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Instructor: Dr. Greenstein Office: Philosophy Department, Hartwell
Web: www.itss.brockport.edu/~hgreenst
Angel: angel.brockport.edu
E-mail: hgreenst@brockport.edu
Consultation
Monday & Wednesday, before and after class, by appointment and via Angel
Instructional Methods
Text readings, lecture, discussion, library assignments Angel distance learning functions, video, special functions/guest lecturers, student participation, active participation, including team membership and participation, in class and online.
Learning Requirements
Timely preparation, including preparation for active participation in class and online.
This course requires considerable reading, thinking and discussion. Students must be prepared to allocate approximately two hours of self study and group interaction for every class credit hour in order to successfully complete this course.
Readiness to actively participate in class, through teamwork and total completion of all assignments as due is expected from every student for every class, unless explicit permission has been granted by the instructor.
Mid-term Review
By mid-term, students who have failed to meet both the standards for Active Team Participation and for a mid-term exam average of at least C (75% or higher) will be strongly advised to withdraw from this course.
Attendance
In Class
1. Every student is required to be present at every class, unless other arrangements have been made. This is the default expectation and creates no extra quality points. Expect attendance to be taken daily. However, nonattendance can result in the loss of quality points. Each set of three non-excused absences equals the forfeiture of one half letter grade or 5 points of the numerical final grade per set for the semester.
2. Non-excused early class departures are disruptive to classmates and team members in addition to being rude. Every three non-excused classroom departures, even after attendance has been taken, equals the forfeiture of three fourths or 7.5 points of the numerical final grade per set for the semester. Example: Six unexcused classroom departures = the loss of as much as 15 points from the numerical final grade.
3. Online
Active Quality Team Participation: Freeloading is a voluntary student choice, reflecting a voluntary student decision to pay the price. The term freeloading is used to denote either perfunctory participation or complete non-participation in teamwork, resulting in abandoning others to bear the major burden of the work. A general pattern of either or both forms of freeloading, is the equivalent of forfeiting a total of ten points from the overall final average. A pattern of three to four such behaviors occurring before mid-semester and another pattern of three to four such behaviors between mid-semester and the final exam incurs a loss of four points for freeloading per half semester. A more extensive pattern entails total forfeiture of the team participation grade. Example: Full high quality participation = 10 points added to an exam overall average of 84. Loss of eight quality points = overall average of 76.
All absences and extensions must be approved directly by the instructor who has sole authority to do so.
Examinations and quizzes missed
Examinations and quizzes missed without permission and/or verifiable documentation will be scored as such and will not be eligible for make-up or substitution. There are no exceptions.
Method of Evaluation Overview
- Three or four individual objective examinations
- Quizzes with our without notice
- Preparation
- Active in-class participation
- Active online team participation
- Periodic team reports and presentations numerically graded and distributed to each fully participating team member
- Attendance
Final Grade
A. Quality Points
- Exam average = 60% of final grade
- Plus: Average of Team Reports and Presentations converted into numerical values = 10% of final grade
- Plus: Active, Quality Team Participation = 40% of final grade.
Subtotal for final grade: 100%
Less:
B. Forfeitures
- Minus: Free riding and low quality participation in classroom and online activities are subject to a 10% penalty, deducted from the exam average up to ten points from subtotal.
- Minus: Attendance forfeiture as above.
- Minus: Unexcused exams and quizzes.
Total Final Numerical Grade = Total A minus Total B.
Final numerical grade converted to final letter grade using standard conversion practices. Example: Final numerical grade of 85 = final letter grade B.
All requirements and content are subject to change in view of the instructor's appraisal of student needs.
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