Only your best score on each one will count. This course meets Integrated Studies requirements, so a significant part of the course involves writing assignments which will be commented on by the instructor. There will be 2 group projects during the semester. Specific guidelines for each project will be handed out well in advance of the due date. Projects will be graded for spelling, grammar and punctuation, as well as content.
Good communication is a skill which can be learned.
In addition to giving you practice writing, the journals are a way for you to help me know how things are going and for me to give you my thoughts in return. Thus, I will assign a specific question for each journal assignment, but you may also in addition write about anything else you wish to tell me. Your reading homework average counts as extra credit. We all learn by doing, so homework will be assigned almost every day. It won't be collected, but the beginning of most class periods will be spent going over homework, with students being asked to give their solutions at the board.