students contribute regularly to each class meeting. The B-level student has much in common with the A student; what differentiates the two is the degree of consistency of performance. The B student is sometimes a class leader, but not always. The B student is reliable in giving concrete evidence and details, but less specific than the A student. S/he always does good work, usually engages others, but may not do so every class meeting. These students are above average in their contributions in terms of both content and delivery.

C Level: These students give useful and relevant ideas and opinions; however, they may not tie their ideas with evidence from the text or they may not contribute very frequently. The C student only rarely engages others in the class by asking questions or furthering points. These students are very obviously not the class leaders, although they come prepared to all class meetings and are productive members of the class. They are average in their work, doing only what is required but no more.

D Level: These students are physically present and actively listen, but do not contribute with any regularity, or if they do, their contributions are vague and not carefully articulated. Their preparation and participation is never reliable and they do not make an effort to engage with others in the class.

F Level: These students are often absent. If they attend regularly, they are obviously and frequently unprepared and inattentive. An F-level student may also be one who makes insulting and unproductive comments, talks while others have the floor, or engages in other disruptive or disrespectful behavior. Numerous absences or flagrant rudeness should guarantee a failing grade.