|
Attendance
Participation
Written
Assignments
Presentations
Quizzes &
Examinations
Grades
Attendance
Participation
Written
Assignments
Presentations
Quizzes &
Examinations
Grades
Attendance
Participation
Written
Assignments
Presentations
Quizzes &
Examinations
Grades
Attendance
Participation
Written
Assignments
Presentations
Quizzes &
Examinations
Grades
Attendance
Participation
Written
Assignments
Presentations
Quizzes &
Examinations
Grades
Attendance
Participation
Written
Assignments
Presentations
Quizzes &
Examinations
Grades
Attendance
Participation
Written
Assignments
Presentations
Quizzes &
Examinations
Grades
Attendance
Participation
Written
Assignments
Presentations
Quizzes &
Examinations
Grades
Attendance
Participation
Written
Assignments
Presentations
Quizzes &
Examinations
Grades
Attendance
Participation
Written
Assignments
Presentations
Quizzes &
Examinations
Grades
|
|
Attendance |
|
Attendance and punctuality
in class will affect your participation grade.
Class roll will be checked
at the beginning of each class.
If you will be, or have
been, absent or late for whatever reason, you must inform me as
soon as possible and do make-up work (when appropriate).
You will be permitted 3
absences, for whatever reasons. Each absence beyond the third will
cost
10% of your participation grade. Perfect
attendance will earn an extra
10% of your participation grade. Tip:
try not to be absent at all, not only to earn the extra points for
perfect attendance, but in case you really need to be absent during
the semester.
You will be permitted to be
late 5 times, for whatever reasons. Each time you're late beyond the
fifth time will cost 3% of your
participation grade.
See the Undergraduate
Catalog for the college's expectations and guidelines.
|
NB: The
mission of Westminster College is to help men and women develop
competencies, commitments, and characteristics which have
distinguished human beings at their best. The abuse of alcohol
and other drugs serves only to undermine the attainment of these
goals. The faculty therefore expects all students, as they do of
themselves, to take seriously the implications of such
risk-taking behaviors in their pursuit of a Westminster
education. |
|
|
Participation |
|
Participation and attention
during class, whether it is to the instructor or to other students,
will affect your final grade.
You are expected to be
prepared for every class by
|
|
being ready to summarize and identify the major issues or
themes in the assigned readings, and
|
|
|
bringing
at least 2 written questions or comments
that show your understanding of the readings, which you may be asked to read
out loud in class.
The more connections you make with other course
materials, esp. previous course materials, the more impressive the Qs and Cs
will be.
You may be asked to read and expound the written Qs or
Cs that are the most interesting or problematic to you. As you
share your thoughts with the class, others may be invited to respond or
share their own set of Qs or Cs.
You're expected to have
read the text(s) carefully and be able to share the penetrating
questions or issues in the readings that you discern in your reading,
preparation, or even further research (which is always encouraged).
Your written Qs or Cs, the way you expound them, and the way you respond
to others' Qs and Cs will constitute a
significant part of the final participation grade.
NB:
you don't necessarily have to understand everything before class, but
you should demonstrate that you prepared and are familiar with
the major issues in the text(s). Remember
also that questions are more valuable than
answers. You should include or suggest challenges, discoveries,
insights, questions, etc. for class discussion.
|
Obviously you won't be able
to contribute during every class. But your overall willingness
and effort to participate throughout the semester will be noted
for final evaluation. If you have any concerns about this (e.g.,
you're a shy person), please feel free to come talk to me about
them. I will always listen.
Your participation in class discussions
will be important. The discussion
should include constructive criticism (of one another's
points of view) in which all students are expected to take active
part. Your critical responses to other students will be considered
in assessing your
participation in the course.
Occasional, ordinarily short
assignments (e.g., summary of a reading assignment) may be used in
assessing your participation. |
|
Written
Assignments |
|
Assignments are due before or at the beginning of class
on the day they are due (unless otherwise indicated). I would prefer an electronic version of
your assignment submitted in the assignment folder on the
R-drive
(NB: I will use
Turnitin.com to check for plagiarism. In some cases you may be instructed
to submit your work to
Turnitin.com). If an
assignment does not have a fixed due-date for the entire class
(i.e., you get to choose the due-date), please send me an e-mail to
let me know that your assignment is on the
R-drive.
Assignments turned in late
will be penalized an incremental grade per day (any exceptions will
be at the discretion of the instructor). E.g., a written assignment
graded B/C+ will be adjusted to B-/C if a day late or to C+/C- for
being 2 days late. See
below for an explanation
of written assignment grade.
