Bates College: CMS 285

Democracy and Crisis: Athens and America

Attendance: If you are healthy, attendance is mandatory.
If you miss more than one class without permission, obtained in advance from Professor Imber, you will lose one letter grade for each absence [i.e., an A becomes a B].
BUT!: If you are ill, go to the health center, get some medicine and a dean's excuse (i.e., do not bring your wretched virus into my classroom). If you suffer a personal or family misfortune that requires your immediate attention - Take care of business, and then talk to me. Examples of personal excuses for which I willingly grant attendance waivers: death and hospitalization. Examples of personal excuses for which I refuse attendance waivers: hangovers and homework or exams in some other course.
If you have a 100% attendance record you will receive 2.5 bonus points in your final grade (i.e., if your final grade is 87 ["B"] you will receive an 89 ["B+"].

You must participate regularly in this class to do well. Failure to participate regularly can result in a loss of up to 15 points on your final grade (i.e., a student who is receiving 100s on all his written assignments will receive a "B" for the course).
Participation means reading all the assignments, considering all the study guide questions, preparing a list of questions on material you didn't understand, sharing your ideas about what you have read in class responding to the ideas of others (especially ideas with which you disagree) with respect.

You will read and give one report on an article about topics in the course.
Your report should take no longer than 10 minutes to present to the class.
You will hand in a brief written analysis of the article before you give your report.
Your class report and written analysis should cover the following topics:
- Summary of the article - what was the author's thesis?
- Description of the article - how did the author prove his/her thesis?
- Your opinion about the article - what you liked/disliked about the article and why
- Your analysis of the article - what did the article prove and why?

Your will write four papers in this course. Do a word count on your final draft. It must be longer than 1450 words and shorter than 3050 words (excluding bibliography). Print the word count on the cover page of your paper.
You may rewrite any of the first three papers, only if you have received a grade of less than B-.
You must hand in two copies of your paper in class on the due date. [Do not email papers.]
No extensions will be granted that do not involve death or hospitalization.
You should review my standards for paper content and form before you hand in your papers.
Paper Schedule
- Paper 1 (Assignment): due Jan. 28, 2003 in class.
- Paper 2: (Assignment): due noon, Feb. 28, 2003, by email to Peter, hardcopy in Margaret's mailbox..
- Paper 3: due Mar. 18, 2003 in class.
- Paper 4: due Apr. 2, 2003 in class.
Paper Topics will be posted here. Stay tuned.

You will be assigned to a team which will give a group presentation to the class on one aspect of the USA Patriot Act.
- Your team must submit a written outline of their presentation when they give their presentation. This outline must identify each team member's contribution to the final presentation.
- Teams should arrange to meet with Professor Imber and Mr. Brann to discuss their presentation before they give it.
You will be assinged to a team which will prepare a "moot" exercise for the last week of class. Further description of the assignment will be posted here. Stay tuned.