Course Assignments

Your grade in this class is based on your performance on the following forms of evaluation. Each of you starts with an “A” (500 points) and you move down from there.  The buffer for each full letter grade is 50 points.  Pluses and minuses are earned in the 15 point margins at the top/bottom of the letter grade range in the course. You will receive an A- at 469 points. Once you go below the threshold for any given grade, there is virtually NO way to move back up unless you've managed to earn extra credit points through weekly blog posts.  Your continued enrollment means that you understand and accept this grading policy.  All written assignments should be typed, single-spaced, with 1” margins, and no more than a one line header with your name, the date, and the assignment.

A) Attendance: As much of the learning taking place in this class will happen during the two and a half hours we have together each week, we take attendance very seriously. We will, therefore, take roll in each class session within the first five minutes of class.  Each of you is allowed three (3) absences this semester.  No other absences--whatever the reason, excuse, or emergency--will be accepted.  If you miss class beyond those three absences, your grade in the class will drop 50 points automatically with each additional absence.

B) Seven Autobiography Quizzes (175 questions total for 200 points): You will take seven quizzes this semester. These will consist of 25 multiple-choice questions taken from the biographical readings; each question is worth 1.15 points. These are given to ensure that students have enough familiarity with the books to contribute to the in-class discussions about them.

B) Engaging The Blog (100 points): Everyone doesn’t talk in class but everyone’s contribution to the class discussions is still necessary.  In order to make sure that everyone has a voice (and uses it), I am requiring every student to write comments about the course conversations or lectures.  Every student is required to initiate 10 threads on the course web-blog.  These threads will each be worth up to 10 points.  A thread can be a link to an interesting and relevant webpage (with an explanation), a link to a relevant report or article (with a summary), your comments on the class discussion or lecture, or questions that you might have for me or other students in the class.  Every thread will start at 8 points and work up from there based on how much interest it garners.  Yes, that means you should make your contribution worth our while.  In order for you to get credit for all of your contributions, you must ALSO comment on 10 other students’ contributions.  For each comment you’re missing, we will take away 3 of your points for your initiated threads.  The blog can be accessed from either the front-page or HERE. The blog will be inaccessible after April 20th.

In addition, one extra credit point will be earned for every week of the semester you've initiated a blog thread for a possible total of 15 points.

D) Examinations (2 @ 100 points each): I would like for you to master the theoretical underpinnings of this class at the following levels of understanding: (1) basic knowledge, (2) comprehension and understanding, (3) application, and (4) analysis and comparison.  With that in mind, there will be two examinations.  The first will be a take-home essay exam on the material from the theory unit of the course.  The second will be cumulative and composed of multiple choice, fill-in, and essay questions. Six questions will appear on the first exam and students will be required to choose a subset of them to answer.  Because this is an open-book exam, appropriate citation will be required and expected.  The exam will be posted on the website on February 24 and will be due in Dr. Pitt's mailbox by noon on March 2.  The second exam will take place at 9am on April 27th, the day scheduled for this course's final.