Grading Policy: Students are expected to attend all class sessions, do the reading, participate in class discussions and consult the web site throughout the term. These steps will help you to learn the material covered on the exams. Grades will be based on the assigned work as follows:
Midterm exams (Two exams worth 15% each) 30%
Cumulative Final Exam 30%
Projects/Class Participation 15%
Term Paper 25%
Total 100%
Projects: Homework for the class will consist of readings and occasional data analysis projects. Students are expected to seek out additional material to help place the readings in context or to serve as points of discussion in class. Students are encouraged to discuss the readings with others students in the class outside of the class meetings prior to the class session during which we will discuss the assigned reading. Problem sets should be completed independently unless otherwise instructed.
Term Papers: This course will require significant amounts of independent scholarship. Student will be expected to research a particular topic of interest on the syllabus, generate a bibliography of publications from the literature and complete a term paper on the subject. Students will be guided through this process during the term as they complete various stages of the project: (1) Bibliography of sources, (2) description of research question, (3) outline, (4) initial draft, (5) Final draft.
Exams: Each exam will consist of short answer and essay questions. The questions may involve the interpretation of maps, diagrams, and graphs. The midterm exams will give students an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of the material presented. While the mid-term exams will be non-cumulative, the final exam will be cumulative. Exam scores may be curved at the discretion of the instructor, but each student has the potential to succeed in this course. Students are expected to pick up their graded exam papers in class when they are returned, or to make arrangements to do so at office hours.
Make-up Exams: Students who miss an exam must provide a written excuse in order to receive a make up assignment. Legitimate excuses include written documentation of the following: your own illness, a death in the family, military or official university athletic commitments. If you are involved in military or official university athletic activities, review the exam schedule at the beginning of the term and consult with the instructor prior to the exam if you have a conflict. If an illness, personal crisis, or family tragedy causes you to miss an exam, you must contact the instructor by phone or email no later than 48 hours after the scheduled start time of the exam. It is very important that you provide your full name, email address, and a telephone number where you can be reached in your phone or email message.
University Policies
University Calendar: The official university calendar, which provides information on deadlines for university-related transactions can be found at: http://www.registrars.kent.edu/home/SPRING/calendar.htm
Enrollment Status: The official registration deadline for this course is January 15, 2010. (see the university calendar for late registration deadlines, etc.) University policy requires all students to be officially registered in each class they are attending. Students who are not officially registered for a course by published deadlines should not be attending classes and will not receive credit or a grade for the course. Each student must confirm enrollment by checking his/her class schedule (using Student Tools in FlashFast) prior to the deadline indicated. Registration errors must be corrected prior to the deadline.
Academic Honor Code: In accordance with University Policy 3342-3-01.8, all students are expected to abide by the academic honor code, as specified in the University's "Digest of Rules and Regulations". The use of other's intellectual property without giving them appropriate credit is a serious academic offense. This includes misrepresenting the source, nature or other conditions of your academic work to get undeserved credit. It is the University's policy that cheating or plagiarism can result in receiving a failing grade for the work or course or other more serious disciplinary action. Repeat offenses can result in dismissal from the University. If you have any questions, please read the full policy at http://www.kent.edu/policyreg/chap3/3-01-8.cfm.
Drop and Withdrawal: Withdrawal from any or all courses is permitted through the 10th week of the semester (or the prorated deadline for flexibly scheduled sections). For Spring 2010 the deadline is April 4, 2010. After that time, students are considered to be committed to all remaining courses and must complete them. If students are unable to complete the semester because of extreme circumstances that first occur after the deadline, students should consult their college or campus dean's office. Any course withdrawal(s) processed after the second week of the semester will appear on the students' academic record with a grade of "W". No approval is required to withdraw from a course during the withdrawal period. For more information see: http://www.registrars.kent.edu/home/SPRING/withdrawal.htm.
Students with Documented Accommodation needs: Students who require health-related accommodations must verify their eligibility through the Office of Student Accessibility Services (SAS) on the Ground Floor of the DeWeese Center (330-672-3391 or http://www.kent.edu/sas/ ). In accordance with University policy, if you have a documented need for a health-related accommodation to obtain equal access to this course, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester or when given an assignment for which an accommodation is required. If you have any questions regarding a potential accommodation need, please contact the instructor and SAS as soon as possible.
Final Exam Dates: Please check the final exam schedule for the classes in which you are enrolled. This can be found on the web at: http://www.registrars.kent.edu/home/SPRING/exams.htm. In the event that you have two exams scheduled at the same time, the instructor will make suitable arrangements. Students who have conflicts or more than three examinations on the same day should consult with the Dean of his or her college at the earliest possible time for assistance in making alternative arrangements.