GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| 5 short papers | Part one: format. Length: 2 pages (unless otherwise specified), printed on front and back of the same sheet. Single spaced. Font: Times New Roman size 12. No title needed, just student’s name, class and number of paper on top left corner. Errors in formatting the paper will result in grade docking Part two: content. Failure to use the assigned sources will result in serious docking of the paper. In the case of one or more textbook chapters, the important parts of these must be regularly referred to in parenthesis. SHOULD THE PAPER NOT REFLECT THE TEXTBOOK IN A SATISFACTORY MANNER IT MAY BE RETURNED UNGRADED FOR REWRITING AND RESUBMISSION (the first time) OR RECEIVE AN F GRADE (from the second time on) It is important to understand the difference between “executive summary” and “analytical overview”: at no time you will be requested to provide the former. “Analytical overview” emphasizes your judgement of what is important and worth highlighting in a text, as opposed to a mere synthesis of the author’s intentions and interpretations. Part three: citations. Please use MLA, i.e. parenthesis references and ONLY when quoting verbatim Part four: style. All students MUST make an appointment with the writing center at the intermediate or final stage of at least one paper in order to check on their good writing, no exception. Failure to have the prof receive feedback of at least one successful appointment with the writing center will result in grade docking. Part five: deadlines must be met to the letter. If sick or other major impediment, you need to email me before the deadline, or grade will be docked. | 75% |
| Attendance and participation | Regular attendance is required and only excused absences will not affect the grade (see Attnd. requirements section for details). Additionally, students are expected to participate in discussions and demonstrate their acquaintance with the assigned readings. The instructor will occasionally check on this particular aspect by asking questions related to such assignments. Numerically speaking, each unjustified absence will be counted 5 pts down and each positive (oral) feedback on the readings 1-3 pts up.
Also, students are required to give a short feedback on each film screened, orally or in writing. Appropriate feedbacks will also count for 1-3 points.
The final score in this section will be counted also in terms of overall performance of the student. | 25% |
| NOTE: | Grades are not "curved" but calculated in the following way: each assignment counts for the indicated percentage and gets a certain amount of it (e.g. 10/15). At the end of the semester, everything (including extra credit) is summed up to compose the final score and transformed into a letter grade according to this scale:
A = 96-100 C = 66-70
A- = 91-95 C- = 61-65
B+ = 86-90 D+ = 58-60
B = 81-85 D = 55-57
B- = 76-80 D- = 51-54
C+ = 71-76 F = 0-50
Also, please read carefully the following:
Undergrad Paper Writing Decalogue - Five dos and five don’ts to submit a successful paper
1) Follow the instructions scrupulously, particularly regarding sources, style, length, etc. 2) Save trees: print on front and back, avoid unnecessary cover sheets or redundant bibliographies when all your sources have already been listed e.g. in footnotes 3) Make sure to indicate your name, the course code, semester and title on top left corner of front page and to number all subsequent pages. In case of multiple sheets, staple the paper at that corner avoiding plastic envelopes or binders, which make the reading complicated 4) Assess honestly your acquaintance with correct citing methods and procedures; do consult manuals (Chicago MS, MLA, etc.), handbooks, librarians or the writing center when in doubt; double-check with them even if you are certain about how to cite properly 5) Be loyal to yourself, to the teacher and to the entire school community and make the paper a result of your own efforts only 6) Don’t have others write your paper and don’t write a paper for others: it’s the vilest form of cheating 7) Don’t “recycle papers”, i.e. submit papers that you or others already presented in other classes: it’s morally an equivalent of the above 8) Don’t rely on no matter which sources and remember that most online materials are totally random, unchecked and not properly peer-reviewed, starting from Wikipedia, which makes them very likely to be inaccurate in all or in part 9) Don’t hesitate to consult the instructor, the writing lab or the library when in doubt about how to quote without committing plagiarism 10) Don’t refrain from expressing your views if you feel like, even when not specifically encouraged to do so, and remember that they come out more effectively through a proper handling and presentation of sources rather than as a result of mere and unsupported assertions
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-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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