A     Comments in class demonstrate that you are doing the reading and come to class prepared to ask well-formulated and critical questions of the text and your peers.  This participation demonstrates your mastery of the material.  You are also able to listen to your peers and generate insightful and constructive responses to the debates that will ensue.  Your discussion skills reflect coherent and sophisticated reasoning.

B     Comments in class demonstrate that you are doing the reading and that you are able to process the main elements of the text.  You are able to generate satisfactory questions, but do not have “critical distance.”  You are also able to listen to the comments of your peers and respond with helpful feedback.  Whether you agree or disagree with your peers you are able to generate constructive questions with basic reasoning skills.

C     This grade will reflect students who have done the reading but have made no extra effort to step back and untangle difficulties, reflect, or question.  You might make infrequent comments or make frequent comments without relating them directly to the discussion at hand.  While a B grade will reflect a sound attempt at grasping the reading, a C grade reflects a shoddy and inadequate attempt to grasp the material or listen to others’ comments.

D     Students who do not do the reading will receive a D grade for participation.  This especially includes students who pretend to have done the reading and waste discussion time by commenting on material with which they are unfamiliar.  This also includes students who do not follow rules of respect and politeness with regard to opposing opinions.  (Please recognize that I understand that on occasion you will be prevented by some natural disaster from doing the reading.  This does not mean that you will receive a D grade, nor does it mean that you should not participate in the discussion.  In the event that you were unable to do the reading, please just let me know and I will take it into account.  I will respect the fact that you attempt to communicate with me.  I will also take this into account when leading the discussion.)