I do this not to embarrass you, but to inspire you to contribute your thoughts to class discussion if I find that you are not doing so voluntarily. I also reserve the right to quiz you at any point in the semester on any of the texts assigned for that class period. The number of pop quizzes will be directly related to your level of preparedness for class. If everyone is on top of the material, there may be no quizzes at all. This course is as much a course in writing as it is a course in reading.
Writing is an integral part of learning.
For this reason, you will be writing continuously for this course, producing 4 formal papers and a range of shorter, informally graded pieces. You will shortly be receiving a handout detailing some of the most crucial components of good academic prose components including both paper structure and presentation. When done properly, writing is a laborious and time-consuming process. If you are not interested in improving your writing, this course is not for you. Similarly, if you have other commitments that will prevent you from giving your writing assignments the time and care they deserve, this course is not for you.