AASD 411 Course Requirements Fall 2003

Howard Law Students, 1948.

Course Requirements and Grading:

This course depends on class participation. Students are expected – and required – to discuss assigned reading materials, to carefully analyze their content, and apply the lessons within. Some readings may even move you to challenge the author’s conclusions.

Adequate preparation for each class discussion includes reading the assigned materials for the week (between 30 and 50 pages) and preparing discussion points and questions. This should take between 4 to 6 hours per week. Research and meetings for the group project, of course, will take additional time. Some class time will be allotted for meetings.

These activities contribute to the final course grade:

An activists' organizing kit, developed as a group project, on a political issue chosen by consensus. (35 points)
Three oral presentations by the group on specific elements of the Organizing Kit (15 points)
An in-class midterm exam based on the assigned readings, lectures, and discussion (20 points)
A final take-home written exam (10 points)
Homework assignments, in class exercises, and the occasional pop quiz (10 points)
Regular, engaged participation in class discussion and conscientious participation in the group project (10 points)

Grades:
Final Group Project	35 points
Group presentations	15 points
Midterm	20 points
Final Exam	10 points
Homework, exercises, quizzes	10 points
Class participation & attendance	10 points
Total	100 points

Grading Scale:
Grades are determined on the following scale: 91-100 points = A; 81-90 = B; 71-80 = C; 61-70 = D; 60 and below = F. Note the cut-off for "A" grades!

Extra Credit: Attendance, participation and/or observation of various events, lectures, presentations and conferences in the Washington metropolitan area provide ample opportunity for students to earn extra credit points. To earn up to 5 points of extra credit, students are expected to write a 2-3 page paper that discusses how the activity connects to topics covered in the course.

Notes on Grading:

*) Assignments are due on the date listed. Proof a medical emergency (not a mere doctor’s visit) is required for extensions and to schedule make-up exams. Exceptions for personal emergencies will be granted on a case-by-case basis.

*) Regular class attendance is expected. Exams and quizzes will cover material presented in lectures, films and readings. Some test material will not be discussed in class; some lectures will not be covered in reading assignments. Absent students are responsible for obtaining missed material on their own; lecture notes will be shared only in rare cases.

*) The University's policies regarding cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, and academic dishonesty will be strictly observed. If you are unsure of what acts constitute cheating, they are defined in the Code of Academic Integrity in the Undergraduate excerpted in the Schedule of Classes, and is available online at: http://www.umd.edu/cheating

Main

Course
Description

Course
Requirements
& Grading

Books

Course
Outline

Group Project
Organizing Kits

Supplemental
Materials

created 9/13/03