But listening is also a crucial form of participation. To listen carefully and openly, to respond respectfully and thoughtfully, are necessary for a class to become a community of learners. If you are physically absent, your participation grade will suffer along with the attendance grade. If you are in the classroom but aren't present in the sense of listening or speaking, your participation grade will likewise suffer. Live, spontaneous conversations are vital if we are to have a community of learners.
Nothing snuffs out conversation faster than disregard, rudeness, or indifference.
These factor into the participation grade. It is your place to reflect upon, connect with, and interpret the readings. All readers and thinkers need a place to mull over ideas to themselves. The classroom will offer you a community in which you can try out your ideas and insights in a larger group. Journal entries must be typewritten.