Course evaluation (mine)

You’ll get up to five points extra credit for completing a course evaluation survey (point total out of 5 based on percent of class completing it), which I will post the last week of class (finals week). So, 100% = 5 points, 80-99% = 4 points, etc. 

Responses are confidential—I just see that you’ve completed the survey, not what your responses are. I don’t look at these until after grades are submitted–I do this to see how you are doing, and how you think I am doing. I encourage you to complete the University’s evaluation as well (accessible from Canvas). Feedback is really the best way for profs to know what’s working and what isn’t.

I will send the link to complete this (in Google Forms) on Tuesday of finals week, and you will have until Friday midnight (March 20) to do so. 

Participation in class discussion

On days where at least half of the class participates in discussion, I’ll add a point to students’ scores, up to 15 points. I’m doing this because it is a sure way to engage everyone in the conversation and can lead to a qualitatively different kind of learning.

Taking notes on films

We will watch 2-3 full-length films in class–the three most likely suspects are Don’t Look Up, Wag the Dog and Thank you for Smoking. Each addresses propaganda, media and politics (but they are not documentaries). Notes should be handwritten, preferably in some sort of composition book (available from the bookstore). Up to 10 points possible, based on evidence and completeness of effort.

So . . . 5 / 15 / 10 points possible, 30 total . . . let’s see how you do.