Attendance and Participation-- 100 points.
Learning is not a spectator sport. In order to earn credit for attendance on any given day, you will need to move beyond being a seat warmer. We all need your active participation during our 45 minutes of interaction every day. So, please note that when you do not "show up" for class, it will reflect on your grade. So, please note even though the attendance roster may reflect "perfect attendance," you will not automatically be awarded the full 100 points.
Regarding missing class: In order for an absence to be “excused,” you must notify me of any medical appointments or conditions and provide a Dr.’s note. If there is another type of life instance that needs your personal attention and causes you to miss class, please discuss with me as soon as possible. For unexpected emergency situations, please communicate with me regarding alternative arrangements for completing course requirements.
In-Class Writes -- 100 points. (10 @ 10 points each)
This assignment will take different forms. Sometimes the "in-class write" may be a quiz, other times it may be a short summary of the reading. Another time it may be a response to a question about the reading. For example, In the text, A Small Place, "What does the author mean by the following statement: "In a small place, people cultivate small events"? (the answer is in the following sentences in the same paragraph). If you are keeping up with the reading of our assigned texts, this will not be a problem. The "in-class writes" will not be scheduled, and will appear at any point during the semester. They may NOT be made-up if you miss them. They will most likely happen at the beginning of the class, so it will be important to get to class on time.
Close Reading
We will be utilizing the “Close Reading Interpretive Tool” (CRIT) which has six steps we will review in class several times. They include: paraphrase---rewriting in your own words, observation---noting language (word choice) and form, context---the time period and/or events impacting the narrative (cultural location, history, social norms), Analysis---- time for you to revisit and reconsider some of your claims and insights. What did you find most interesting? Maybe there were moments of transformation for two particular characters that interested you. Maybe you noted the way the landscape (either geographical or emotional) set the tone for the narrative. For example, consider how these song lyrics from Hotel California (by The Eagles) foreshadow mysterious contact with someone or something—
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair. Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air. Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light. My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim. I had to stop for the night."
Consider your reading and think about tone, imagery, inference, point of view, metaphors, narrative style, etc. The key to a successful short analysis is a good, strong, clear, specific and compelling THESIS statement. Please refer to our Handouts and Bookmarks for help with developing the short essays that will appear on both your mid-term and your final exam (which is comprehensive) The final two steps of CRIT are “argue and reflect”----in other words, what is your interpretation, and do you provide evidence to support your claim or perspective. Thinking about it again through the lens of the previous three steps, is it reasonable?
READING SCHEDULE FOR TWO OLD WOMEN and A SMALL PLACE
Complete TWO OLD WOMEN by Thursday, January 24th
Complete A SMALL PLACE by Tuesday, February 5th
THE MID-TERM 350 Pts.
This exam will take place on MARCH ______
Each class period is preparation for the Mid-Term and Final Exams. If you attend class regularly, read your text, and take advantage of handouts and study guides, you can expect to perform well.
The structure of the mid-term exam is true/false, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, author recognition quotations from your text, multiple choice and two short essays to evaluate your grasp of the “Close Reading Interpretive Tool” (CRIT)
If you are not satisfied with your performance on the test, you will be allowed to retake it one time only.
THE FINAL EXAM 450 Pts.
This exam will take place finals week on APRIL ________
The exam will cover the reading taking place after the mid-term and will NOT be comprehensive.
The structure of the mid-term exam is true/false, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, author recognition quotations from your text, multiple choice and two short essays to evaluate your grasp of the “Close Reading Interpretive Tool” (CRIT)
Letters to Successors
About two weeks prior to the end of the semester, I want you to write a rough draft of a letter to be sent to new students who will be in this course next semester/year. I want you to tell them----in as specific and helpful way as possible---what you think they should know about how to survive and flourish in this class. Some themes you may consider writing about are: “What I know now about this course that I wish I’d known the first day,” “The most important things you should make sure you do to keep your sanity in this class,” “The most common and avoidable mistakes that I and others made in this class,” and “The words you should write on your bathroom mirror about how to make it through this class” (for example, talk to the professor often; don’t miss class, etc.) These are just suggestions. Feel free to ignore these themes and just write about whatever comes to your mind around the themes of “survival” and “success.”
Within this same timeframe, (about two weeks prior to the end of the semester), we will discuss various ideas included in your rough draft. Then as an in-class exercise, I will type up a letter in class as you dictate what should be included. You will receive a copy of this sample letter which will provide a model you can follow both in content and in form as you write a final draft of your letter for the benefit of incoming students.
After you have finished your letter, I want you to make three photocopies. Bring these to class so that you can give them to your colleagues. In class, you will be forming a group with two other people to read what each of you has written. As you do this, you will be looking for common themes and recurring pieces of advice. I will be asking you to appoint someone to report back to the whole class the main suggestions and advice that were shared.
**The final version of this letter is to be turned in the day of your final exam for 50 pts. credited to the final score of your exam.
Requirements for credit: free of grammar and punctuation errors and a length of 2 pages, double-spaced; 14 pt. Times New Roman font.
Prioritize this course. Make sure you plan ahead and that you remain ahead of your plan.
If you find your anxiety is building, then consider this research about turning anxiety into excitement. It claims that three little words can turn your stressful world into calm blue skies….
Another experience that may help calm you is this beautiful music: Mumford and Sons with Baba Maal in South Africa
Or another cultural experience featuring The Lord's Prayer in Swahili
If there is anything in any assignment that does not seem quite clear, I am happy to discuss and/or explain any unclear sections, review requirements, or generally help articulate the assignment in various ways that may make more sense to you.
On our “My Heritage” class site, there are numerous Handouts and Bookmarks that will support your process on every assignment. This course demands your time, energy and commitment if you are planning on receiving the best possible grade. Every choice and effort you make matters. Please respect your time and mine.