Your classes at High Point will be much more meaningful and insightful if you come to every class prepared to talk about the ideas developed in the reading assignments and ready to contribute and listen to class discussion. Obviously, you must be in class to participate in class discussion and to engage the ideas of other students. Your questions, insights, and opinions regarding the assigned readings and any of the course materials are encouraged and valued. 

I typically assign participation grades at two or three points in a course (as noted in the syllabus). Your grades will be awarded based on which of the following descriptions best fits you.

"A" students attend all of the classes they can (i.e., all seminars except those missed for illness, university-sanctioned activities, or situations they have discussed with their instructors). These students ask questions, listen carefully to the insights of other students, and actively participate in most seminars. Frequently, their comments reflect the fact that they have prepared for class by completing their reading assignments in advance of seminars. 

"B" students attend all of their classes, and closely follow seminar discussions. They are "active" listeners, whose body language and/or notetaking suggests full engagement in the seminar almost all of the time. Unlike "A" students, "B" students rarely talk in class or only make most general comments. It is frequently difficult to tell how well B students are preparing in advance for class; however, they fully participate in class exercises and are prepared when I have indicated in advance that a particular seminar meeting will require their full participation.

"C" students miss several classes in a term, rarely if ever participate in class discussion, and most days show almost no evidence of having prepared for seminars. These students are respectful towards other students, but through their body language, notetaking, and interaction with others, show little evidence of being engaged in the class. 

"D" students miss class frequently, zone off in most classes they do attend, and show no evidence of ever preparing for class. These students go to class to be counted, not to learn. Frequently checking phones for text messages and/or using the internet and/or your e-mail account during a seminar is taken as evidence that you are not in the classroom to learn.

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