If you know what you want to do, and want to take advantage of the Spring break to write, you may turn in your proposal early. This is highly recommended if you want to turn in a draft for comment. Specifics will be discussed in class before the proposal is due. The final paper is due May 22, 1995. This portion of your grade includes your productive oral participation in class and attendance, any ungraded in-class assignments, the extent to which your written assignments reflect that you are listening actively in class, and the improvement in your work over the course of the semester.
Students enroll in the class with varying degrees of preparation.
Even if you enter the class with a strong background in the subject, you must demonstrate that you are learning something from this class in order to do well in it. If you are studying the subject for the first time, do not feel that you will forever be lagging behind the more advanced students. You are strongly encouraged to discuss your papers, as well as all of the assignments, with me at my office hour, Wednesdays. There will be no opportunities for extra credit, but if you would like to improve your performance on the written assignments, I will always accept drafts in advance, to be returned ungraded with comments and suggestions. Most students who turn in drafts and take the suggestions seriously, learn a good deal about their writing and improve their assignments by one-half to a full grade.