Assignments must be typed and double-spaced and
conform to the following specifications:
|
|
1-inch margin on all sides
|
|
|
12- point Times
|
|
|
|
>>> NB: computer formatting manipulations will be noted and
will affect the evaluation. <<< |
|
|
|
no cover page or cover of any kind
|
|
|
stapled pages
|
|
|
name, box #, course (& section), date at the top of the first
page (single-spaced)
|
|
|
page number on each page following the first page
|
|
|
only one space, not two or three, between sentences (explanation)
|
|
|
no extra space between paragraphs
|
|
|
At the end of the paper, list the resources used in its
preparation (bibliography or works cited), when appropriateneither this list
nor footnotes (or endnotes) will be counted as part of the specified number of pages)
NB:
please italicize all book and journal titles.
|
|
|
honor pledge:
At the end of each assignment to be submitted handwrite "This represents my own
work." and sign your name to
pledge your honor that you have not used others' work improperly (i.e., you
have not copied or borrowed from someone else's work and your sources are
properly cited). If you turn in an electronic version of an assignment, you
may type the sentence and your name.
|
Plagiarism Warning
In all cases, make sure that
you give due credit to ideas, observations, conclusions, etc. that are not
your own by using quotation marks, footnotes, etc. (see the
Chicago Manual of Style for details).
|
Make sure you document each thought, each bit of information, or each
sentence. You cannot footnote an entire paragraph. |
If plagiarism
(i.e., the presentation of another person's idea as your own) is found in
your written work, the assignment will receive a zero. You may fail the
course if plagiarism persists. To avoid problems, always give credit where
credit is due.
You must read the
most recent edition of Westminster's
Academic Integrity policy in the
Undergraduate Catalog.
The policy can also be found in the Student Handbook and the
Inquiry textbook.
Click here
or here to read about Katie Couric's
contretemps involving plagiarism.
See entertaining videos on
plagiarism:
video,
interactive video (ignore the parts on MLA). |
|
Edit your paper carefully
(spelling, grammar, syntax, flow of argument, etc.). Use the
Chicago Manual of Style as a general guide for writing. : a paper that contains too many mistakes
in spelling, punctuation, formatting etc. will not receive a style
grade above a D
unless it is submitted again with corrections. If your writing skills
need to be improved, I strongly encourage you to go to the
Learning Center for assistanceor ask a friend who is a good
writer to help you edit your paper. Cultivate the art of clear
articulation. Its guaranteed to bring future benefits, no matter
what you do in life.
When you're finished with a
draft, use the following "Handy Checklist For Better Critical
Writing" adapted from Douglas J. Soccio's How to Get the Most Out
of Philosophy (Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1998) 90:
|
|
Review this list whenever you write, proofread, or revise.
|
|
|
Is the first paragraph so clear that any reader will know
exactly what the topic is?
|
|
|
Does the first or second paragraph clearly describe your
strategy for dealing with your topic?
|
|
|
Are all sentences grammatically correct?
|
|
|
Are all sentences punctuated correctly?
|
|
|
Are all words spelled correctly?
|
|
|
Is your essay or paper well organized?
|
|
|
Does your essay or paper use specific examples and language
to show that you are familiar with the assigned readings and any other
important material?
|
|
|
Does your essay or paper end with a clear and obvious
summation and conclusion, keyed precisely and directly to what you say in
the body of the text?
|
|
|
Are your topic and conclusion paragraphs consistent?
|
|
|
Are all sources properly documented (footnotes, etc.)? Does
your paper have a complete, properly formatted (and punctuated) list of
works cited? NB: Bible references
should be included in the paper within parentheses.
|
|
|
Have you followed all formatting instructions given above?
|
|
|
Have you proofread the final version of your essay or paper?
|
NB:
I will be using
Turnitin.com for encouraging your cultivation of academic
integrity and for evaluating your work. If your class is enrolled in
Turnitin.com please use it to check for potential problems in your
assignment that you should address before submitting it.
|
|
|
Whenever
possible, submit an electronic file of your assignment either on the
R-drive
or as an e-mail attachment if the R-drive is inaccessible.
|
for 111: All written
assignments should be submitted electronically on the
R-drive. |
Please
name the file using your last name & a brief description of the assignment
(e.g.,
"Williamson paper #1")
NB:
If you submit an assignment on the
R-drive,
you must do so with the mouse using "Windows Explorer," not using the "Save
As" command in your word processor.
NB:
In "Windows Explorer" click View>Details
to make sure that the size of your submitted file is not "0 KB" or "1 KB"
(which would mean that your file needs to be submitted correctly).
If the due
date is not the same for all students in the class, please send a brief
e-mail to let me know that your assignment is on the
R-drive.
|
If you receive your
graded paper as an e-mail attachment, view it in MS Word (in menu,
click View>Print Layout) in order to see the comments.
Make sure you understand all my markings. If you have any questions
or concerns, please contact me as soon as possible.
|
Deciphering graded
papers:
|
|
text with red
highlight =
needs correction or
modification
|
sample
|
|
|
|
|
text with red
highlight and strikethrough = suggestion for deletion
|
sample
|
|
|
|
|
text with green
highlight = suggestion for addition
|
sample
|
|
|
|
|
text with blue highlight
within {} = instructor's comments
|
{sample}
|
NB:
Not all highlighted corrections, suggestions, or comments have an impact on
the evaluation (grade). I will also
stop highlighting or commenting on a particular item if it is repeated
several times. If you have any questions about any highlighted feedback,
please come see me.
|
|
If your paper is shorter
than the specified number of pages, I will deduct from your paper
grade, unless the content is exceptional.
