Grading
This basic rubric describes my interpretation of the Marking System in UMCP’s Undergraduate Catalog. Detailed expectations and marking schemes for each assignment can be found at the assignment pages.
A range (A+, A, A-): Denotes excellent mastery of the subject and outstanding scholarship. A-range work in gender and sexuality studies is likely to be described as: attentively argued; deeply thought through; nuanced understanding of key concepts; writing that is complex but not confusing; comprehensively researched; original.
B range (B+, B, B-): Denotes good mastery of the subject and good scholarship. B-range work in gender and sexuality studies is likely to be described as: interesting; well researched; solid understanding of key concepts; clearly written, but sometimes missing out on complexity, or complex but becoming a little confusing at times; fairly thoughtful.
C range (C+, C, C-): Denotes acceptable mastery of the subject. C-range work in gender and sexuality tudies is likely to be described as: interesting but not fully thought through; confusing; research that is barely sufficient; simplistic understanding of key concepts; frequent errors in writing or formatting.
D range (D+, D, D-): Denotes borderline understanding of the subject. It denotes marginal performance, and it does not represent satisfactory progress towards a degree. D-range work in gender and sexuality studies is likely to be described as: insufficiently researched; poorly thought through; misunderstanding key concepts; not meeting required page count or otherwise failing to meet all requirements of the assignment; difficult to read due to writing and formatting errors.
F grade: Denotes failure to understand the subject and unsatisfactory performance. F work in gender and sexuality studies is likely to be described as: failing to meet any basic requirements of the assignment; plagiarized or absent research; very difficult to read due to writing and formatting errors.
Grade percentage ranges (will be rounded at professor’s discretion):
A+ 98-100 / A 93-97 / A- 90-92
B+ 87-89 / B 83-86 / B- 80-82
C+ 77-79 / C 73-76 / C- 70-72
D+ 67-69 / D 63-66 / D- 60-62
F 0-60
Classroom participation and in-class media
You are required to be present, punctual, prepared, and ready to engage in every scheduled class session. Bring the texts under discussion, in hardcopy or digital format, every day, and make sure you have read them carefully. You are welcome to bring your laptop or tablet, but please use it to participate: to access readings and the class blog, to take notes, or to find information that will add to the discussion. If I notice that you’re focused on something other than what we are discussing in class, I may invite you to give a short impromptu presentation on the cultural politics of digital distraction. Know yourself: if you won’t be able to resist the internet’s siren call, turn off your wireless or take notes on paper.
Attendance
Class discussion is very important in this course, so your attendance matters not just for you but for your classmates. Part of attendance is preparing for class by doing the required reading. In place of calling roll, attendance will be counted by your daily reading responses, which you complete at the beginning of class. If you fail to turn in a response, you will be marked absent. You may make up missed reading responses before the next class session by emailing your answers to your professor and TAs. If you miss class or are late, it is your responsibility to catch up by asking a classmate for notes from discussion, catching up on reading, and looking up the day’s questions for your make-up response. After your third absence, whether or not you have made up your reading responses, you will lose 10% of your participation grade for each absence.
It is the University of Maryland’s policy that students are expected to inform the instructor in advance of medically necessary absences, and present a self-signed note documenting the date of the missed class(es) and testifying to the need for the absence. This note must include an acknowledgement that (a) the information provided is true and correct, and (b) that the student understands that providing false information to University officials is a violation of Part 9(h) of the Code of Student Conduct. The university’s policies on medical and other absences can be found at: http://www.umd.edu/catalog/index.cfm/show/content.section/c/27/ss/1584/s/1540
Prolonged absence or illness preventing attendance from class requires written documentation from the Health Center and/or health care provider verifying dates of treatment when student was unable to meet academic responsibilities.
Absence due to religious observance will not be penalized, however, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor within the first 3 weeks of class regarding any religious observance absence(s) for the entire semester. The calendar of religious holidays can be found at: http://faculty.umd.edu/teach/attend_student.html#religious
Email and web
You must check your university email every day, as I will email with announcements of any last minute changes etc, including what to do if we have a class cancellation due to inclement weather etc. The course website, at http://lgbt200sp16.queergeektheory.org, is where class material will be hosted, and it is vital that you check before every class. Make sure that you are logged in when you visit the website, as much important material is only available to registered students. Your username is your last name, and your initial password is lgbt200; make sure to change your password after your initial login.
You are always welcome to email me with questions (alothian@umd.edu). I will aim to respond within 24 hours (48 if you email over the weekend). I expect the same turnaround time when I email you. My answers in email are likely to be short; if you have something you want to discuss in more depth, I prefer that you make an appointment to see me in office hours.
Deadlines
Blog entries turned in after the due date will receive half points.
Formal assignments turned in late will lose points equal to one letter grade per day unless you have been given an extension. If you think you are likely to have problems meeting a deadline, always talk to me in advance. I make decisions about extensions on a case by case basis, but if I can see that you are managing your time as best you can in the face of adverse circumstances, I am more likely to offer you some leeway. If you miss a deadline, turn in the assignment to the best of your ability as soon as you can for partial credit.
Course evaluations
Course evaluations are a part of the process by which the University of Maryland seeks to improve teaching and learning. Your participation in this official system is critical to the success of the process, and all information submitted to CourseEvalUM is confidential. (Instructors can only view group summaries of evaluations and cannot identify which submissions belong to which students.)
Inclement weather
In the event of university closures for inclement weather, I will send an email explaining how lost material will be made up. We may use online activities, meet for a shortened class, or assigned readings may be changed.