Basics
Where and when are the instructor's office hours?
Horizon Hall 6244, Thursdays 1-3 or by Zoom appointment
Are there lectures in this course?
Yes, they will be posted on Blackboard each week for you to watch at your own pace.
How many quizzes do we have and when do they happen?
There are 13 quizzes, or one at the start of class each Tuesday.
How much of the final grade is tied to participation in class?
20%, so take it seriously.
Are the instructions for this illness narrative in the syllabus?
No - they are provided in a separate handout. This handout is available on Blackboard in the "Assignments" folder.
How often do we meet each week in Horizon 2016?
1x per week on Tuesdays at 3pm
How many required texts are there?
Three, but one (Columb's Trading Life) will be available for free through the library as an ebook. The other two texts are Plemons' The Look of a Woman and Hamdy et als' Lissa.
How many quizzes count toward the final grade?
12 of the 13. This means you can skip one quiz without penalty (the day you have to miss class, for ex.) OR you can have your lowest quiz grade dropped. :)
What do the "weekly reactions" have to do with participation?
Many weeks, you'll be asked to share your reactions with others (another student, a small group, or maybe the entire class).
When is the illness narrative due?
Wednesday, Dec 6 by the end of the day. Note that you can hand it in earlier if you wish (but not as a draft).
What are the four main things that will constitute your grade in this class?
Participation, weekly reaction assignments, quizzes, and one essay called an "illness narrative." Graduate students have an additional writing component (four response papers).
Is there an extra credit opportunity?
Yes - you can earn an additional two points toward your final grade by completing a short paper about an unassigned chapter from Plemons' book or a film (see syllabus).
What kinds of questions will be on the quizzes?
They will mostly be short answer. Sometimes there might be matching, T/F, or multiple choice questions.
What happens if I don't actively participate in class discussions or activities?
Unfortunately, you wouldn't receive a passing participation grade for that day :(
What length do these narratives need to be?
A minimum of 1600 words for undergraduates, a minimum of 2000 words for graduate students.
What will happen if if one "abuses" phones and/or laptops in class?
This tech isn't banned, and we'll use it sometimes in activities. But abuse will result in deduction of participation points.
Where can I find assigned readings and other materials like videos?
Other than the Columb and Hamdy books, you can access everything on Blackboard in the "Course Content" folder.
How can I best prepare for the quizzes?
Read or watch all of the assigned materials. Follow the posted lectures carefully. Pay attention to the study questions that are posted along with the lectures. Keep in mind though that quiz questions will go beyond the study questions.
LAST QUESTION: What important info from the syllabus is your instructor missing (in this Jeopardy game)?
Please let me know?
What is this illness narrative about, generally speaking?
You will interview someone or take autobiographical notes to write an essay about someone's experience with an illness. Your focus will be on the social dimensions of the experience.
What's the attendance policy?
You get one free absence, no questions asked. Additional absences result in hefty grade penalties. Be strategic about your free absence.
What is the "weekly reaction" assignment and when is it due?
This is the first thing that will be due (Tuesday, Aug 29th by 2pm on Blackboard). This is a two sentence-minimum "reaction" to the assigned readings that includes 1). a response/opinion about the assigned materials and 2). a discussion question. You can't submit these late, but you get to skip one with no penalty. See syllabus for more info.