COURSE PARTICIPATION

DUE: Week 15

25% of Course Grade

This course, by its nature, will require you to participate actively both in and out of class. You are expected to attend all classes and to conduct yourself in a professional manner. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of class. If you are late, it is your responsibility to notify the instructor (after class) of your presence. If you must be absent from class, please let me know before the missed session if at all possible. Classes will only be worthwhile if we have all read the assigned readings and are ready to actively participate in discussions about them. Excessive non-attendance (more than two absences for whatever reason) will automatically lower your grade by one letter.

At the end of the semester you will be asked to complete the following form regarding your participation . To ensure that your grade is representative of your contributions to the class, I suggest you keep a log of substantive contributions to each class meeting. I cannot always be present to hear small group conversation, and I will not be able to keep detailed records of everyone's participation everyday. Thus, I value your input. Keep in mind that I maintain the right to move your grade up or down.

Please write one paragraph explaining why you self-assessed your participation at the level you indicate. This will be due the final day of the course. The criteria below serve as a guideline. If you believe you should receive a certain grade, but do not meet the stated criteria, please indicate why.

14-15 Exceptional: You have not missed class, arrived late to class, OR left class early on more than one occasion. You were always prepared for class as evidenced by the substance of your whole-class and small-group comments, which you regularly made. Your comments elevated the discussion level by expanding on current ideas, introducing new ideas, or asking insightful questions. You were always an active listener and participant in course activities. You never talked for the sake of talking, made rude or inappropriate comments, or served as a distraction for other students.

13-14 Excellent: You have not missed class or arrived late to class/left class early on more than one occasion. For the other criteria, you satisfy or come very close to satisfying the above description but fall short in one or two aspects.

12-13 Good: You have not missed class or arrived late to class/left class early on more than two occasions. For the other criteria, you come very close, but fall short, to satisfying the above descriptions.

. . . You can fill in the rest of the rubric if need be . . .

Participation Grade: ______________ (Note: You may assign a numerical grade up to one decimal place; e.g., "13.7")

Explanation/Justification for this grade: