Assignments and Grading

Class Participation 20%
Primary Document Analyses 15% (3 x 5%)
PDA Critiques 15% (3 x 5%)
Paper 1 (on Chafe) 15%
Paper 2 (on Frank) 15%
Course Session Project 20%

Class participation counts as 20% of the total grade. I define class participation as both attendance and active involvement in the class session (in other words, answering questions, asking questions, offering insights, responding to classmates). Perfect attendance unaccompanied by speaking will result in a D for class participation.

The most frequent writing assignment will revolve around analysis of primary documents. Approximately every two weeks, half the class will prepare a two-page written analysis of an assigned primary document. The other half of the class will critique their peers’ analyses. Students will pair up for this exercise—five teams of two writing analyses, and five teams of two responding to those analyses. The class as a whole will discuss these documents every other Monday. The analyses and critiques amount to 30% of the total grade.

As you might expect, you will be required to write in this course! Both papers will be 5-7 pages, and each will count for 15% of the total grade.

The final assignment is a project for which you devise an additional course session based on an event that occurred between 1975 and 1980. The goal is to get you to think of an additional topic that you would add to the course. Groups of three will choose a topic, create a brief reading list, and present their thoughts in a 20-minute presentation in class. Groups will collaborate beginning in early October, meet with Dr. Slavishak twice in November, and present their final projects in early December. The presentation counts for 20% of the total grade.

Course Policies

Attendance : Attendance will be monitored throughout the semester. You are granted three free absences; after that, your empty seat will affect your participation grade. Let me know ahead of time if you have to miss class.

Late Papers : Note assignment due dates. Plan ahead and notify me in advance (a week or more) if you have a conflict. Late assignments will be docked a full grade level per day. (If a paper due on Monday is turned in on Wednesday and earns an A, the grade will become a C. If turned in on Friday, the grade will be an F.)

Disabilities : If you require an accommodation for a disability in regards to turning in assignments, attending class, or taking exams, please notify me as soon as possible. See here for general information if you are unfamiliar with the University’s services for those with disabilities.

Academic Honesty : It is your responsibility to be academically honest when preparing written assignments. Plagiarism is not only disappointing for me, but it is also a significant evasion of your role as a student—you are here to read, think, and write for yourself! Follow this general rule if in doubt: if you have used material from another author, provide me with a full citation (author name, publication title, date, and page number OR the complete URL of a website). This indicates that you are giving intellectual credit to whom it is due. See here for further information.

BOOKS

ALL NON-BOOK READINGS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH E-RES OR THE COURSE WEBSITE