Course Discussions: Discussions and class participation form a significant part of the course grade. As part of his lectures, the professor employs the question-and-answer method (the Socratic method). Therefore students are expected to keep up with the readings in order to contribute to discussions. They are encouraged to take notes on their own when reading the primary text assignments.
Research Paper: Due April 16; Thesis Statement and Preliminary Bibliography due March 12. Students will complete a term paper (5-6 pages), for which the specific topic and format are noted below, “Research Paper Requirements”. Failure to complete the research paper on the required topic means an automatic failure in the course regardless of current grade standing..
1. Students demonstrate knowledge of history and awareness of the historical experience.
2. Students situate primary historical records in their context and use sources to construct historical arguments.
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However, any student with a perfect attendance record, i.e., attending every class without absence (excused absences do not count) will receive three (3) points extra credit added to their course attendance grade !! |
Because the professor's lectures contain more materials than are found in the textbook and course readers, and discussion, question-and-answer constitute important parts of the curriculum. If students have missed 30% of lectures, it is clear they are not getting all the materials, and they are not participating in classroom discussions in any significant manner. Therefore, if it is because of a valid medical reason that any student has missed nine (9) or more classes, he/she should discuss the matter with the professor and, if appropriate, seek a Late Withdrawal in the Registrar's Office based on medical reasons. Students must apply for a medical withdrawal for all their courses simultaneously (not just for a single course), and they must do so before the last day of classes. These attendance policies also apply to any athletes whose sport schedules conflict with course requirements (see below, "Athletes and Special Needs").
Legitimate absences can be excused by presenting written documentation to the Office of Associate Dean of Students. Undocumented or self-reported excuses are not acceptable. Running errands is not a valid excuse. Students are responsible for all the material in the readings, videos, lectures, etc., whether they are present or not in class. Students should never telephone the instructor on the same day to say they will be absent, nor should they ever(!) call the History Department office to report their absence.
If the instructor does not call the daily roll, a sign-in sheet will be circulated. Students are also marked as absent for the following reasons: they do not sign the attendance sheet; they sign the sheet then leave class early without authorization; they leave class for an inordinate period of time without valid reason. Any student who leaves class without authorization and does not return after taking a quiz will be recounted as absent, and the quiz will receive an automatic failing grade (0 = F).
Policy on Late Arrival: Students are expected to arrive to class on time and be ready to start, including those in the 8:00 am section. Students with inordinate numbers of late arrivals (3 or more) or with a regular habit of arriving late for class will experience a significant reduction in the class participation grade. However, in any case, students should not use tardiness as an excuse to miss class, since the result of unexcused absences can result in even more severe grade sanctions (see "Attendance Policy" below).
Any student who has been formally certified by the College through the SNAP Program as having special needs entailing accommodations to complete the requirements for this course should consult with the instructor outside of class or during office hours as soon as possible. They are also responsible for notifying at least one week before each accommodation is needed.
Late papers will be penalized five (5) points for each day late (including Saturdays), up to three days, after which they automatically receive a grade of "F", and will be graded no higher than 59%. Failure to submit a paper entirely will result in an automatic failure in the course, regardless of the student's grade standing. All papers must be submitted in person to the instructor in class on the due date. Students should not leave papers at the professor's office when he is absent or shove them under his door. Regrettably, such papers cannot be deemed to have been accepted on time.
No Electronic Devices in Class. Students may not operate ANY type of personal electronic device in class, especially: iPods, Android and Android-like devices of any kind, MP3 players, iPhones, cell phones, smart telephones, cameras of any kind, and any similar devices, smart watches, Fitbit bracelets and the like. Students may not use voice or video recorders of any kind, nor may they record any lectures without the prior permission of the instructor.
No Computers in Class. Students are not normally permitted to employ laptop, hand-held computers, digital notebooks, netbooks, iPads, smart watches, Chromebooks, smartphones, nor any other electronic computing device in class without prior permission of the instructor. Any authorized student who abuses this privilege by engaging in activity unrelated to the class (checking e-mail, messaging, surfing the Web, recording, gaming, etc.) will forfeit permission to use the device in class for the rest of the term and will receive a 3-point reduction in the final course grade. Several major studies by Stanford University and other schools (including reported in the journal Scientific American) have shown, independently, that typically, students who type notes during class usually have less comprehension of the lectures' contents and implications than students writing notes by hand. Similarly a recent study by McMaster University shows that students multi-tasking with a laptop in class--including those students sitting near them using pencil and paper--both achieve average lower grades than other students, because of the distraction involved. Freaky but true.
Cell Phones in Class and Exams. Students may not make or receive cellular telephone calls, podcasts, text messages of any kind, nor accept any electronic pages during the class period. Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, iPods, iPads, and all other devices at the start of class.
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Each time a cell phone or pager goes off or is
activated in class during lectures and discussions, it will result in a
3-point reduction in the final course-grade for the student. However, if
a student is found to be texting or receiving a text, it will result in
a 5-point reduction in the final course-grade.
Any cell phone, pager or electronic device going off or activated during an exam, in addition to the 3-point course-grade reduction, will also result in a 15-point grade reduction for that exam. Any student found even handling a cell phone or electronic device, texting or receiving a text, during an exam will be considered cheating and will receive an automatic failing exam grade for the entire course. > |
Copyrights, Class Access, etc. All lectures are the copyright of
the instructor. He is their exclusive owner, and he reserves all rights
to their content. Similar to computer software, students license access
to the lectures and their content exclusively for study purposes. They
may take and keep written notes from them, as detailed as they wish, and
make all necessary use of them for their studies and to meet the
academic requirements of this and other courses. Only registered
students (or students in the process of registering) and those formally
auditing are permitted to sit in this class. Any unregistered persons
and guests must have the prior permission of the instructor to sit in on
any class. Students are not permitted to record any lectures without
the prior permission of the instructor.
College of Charleston Honor Code and Academic Integrity. Lying, cheating, attempted cheating, and plagiarism are violations of our Honor Code that, when suspected, are investigated. Each incident will be examined to determine the degree of deception involved.
Incidents where the instructor determines the student’s actions are related more to a misunderstanding will be handled by the instructor. A written intervention designed to help prevent the student from repeating the error will be given to the student. The intervention, submitted by form and signed both by the instructor and the student, will be forwarded to the Dean of Students and placed in the student’s file.
Cases of suspected academic dishonesty will be reported directly by the instructor and/or others having knowledge of the incident to the Dean of Students. A student found responsible by the Honor Board for academic dishonesty will receive a XXF in the course, indicating failure of the course due to academic dishonesty. This status indicator will appear on the student’s transcript for two years after which the student may petition for the XX to be expunged. The F is permanent.
Students should be aware that unauthorized collaboration--working together without permission--is a form of cheating. Research conducted and/or papers written for other classes cannot be used in whole or in part for any assignment in this class without obtaining prior permission from the instructor.
Keep this in mind, prospective employers might request to see your transcript when you apply for employment. "XXF"-grades do not make a good impression. You are responsible for informing yourself of all definitions and regulations on this subject. The College Honor Board does not accept any excuse related to ignorance of the regulation. Protect yourself; when in doubt, footnote it!
Additional penalties can include suspension or expulsion, depending on the severity of the plagiarism, as determined by the instructor, the Dean and/or the Honor Board. For definitions of these offenses and explanations of sanctions, see the College of Charleston Student Handbook
Students are responsible for informing themselves of all definitions and regulations on this subject. Ignorance is not an acceptable excuse before the College Honor Board.