Caroline Hewitt 1912 Tuscorora
NAA Smithsonian Institution

REQUIREMENTS

2 exams (25 pts each)

50%

Participation in discussion

10%

Quiz 1 (5 pts), Quiz 2 (10 pts)

15%

Oral presentation

5%

Response to Ceremony

15%

Written presentation

5%

 

Policy on Academic Honesty

Plagiarism is a serious offense. In brief, plagiarism includes BOTH copying someone else's words (direct quotation) without giving credit to the source, AND drawing on someone else's ideas without giving them credit. It is not enough to copy someone else's work and change one or two words if you are basically stealing their line of argument, organization of ideas, and research. You must restate the ideas or information in your own words and cite your source using an accepted format. Any work that involves academic dishonesty will, at a minimum, receive an F. More serious penalties may include failing the course or an academic hearing.

Please note: the university's official policy on academic honesty is contained in the University Code of Student Conduct..

Policy on Accomodations for Documented Learning Disabilities

Students who require special accomodations must inform Professor Nash as soon as possible and present the relevant documentation as necessary. We do our best to make reasonable accomodations. For further information contact Disability Services.

Discussion

Attendance at discussion sections is mandatory. These sessions are an opportunity for you to discuss issues and questions that will arise from the readings and lectures. Honest questions couched in a respectful manner will lead to productive discussion. You all share a responsibility for making your sections work. Please come prepared to talk, to listen, and to learn. BRING THE TEXTBOOK!

Attendance will impact your grade by determining the upper limit of your overall grade for the course. This means that if you get As on your exams but miss three or more discussions you cannot get an A for the course.

# Fridays missed

Max. possible grade

for the course
0-2
A
3
B
4
C
5
D
6
F

NOTE: If you enter this class after the first week, it is your responsibility to give your TA a copy of the drop/add sheet so that discussions missed before you enrolled in the class will not be counted against you.

If you participate in athletics or other extracurricular activities (including work) that might interfere with your attendance at discussion, or if you are taking another class with frequent trips on Fridays, DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS unless you are willing to accept the consequences to your GPA.

Our mercy and understanding extend only to those who demonstrate that they are serious and responsible students. If you have a legitimate, unavoidable conflict that requires you to miss discussion, including religious holidays, you must contact your TA before the date in question. Illness or personal emergencies require documentation or a note from the Dean of Students office. The best way to make sure that we keep our records straight is to confirm all excused absences in writing, preferably via an email to your TA with a cc: to Prof. Nash.

Overall Participation (10%): You will be graded for your ongoing participation in the class. This means SPEAKING -- expressing opinions, asking and answering questions, raising factual points or summarizing the reading -- not just sitting in class with an interested look on your face. You are encouraged to engage directly with other students; whether you agree or disagree, remember to be respectful at all times. If you have unusual difficulty with speaking in class, please talk to your TA or Prof. Nash.

The participation grade is somewhat subjective since we take improvement over time into account. In general, here's what we look for in discussion:

strong: student demonstrates a good understanding of the reading, raises interesting questions about the material, and/or facilitates general discussion

moderate: student demonstrates vague or minimal understanding of assigned readings, adds little to group discussion, and/or takes strong positions without backing them up

poor: student is present but does not contribute to discussion

Oral Presentation (5%): Students are required to take an active role in leading the discussion at least once during the term. When the reading consists of an article or website, be sure to summarize the overall argument and consider the type of sources drawn on by the author. When the reading consists of a primary source, your presentation should address the following questions: who wrote it? what does their perspective add to your understanding of the topic? is there more than one way to interpret this document? Your presentation should last about five minutes. Don't wait until the last minute to prepare! If you have questions, make an appointment with your TA or Prof. Nash.

Written Summary of class presentation (5%): For each class presentation, you will turn in a 1 or 2 page summary and analysis of the reading (typed, double-spaced). Make it clear that you have read and understood the material. Be sure to proofread and spellcheck your work. Papers with excessive spelling or grammatical errors will be returned without being graded.

Criteria for grading all writing assignments

positive factors :
- write a concise introductory paragraph that states an overall thesis
- use your own words; don't hide behind quotations
- strive to balance the three elements of good writing: passion, argument and evidence
- add a conclusion that pulls together the main idea(s)
- use good format (typed, double-spaced, spellcheck, staple, 1” margins all around)
- use proper citations and bibliography, as relevant

negative factors :
- can't tell if you did the reading
- vague assertions or broad generalizations based on unsupported opinions (note: strong opinions are good, but they must be supported!)
- poor spelling, grammar, format

Take advantage of the Writing Center in the Learning Commons, located in the southwest corner of the lower level of W.E.B. DuBois Library. They offer free one-on-one assistance on a walk-in basis during their hours of operation. Bring two copies of the paper you wish to work on.

If you find yourself falling behind in this or any other class, check out the Learning Resource Center, located on the tenth floor of the W.E.B. DuBois Library. They offer support and tutoring on study skills including time management and subject tutoring..