ATTENDANCE POLICY
What it is: Much of the work in the course is accomplished by teams, not individuals. As a
result, when a team member does not attend class, other team members suffer. The nonattending
member not only fails to contribute to the team's in-class efforts, (s)he also is less
knowledgeable, and thus less able to contribute to any subsequent work undertaken by the team.
My experience is that attendance is more likely when it is required. Although I shall not
unilaterally impose an attendance policy, I strongly recommend that YOU vote to have me
require attendance. There are two reasons for this: (a) it is an easy way to earn 10% of your
grade, and (b) it gives you greater assurance that your team members (whom your instructor, not
you, chooses) will be reliable and knowledgeable. During the first week of classes you will be
provided a ballot to vote for or against the following method of grading class attendance:
How it (if voted for) will be graded: Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class.
"Attendance" refers to a student's presence in class during an entire class period. Each student is
allowed one unexcused absence. (Absence-excuses must be in writing and "may" be accepted at
the instructor's discretion.) Final grades are reduced by one percent for each additional class
missed up to a maximum of ten percent. Depending on the outcome of this vote, final grades
will be calculated according to one of the following two methods:
FINAL GRADE
Term paper
Notes
Position paper
Presentations
One-minute syntheses
Attendance
30%
30%
10%
10%
10%
10%
OR
Term paper
Notes
Position paper
Presentations
One-minute syntheses
(Final grades will be given with +'s and –'s, not in whole letter grades.)
35%
30%
15%
10%
10%