Policies
Course Requirements
You will write three essays, one for each unit of the course.
Essay 1: A 3-4 page interpretive “close reading” essay.
Essay 2: A 5-6-page essay in which students compose a comparative analysis of two primary texts.
Essay 3: An 8-10-page essay in which students use multiple sources and limited independent research to answer a specific critical question or problem.
You are also required to do the following:
- Submit drafts and revisions of all required essays.
- Attend seminars twice a week.
- Read all assigned readings before class and be prepared to discuss them.
- Participate in peer review exercises and IVLE discussion threads.
- Attend three individual student-teacher writing conferences, one for each unit.
- Present your research project to the class through a formal presentation
Assessment
Assessment will be determined as follows:
Essay 1: 20%
Essay 2: 25%
Essay 3: 35%
In-class and IVLE participation: 10%
Essay 3 project presentation: 10%
Paper Format
Both draft and final versions of essays will follow the same model. All papers must be typed in a double-spaced format with ten- or twelve point characters and adequate margins for me to insert handwritten comments. Please be sure to number all of your pages and avoid skipping lines between individual paragraphs. A title page is not necessary; instead, you need to present the following information in the left-hand corner of the first page only:
Name
USWP17-Interpreting Consumerism
Prof. Michael Maiwald
Essay number (indicate whether draft or final version)
Date
Do not include a title page. However, each essay should have an appropriate title, and this title should appear centered in the document above the opening paragraph. Do not underline, italicize, or present the title in boldface. Also, do not place the title in quotation marks. The proper formatting for titles is simply to capitalize the first word and all other words that are not articles or prepositions.
Attendance and Participation
Since this class is a seminar, student preparation for and participation in each and every class is the single most important factor in deciding the class's relative success. As a result, class attendance will be mandatory. Only two unexcused absences will be granted each student; each additional unexcused absence will result in one lowered grade level for the final participation grade (A- to B+, B to B-). Absences may be excused at my discretion through a note explaining your absence from an NUS dean or a doctor. In addition, your cumulative contributions to discussions will be graded at the end of the semester. If you prepare for class by reading the assignment in a thoughtful and critical manner, and if you engage in IVLE discussions beforehand, you should not have any trouble coming up with things to say in class; shy people in particular should use the IVLE as a way of “breaking the ice” and getting accustomed to making your ideas public. Towards the end of the semester, everyone will be required to create a ten-minute presentation about their individual research project.
IVLE Discussion Forum
Over the course of the semester, students will be responsible for posting a minimum of five contributions to various discussion threads. Postings should occur the day before class, and may consist of posing critical questions or making your observations of the readings that will be discussed in the next class. Students are encouraged to begin a new thread as early as possible before each class, and to respond to the questions asked and interpretations offered by your fellow classmates. The aim of these discussion threads is to begin a conversation that will spill over into class time, and these dialogues will also help me to gauge your needs and concerns ahead of time. Students will receive credit for the quality and quantity of their postings during the semester.
Deadlines
Because of the continuous rhythm of drafts, conferences, and peer group work that makes up the course, the late work of one or more students can be unnecessarily disruptive. As a result, all work must be handed in on time, and there will be no exceptions made. Barring personal illness or other unforeseeable circumstances, you must follow the schedule of assignments. If you have a legitimate reason for not being able to complete an assignment on time, you must contact me at least one full class period in advance of the due date. For the first paper handed in late, you will receive a single grade deduction for every 24 hours in which the paper is not submitted. (In other words, an A- becomes a B+, etc.) The deduction will be applied to the grade of the final submission regardless of whether the late paper is an early draft or a final draft. Any additional paper handed in late receives an F.
Plagiarism
The intentional or unintentional appropriation of other people's ideas without proper citation violates ethical and academic standards. In addition, a double submission of your own work in two different modules also constitutes a breach of conduct. Anyone caught plagiarizing a paper will immediately fail the paper and be subject to further disciplinary measures through the university. Two plagiarized papers will result in your immediate failure of the class. For more information on plagiarism and how to avoid it, consult Gordon Harvey's Writing with Sources, Chapter 3, “Misuse of Sources." |
