“All biographies like all autobiographies like all narratives tell one story in place of another.”
Helen Cixous (Rootprints, 71)

Attendance: Regular attendance is an important part of active participation and learning. I realize that not everyone will be able to make it to every class because of illness or unexpected circumstances. More than 2 unexcused absences will result in your grade being deducted one increment (i.e. from an A- to a B+, etc.) per additional absence. I will send around an attendance sheet or check roll at the beginning of class. It is your responsibility to sign the sheet or let me know if you came in late; be sure to keep a record of your absences. In case of illness, emergency or special circumstance, please see me.

Class Participation: This is a discussion-based class. Discussion requires each of us to fully participation in order for all of us to benefit and learn from discussion. I’ll use a variety of exercises to prompt discussion and will ask you to bring up your questions to help us think about the works we are reading in new and different ways. To make this work, I expect you to complete readings and assignments on time and to participate regularly. If you feel uncomfortable speaking in class, please let me know and we’ll brainstorm ways to make this less difficult.

►Keep in mind that active participation doesn’t just mean talking frequently or knowing all the answers. Participation includes being willing to ask questions or share responses from your reading journal or answers to online questions. It also means making connections between other people’s ideas or offering infrequent but thoughtful comments. Pointing out a confusing passage or asking the question that often everyone is thinking but no one wants to speak can also be very helpful. I take all of these factors into consideration when assessing participation.

Email: I receive many emails daily; to ensure that I see yours, please begin the subject line with ENLT 2552: . I will respond to your email within 24-48 hours, depending on the time of the semester & the proximity of a due date. I check email more frequently before a due date, but not between 10 pm and 8 am. If you have an urgent question or concern and can't reach me by office phone, you can also leave a message with the TRC Coordinator at 982-2815.

Grading: For Grading Rubrics, click here

Honor Policy: I trust every student in this course to fully comply with all of the provisions of the UVA honor system. Plagiarism is a form of intellectual theft, and something I take very seriously. Be sure to document your sources carefully, even if that source is your roommate or Wikipedia. As sharing becomes easier on-line, students often have questions about what counts as plagiarism. If you have any questions about this, ask me or check the Honor Code. All alleged honor violations brought to my attention will be forwarded to the Honor Committee.