Assignments and other requirements

• regular attendance and enthusiastic participation in discussion
• ten sets of "reading notes," five of which must be submitted before April 30 (for more info, click here)
• a contribution to our class website, due on the last day of class (for more info, click here)

Grading scale

• 5% for each set of reading notes (10 x 5% = 50%)
• 35% for class participation
• 15% for your contribution to the website

More on reading notes

I'm asking you to do reading notes instead of more formal papers and exams because I want to make sure that you do the reading as carefully and thoroughly as possible. I also want you to use the notes as a way of preparing for discussions--so notes on Marx, say, are due in class on the day assigned to Marx. Your notes should address three basic points:
1. Familiar stuff: Which ideas from today's readings seem familiar to you? Where have you seen those ideas before?

2. Unfamiliar stuff: Which ideas from today's readings seem unfamiliar to you? What information would help you to make better sense of today's reading, and why?

3. Other stuff: What seems most attractive or intriguing about today's readings, and what seems most off-putting? How could you use ideas from today's readings in some of your other courses?

More on your contribution to the website

Your contributions to the class website can take one of two forms. You can write an essay, preferably one that exploits the medium of the web, in which you interpret and assess some of our readings; or you can explain how a text or practice of your choosing might look when viewed through the lenses provided by a few of our theorists. If you've never made a webpage before, have no fear--it's easy. Besides, I'll schedule a session for sometime next week, so that you can learn the basics.

Other policies, office hours

I will take attendance every day. You can miss only three classes without a penalty. Each additional unexcused absence will reduce your final grade by one-third of a letter grade. I do grant brief extensions--but if you ask for an extension, you should be prepared to set a new deadline for the missing assignment, one that will be absolutely binding. If you do not meet the new deadline, you will get an "F" on the assignment. Office hours this term are from 2:00 to 4:00 on Monday afternoons.