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HOW TO MAKE A GOOD GRADE IN
PHI 335
At my request, you have written the following in your notes:
"My grade will not be determined by my assessment of what I get
out of the course."
"My grade will be determined by how well I perform the course
requirements stated in the syllabus and absolutely nothing else."
In some students' minds, PHI 335 is divided into two separate,
unrelated parts: (1) the course activities and discussions that support
them in achieving the promise of the course,* and (2) the grading process
by which their academic success is determined. This is a
misunderstanding. Each part of the course is structured to support every
other part. The exercises and the reading, for instance, have much in
common. Most often, someone who does well on one will do well on the
other.
You must earn your grade in PHI 335 as you would in any other course,
by studying, thinking, and engaging. My determination of your grade will
be unrelated to personal considerations, including whether I think you
got the promise of the course,* or whether I understand why you
did or did not do well on the requirements as stated in the syllabus.
The best way to make a good grade is to have a plan from the
beginning and stick to it throughout the term.
According to the syllabus, you can earn points toward your grade in
the following areas. To be certain that you earn enough points to
achieve the grade you desire, adhere to the guideline below each area.
ATTENDANCE 25%:
Come to class. If you do, your 5-point bonus is equivalent to
one-half grade (e.g., B instead of C+).
FINAL EXAMINATION 40%:
Read regularly, according to a schedule you have set for yourself,
or use the reading program I have suggested in the course schedule.
The final will cover only the contents of the texts. The single,
most prevalent reason for bad grades in PHI 335 is doing badly on the
final examination.
PAPER AND AGREEMENT 5% each
(1) Write the paper. It is not required, but it counts five points, or
half a grade, and without it you cannot make a grade higher than B in
the course. (2) Write the agreement. Not writing it will cost you half a grade, and
without it you cannot make a grade higher than C+ in the course. (3)
Get them in on time (see syllabus for due date and time). If you
decide not to turn in these two assignments and your grade is not what
you and I would want it to be, I may feel bad, but I will still record
that grade. I will not alter the course requirements because you were
irresponsible.
PARTICIPATION 25%
Participate fully and observably. Sometimes, when the
course is over, a student decides, in spite a lack of evidence to
support it, that he or she was a 100% player from the very first night.
A few people who do the agreements and paper poorly or not at all, who
make low scores on the final exam, or who are absent from class, still
when their grade does not live up to their desires focus only on their
unsatisfactory participation score, possibly because it is the one that
seems to be in my hands. The way to achieve a high participation score
is to enroll me in your being a great player. At the end of the course,
your opinion about what player score you deserve, no matter how strongly
you hold it, will have no effect in the grading process.
Ernie Williams
* The promise of the course will be explained the first night of
class.
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