Expectations

• Each session begins with students coming into class and retrieving her/his name card, placed on desk; attendance will be taken in this way, and name cards will be returned at the end of class sessions. Name cards will also help us call on each other during discussions.
• “Preludes” will take the form of a creative work (art piece or music selection) opening the class session, during which you will take 5 or 10 minutes to write on the subject in your writer's notebook (creatively, personally, or analytically if you wish). The artistic selection will connect to the reading assignment(s) for that day. Exceptions to this format will occur when we have film/video screenings or when we have a special exercise planned for that day (see October 19, October 21, November 23, November 30, and December 2). The writer's notebook is for your own personal use, but you will be expected to produce it in class during preludes and other writing exercises.
• This course will be structured primarily around discussions. We will implement a style of discussion called “Rotating Chair.” Hence, whoever is the last to contribute to discussion is responsible for calling on the next speaker. In addition to discussions, we will from time to time alternate between creative in-class exercises, sometimes including writing exercises (so please bring to class your writer's notebook regularly) and brief lectures.
• You are expected to come to class with reading materials and to be prepared to discuss them. Due to the contents of this course, we will cover troubling issues at different points; as such, sensitivity is a must. If you engage in disruptive behavior (i.e., delivering insults, using vulgar expressions, doing work or having conversations not related to this class, not turning off cell phones, beepers and pagers, walking out without first excusing yourself from class, arriving late, or leaving early without first consulting me when this is unavoidable), then 3 such incidences = 1 unexcused absence. (Please see Attendance Policy under Class Participation .)

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