My grading policy
When you receive an individual assignment, it will describe the criteria that will be used to grade it. I do not grade on a curve. I grade for accomplishment, not effort. In general, these are my standards for grading, which closely follow those of the History Department:
A: Work that distinguishes itself through its sophisticated grasp of the material and unusual accomplishment, in addition to being well executed and reasonably free of errors.
B: Work that satisfies main criteria of the assignment but lacks the element of distinction that carries the work into the realm of excellence.
C: Work that demonstrates a rudimentary grasp of the material and satisfies at least some of the assigned criteria reasonably well.
D: Work that demonstrates a poor grasp of the material and/or is executed with little regard for college standards, but which exhibits some engagement with the material.
F: Work that is weak in every aspect; satisfies none of the assigned criteria.
Policy on late work and taking exams
Please understand that these policies are in the interest of fairness to your fellow students.
1. Papers submitted late will be penalized. (But it is always worth submitting work even if it is late.)
2. Makeup exams can be given only in case of a certified medical or personal emergency.
3. I will not give early final exams under any circumstances. Please make your plans for the end of the term accordingly.
Academic honesty
All work that you submit for this course, including papers and exams, must be your own, and it must have been produced for this course. Please be sure that you are familiar with the University’s policies regarding academic honesty. When you submit work for the course, you are certifying that you have complied with these guidelines.
Be sure you do not inadvertently commit plagiarism. It's your responsibility to inform yourself about it.
Electronic devices in the classroom
Laptop computers and similar devices are permitted for purposes of taking notes. This is the only permissible use of laptops during lecture. All internet usage is prohibited. Please respect the rights of your fellow students by not creating distractions.
To begin with, I will not restrict the use of laptops to any particular section of the lecture room. If I find that this policy is being violated, I will change it during the term.
The use of cell phones, music devices and the like is prohibited, period. Texting is out of bounds.