ENGL-490   BIOGRAPHY: ROYAL LIVES

 

 

GOALS

This is a student-centered course. Biography: Royal Lives is designed to analyze biography as a literary form, while working on research techniques, critical thinking, and written and oral communication skills.  Students are expected to take an active role in determining the direction of the class and to contribute to the learning of others, developing collaborative leadership skills.

 

REQUIREMENTS

 

Student progress will be evaluated by the following:

 

Class participation: Participation begins with preparing for class by doing the assigned readings and formulating questions and comments.  Always come to class prepared to summarize the reading, to ask questions about the author's ideas and arguments, and to connect it with the other material that we are reading.

            Class discussion is an essential part of the seminar. Students will be graded on the basis of demonstrated knowledge of the readings, critical thinking, and contribution to the class's understanding of the work. Build on the ideas of other speakers and encourage each other; what you learn in a seminar is more dependent on each other than it is on the instructor.  (Monopolizing the conversation and cutting off other speakers is one extreme to be avoided; silence is the other.)

 

Quizzes:  Class will normally begin with a quick quiz on the assigned reading.

 

Papers and reports: Students will give two ten-minute presentations and one final twenty-minute presentation, each with a written component.   See attached sheet.

 

Grading:  Each of the following 4 categories counts 25% of your grade—1) class participation; 2) quizzes; 3) two shorter presentations/reports; 4) final paper and oral report.

 

 

POLICIES

 

Attendance:   Students are responsible for all materials covered in class, including assignments, whether or not they are present.  Class instruction and participation are vital components of the course.  Obviously, the more classes you miss, the more difficult the work will become and the less you will gain from taking the course.  Because life outside the classroom is complex, if you have an emergency you may miss 1 week without external penalty.  After that, each absence lowers your final grade 5 points (1/20th of your grade). Note that coming late counts as an absence.

            Any student who must miss more than one class for other college-sponsored commitments (athletics, class trips, etc.) should see me at the beginning of the semester to arrange a way to make up the work. Whether you are present in class or not, you are still responsible for all work done in class, including group projects, and for any work that was assigned while you were absent.  It is your responsibility to obtain notes and assignments from another student; then I will be happy to answer any additional questions that you may have on the material.

            Of course extra consideration will be given in case of emergency, such as prolonged illness or death in the family. Students who wish extra consideration for prolonged absence (more than a week) should contact the office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs.  In the case of a death in the family, please also notify Campus Ministry; wake and funeral times will be posted, and you will receive help and sympathy from faculty and fellow students.

 

Classroom etiquette:  Be courteous to other students. Arrive on time. Turn off all phones and other electronic devices before class. Do not eat during class except for the break, when everyone will share food.

 

Late Papers: Late papers will be accepted up until the last day of class, but will be marked down one-half letter grade for each week-day late.  Plan ahead. If you choose to submit a late paper, the oral report must still be given on the assigned day.

 

Academic Integrity: Academic inquiry depends on intellectual integrity.  Students are expected to work diligently to the best of their ability, to do their own research and writing, to avoid cheating on exams and plagiarism on papers.  Cooperation among class members is encouraged in the form of study groups--but when you walk into an exam, you are each on your own. Note that plagiarism means stealing someone else's words or ideas and lying to say they are your own.  The difference between research and plagiarism is the acknowledgment of the other person's words and/ or ideas in the text, notes, and bibliography.

            Scholarship cannot thrive in an atmosphere of suspicion.  I assume that you are a person of moral integrity, not a liar or thief. If instances of cheating or plagiarism do come to light, however, you will fail this course and be subject to other penalties as set forth in the college catalog. (Please note that any downloaded paper or portion thereof means an automatic F in the course.)

                You are expected to be familiar with the Siena College statement on Academic Integrity http://www.siena.edu/academicintegrity.

 

 

 

Letter Grade Equivalents

 

 

Students with disabilities: If you have a disability and require accommodation, please contact me early in the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You should also contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (Foy Hall, Room 109, 783-4239).

 

 

Pandemic Planning:  In case of a college closure, bring home all your books and class materials.  If your situation permits, continue with readings and assignments as scheduled. Plan to use web resources for your term paper, but if library and web resources are not available, you may base your term paper solely on your own close reading of the text.  I plan to be available via email on a daily basis (except Sunday).  We will conduct discussions online. All readings and papers are essential for receiving credit for the course; however, we may have to suspend discussion if that turns out to be unworkable.