Final Grades Rubric out of 1000 points possible (what appears on your transcript)

900 and above = A

800-899 = B

700-799 = C

600-699 = D

Less than 600 points = F

Grades and Assignments (Points used to calculate final grade)

Discussion Questions (150pts total): Every week, students have the opportunity to post one key point and one discussion question on the Canvas discussion board by Monday at 12pm related to the readings that could be potentially discussed in class. Each student should post 5 weeks (5 key points and questions in 5 separate postings) throughout the semester. These questions should involve critical thinking skills thus critical questions of the authors’ arguments are allowed. In addition to the actual question, you should provide a brief discussion of the background to your question. Weekly questions will receive a 30 for excellent questions, a 20 average questions, and a zero (0) for extremely poor questions or no questions at all. Late discussion questions will not be accepted. For example, a good question would be: “In 'Some Principles of Stratification' by Davis and Moore, the authors outline several logical premises that ultimately lead one to believe that inequality is functional, necessary, and inevitable. In what ways is their logic flawed? Are rewards always distributed by their ‘functional importance’? How does the case of professional athletes vs teachers either support or conflict with their argument?” An example of a poor question would be “Who are the bourgeoisie according to Marx?” (Note: You are welcome to ask clarifying questions during class or by email. They just will not work for the weekly questions portion of your grade.) If students are not reading, I reserve the right to change this portion of the grade to random pop quizzes on the readings.

Classroom participation (150 points): Students are expected to be in class whenever possible and participate in discussions of the readings. I will be taking attendance this semester. It is difficult to participate when you are not in class. Occasionally, in class, writing assignments may also be assigned to aid in the writing assignments for the class and will be graded if attendance gets poor over the semester.

Narratives of Mobility and Class Papers: A Multi-Stage Assignment (700pts total): This multi-stage assignment will require you to think about the issue of class and inequality in a variety of ways in different papers throughout the semester. The intention is for you to first elaborate your views on social mobility and class early in the semester (150pts). Second, you will interview an adult, ideally older than you, about their views on class, social mobility, and the economy. You will then write a report about the interview and compare their views to yours. A video or reading will be provided to stimulate conversation for the interview (250pts). Third, you will write a brief paper reflecting on the experience of playing stratification monopoly and any insights into inequality and mobility based upon income and wealth (200pts). Fourth, you will write a brief reflection on views on inequality given what you learned over the semester, particularly in relation to an issue related to inequality and a policy solution that you deem fit, as your final paper (100pts). Each paper will potentially require at least 3-7 pages of writing, depending on the assignment. More information on this multi-stage assignment will be provided as the semester progresses.

Policy for Exams, Missed Exams, Late Assignments, and Extra Credit:

Late assignments: Normally, the policy for late assignments is that you will need a documented health, funeral, or university-sponsored excuse to complete late assignments at full credit. Assignments completed after their due dates without an excuse will receive a drop in letter grade for every two days beyond their due date. Even if you have accommodations for a disability, you should still work with me in advance of deadlines to set up appropriate due dates.

Extra credit: For up to 15 points of extra credit on your final exam, students can watch an outside documentary about material related to the class, and then write 1-2 pages describing how this event/documentary is related to or informs knowledge learned in this course. This extra credit can only be done once. Extra credit is due by the last day of class.