Grade Ranges
| Percentage Range | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90% – 100% | A |
| 80% – 89% | B |
| 70% – 79% | C |
| 60% – 69% | D |
| 0% – 59% | F |
Grade Weights
| Assessment Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Weekly Papers | 40% |
| Final Examination | 25% |
| Midterm Examination | 20% |
| Participation | 15% |
| Total | 100% |
Assignment Guidelines
Participation and Attendance
Attendance is recorded daily. While I am currently developing an automated sign-in system, the responsibility for ensuring your presence is recorded stays with you. You must be in the classroom to mark yourself present.
My goal is not to monitor you, but to help you keep your own record of how you engage with the course. You are welcome to request a copy of this record at any time. To participate fully, please come to class prepared with a laptop or tablet and access to the day’s readings, whether in digital or physical format.
Weekly Papers and Quizzes
Most Fridays, we will use class time for written assignments or quizzes. This flipped classroom approach assumes that you have used our earlier sessions to prepare for independent work.
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Submission: I will provide the prompt in class, and you will submit your work through the weekly portal. This work must be completed during the class period.
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Absences: If you cannot attend on a Friday, please contact me in advance so we can arrange for you to complete the work remotely on the same schedule. Late work is not accepted. But I will drop your worst grade from the record
AI and Chatbot Policy
We will experiment with using LLMs as research or editorial assistants. I will provide specific guidance on when these tools are permitted. While they can help with structure and editing, they should never replace your own thinking or write the assignment for you.
Because these tools are available to help with formatting and grammar, I have a high expectation for the technical quality of your finished work. However, I encourage you to use this safety net to take more risks with your ideas. I value your willingness to experiment with difficult arguments more than a perfect but safe response.
Exams
Exams are open-note and open-book, but you must be physically present in class to receive the exam questions and complete them on your laptop.
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Midterm Exam: Wednesday, Feb. 25 (In class)
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Final Exam: * For the 10:10 AM section: Monday, May 4, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
- For the 12:10 PM section: Tuesday, May 5, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM.
Please check your calendar now. If you have a conflict—especially if you are a graduating senior—we must schedule an alternative immediately. Rescheduling requires a documented excuse.