EXPECTATIONS
The success of this course depends on active participation and rigorous engagement. I expect you to read the assigned texts thoroughly, to prepare your writing assignments carefully, and to participate fully, energetically, and respectfully in class discussions. Writing for the academy can be difficult, alien, and strenuous. Our job in class is to sort through the difficulties together, and to provide a respectful, helpful, constructive audience-of-peers for each other.
Class attendance is mandatory, and tardiness is disruptive. I expect that you respect the integrity and quality of your own work and the integrity and quality of others’ work. Plagiarism is dishonest, unethical, and unacceptable.
And finally, I expect you to be absolutely respectful in your treatment of one another. Our class discussions should be filled with spirited disagreement; that is how we will learn from each other. Do not mistake disagreement for dislike, and do not make disagreement into disrespect. If you are having difficulties in this class of any sort please come and talk to me right away.
In summary:
- You are required to bring all texts relevant to the day’s assignments to class. You may access them on a device or print them.
- Some students may feel frustrated in this class because you will READ more than we DISCUSS in class. This is necessary given the scope of the class, but also an intentional teaching and learning goal; part of what I hope you are able to do by the end of the class is connect the lectures and discussions to works we have not discussed.
- Because participation and preparation comprise an important part of your grade in this class, I will have a number of ways to encourage participation. I may call on people in class (gently, and you can always say “pass”). If you do not want to be called on, please let me know in office hours and I will work with you to help promote your participation in other ways. In general, I expect you to read carefully and be ready to talk about the readings in class (eg., this is not just a lecture class!).
- After 4 absences, you risk failing this class.
- Please follow College protocols for any disclosed accessibility needs so I can best support your learning with the help of Services for Students with Disabilities.
DUE DATE EXTENSIONS
A request for an extension must be made prior to the due date. All extensions are granted or denied at the discretion of the instructor. In this class, extensions hurt your progress so we are loath to grant them except in case of emergencies.
INCOMPLETES
Students qualify for incomplete grades only if they have completed 2/3 of the total coursework and are responding to unforeseen circumstances. In this class, students must complete all work except the final paper to qualify for consideration of an incomplete. Students who have not completed substantial coursework should not assume that they will be ‘given’ an incomplete at the end of the semester. An incomplete in this class would be very difficult to make up.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Students shall honestly prepare assignments and submit them at the time and in the manner specified by the instructor. The content of all submitted assignments is assumed to represent the student’s own work unless otherwise specified.
Plagiarism is a serious breach of academic trust. For purposes of the Mills College Honor Code, plagiarism is defined as intentionally or knowingly using someone else’s ideas, words, and/or thoughts without properly crediting the source. All work for which a source is not cited is presumed to be that of the writer.
If the Academic Integrity Standards described above are violated, the instructor will decide on an appropriate response that may include the assignment of extra work, lowering grades on a particular assignment, failure of the course, and/or the report of the incident to the Provost and Dean of the Faculty for further sanction.
NAMES AND PRONOUNS
As the instructor, I am committed to conducting this course in a way that acknowledges and affirms the diverse identities of Mills College students. If you would like to be identified by a name and or/pronouns not apparent on the course roster, please let me know your name and/or gender identity. I will honor your gender identity and chosen name in all official and unofficial communications and in all classroom activities.
WILD romantics 