If your paper is too long, I
will stop reading after the specified number of pages, unless the
content is exceptional.
Your paper will receive 2 grades, the
first for content, the second for style; these will be averaged to
arrive at the assignment grade. E.g., C/B means C for content and B
for style as defined below.
|
|
content:
|
|
grasp of the assignment
|
|
|
clarity of 1) the introduction, 2) the
flow and argument of the paper, and 3) the conclusion
|
|
|
points or claims supported by evidence
from text, or other sources
|
|
|
|
style:
|
|
spelling
|
|
For helpful tips go to:
English Matters.
Also try
this (not everything
applies,
but most of it is very helpful).
|
|
|
|
|
grammar
|
|
|
syntax
|
|
|
punctuation
|
|
|
documentation (e.g., footnotes)
|
|
|
compliance with syllabus instructions
|
|
|
You may be given
the chance to revise your paper.
Should you choose to do so, your revision will be evaluated
and the final grade will be the average of the two.
|
Presentations |
|
The criteria for grading
presentations are as follows:
|
|
evidence of
thorough preparation and familiarity with the material presented
|
|
|
logic and flow of
presentation:
|
|
Is there a logic to the flow of
presentation?
|
|
|
Is it easy to follow?
|
|
|
Are the points and arguments clear?
|
|
|
|
effective oral
communication:
|
|
delivery
|
|
|
eye contact
|
|
|
gestures
|
|
|
appropriate use of presentation aids
(e.g., PowerPoint, video, CD, handout)
|
|
|
|
appropriateness and
effectiveness for target audience
|
See my
presentation evaluation page for details and the form I'll use
for evaluation.
See
tips for PowerPoint presentations. |
|
Quizzes &
Examinations |
|
All quizzes and exams will
be fair; you will know what to expect.
A pop
quiz will
cover the readings assigned for the day the quiz is given.
If there is a particular
question on a quiz or exam which no one in the class answers
correctly, everyone will receive full credit for it. |
|
Grades |
|
My grading principles include the recognition of
improvement and therefore ordinarily weighing the performance of the
second half of the semester significantly more than that of the
first half. Also, if you perform significantly worse on one graded
exercise (assignment, test, etc.) than on others, I will disregard
the lowest grade or score for the final evaluation of your class
performance.
If you think the
grade you receive on any of your work is not fair, I will be more
than willing to evaluate it again and go over the work with you.
Before you make your appeal, however,
consider the general descriptions given in the
Undergraduate Catalog:
|
A
|
=
|
outstanding quality
|
|
B
|
=
|
superior quality
|
|
C
|
=
|
satisfactory
|
|
D
|
=
|
passing, but inferior
|
|
F
|
=
|
failure
|
NB:
As far as I am aware, the general college grading results seem not
to reflect the above definitions (e.g., B tends to represent
satisfactory work
rather than C). Grading according to the above standards may also
carry unfair consequences for many students (e.g., financial aid
disqualification, transcript misinterpretation). Therefore, although
I will grade using the official catalog descriptionswhich
means you should interpret my evaluations according to the above
understandings of the letter gradesI
will calibrate the
final course grade for the transcript to reflect the
grading trend at Westminster. So, you will receive two grades, one
reflecting what I think your work merited at the end of the
semester, the other for the transcript. The former is only for you to
know how I think your work was; the latter will be reported to the
registrar for official transcript purposes. In most cases, this
means that your grade on the transcript may be higher than the grade
you earned according to the catalog definitions. This
dual-grade policy is the only solution I have for the moment for being honest with you
about the quality of your work as well as being fair to you with respect to
the rest of the college. If you have any questions or concerns about
this, or if you have a better solution to suggest, please let me
know.
The conversion for scores and grades
is as follows:
|
|
93100
|
A
|
|
A
|
98
|
|
|
9092
|
A-
|
|
A-
|
92
|
|
|
8789
|
B+
|
|
B+
|
89
|
|
|
8386
|
B
|
|
B
|
86
|
|
|
8082
|
B-
|
|
B-
|
82
|
|
|
7779
|
C+
|
|
C+
|
79
|
|
|
7376
|
C
|
|
C
|
76
|
|
|
7072
|
C-
|
|
C-
|
72
|
|
|
6769
|
D+
|
|
D+
|
69
|
|
|
6366
|
D
|
|
D
|
66
|
|
|
6062
|
D-
|
|
D-
|
62
|
|
|
059
|
F
|
|
F
|
59
|
|
|
|
|
not turned in
|
0
|
|
|