Elements of Evaluation:
The following assignments will be factored into your course grade:
(1) Class Participation/Reading Response: The nature of this class demands that all students contribute regularly to the discussions, including the Forum questions posted at the Heritage University Virtual Campus for each set of readings, which are the primary mode of participation for on-line students. Both quality and quantity will be considered, with an emphasis on the former. Altogether, 35 points (30 + 5 for the Check-In Tasks) may be earned for participation.
(2) Presentation: Each student will locate and select a SHORT text NOT on the reading list (for example, another poem, tale, song, or short story) and will be responsible for providing an introduction to the work’s context (background to author, times, etc.) and an outline course plan for teaching that text. Finally, the student must present the text to the instructor and other students (if available) either in person OR electronically through video or the Illuminate program. If the class is able to meet virtually or in person, the student will also be responsible for helping to direct the class in examining the work. This assignment will be worth 15 points.
Verification Activity: This assignment also serves to verify or authenticate the work of online students. Online students will be expected to produce positive ID to the instructor at the time of the online presentation.
(3) Article Review: Students will locate a journal article related to their topic on one of the out-of-class papers and write a short (2-3 pp.) review of the article summarizing the main ideas of the article and the student’s reaction to or evaluation of those ideas. The review will be worth 15 points.
(4) Out-of-Class Papers: Students will write one short paper of 750-1000 words (2-4 typed/wordprocessed, double-spaced pages) and one of 1250-1750 words (4-6 pages) concerning the readings. Topics for these papers will be discussed in class, and workshop sessions will be scheduled (by uploading papers to MyHeritage for other students or the instructor to review) to assist students in writing them. Students must draw on one or more primary texts as well as at least one outside scholarly source in writing the first paper and two in writing the second paper. The first of these papers will be worth 20 points and the other 40 (60 points total).
(5) Short Answer/Essay Exams: Students will write three take-home examinations. These exams will be worth 25 points each (75 points total).
(6) Figuring Course Grades:
| Check-In Quiz and Tasks | 1 + 4 = 5 |
| Participation/Reading Responses | 30 |
| Presentation | 15 |
| Article Review | 15 |
| Paper #1 | 20 |
| Paper #2 | 40 |
| Exam #1 | 25 |
| Exam #2 | 25 |
| Exam #3 | 25 |
Total Possible: 200 (196+ = A+; 184+ = A; 180+ = A-; 176+ = B+; 164+ = B; 160+ = B-; 156+ = C+; 144+ = C; 140+ = C-; 136+ = D+; 124+ = D; 120+ = D-; 119- = F)