REQUIREMENTS

This course requires regular attendance, diligent reading and study, active participation in class discussions, and the successful completion of weekly writing and a final take-home essays.

Class participation will include the following: regular attendance at class; serious preparation of the assigned texts; and a sustained effort at contributing to the class discussion through visible attention, helpful questions and worthwhile insights into the issues being discussed. All of this work is mandatory and its quality will be factored into your class participation grade. Class participation will count 20% toward your final grade.

Attendance Policy: Attendance at every class is required. Problems do arise, however, and I ask that you notify me in advance (or even after the fact if it is appropriate) about why you are unable to attend any class meeting. Of course, unforeseen problems do arise and you may need to miss class unexpectedly. This need not be a problem. But given the intensive nature of May Term classes, any more than one absence from class will lower your grade for class participation. If forces beyond your control do force you to miss more than one class, opportunities for make-up work might be available depending on the reason for the absence. It is your responsibility to inquire about these opportunities and to take advantage of them. If you miss class, it also is your responsibility to determine what assignment you may have missed and make arrangements to complete it in a timely fashion. Feel free to contact me directly if you feel you may have missed something.

Written work: The primary written assignments for the course are a series of short weekly writing assignments and a 2000-word take-home essay (c. 8 typed pages) due Monday, June 11 before 12 noon.

Your weekly writing assignments will require the composition of short 1-2 paragraph-length answers (i.e. 1 typewritten page) in response to questions that you will be provided with. The questions will ask you to synthesize the course readings together with class discussions and films, and you can use whatever materials you would like to answer the questions.  You will be given four opportunities each week to write a short essay, and you will choose three to complete. It is up to you which three of the four you choose to write, but you must complete three essays each week. No extensions into future weeks are possible. The due dates for the weekly writing assignments are Tuesday-Friday, and once again no extensions are possible.

Your final exam essay will be written in response to one of several questions given to you in advance. It will ask you to reflect on the course as a whole and to critically analyze its central themes. You will receive the final exam questions early in the term and thus will have ample time to think about your responses during the class. Your take-home final exam will count 35% toward your final grade your work on the weekly writing assignments will count 45%.

Exams and essays turned in after the due dates will be considered overdue. Grades will be lowered on overdue papers unless you have arranged an extension beforehand  (extensions will not be granted unless you have a serious medical problem). It is important that your take home exams and essays be entirely your own work. I will assume that you understand the definition of plagiarism and how serious an offense it is. If you do not, be sure to ask.