There will be a take-home final exam, six in-class “half-hourly” quizzes (including an ungraded skills quiz), and a 6-8 page (12-point font Times New Roman font, double-spaced, 1” margins, paginated) “Think Piece” paper. The paper will be due in class on Wednesday, 23 April. The schedule for the six in-class quizzes is noted in the lecture schedule. The take-home final exam will be handed out in class on Monday, 5 May and it must be turned in to me no later than 3 p.m. on Monday, 12 May. Attendance at all lecture and discussion sections is expected; an attendance list may be compiled at the start of each class meeting. Moreover, the completion of all required written assignments is necessary for a passing grade.
I will require that all students establish e-mail accounts with Internet access. This course will occasionally involve interaction between the instructor and students outside of the lecture period. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Grading:
Skills Quiz Ungraded
5 Graded Quizzes 30%
*Discussion Questions and Small Group Discussion (7%)
*General Participation (8%)
Paper 20%
Final Exam 20%
Quizzes:
The quizzes will cover materials from the assigned readings, lectures, films, and other in-class presentations. I will go over all assigned readings, either during lectures or during discussion sections. You are responsible for anything that is covered in class, whether or not you were present for a given class period. No make-up quizzes will be offered for this class. Instead, your lowest quiz grade will automatically be dropped from your cumulative course score, only if you have taken the ungraded skills quiz at the beginning of the semester. Once the first quiz is dropped, all subsequent missed quizzes will be graded at 0% credit. Quizzes will be evaluated by the Graduate Assistant.
Film Responses:
Ten in-class film screenings will take place during most Wednesday class meetings throughout the semester. Prior to each screening, you will receive film-guide handouts featuring questions which address the film in terms of weekly course readings. You are expected to prepare well-written and thoughtful responses to each film guide, taking care to thoroughly answer all questions. A thorough response requires a minimum of one well-developed paragraph for each of 3-5 questions present. These responses must be posted to the appropriate forum on Blackboard by the following Friday at midnight. These due dates are listed on the course schedule and on the Blackboard forums themselves. Film Responses will be evaluated by the Graduate Assistant. Late film responses will be penalized half a letter grade for each day beyond the original due date.
*If you miss an in-class film screening, the films are located on reserve at the Teaching and Learning Center in McIver Hall.
*If you are unfamiliar with Blackboard, it is your responsibility to learn to use this online learning tool.
Discussion Questions:
Twice during the semester, on 30 January and 2 April, you will splinter into several small groups to discuss primary sources illustrative of themes in this course. In preparation for these activities, you are expected to read the primary sources and prepare two well-considered discussion questions for presentation in your small group. These responses must be posted to the appropriate forum on Blackboard by the preceding Tuesday at midnight—29 January and 1 April, respectively. Print and bring these questions with you to present the following afternoon among your discussion group. This activity will be graded on the quality of your questions and participation in the discussion group. Discussion Questions will be evaluated by the Graduate Assistant. Late Discussion Questions will receive no credit.
*If you are unfamiliar with Blackboard, it is your responsibility to learn to use this online learning tool.
“Think Piece” Paper:
The “Think Piece” Paper, a response to assigned topics from the required texts Lost Names and Last Night I Dreamed of Peace, will be based on your readings, section discussions, and the lectures. This paper is not a research paper; therefore, no outside reading is required. However, the quality of your writing, particularly the clarity and persuasiveness of your argument, will factor into the final grading. The “Think Piece” Paper will be evaluated by the Professor. Late papers will be penalized half a letter grade for each day beyond the original due date.
Final Take-home Examination:
There is a 6 page, typed take-home exam. I will distribute three or four questions one week before the exam due date. The exams will be due in my office (MRHA 2111) no later than 3pm on Monday, 12 May. We’ll talk more about this exam and specific requirements later during the semester. The take-home exam will be evaluated by the Professor. Late papers will receive no credit.
Website:
This class is served by a companion Blackboard site, through which you may access all the on-line e-reserves. I also have created a web site for this classroom, which I will continue to expand as the quarter progresses. Here students can access course information, such as scheduled events (i.e. the syllabus you now hold in your hand), as well as terms mentioned in lecture. I will also list links to web sites of interest to our class. Please refer to the class site periodically for such materials.
Required Texts:
The following books are required reading for this course, and may be purchased at the UNCG Bookstore:
All other materials for this course will be available on electronic reserve at the library web site.