I check voice mail and Email often. There are two written tests. There is no final exam . The better your attendance, the more of your lowest daily work grades I'll drop. You are also occasionally asked to submit homework for a quiz grade.
Absentees lose that homework grade.
The excuse must be written by you, not by a coach, physician, dentist, etc. Prepare well, but keep it simple. Memorization is not required. The semester project should demonstrate your improved skills in speaking and pronunciation. Possible topics and activities include a recorded interview with a native speaker of French, production of a short French commercial or infomercial, a survey of French-language audio sites on the WWW, or a PowerPoint presentation featuring native speakers of French.