They also help students focus on what is important. At the end of the course a few quiz grades will be dropped. These dropped quizzes will cover for excused or unexcused absences. Extensive quoting from sources and authorities is required. Papers will be graded on coherence, precision, and use of evidence.
Papers are due in class on the date specified.
Late papers will be lowered one grade point and only accepted for one week after due. Any special arrangements must be negotiated in advance with the professor. A page on writing papers is attached at the end of the syllabus. We cover lots of material, fast, and the class requires lots of careful reading of material written over a thousand years ago. Most of the course grade is based on using information gained directly from the reading.