POLICIES and SUGGESTIONS:

Classroom Behavior
1. Respect for your own education, classmates, and me is essential in making this class meaningful for all of us. While you may sometimes rather be somewhere else, non-related activities (reading newspapers, texting friends, whispering, passing notes, playing solitaire on your laptop, etc.) are inconsiderate, hinder your and others’ ability to learn effectively, and will not be tolerated. Also, please turn off your cell phones and MP3 players before class.

2. You may express any idea you wish in class, as long as you back it up with evidence from the texts on the syllabus. While unsupported opinions may be acceptable in conversations with friends, they are not acceptable in academic discourse that is focused on encouraging critical thinking skills such as in Honors courses.

Grades and Absences
3. Although I am usually considered a tough grader, I honestly want you to learn and succeed in this class. By following the guidelines here and putting forth diligent effort, you have ample opportunity to pass the course. While only truly superior work will earn an A, work making sincere effort rarely earns lower than a CR.

4. If you miss class, informing me of a valid reason demonstrates a willingness to take your responsibility to the class seriously, which will count in your favor when I determine participation scores. However, I make no distinction between excused and unexcused absences. An absence is counted as an absence, regardless of the reason.

5. If you miss class, you are responsible for acquiring notes from classmates. In-class work may not be made up.

6. I do not automatically drop students who stop attending class. Therefore, you must take responsibility for dropping or withdrawing or be willing to accept the consequences.

7. Incompletes will be given only if you complete work through the 12th week with a passing grade.

Written Work
8. Most written assignments for both Colloquium and Service Learning may be turned in 1 class session after the due date without penalty. Assignments turned later than this will have 2 points automatically deducted for each class period they are late. But no late Peer Discussions, Project Presentations, and Final Portfolios will be allowed.

9. All papers and written portions of projects must:
● Be typed (12 point Times or similar), double spaced, 1" margins, on white 8½" x 11" paper, all pages numbered and stapled;
● Include your name, date, and assignment on the first page above an appropriate paper title (Research Analysis Paper is an assignment NOT an appropriate paper title!);
● Include a bibliography formatted according to the latest MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.

10. For your own protection, keep copies of all work you turn in for a grade.

11. Each student is expected to maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity in all academic and professional matters. You must do your own work and should not, under any circumstances, let others use your work or ask others to do your work for you. If you copy from others or sources without acknowledging them, you are guilty of plagiarism. If you have someone else write assignments or allow another person to copy work, you are guilty of dishonest scholarship. In addition to risking being expelled from UNM, if you are found guilty of plagiarism or dishonest scholarship, you will receive a 0 for the assignment and probably a NC for the course.

Extra Credit
12. You may earn a maximum of 3 extra credit points toward your final score. Although other voluntary forms of work may benefit your learning, only extra credit work earned as follows will count toward your grade:

● 1 point if you attend a public lecture and summarize it on the Blog within 2 days after the lecture;

● 1 point if you maintain perfect attendance throughout the semester (i.e., miss no classes at all!);

● 1 point if you attend class on the day Course Evaluations are given. These will be given sometime during the last 2 weeks of class, but you will not know the exact date beforehand.

Special Circumstances
13. Students with disabilities or other unusual circumstances are encouraged to see me as early as possible concerning any special accommodations that need to be made in order for you to succeed in this class.

14. Under EXTREMELY extraordinary circumstances exceptions to these policies may be made if you discuss the situation with me personally and provide written documentation (doctor’s note, death certificate, etc.).