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Contents 1 Check your class syllabus to see if you are being graded for Class Particpation or Critical Reading and Discussion 2 Class participation is vital to the success of the class 2.1 The class participation grade 2.1.1 1. Completion of reading for the day of discussion 2.1.2 2. Discussion in class 2.1.3 3. Attendance 2.1.4 & Five Minute Writing 2.2 Grade Notification 2.2.1 by e-mail

Check your class syllabus to see if you are being graded for Class Particpation or Critical Reading and Discussion

Class participation is vital to the success of the class

• Success is based on the commitment of the professor and the students to the course work and to sharing their ideas with each other in a welcoming intellectual environment. I will be prepared and interested to hear what you have to say and to engage you in uncovering the meanings of the texts. I love nothing more than a vigorous discussion that includes debate, disagreement, questions, trying out new ideas, and plenty of joking around. I won’t be shy in letting you know when I think you are wrong or have said something wonderfully exciting and I expect the same from you.

• If you can bring this level of commitment to the class, I welcome you. If you would feel more comfortable in a class that lets you take more of a back seat, I certainly understand and I would suggest you find a course that suits your needs better.

The class participation grade

The class participation grade will be judged by what I consider to be the three essential elements to a student’s commitment to the class:

1. Completion of reading for the day of discussion

I expect each student to have completed the reading and to have considered the issues at hand in the reading for every single class. This is extremely important to me. This is the most crucial aspect of your commitment to the class, please consider whether or not you can take this aspect of the class seriously before you commit yourself to our group for the semester.

2. Discussion in class

Although this is primarily a lecture course, I prefer it to be more of a structured discussion. In general, we will discover the material together with my guidance and clarification. Everyone must take part in class discussions. To take part in the discussion you must refer to the readings, in other words you must make your questions, observations, arguments, or comments from the texts themselves.

3. Attendance

I will not take attendance, but it will be obvious if you miss class. Professors always notice. If you must miss class for a legitimate reason, let me know. Lack of attendance will result in lowering your class participation grade.

& Five Minute Writing

As needed, I will ask the class to write for 5 minutes at the beginning of class on a major point of discussion in the reading. These 5 minute writing assignments will not be graded or returned to you. Rather I will use them to gauge how the class is doing on the whole, what misunderstandings need to clarified, and whether or not individual students are keeping up with the reading.

Grade Notification

by e-mail

I will e-mail each student an idea of where they stand on class participation three times during the semester with a short note on how you can improve your participation, if necessary.