Requirements

How your final grade is calculated

Class attendance and participation	10%
Moodle responses	15%
Two short papers	50%
Take-home exam	25%

 

Special Note: Academic accommodations are available for students with disabilities who are registered with the Office of Disability and Support Services. Please schedule an appointment with the instructor early in the semester to discuss any accommodations for this course which have been approved by the Director of Disability and Support Services as indicated in your DSS accommodation letter.

Class attendance and participation Attendance and participation are required for this course. Absence in more than two classes will harm your final grade, as will repeated failure to take part in class discussions and group exercises (in classroom and on Moodle). Come to class with the required readings, having finished them by their assigned dates. Attendance at Urban Studies lectures or other extracurricular events posted on the schedule is expected unless you have conflicting courses or required events. A note about using technology in this course: I'm happy to let you use laptops and iPads to do the electronic readings and to take notes in class. Be conscientious when using these devices. If you find your reading comprehension suffers because you don't have a hard copy to write notes in, then print the electronic readings out. And please limit your use of laptops and iPads in the classroom to note-taking and internet browing of course materials only. If your use of these technologies distracts yourself, other students or me, you'll be asked to turn off your wi-fi or your device.   Moodle responses Each week, a third of the class will write 200-300 words reflecting on some part of that week's readings, from one selection to all the pieces we read for the whole week. These writings are to be posted onto Moodle by Tuesday at midnight, so that the rest of the class (instructor included) can read them before Wednesday's class.   Short papers On September 29 and November 10, you'll turn in 4-6 page essays responding to questions that draw from the readings and lectures.   Take-home exam On December 14, the last day of study period (per college regulations), you'll e-mail a take-home exam responding to questions that draw from the readings and lectures.