Evaluation Guide

Guide to Tests, Quizzes, and other Assignments in this class.

Quizzes-- We will have online quizzes throughout the semester.  They will usually consist of matching questions taken from the chapter ID’s on your Unit Objectives Sheet (found under the Assignments tab).  These will be short timed quizzes (usually 5 minutes).  I will post them under assignments at 6 am on the morning of the scheduled quiz (See Course Calendar for Schedule).  They will be available for 24 hours.  You will have only one chance to take them (don’t click on the link unless you are ready to take it) and they will be automatically scored and recorded.

Exams-- These will be timed online exams that will be posted on the assignments folder for one day only.  Like the quizzes, they will be available at 6 am, but they will stay posted for 36 hours.  You must be available to take these exams on the days they are posted (See Course Calendar for Schedule), or make prior arrangements with me.  The exam will consist of a section of matching (using the same chapter ID’s as the quizzes) followed by a short essay and a long essay.  Your Unit Objectives Sheet lists topics from which I will pull both short and long essay questions.  As for essay length, I expect your essays to show that you have reflected on all of the course materials (text, online notes and lectures, discussion board threads, and assigned outside media).  While each person covers material differently, you should generally figure two to three paragraphs for the short essay and four to five paragraphs for the long essay.  Again, I remind you that the use of outside resources (text, notes, web pages, etc.) is forbidden.  I want to see what you have to say about the topics we cover.  You will not have enough time to complete the one hour exam if you are relying on your text and class notes to answer essay questions anyway.  More importantly, this is cheating.  Any answer taken directly from the book or a web page (or even pretty closely) will receive a zero.  Prepare in advance so that you will not be tempted to use outside materials.

Writing Assignments-- At some point during the semester I will assign a small project or paper to be completed using outside resources.  I will announce this assignment at least two weeks in advance of its due date. 

Class Participation-- This grade is based on a combination of attendance and “class” participation.  Most weeks there will be a new discussion question derived from your reading, a web assignment, or from some other material that I have assigned.  These will sometimes be found in the body of the lecture outline, but I will also announce them on the Discussion Board.  I expect each of you to chime in at some point during the week in response to my original thread or to create your own (class related) discussion threads (as many times as you like).  Feel free to generate your own discussion in this space.  Each week that you fail to contribute to the discussion will reduce your Class Participation grade total by five points.