Syllabus

Assignments & Submitted Work

All assignments are posted in advance on the Blog. You are responsible for checking the Blog and making sure you understand what each assignment requires.

Formatting. Written work (apart from comments on the Blog) must have

• Standard 12-point fonts, such as Times or Calibri.
• Double-spacing.
• 1.25-inch margins.
• PDF formatting — no Word documents or other formats.
• Your name and date on the page.

Attendance

During the Fall 2020 semester, attendance will not be taken into account when determining your grade in this course. That said, students remain responsible for making up any missed work. If you have missed class or foresee missing class, please reach out to me to make arrangements for make-up work.

Please note that all class sessions will be recorded and stored on Ensemble for later reference.

Participation

Class participation involves more than just attendance or coming to class on time. Students must also, in line with the idea of a seminar, keep up with the readings and assignments,participate actively during all sessions, and maintain an environment that promotes the exchange of ideas.

Exemplary participation might involve

• Asking a specific question or making a specific comment about the reading.

• Building upon something that another person has already said.

• Making a specific comment about what you find useful or interesting about another person’s point.

• Asking a question or making a comment that encourages another person to elaborate upon their point.

• Making a comment that connects two points or two strands of our conversation.

• Disagreeing with what someone has said in a respectful and constructive manner.

Alternatively, poor participation might involve

• Listening inattentively.

• Repeating a point that someone else has made without adding anything new.

• Interrupting another person or speaking while someone else is talking.

• Making an off-topic comment.

• Using inappropriate language or speaking in a disrespectful or combative manner.

Video sharing note. While I would love to see everyone’s smiling visages, I understand that students may choose not to share video during our Zoom sessions. Even if your camera is off, I will expect you to contribute to discussion.

Laptops, Tablets & Phones

Given the COVID-19 pandemic, access to laptops and other devices will be essential for completing the course, as will access to the internet. If access will be difficult for you, please let your instructor know so that we can arrange assistance and workarounds.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to follow the Skidmore College Honor Code and code of conduct to the fullest extent. A maximum penalty will be recommended for all violations of the Honor Code.

Skidmore’s Academic Integrity Handbook (p. 6) defines plagiarism as “copying, paraphrasing, or imitating another person’s ideas, information, data, words, descriptions, choice of evidence, structure of argument, and so on.” It does not matter whether that person’s work appears in print or on the web. Cases of plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional, will be referred to the Office of Academic Advising for appropriate sanctions.

Accessibility

Any student who anticipates facing obstacles to their success in this course should seek assistance from the appropriate offices on campus and, where appropriate, from the instructors. If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need academic accommodation, you need to formally request accommodation from Meg Hegener, Coordinator of Student Access Services. You will also need to provide documentation which verifies the existence of a disability and supports your request.

Sexual & Gender-based Misconduct: Title IX Statement

Skidmore College considers sexual and gender-based misconduct to be one of the most serious violations of the values and standards of the College. Unwelcome sexual contact of any form is a violation of students’ personal integrity and their right to a safe environment and therefore violates Skidmore’s values. Sexual and gender-based misconduct is also prohibited by federal and state regulations.

Skidmore College faculty are committed to supporting our students and upholding gender equity laws as outlined by Title IX. If a student chooses to confide in a member of Skidmore’s faculty or staff regarding an issue of sexual or gender-based misconduct, that faculty or staff member is obligated to tell Skidmore’s Title IX Coordinator or Title IX Deputy Coordinator.

The Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Coordinator will assist the student in connecting with all possible resources for support and options for reporting both on and off campus. Identities and details will be shared only with those who need to know to support the student and to address the situation through the college’s processes. If the student wishes to confide in a confidential resource, the Counseling Center Staff, Health Services, and Victim Advocates (anonymous) are available — key contact information here.

Diversity & Inclusion

Skidmore College is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community in which members develop their abilities to live in a complex and interconnected world. Consistent with our educational mission, we recognize ourselves as a community that respects individual identities based on varying sociocultural characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, first language, religious and spiritual tradition, age, ability, socioeconomic status and learning style.

We strive to create a socially just world that honors the dignity and worth of each individual, and we seek to build a community centered on mutual respect and openness to ideas — one in which individuals value cultural and intellectual diversity and share the responsibility for creating a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment. We recognize that our community is most inclusive when all members participate to their full capacity in the spirited and sometimes challenging conversations that are at the center of the college’s educational mission.

Any student who experiences racism or another form of discrimination and bias should contact Cerri Banks, Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs, for support or file a bias incident report. Your instructors also stand ready and willing to listen and offer support.

Content Advisory

The material of earlier periods, to say nothing of modernity, can be violent and/or explicit. Please be prepared for words, images, and discussions that might make you or your peers uncomfortable. If you have concerns about our readings, viewings, or anything else, please bring them to the attention of your instructors.