Short Responses Essays (4)
20 pts/20% of course grade
5 pts/5% each
Part of your reading process should always be the process of writing. Throughout the semester, you will write four (4) Short Position Papers (500-750 words). These response papers should have a central argument about a text, specific details chosen from the text to support that argument, and be as well-developed as can reasonably be accomplished in the length allotted. Finally, the response papers must be submitted prior to class discussion over the text and two must be submitted prior to the midterm and two after the midterm.
Student Presentations
10 pts./10% each
Each student will lead a class discussion on one of texts studied in the course. The objective will be to present the class with historical and authorial context for the text studied, a general understanding of its place within American literary history, and questions designed to guide class discussion. Presentations will be approximately 10-15 minutes in length (including discussion), and must include:
20 pts/20% of course grade
The midterm exam will be over the text studied throughout the first part of the semester and consist of definitions, short answer, and essay questions. The midterm will take approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.
Final Exam
30 pts/30% of course grade
The final exam is a cumulative exam over what we have studied throughout the semester. The exam format will be a mixture of definition, short answer, and essay. The final exam will last approximately 2.5 hours. Our assigned final exam time is Wednesday, December 6th from 2:30p-5:00p
Weekly Quizzes and Homework
10 pts./10% of course grade
We will begin class at the end of each week with a short quiz that asks you to respond to the readings assigned for class that week. These quizzes will be 3-4 multiple choice quizzes and will be assessed numerically (4:100, 75, 50, 25, 0; 3:100, 67, 33, 0). With few exceptions, such as university-approved absences, quizzes cannot be made-up later. I will drop one (1) quiz at the end of the semester.
Additionally, we will very rarely have homework or take-home assignments. These will also be calculated into the final quizzes and homework grade.
Participation
10 pts./10% of course grade
My goal is to involve you in the learning process. Your comments and analysis will provide much of the substance of our class. To this end, your participation will be assessed on three main criteria:
“A” participation: superlative preparation (multiple readings of all assigned texts, excellent assignments, and further reading) for all class sessions, full awareness and focus while in class (not sleeping or checking Twitter or talking when you shouldn’t), frequent substantive contributions to discussion (driven by inquisitiveness, respect, and honesty), questions or comments that further the discussion and invite classmates to respond, awareness about staying quiet so others may talk, full participation and leadership in group work and peer review, excellent homework and class assignments.
“B” participation: full preparation for all class sessions (full reading of all assigned texts good assignments), good awareness and focus while in class (not sleeping or checking Twitter or talking when you shouldn’t), frequent substantive contributions to discussion (driven by inquisitiveness, respect, and honesty), questions or comments that further the discussion and invite classmates to respond, full participation in group work and peer review, excellent homework and class assignments.
“C” participation: satisfactory preparation (at least one reading of all assigned texts, basic fulfillment of assignments), awareness, and focus while in class (not sleeping or checking Twitter or talking when you shouldn’t), substantive contributions to discussion (driven by inquisitiveness, respect, and honesty), questions or comments that further the discussion and invite classmates to respond, full participation in group work and peer review, excellent homework and class assignments.
“D” participation: lack of awareness and focus (sleeping in class, checking your phone or laptop when asked not to do so, and preparation (e.g., not doing the readings or completing assignments), disruptive and / or disrespectful behavior, frequent tardiness or leaving class early, lack of contributions to class discussion, failure to participate in group work.
The total number for the points is out of 100. Grades will be made available to you on iCollege and should be easy for you to track as well.
20 pts/20% of course grade
5 pts/5% each
Part of your reading process should always be the process of writing. Throughout the semester, you will write four (4) Short Position Papers (500-750 words). These response papers should have a central argument about a text, specific details chosen from the text to support that argument, and be as well-developed as can reasonably be accomplished in the length allotted. Finally, the response papers must be submitted prior to class discussion over the text and two must be submitted prior to the midterm and two after the midterm.
Student Presentations
10 pts./10% each
Each student will lead a class discussion on one of texts studied in the course. The objective will be to present the class with historical and authorial context for the text studied, a general understanding of its place within American literary history, and questions designed to guide class discussion. Presentations will be approximately 10-15 minutes in length (including discussion), and must include:
- Brief hand-out for the class
- Clear connection to other course readings
- Discussion questions for the class
- 1.5-2 page “position paper” arguing for your interpretation of the text
20 pts/20% of course grade
The midterm exam will be over the text studied throughout the first part of the semester and consist of definitions, short answer, and essay questions. The midterm will take approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.
Final Exam
30 pts/30% of course grade
The final exam is a cumulative exam over what we have studied throughout the semester. The exam format will be a mixture of definition, short answer, and essay. The final exam will last approximately 2.5 hours. Our assigned final exam time is Wednesday, December 6th from 2:30p-5:00p
Weekly Quizzes and Homework
10 pts./10% of course grade
We will begin class at the end of each week with a short quiz that asks you to respond to the readings assigned for class that week. These quizzes will be 3-4 multiple choice quizzes and will be assessed numerically (4:100, 75, 50, 25, 0; 3:100, 67, 33, 0). With few exceptions, such as university-approved absences, quizzes cannot be made-up later. I will drop one (1) quiz at the end of the semester.
Additionally, we will very rarely have homework or take-home assignments. These will also be calculated into the final quizzes and homework grade.
Participation
10 pts./10% of course grade
My goal is to involve you in the learning process. Your comments and analysis will provide much of the substance of our class. To this end, your participation will be assessed on three main criteria:
- Quality and Quantity of Contributions to Class Sessions. Do you participate in every class? Do you make sure you remain respectful during class discussion? Do you listen carefully to the instructor and other students and respond to their contributions? Do you ask good follow-up questions? Do you take notes?
- Preparedness. Do you come to class ready to work, with all required preparations completed? Do you show up on time? Do you bring your textbooks and writing supplies to class?
- Collaboration. Do you contribute to group projects effectively, both in and out of class time? Do you put full effort into peer review? Do you make use of office hours?
“A” participation: superlative preparation (multiple readings of all assigned texts, excellent assignments, and further reading) for all class sessions, full awareness and focus while in class (not sleeping or checking Twitter or talking when you shouldn’t), frequent substantive contributions to discussion (driven by inquisitiveness, respect, and honesty), questions or comments that further the discussion and invite classmates to respond, awareness about staying quiet so others may talk, full participation and leadership in group work and peer review, excellent homework and class assignments.
“B” participation: full preparation for all class sessions (full reading of all assigned texts good assignments), good awareness and focus while in class (not sleeping or checking Twitter or talking when you shouldn’t), frequent substantive contributions to discussion (driven by inquisitiveness, respect, and honesty), questions or comments that further the discussion and invite classmates to respond, full participation in group work and peer review, excellent homework and class assignments.
“C” participation: satisfactory preparation (at least one reading of all assigned texts, basic fulfillment of assignments), awareness, and focus while in class (not sleeping or checking Twitter or talking when you shouldn’t), substantive contributions to discussion (driven by inquisitiveness, respect, and honesty), questions or comments that further the discussion and invite classmates to respond, full participation in group work and peer review, excellent homework and class assignments.
“D” participation: lack of awareness and focus (sleeping in class, checking your phone or laptop when asked not to do so, and preparation (e.g., not doing the readings or completing assignments), disruptive and / or disrespectful behavior, frequent tardiness or leaving class early, lack of contributions to class discussion, failure to participate in group work.
The total number for the points is out of 100. Grades will be made available to you on iCollege and should be easy for you to track as well.