Participation and Attendance

Your contributions to our discussions in class and online are important not only for your own learning but also for how others learn from you.   For these reasons, participation is worth a significant part of your grade (40%).  Think of participation as a way to demonstrate your preparation on a daily basis and your engagement with the course more generally.  Here are specific things I will be looking for:

  • informed participation in discussions on a regular basis:  i.e., your comments reflect thoughtful preparation of the assigned reading and or writing and demonstrate that you are paying attention to the conversation; you speak up often enough to be a presence in the class; your contributions to discussion make it possible for others to participate and to learn.
  • evidence demonstrated in your writing (including writing for the class blog) of sustained critical thinking about issues, questions or concepts discussed in class regularly demonstrated in your writing.

Of course it goes without saying that when you don’t come to class, you can’t be part of the discussion, you won’t understand the relevance of the reading and writing assignments, and you will fall behind.  Thus, uneven attendance will affect every other aspect of this course on which you are evaluated.  Because I will often begin class with some kind of writing exercise you will have the same difficulties if you arrive late.

Although missing class because of religious holidays is not an absence, you still need to notify me ahead of time so that you will not fall behind.

Three unexcused absences will result in an automatic C for participation.  6 absences of any kind will result in an F for the course (or in special cases a recommendation to withdraw).  (For more information about how I will evaluate your participation, see the “Evaluation of Learning” page on this site.)

Late or Missed Assignments

You will be doing a lot of writing this semester, and it’s important that you not fall behind. Many of the writing assignments are preparing you for the work of a particular day’s class, so missing an assignment will mean you’re not prepared for class. Consequently, I will not normally accept late work. If you anticipate a problem meeting a deadline, tell me about it sooner not later, and if possible, we will work something out.

Collaboration and Intellectual Honesty

Writing and reading are social and socializing activities, and more often than not in this course, you will be responding to and building on the ideas of others.  I encourage you to discuss the reading and writing assignments with anyone in or outside the class.  In addition, I will frequently ask you to read and respond to one another’s work.  Should you find yourself drawing on any of these discussions in your written work, you should include an acknowledgement statement.  E.g., I would like to thank my classmate Pheobe Jones for her feedback on an earlier draft of this essay.  Or, My idea for this blog post originated in a discussion I had yesterday with my roommate Mike Miller.

If you have any questions about how to use or cite sources (we’ll be following  MLA rules), consult your St. Martin’s Handbook or the Purdue OWL or ask me.

Instances of plagiarism, representing without attribution the ideas of others, will be dealt with according to the procedure outlined in the most recent version of your student handbook.  (See”The Conduct Process,” “Academic Integrity,” and “How to Avoid Plagiarism.”)

Requests for Academic Accommodation

In compliance with Lafayette College policy and equal access laws, I am available to discuss appropriate academic accommodations that you require as a student with a disability.  Except in unusual circumstances, requests for academic accommodations need to be made during the first two weeks of the semester so that arrangements can be made.  Students must register with the Dean of Advising and Co-Curricular Programs for verification and for determination of reasonable academic accommodations.

Federal Course Requirement

The student work in this course is in full compliance with the federal definition of a four credit hour course. Please see the Registrar’s Office web site for the full policy and practice statement.