Grading Procedure and Requirements for Literature Classes
1.	Quiz grades: This is largely a discussion class. To enable discussion to be active and meaningful, however, it is necessary that everyone read a book before we begin to examine it. One of the course procedures, therefore, is to give a short quiz prior to the discussion of a book, play, group of short stories, or essays. These quizzes require a close reading of the book to have all characters and incidents firmly in mind, but they do not require interpretation of an event’s or character’s significance or meaning. The quizzes are corrected in class and are used as a take-off for later discussions on significance since items are chosen for their relevance to a writer’s important themes and ideas. A quiz thus becomes an instant study guide for rereading a book with increased awareness. A student is allowed to drop the lowest quiz grade. Because one quiz grade may be dropped, no make-ups are allowed for quizzes missed. Quizzes usually begin around the second week of the course to allow time for presentation of introductory material and/or sample run-through of some shorter pieces of literature to show the procedure we will follow. If you are not prepared to take a quiz, attend the class anyway and simply copy quiz answers and questions without turning them in, since using them as a guide will speed up your reading and understanding of the material.
2.	Mid-Term format: The mid-term roughly covers the first half of the course. The Mid-term is an identification-significance type of exam. An excerpt from each book discussed in class is given to the student, and he/she is asked to:
	A.	Identify which book or short story, or play it is from by author and title.
	B.	Identify what incident the excerpt describes, identifying all characters by name and function in the story and giving generally the who, what, when, and where pertaining to the incident.
	C.	Discuss the excerpt in terms of relevant themes or ideas it presents in the story
	D.	Discuss the stylistic qualities that help identify the excerpt as being the identified writer’s product.
		The mid-term is graded (6 points possible for each excerpt) on a competitive scale based on total class performance. Note: the test format will be further explained in class prior to the exam. (The mid-term counts as 3 grades.)
3.	An outside paper: The paper must be in analytical form and cover an author from the time period studied. See handouts on paper assignment choices and format. The book choice must relate to the class focus and should be somewhat challenging to you. Ask if you are not sure if a choice is appropriate or acceptable. (The outside paper counts as 3 grades.)
4.	Optional final: It is the same format as the mid-term but covers only the last half of the course. The optional final will count as 3 grades. If a student has a borderline grade and would like to try for a higher grade, he/she may elect to take the final. Don’t elect to take the final unless you are well prepared.
5.	Attendance: The single factor that correlates most closely with grades in this class is attendance. ATTENDANCE WILL BE GRADED. Anyone missing than 10 class sessions will no longer be eligible for a grade in the class. Any student who misses the first week of orientation for this class will not be eligible for a grade in the class and will be advised to drop it and retake it another quarter. (Note: A student can arrange to have the class taped in emergencies to retain his/her attendance. All arrangements are solely the responsibility of the student. The student must notify the instructor prior to the absence covered.) The format of the mid-term and final gives a decided advantage to the student who has attended all classes. If a good student entering the class with a high level of critical awareness does not attend class, he will find that he cannot complete with the equally accomplished students who have attended. Attendance can make as much as an entire grade’s difference in the final analysis. Attend class even for the quiz that you drop, since you will never be penalized for being present, and will always miss something if you aren’t. If you do not like to attend classes regularly or have difficulty doing so, it is strongly recommended that you drop this class and take another where attendance is not as important.
6.	Minimal grade requirements: A student must take the mid-term and turn in an outside paper to receive a grade in the course. If any of the above are missing, he/she will receive an NC in the course. If only one is missing, he/she is eligible for an Incomplete if he contracts for one before the final week of the class. A student cannot expect private tutoring from the teacher to make up an Incomplete. If he cannot do the missing work on his own, it is recommended that he drop the class before the drop deadline and receive a “W.” Since a teacher normally does not teach the same literature course more than once a year, it is not possible for a student to sit in on the class the following quarter. We discourage incompletes except in emergency situations since most transfer institutions require that they be removed, and it is difficult to come back to material after a lapse of time and when new classes are demanding one’s attention. Incompletes must be made up the quarter after they are given.