Class Participation (15%)

This grade depends on your class participation and your leadership of class discussion. Review the section of this website on Grading Criteria for more specific guidelines of how I grade students' work.

I will base your class participation grade on the frequency and quality of your contribution to classroom discussion. Positive contributions consist not merely of answering the professor's questions. They also include:

• Asking questions concerning the reading, the discussion, or the themes of the course in general
• Challenging what either the professor or your peers have said
• Making pertinent observations of all sorts
• Visiting me during office hours
• Displaying a positive attitude toward learning and the course

Furthermore, if you are a student, your job consists of learning. I expect you to come to class prepared to learn.

• Come to class having completed the readings assigned for that day (including the textbook readings).
• If we are scheduled to discuss a book or an excerpt out of the coursepack, bring the reading to class so that you can refer to it.
• Bring the textbook to class.
• Also, please arrive on time if not a little early. If you must leave class early, let me know in advance.

Remember, if you are not attending class, you are not participating.