Course Methods, Policies, and Grades

Method of Instruction:
Both Dr. Gibbs and Dr. Rampey expect students to be active participants in their own education rather than passive observers. We are, therefore, your guides in the class rather than the fount of all knowledge. What you learn will be mainly the result of what you read, write, and discuss, so you will need to be prepared for each class meeting. Please note that coming to class without reading assignments done is not acceptable.

Attendance Policy:
Students are expected to attend all classes. Attendance is the student's responsibility and should be determined with reference to the grading policies below.

Quizzes, Exams, Participation and Projects:

Quizzes: Quizzes (short answer or multiple choice) will be given for each reading assignment before that assignment is discussed in class. (You are encouraged, however, to ask questions about the reading material before the quiz.) Quizzes may not be made up for any reason, and quiz grades for students who leave class early will not be counted. Four quiz grades, however, whether they are missed quizzes or the lowest grades, will be dropped at the end of the semester. The average of the quiz grades will count 20% of the student's final grade.

Exams:There will be two examinations -- a mid-term and a comprehensive final -- that will include both objective identification items and essay questions. These exams must be written in "blue book" examination booklets which are to be purchased and handed in along with a manila file folder at the beginning of the semester. The two exams will count 20% each (a total of 40%) of the final grade. Exams must be taken at the assigned time and may not be made up.

Participation:Significant participation is required and must be both oral and electronic. This means you (1) must make meaningful contribution to class discussion at most class meetings and that you (2) must contribute at least one substantive (at least one well thought-out paragraph of 75 words min.) comment to the class bulletin board and one substantive response to another person's comment per week. Your original comment should be made by midnight on Sunday of the week the relevant material will be discussed in class, and your response to another person's comment should be made by midnight of that Monday. Please note ALSO that these comments and responses must be made weekly. You can't save them and write several week's worth at once. Your grade for participation will be calculated as 20% of the final grade. Grades for participation will be assigned in 5% increments (100%, 95%, 90%, etc.). A grade in-progress will be assigned approximately every four weeks and will be e-mailed to you so that you can know how you are doing.

Projects: You have three options for required projects. Each is a combination of a traditional research paper and an electronic project. The options vary in length and complexity. Click here for more details. Choose your option carefully, taking into consideration your strengths and weaknesses. These projects may not be thrown together at the end of the semester. There will be a number of specified "checkpoints" at various dates to encourage your significant progress. You may not proceed to the next checkpoint until the previous one has been met, and five points will be deducted from the final project grade for each day you are late for any checkpoint. No project will be read or viewed until all checkpoints have been met. Checkpoint dates can be found on the Term Project Calendar on your class homepage. The grades for the projects will count as as 20% of the final grade.