There will be FOUR scheduled challenges worth 40 pts. each.  Challenges engage students in exploration of ideas involving material from lectures, discussions, readings, films, and independent investigation.  They may take various forms ranging from in-class quizzes and essay responses to take-home essays and brief projects.  Except in the instance of a pre-arranged excused absence or emergency situations, missed challenges cannot be made up and late challenges will not be accepted.  In the case of an emergency and students are unable to give prior notice of absence, they are required to contact the instructor within 24 hours.  Students may make contact by e-mail or office phone. 

OUTLINE/DISCUSSANT:  (1 @ 20 pts.)

Each student will be responsible for presenting/facilitating a discussion of one of the articles from Footprints.  In preparation, the selected students should submit the following items to the instructor on the day of the discussion: 

a) a detailed, typed outline of the reading
             (approximately two pages)

b) a brief “main points/ideas” outline
             (less than ½ page)

c) two typed discussion questions to use in class
             discussion

d) typed, informed and thoughtful responses to the
    questions posed at the beginning of your
    assigned article

If students are absent the day they have been assigned to present the reading, they will not receive another opportunity.

 WRITTEN RESPONSES: (11 [drop lowest] @ 10 pts. = 100 pts.)

Students will be asked to respond to or answer questions concerning course material including lectures, readings, and films or to respond to a question about related topics.  The purpose of written responses is to encourage attendance and preparation, to provide practice for writing skills, and to develop and apply a sociological imagination to students' personal experience and to local, national, and international events.  Written responses should reflect a thorough understanding of the course materials and a sociological perspective.  Responses will be evaluated on the degree of thoughtfulness, accuracy and effort.  Each written response is worth 10 points.  As with challenges, except in the instance of a pre-arranged excused absence or emergency situations, missed challenges cannot be made up and late challenges will not be accepted.  In the case of an emergency and students are unable to give prior notice of absence, they are required to contact the instructor within 24 hours.  Students may make contact by e-mail or office phone.  

NOTE: These responses comprise much of your total grade and you must attend class to participate!

Total points for the class: 280 pts.