Office Hours
I have regular office hours on Fridays from 11:00 am–12 pm. During that time, I’ll be available to meet with you and you don’t need to make an appointment first. You can come to my office in person (I’m in Pardee 301-B) or use this Zoom link. I will also be on campus most Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons before 4. If you’d like to meet then or at another time that works better for your schedule, email me and we’ll set something up.
Participation and Attendance
Your contributions to our in-person and online discussions are important not only for your own learning but also for how others learn from you. Think of participation as a way to demonstrate not only your preparation on a daily basis but also your engagement with the course more generally. This class will give you opportunities to demonstrate preparation and engagement in the following ways:
- informed participation in discussions: 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; you are focused and productive in small-group work.
- evidence of sustained critical thinking about issues, questions or concepts discussed in class regularly demonstrated in your writing (formal as well as informal 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.
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. Likewise, if you are too ill to attend class, touch base with me as soon as you can so we can make sure you’re up to speed.
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 informal 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, let me know as soon as you can and 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 Kevin Miller for his 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 Isabella Romero.
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 our WA or 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.”) You should not use ChatGPT or other generative AI resources to complete any of the writing or reading assignments for our class unless I ask you to.
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.
And finally…
Because we will often have dogs with us in class, please do not have open containers of food on your desk. Store all food in containers with lids and secure the container inside your bookbag. Beverages are fine to bring.