COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance:
Especially in a nearly three-hour seminar course, attendance is absolutely crucial not only to your success in the course, but to the success of the class as a whole. Ideally, our classes will unfold as a conversation in which we all participate earnestly and often. After 1 absence–excused or otherwise–your grade will go down by two increments (from an “A” to a “B+” for example).
Assignments and Grades:
Your grade in this course will reflect your performance in three broad categories as described below. You can earn a maximum of 1000 points in this course:
Presence—20% or 200 points: measured by commenting on blog posts (10 comments are encouraged across the semester) and by your engagement in course conversations and other activities. I don’t have a clear breakdown of points for this portion of your grade. If you are quieter in class, you might comment more fully and readily on the blog; alternately, if you are often front-and-center in class conversations, you might comment less often on the blog. Consistent participation in class and on the blog will give you full credit, and I will let you know over e-mail if I am concerned about this portion of your grade.
The Blog—40 %–8 posts @ 50 points each = 400 points. I hope that many of the conversations that we have in class will have their roots in the posts you compose prior to each meeting during the first half of the semester. These posts will allow me to better understand what you found most interesting and challenging about a given week’s reading, and I plan to use that knowledge as I orchestrate the conversation in any given class. Note that you will also be required to comment on the blog posts of your peers (see “Presence” above).
Final Project–40% or 400 points
Graduate courses are often less about your proven knowledge about a given literary period than what you’re able to do with that knowledge as you carve out a sophisticated, independent final project on a topic or your own choosing. The final project in this course consists of a few separately graded assignments:
Final Project Blog Posts–10% or 2 posts @ 50 points each = 100 points
Seminar Paper–30% or 300 points
Figuring your Grade: all the points you’ve earned in the course will be added up and grades given 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-
The Graduate Grading System
Students receive letter grades for every course in which they enroll. Each letter grade and its equivalent numerical quality point value are listed below. This grading system is determined by the level of the student, not the course.
| Letter | Grade | Quality Points |
| A | Superior | 4.000 |
| B+ | Very Good | 3.500 |
| B | Good | 3.000 |
| C+ | Fair | 2.500 |
| C | Acceptable | 2.000 |
| F | Failure | 0.000 |
| XXF | Failure Due to Academic Dishonesty | 0.000 |
| RA-RF | Repeat; include GPA/exclude hours* |
The statute of limitations for grade changes is two calendar years from the original grade submission deadline. After this period of time has elapsed, no grade issued to a student may be changed. Requests for any change of grade should be initiated by the faculty member who assigned the grade. All requests must be adequately documented. Grades will not be changed for a student, once that student has graduated and the degree has been posted. In cases of submitted grade dispute grievances that extend beyond the posting of the degree date, the Provost (or the Provost’s designee) may make exceptions to this policy. The decision of the Provost is final.
COURCE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:
Dual Submission Policy:
The same paper may not be submitted for a grade in more than one class.
Plagiarism and the Honor Code—What follows is quoted verbatim, and reflects official CofC policy:
Lying, cheating, attempted cheating, and plagiarism are violations of our Honor Code that, when identified, are investigated. Each incident will be examined to determine the degree of deception involved.
Incidents where the instructor determines the student’s actions are related more to a misunderstanding will handled by the instructor. A written intervention designed to help prevent the student from repeating the error will be given to the student. The intervention, submitted by form and signed both by the instructor and the student, will be forwarded to the Dean of Students and placed in the student’s file.
Cases of suspected academic dishonesty will be reported directly by the instructor and/or others having knowledge of the incident to the Dean of Students. A student found responsible by the Honor Board for academic dishonesty will receive a XF in the course, indicating failure of the course due to academic dishonesty. This grade will appear on the student’s transcript for two years after which the student may petition for the X to be expunged. The student may also be placed on disciplinary probation, suspended (temporary removal) or expelled (permanent removal) from the College by the Honor Board.
Students should be aware that unauthorized collaboration–working together without permission– is a form of cheating. Unless the instructor specifies that students can work together on an assignment, quiz and/or test, no collaboration during the completion of the assignment is permitted. Other forms of cheating include possessing or using an unauthorized study aid (which could include accessing information via a cell phone or computer), copying from others’ exams, fabricating data, and giving unauthorized assistance.
Research conducted and/or papers written for other classes cannot be used in whole or in part for any assignment in this class without obtaining prior permission from the instructor.
Students can find the complete Honor Code and all related processes in the Student Handbook.
Resources:
The College has a range of academic planning tools and campus resources to help you achieve success and to help with any challenges you might be facing. You can consult that Graduate School homepage for a number of those resources.
Students with Disabilities
The College will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students should apply for services at the Center for Disability Services/SNAP located on the first floor of the Lightsey Center, Suite 104. Students approved for accommodations are responsible for notifying me as soon as possible and for contacting me one week before accommodation is needed.