Participation
As an upper-level English course, this class includes a considerable amount of reading and writing. The most important responsibility you have is to read all of our materials carefully before the class meetings and to give yourself the time necessary to reflect on and develop questions about the readings. In particular, your goals should be to:
- Develop your skills as a critical, creative thinker and writer. Be a generous reader—aim to understand each text’s significance on its own terms. Every text invites you to see life from its perspective — as a window into another place or time or experience, and as a mirror in which to see your own life and culture anew.
- Participate in class. Take responsibility for your education by learning to listen actively to others and to express your viewpoints, questions, and arguments in focused, persuasive, and interesting ways. Together we will develop norms and expectations for effective discussion.
- Cultivate a discipline of attention. Reread texts with patience and care; take detailed notes on readings and discussions; support your claims and viewpoints with specific examples; learn to produce articulate and engaging prose of your own.
In order to facilitate the thinking and conversations around our course texts, all students must have the reading material available in class, whether that is the print book, a laptop with digital copies of your reading and notes, or paper printings of readings.
Again, bring the assigned texts to class. If we are discussing a digital article, please bring a device on which to read it or a print copy of the article.
Digital Etiquette
Please keep phones out of sight and silent during class. Our conversations and learning require active attention and engagement. Phones pull you mentally out of class. If you finish a writing exercise early, sit quietly with your thoughts. Cultivate a discipline of attention.
Laptops are permitted in the class. They should be used in a responsible manner in support of class goals and activities. Cultivate a discipline of attention.
As a small group, it is our collective responsibility to build a supportive and collaborative learning environment. Individual actions are observed by others and can either contribute to developing and supporting this community or to undermining it.
Attendance
This is a discussion-based course and you are expected to contribute intelligently and sincerely to each class conversation. In order to contribute you need to be present; thus, your presence is required at every class meeting.
Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. Arrival more than five minutes into class will count as absence. Leaving class before the end will also count as absence. Lateness means arriving after I have taken the register at the beginning of class but within the first five minutes of class. Three instances of lateness will count as one absence.
Per AUS policy, missing more than 15% of class meetings (i.e. more than 5 for classes meeting MW) can lead to a withdrawal from this course. Excessive absences may negatively affect your final grade. I do not distinguish between “excused” and “unexcused” absences (with the exception of university-sponsored events). Illness is certainly a good reason to be absent, so may be taking a day-trip with a relative. It is not my place to judge your decisions. You are adults with your own lives and capable of making your own decisions. My advice is to “use” absences wisely and sparingly with your good judgment. If a situation arises in which you anticipate missing several classes, please come see me so that we can discuss ways to accommodate you and ensure your continued success in the course.
In the event that you do miss a class, you are responsible for the material covered in that class, including assignments, announcements, handouts, etc., and for any preparation required for the following class.
Late Assignments
Students are expected to submit all work by the advertised due date and time. Work that is late will be assessed -10% of the overall point value per day or partial day of tardiness. Please contact me in advance of a deadline (preferably 48 hours) if you anticipate needing an extension on an assignment. I cannot guarantee an extension will be granted, but I will do my best to make accommodations.