Drake 257

Requirements

Required Text The Norton Anthology of Western Civilization, Volume 1 (8th or 9th edition)

Assignments:

Laptop, Phones And General Electronics Policy

Attitude and Participation:

Although a lecture-heavy course, note that 5% of the grade is based on attitude and participation. Students are expected to not only show up for class but to show up prepared and willing to actively, respectfully engage in the course, with both the professor and one another. This is a course in ideas and language; show up ready to think, voice your thoughts, and engage with the thoughts of others.  If you are a deeply shy person who is sincerely terrified of speaking in front of groups, I suggest you try the following:  first, take some time to visit your profs during their office hours, so that they still see you as someone engaged in learning, and second, force yourself to speak up in one of your classes at least once a week, because that's really the only way you'll defeat that phobia.

You are expected to seek my help on any material you do not understand or any assignments on which you would like additional feedback, or just to discuss the material in more depth.  I am also paid to be in my office and help you, and you are the ones paying me, so don't hesitate to seek me out.  I also really like discussing class stuff with my students one on one, so, seriously:  come by and talk to me.

However, please do not simply "drop in" during times not set aside for office hours or conferencing; I use that time for prep and grading and tend to be stressed out when I'm doing that stuff. If my weekly office hours do not work for you, email me and we can always schedule another time to meet. 

Attendance:

By taking this class you are agreeing to attend, on time.  Either attend class regularly, accept the consequences of not attending, or take another class instead of this one. 

Unexcused Absences: All students are allowed one unexcused absence;  after that, 3% (4% T,Th and Summer courses) is deducted from your overall grade for each unexcused absence. 

Excused Absences:  You may be excused from classes for the following reasons:

• When participating in (not merely attending) university athletic events.  (You need to be a university athlete or a member of the band in order to be granted such an excuse).
• When participating in required field trips for other classes.
• When you are very sick and have been told by a doctor that you must stay home (or if you are confined to the hospital)

In the first two cases, you should show your instructor an excuse in advance from the university department requiring your absence.  When you are sick, you should show the instructor your excuse when you return to class and you should make an attempt to contact your instructor during the time that you are sick.

If you miss a class, you are responsible for knowing before the next class what you missed and what work is due the day you return.  Please ask another student what you have missed, and not your instructor, or meet with the instructor during a conference. I will help you where and when I can, but your absences are your responsibility.

I take roll at the beginning of each class.  If you are not present when I take roll, you are marked absent.  If you wish to have your absence changed to a “tardy”, it is your responsibility to ask me to do so after class.  Excessive tardies will lower your grade.

Quizzes:

Frequent quizzes will cover the assigned reading for that day. Generally, each semester we have 13 quizzes and I drop the lowest three scores.  Quizzes will be brief, closed book, designed mainly to see who has or has not read the assignment, and administered at the beginning of class;  this is to encourage you to show up on time, so if you are late, you will not be given extra time or allowed to retake the quiz.

Tests:

Three in-class tests will cover both the assigned reading and lecture content. Tests are generally closed book and will include a mixture of quote matching/identification questions, short answer questions, and brief essay-style questions requiring students to place certain passages in the socio-historical etc. contexts covered in lectures. See the Full Course Description for clues into essay-style test questions. Group discussion questions will also frequently appear as test questions.

Essay:

Students will write a 5 page analytical, thesis-driven essay on an assigned topic.  Often the essay will ask the student to situate a film we've watched in its philosophical context, reflect upon that philosophy, and compare the work to other relevant works we've covered this semester.

Late Work:

Normally, all late assignments are penalized 10% for each day late (20% for any paper due on a Friday and turned in on the following Monday).  After three days late assignments will receive a grade of no higher than "C".  Assignments will not be accepted more than one week late, and a grade of 0 will be recorded for that assignment.

Missed Tests and Quizzes:

Only those students with excused absences (see above) may make up tests and quizzes. These will be administered during office hours or at a mutually available time within one business week. Missing a class also does not excuse students from being prepared upon return; if you miss Monday, for example, you'd better find out from other students what Wednesday's quiz will cover because you will still need to take it on Wednesday.  Tardy students will not be given extra time.

Extra Credit:

Throughout the semester I will give students opportunities to gain extra points by attending a relevant event, play, lecture, reading, debate or watching a relevant film etc.  I will announce events in class and students are encouraged to mention to the class as a whole any events they think are relevant.  To receive extra credit for an event: check with me first, attend the event, take notes, and write up a one pg. minimum summary-context-response paper: summarize the event (who, what, where, when etc.), describe how it relates to what we've studied in class, and give me your subjective response within a week of attending your event.  Film papers can be turned in whenever but I recommend you watch the film when it is relevant to its course content. These are worth up to 20 pts for one or 30 pts for two.  Honor system:  Please do not abuse this opportunity by not really watching the film or attending the event and/or using a film you have already seen.  (If you use sources in your paper, cite them; failure to do so is plagiarism. Lying about attending an event constitutes cheating.)  Submit as hard copies, please.

Plagiarism and Cheating:

Those caught cheating and/or plagiarizing in my class will be failed. Wandering eyes will be blinded...and then you'll be failed. If you don't know what cheating and plagiarizing are, it is worth your time and it is your responsibility to find out.

Concealed Carry:

The University of Idaho bans firearms from its property with only limited exceptions.  One exception applies to persons who hold a valid Idaho enhanced concealed carry license, provided those firearms remain concealed at all times.  If an enhanced concealed carry license holder’s firearm is displayed, other than in necessary self-defense, it is a violation of University policy. Please contact local law enforcement (call 911) to report firearms on University property.