More on Grading

You will see in the extended list of readings that there are assignments called web searches. These are opportunities for you to bring helpful, legitimate information into class discussion. We'll talk more. More on Grading: On the final sheet of this syllabus, you'll find a score sheet so you can keep track of your points, as I do.Specific assignments earn points based on their nature, not on some arbitrary allotment.So, for example, quizzes may have different numbers of points.

Class attendance and participation:Regular attendance is highly encouraged, and you earn points toward your 15% for each class you attend. In addition, participation is highly encouraged and rewarded. The classroom, believe it or not, is a relatively safe space for trying out your ideas, testing and training your ability to argue, practicing your presentation skills, making your mark on the class.You will earn points toward your 15% for valuable participation -- i.e., comments or questioning or analysis that move us forward in our understanding and ability to deal with ethics problems. I will challenge you to explain your answers, and I'll encourage others in the class to challenge you as well. I also cold-call, so be prepared! Note: Valuable participation is not the same as the right answer.

Presentations: In teams of three, you will choose a class period in which you will give us a 20 minute report on a topic relevant to the unit we're studying. These reports/presentations might involve reading a book, doing web research, putting together statistics and interpretations, making a company analysis, or any number of other things. More on this shortly, but NOTE that the first presentation is about CEO compensation and the issues surrounding it, so that might give you a hint in advance.

Quizzes: There are 10 short quizzes scheduled. I don't allow make-ups, but you can drop your lowest grade. Quizzes might cover anything dealt with in class or in readings for the previous few classes and/or the assigned readings for the day of the quiz. Quizzes may ask you to apply what you have learned so far to a specific short case or incident, or they may take other forms.

Final exam: A comprehensive in-class exam will be given during exam week.