Course requirements are subject to change
Attendance:______________________________________________
Attending class regularly shows respect not only for your professor, but for your peers and for the very mission of the course. Perhaps more importantly, if you do not attend class regularly, you will not do well. We will have regular “reflective engagement” exercises in class, and our class discussions and additional lecture material that I present will contain crucial information to help you succeed in this course.
After three absences–whether unexcused or excused–I will lower your grade by a single increment–from a B to a B-, for example–for each additional absence. Beware the slippery slope: excessive absence not only lowers your grade automatically but also, in almost every case, results in poor performance in other areas of the class (missed reflective engagements, poor test performance, etc.).
Excessive tardiness will be viewed as an absence. I will commit to starting class on time, and I expect you to do the same. If you walk in during the middle of a reflective engagement, I reserve the right to withhold credit for that day. In short: arrive on time, and be ready to discuss that day’s assigned reading.
In light of the above, I also know that life is complicated. I will do my best to accommodate students who need to be absent from class due to personal illness or other serious matters.
Assignments and Grades_______________________________________
Your grade in this course will reflect your performance in five broad categories as described below. You can earn a maximum of 1000 points in this course. You can read more about the major assignments under the “Assignments” tab.
- Presence—25 @ 10 points each = 250 points / 25%: measured by your performance on 25 Reflective Engagements that you will have an opportunity to complete across the semester. You can make up missed “Reflective Engagement” points by posting a substantial 200-300 word comment in response to one of your peers’ blog posts, though it is your responsibility to claim that credit formally in an email to me that links to the post in question. I expect active participation in class conversations even if I don’t assign a specific point value to this category. If you are a quieter person, one way to signal your interest in class discussion would be to comment on your peers’ blog posts. These reflective engagements aren’t quizzes. They will not be collected. They are simply reflective opportunities that will help prepare you for our discussions.
- The “AutoBLOGraphy” blog—7 @ 50 points each = 350 points / 35%: Over the course of the semester, each of you will compose 6 blog posts of 750-1000 words each responding to prompt(s) that will be offered for each book. I expect your posts to be polished, properly formatted, and they should also incorporate various forms of media and external reference (images, video embeds, links to other sites or posts, and so on). Never blogged before using the WordPress platform? No problem, just check out these instructions. There are more blogging opportunities than there are required posts, so you can miss one post.
- A note on privacy: you have full control of who has access to your posts. You can post publicly or privately so that your posts will be visible only to those in our class. You can also change how your name appears as an “author” on your post, allowing you to blend public expression and some sense of control of privacy. We will discuss how to control these privacy tools in class.
- Final Project–300 points / 40%: The final project will be a research-based project, the equivalent of a 12-15 page essay.
Grading Policy: I will add up all the points you’ve earned in the course and give grades based on the following table:
- A-Range: 970-1000 = A+, 930-969 = A, 900-929 = A-
- B-Range: 870-899 = B+, 830-869 = B, 800-829 = B-
- C-Range: 770-799 = C+, 730-769 = C, 700-729 = C-
- D-Range: 670-699 = D+, 630-669 = D, 600-629 = D-
- <600 = F
COURCE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:___________________________
Dual Submission Policy: The same paper may not be submitted for a grade in more than one class.
Honor Code: What follows is quoted verbatim and reflects official CofC policy:
As members of the College of Charleston community, we affirm, embrace and hold ourselves accountable to the core values of integrity, academic excellence, liberal arts education, respect for the individual student, diversity, equity and inclusion, student centeredness, innovation and public mission. Congruent with these core values, the College of Charleston expects that every student and community member has a responsibility to uphold the standards of the honor code, as outlined in the Student Handbook, In pursuit of academic learning, you are expected to reference the work of other scholars, and complete your own academic work, while utilizing appropriate resources for assistance. Any acts of suspected academic dishonesty will be reported to the Office of the Dean of Students and addressed through the conduct process. Your adherence to these practices and expectations plays a vital role in fostering a campus culture that balances trust and the pursuit of knowledge while producing a strong foundation of academic excellence at the College of Charleston. Any questions regarding these expectations can be clarified by your instructor.
Students can find the complete Honor Code and all related processes in the Student Handbook.
Attendance Verification
Only students officially registered (graded or auditing) for this course may attend class. During the week following the drop/add deadline, the professor will verify student enrollments in this course. Any student appearing on the class roll but determined not to have attended the class even once will be removed, except for cases where a student is absent because of quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19.
OAKS
OAKS, including Gradebook, will be used for this course throughout the semester to link to the syllabus. The primary course website, however, is hosted on WordPress.
Inclement Weather, Pandemic or Substantial Interruption of Instruction
If in-person classes are suspended, faculty will announce to their students a detailed plan for a change in modality to ensure the continuity of learning. All students must have access to a computer equipped with a web camera, microphone, and Internet access. Resources are available to provide students with these essential tools.
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) Policy
It is expected that the ideas and analysis you generate in this course are your own. You are allowed to use GAI for editorial purposes and to help brainstorm ideas, but not to produce the assignments themselves. Any use outside of this permission constitutes a violation of the CofC Honor Code.
On Inclusive Class Discussions:
1) Respect others’ rights to hold opinions and beliefs that differ from your own.
2) When you disagree, challenge or criticize the idea, not the person.
3) Listen carefully to what others are saying even when you disagree with what is being said. Comments that you make (asking for clarification, sharing critiques, expanding on a point, etc.) should reflect that you have paid attention to the speaker’s comments.
4) Be courteous. Do not interrupt or engage in private conversations while others are speaking. Be aware of messages you may be communicating with your body language.
5) Support your statements. Use evidence and provide a rationale for your points.
6) Share responsibility for including all voices in the discussion. If you have much to say, try to hold back a bit; if you are hesitant to speak, look for opportunities to contribute to the discussion.
7) If you are offended by something or think someone else might be, please speak. If you ever feel uncomfortable with course conversations, please reach out to the instructor.
8) Recognize that we are all still learning. Be willing to change your perspective and make space for others to do the same.
What other rules are important to you? Please feel free to share additional concerns you have with me via email or during office hours or when we initially discuss these ideas in class.