Students may access their individual scores on the password-protected Moodle site. Your work will be evaluated on the following:
Interpretive reading quizzes are due on password-protected Moodle site, usually at 9pm on the evening prior to class. Questions emphasize conceptual understanding, not trivial facts, and the format is open-book, with no time limit. Each student has only one opportunity to complete each quiz, which usually consists of 3 randomly-sorted, multiple-choice questions, which may vary from student to student. For each incorrect answer, a 33% penalty will be deducted, but students will receive a hint and another chance to respond. Students are encouraged to discuss readings with each other before taking the quiz, but once they have started or completed it, they MAY NOT communicate about its content in any way until the instructor reviews answers in class. When taking a Moodle quiz, be sure to “check” each answer, and also click “submit and finish” at the end.
9 quizzes x 3 points each = 27
Writing assignments evaluate information literacy and analytical thinking skills:
- Annotate sources exercise = 3
- Avoiding Plagiarism exercise = 3
- Educational policy journalism = 5
- Video documentary analysis = 5
- Trinity 1960s archives exercise = 3
- Research essay process:
- Research proposal = 10
- Working draft + assigned peer reviews = 4
- Final web essay = 20
Interpretive open-book exams evaluate how students apply historical & policy concepts from syllabus readings to new source materials that have not yet been seen:
- Exam 1 (midterm) = 10 points
- Exam 2 (final exam) = 10 points
Total = 100 points
Late penalties: Reading quizzes must be completed by the deadline to receive any credit. For all other overdue assignments, a 10 percent late penalty will be deducted for every 12-hour period beyond the deadline. Exceptions are granted only for documented medical or family emergencies.
In this course, unsatisfactory work (below 70%) falls in the D or F range, adequate work (70-79%) in the C range, good work (80-89%) in the B range, and outstanding work (90 to 100%) in the A range. Each range is divided into equal thirds for minus (-), regular, and plus (+) letter grades. For example, 80 to 83.33% = B-, 83.34 to 86.67 = B, and 86.68 to 89.99 = B+.
Students are expected to engage in academic honesty in all forms of work for this course. You are responsible for understanding and following the Intellectual Honesty policy (around page 20) of the Trinity Student Handbook.
Students with Academic Accommodations: Trinity College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. If you have a documented disability and require academic accommodations, please schedule a meeting with me during the first two weeks of the semester and bring a copy of your accommodations letter. If you do not have a letter, but have questions about applying for academic accommodations, please contact Lori Clapis, Coordinator of Accommodation Resources, at 860-297-4025 or Lori.Clapis@trincoll.edu.
Please notify me during the first week of the course if you require any scheduling accommodations for religious observances.