Policies and Assessment

Grades will be based on:

LATN 388

LATN 488

Article reports (summary and analysis)	15%		Article reports (summary and analysis)	25%
Participation in seminar discussions (insight and substance)	15%		Participation in seminar discussions (insight and substance)	15%
Translation exercises	30%		Translation exercises	15%
Oral presentation of researched problems (clear overview of work-in-progress)	15%		Oral presentation of researched problems (clear overview of work-in-progress)	15%
Written report of researched project (details, analysis, documentation)	25%		Written report of researched project (details, analysis, documentation)	30%

It is expected that 488 students will undertake more ambitious projects for research and presentation, and hold themselves to a higher standard of Latinity over greater volumes of text -- but the ambition of 388 students is encouraged, too! Research projects will be developed in consultation with the instructor. Expectations will suit students' experience and registration level, but I firmly believe that seminars should be fora for cooperative and collaborative discussions, to which everyone will have interesting insights and valuable contributions to make as we explore and develop ideas together.

Seminars live by discussion. This fact has two major consequences that relate to Participation in assessments:

• Participation is assessed on the quality of your contributions to the seminar. A senior colleague of mine at the University of Texas at Austin used to observe that mere presence in the classroom can be achieved by a teddy bear. I have higher hopes for you than that. I start from the assumption that you will always prepare assignments to the best of your ability, and I will regularly be available to do what I can to help you extend your ability (one of the great rewards of a seminar, for learning, is the different interests and expertise different participants bring, but improvement of strengths is always a goal). You need to show what your work is achieving and to collaborate actively in helping your fellow-participants, including me, achieve more too. Thoughtful questions, helpful observations, and attention to how we can work out good answers together, are all extremely important parts of the game.
• If you're not here, you miss everyone else's learning and insight and you deprive them of yours. We only meet once a week. We need you. No more than one absence can be "excused," and excuses can only be admitted for truly dire and documented reasons; obligations should be met at times that do not interfere with your classes. Unexcused and excessive absences will cut into your Participation component. (As a matter of courtesy, I will appreciate being forewarned of anything that will interfere with your attendance, as far in advance as possible. Thanks.)

Academic honesty

Any practice of academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, obstructing the work of other students, etc.) perpetrated in this course will result in failure of the coures. Do not do it. In addition, Loyola University requires that "all instances of academic dishonesty must be reported to the chairperson of the department involved," who may be obliged to pursue more severe penalties. See pp. 19-21 of the on-line Undergraduate Studies Catalog and p. 19 of the on-line Graduate Studies Catalog.

Revised 15 August 2002 by jlong1@orion.it.luc.edu
http://www.luc.edu/depts/classics/