2Responsibilities and AssessmentYou have two major responsibilities in this course: participating in seminar discussions, anddeveloping a research paper. Each of these responsibilities includes multiple components which willbe assessed separately.Participation(35%)1. Reading/responses (15%)This course requires a substantial amount of reading (roughly the equivalent of one academicmonograph per week). You are expected to read carefully and critically and to engage withthe reading, as much as possible, on its own terms. Whether youlikea reading or not ismuch less important, in an academic context, than the ideas you can get out of it or the workyou can do with it. Each week, you will be responsible for writing a one-paragraph commentthat connects the different readings and suggests topics or questions for discussion.2. Attendance/participation (20%)The course also requires regular attendance and active participation. Participating in seminarconversations means not only attending every class, but being both prepared for class – i.e.,having doneand thought aboutthe readings – and being willing to contribute to the discussion.On occasion it may also entail small-group assignments in class. If you find classroomparticipation daunting, or if you simply have little background in seminar-style courses, Iencourage you to meet with me during Office Hours as soon as possible.
