You are strongly encouraged to take extensive class notes. One of your objectives should be the development of writing and note-taking skills. Good lecture notes are essential as preparation for exams in this course. Therefore, please do not use any recording devices in this class. The only exception will be for students with certification from Disability Services.

Turn off cell phones during class unless you need access for emergencies. In that case, use the vibrating feature to notify you of calls (not a ring or other audio signal) whenever possible. It is not acceptable to receive or make calls during class time under normal circumstances.

Examinations will consist of multiple choice and true/false questions. Each exam, including the final exam, covers a specific segment of lectures and readings, and each will have equal value in determining the final course grade. You will need to bring a Scan-tron answer sheet (Form #882-E) and a #2 pencil for each exam.

Tentative exam dates will be announced in class. Dates for the first four exams are tentative to provide flexibility for class discussion; the 5^th exam is the final exam and will be given at the time and date listed on the official University calendar. Students should check the University schedule before planning any end-of-semester trips or activities because it will not be possible to change dates for final exams or to receive a “WH” grade.

Academic Dishonesty: Cheating on any exam will result in a grade of “0" for that exam. A second infraction will result in an automatic grade of “F” for the semester, and a notation will be added to the student’s file. A report is made part of the student’s record and remains on file with the Dean’s office for at least four years. A student who wishes to appeal decisions related to academic integrity must appeal within 30 days of the beginning of the long semester following the incident. Any student who is accused of academic dishonesty will be provided with information concerning SFA policy on how to appeal the decision (included in University Policy A-9.1).

Cheating includes (but is not limited to) copying from another student’s paper, providing test questions to another student who has not yet taken the exam, receiving test questions from another student, using “hand signals” or any other method to communicate with other students during an exam, and using or attempting to use unauthorized materials during an exam (such referral to notes or a recording device).

As you can see, I take academic dishonesty very seriously. Please do not jeopardize your grade by engaging in this conduct. It isn’t worth it!

You are responsible for the content of lectures and reading assignments. Lectures and readings are closely related, but there is a substantial amount of information in each that will not be found in the other source. Use your review for this class as an exercise in critical thinking; look for the importance or significance of terms and concepts rather than merely memorizing definitions. You may find it helpful to refer to “How to Study for This Class,” located on the class web page.

It is important for students to review exams. Completed exams may not be removed from my office, but I strongly encourage students to come to my office to review their exams. Exams for this class are not comprehensive, but you can often learn how to study for upcoming exams by reviewing the types of questions that you missed on previous exams. I will keep student ScanTron answer sheets and a set of exam keys in my office for this purpose. You may review your exam until the next scheduled exam. That is, you may review your first exam until the class has taken the second exam, and continue with the same timetable throughout the semester.

Note: All exams (questions, answer sheets, and blue books) must remain on file in my office. Any missing exams will result in a grade of “0.” Therefore, be sure that you turn in questions and answers after you review your exam grades.

The lowest exam grade (out of five exams) will be dropped and only the four remaining grades will be counted. This means that a “0” for one missed exam will automatically be dropped and will not be counted against student grades at the end of the semester. This policy will benefit all students and replaces make-up exams. However, all students MUST take the final exam. Any student who does not take the final exam will receive a “0,” and that grade will not be dropped.

Students may not miss more than one exam. The only exception would be for emergencies that I certify based on written documentation, such as hospitalization. (Note that events such as family vacations are not “emergencies.”) Special arrangements must be made to take these exams during the last week of the semester, and they will consist of essay and short-answer questions. 

You are expected to attend all classes, arrive on time, remain in class during the entire period, remain awake and alert, participate in discussions when appropriate, ask questions if you do not understand, and take lecture notes only for this class — that is, no “letters home” or reading for another class. Think of class attendance as equivalent to attendance if you have a job. You would not receive a paycheck from an employer if you did not show up for work; likewise, you have not completed course requirements for this class if you have an excessive record of absences.

Good attendance is very important for this class. This class has a very high correlation between low attendance and low grades. Absenteeism is usually reflected in lower grades because a significant proportion of exam questions are based on lecture notes. It is your responsibility to arrive before attendance is taken and to use the same seat each day. It is likely that you will be marked absent if you do not sit in the seat you selected on the day when the seating chart was established. Those who are late (within reasonable limits) will be marked present if they check with me before leaving class that day. Attendance records cannot be changed or “corrected” later in the semester. Please do not leave class early (or leave and re-enter the room) unless it is absolutely unavoidable.

Attendance will be a factor for “borderline” students: those who are within 3 points (note: points, NOT percent) of the next higher grade will receive the higher grade if they have not missed more than 3 days of MWF classes or 2 days of MW/TR classes. If absenteeism is excessive, the instructor may also use infrequent unannounced quizzes (based on the previous 2 days of lectures). There will be no other extra-credit work, “rounding up,” or “grading on the curve.” At the discretion of the instructor, semester course grades may be reduced one letter grade for students with more than six days of unexcused absences in MW/TR classes or more than eight days of unexcused absences in MWF classes.

Five exams will be given during the semester. The lowest grade will be dropped, and grades will be determined by the remaining four examinations with each exam counting 25% of the final course grade. As explained above, attendance will be a factor for “borderline” students. Please read the statement carefully. There is no “extra credit” work or “grading on the curve.” The following grade scale will be used for this course (based on a total of 400 points available for the semester):

            A = 360-400 points           D = 240-279 points

            B = 320-359 points           F = Less than 240 points

            C = 280-319 points