The first expectation is consistent attendance, active participation in class discussions, and careful engagement with course materials. This includes coming to class prepared, contributing to discussion, and keeping up with class activities. I expect our class environment to be one of lively discussion and debate where we can challenge and respect the opinions and comments of others and be prepared to discuss these texts with attention and care. Please focus fully upon class activities/discussion and limit use of laptop computers and other technology during class time.

More than three unexcused absences will impact your final grade by a full letter. Four late sessions count as one absence. More than seven absences result in automatic failure of the course. You are responsible for the readings and assignments you miss when you are absent, but quizzes and in-class work missed due to an absence cannot be made up. These will receive a grade of "0."  Exceptions to this attendance policy are made only in the case of medical emergencies and extended hospitalization, for which I require documentation.

Your role as discussion leader: You will be asked to sign up as a discussion leader for one class session. This is your opportunity to initiate and facilitate our discussion and you should be fully prepared to discuss the reading for that day. Please use Canvas (discussion section) to post some of your questions/responses for our class to consider before your session to help us prepare. Please post by 9pm the evening before your discussion leader session. You may distribute questions to facilitate our analysis of the reading, select passages that you see as relevant or interesting, present themes you see as relevant, make connections to other texts we have read, and/or bring in additional material to share with the class that relates to the reading.