Assignments

Attendance and Participation

Since we will all be members of a learning community this semester, enthusiastic class participation is essential.  We will discuss what makes a positive learning environment for you during the first week of class. 

The Attendance and Participation Grade will include:

• Regular participation in class, which means:
• Informed, thoughtful, and respectful engagement in discussions, activities, and in-class writing assignments on a regular basis
• Listening to the professor and the other students on a daily basis (including taking notes)
• Bringing class readings and/or notes to class to enable discussion
• Respectful behavior in class.  Disruptive or disrespectful behavior (including arriving late and leaving early) will lower Participation and Attendance grades.
• Daily attendance.  Every absence beyond three absences may lower the participation grade by one letter level (A to B, B to C, etc.).

Students with extended illnesses, required sports games/meets, or other emergency situations have the opportunity to make up their absences by providing a written response to questions or themes on the Study Guide for the missed day.  The response will be at least one page long and will be submitted via email within 24 hours of the student’s return to class.  

The Absence Policy fine print:

• At the beginning of the semester, athletes/debaters/etc. should provide me with the dates of class to be missed due to official university activities. 
• Students who are too ill to come to class should go to health services and provide documentation with their make up.
• Students with other emergencies should email me as soon as possible. 
• The make-up policy outlined above is designed for students who have unavoidable commitments or emergencies, which will lead to more than three absences.  Students with multiple unexcused absences at the beginning of the semester should not expect accommodation late in the semester.  There are three freebies:  use them wisely.
• It is the professor’s discretion as to which absences can or should be made up.
• Lying to avoid a penalty is a violation of the honor code.
• Absent students should get notes and assignments from other students.

Clicker Participation and Reading Comprehension Points

On most days, we will use Clickers in class to enhance our class discussions. For the first two to three weeks of class, Clicker points will be earned for participation.  In week three or four, we will begin assigning Clicker points for correct answers to reading/video/internet site-comprehension questions as well as for general participation in discussion-oriented questions.  Using the Clickers will help me understand how well you are comprehending the material.  They also help ensure a productive class discussion by encouraging students to complete the readings, art, video, and internet assignments.

Discussion Facilitation

In pairs, each student will lead class discussion once during the semester.  The goals for the discussion will be to facilitate a deeper understanding of the readings and to enable participation by all students in the class.  More instructions will be provided.

Art Presentation

During our unit on art, each student will choose one piece of visual art depicting Jesus in some way.  Each student will deliver a 10 minute presentation, followed by questions, on the piece.  More instructions will follow.

Papers

Four papers on the readings, films, and internet sites will be assigned this semester. 
Papers may not be revised and resubmitted for regrading, unless I announce that this will be allowed when the papers are returned to students.

Page last updated on September 5, 2009

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