1) Attendance and Participation  (UG 20% / G 15%)
All students are expected to attend all class meetings and to prepare and participate in a manner commensurate with their class standing.  However, all students should be prepared to discuss the readings.  The course is intended to be a seminar not a lecture course.  Participation and preparation are essential to the success of the course. Note on:

Academic Integrity
I require that every student know and observe all rules and policies related to academic conduct and work, especially plagiarism. Academic integrity is essential to all the values upon which the university is founded. All students must therefore embody academic honesty in all aspects of their work. A student with a documented case of plagairism or academic cheating in an honors course will receive the grade of F for the course. Students should consult the M-BOOK for detailed descriptions of academic cheating and plagiarism. Neither I, nor the M-Book, distinguish between intentional and unintentional violations, nor do I distinguish degrees of severity of violation. Academic writing is a balance between the use of sources and their integration in works of original exposition, exegesis, and analysis. Failure to conform to relevant and prevailing standards of academic integrity, especially as involve class decorum and plagiarism will result in significant penalties. If you are unclear about these standards you may consult the M-Book, various on-line sources, or the Writing Center. (policy is modeled on that of the SMBHC)

2) Weekly Blurbs  (UG 20% / G 10%)
All students will submit weekly 'blurbs' on the readings.  Blurbs are due no later than 12 noon on the day before class.  Blurbs will be emailed to the class distribution list <drbob@yahoogroups.com>.  Blurbs can be questions about the reading or raise objections to the readings.  Undergrads should try to blurb about 1/2 of a page (minimum), Graduate students should strive for 3/4 of a page(minimum). Blurbing is a good way to keep track of questions you want to raise in class or issues you might write about in a seminar paper.

3)  Short Critiques  (UG 10% / G 40%)
Graduate students must submit 3 short critical reviews.  Critical reviews are 2-3 pp long (no longer).  I will identify 2-5 passages from the text and the student will choose one passage and prepare a review which a) summarizes the argument or main points in the passage and b) raises a brief critical or interpretive point.  The best two critical reviews will be counted toward your final grade. Failure to submit a critique will result in a zero being recorded for the computation of the final grade. A zero for non-submission will be counted as one of your 'best' scores.

Undergraduate students will submit 1 short critique.

4) Midterm Exam (UG 20%)
Undergraduate students will complete a midterm examination.

5) Paper / Final Exam

a) Undergraduate Students  (30%)
Undergraduates may choose between preparing a take-home cumulative final exam or writing a 10-12 pp. seminar paper on an approved topic.

b) Graduate Students  (40%)