You must have a laptop computer handy in class with you. It's a basic tool (like notebook and paper) for my class.

Get all work in on time.

All of our work for the semester is on the home page of the Canvas course, so it's very easy to keep track of it. This is your syllabus. Check it for the start and due dates of all assigned work.

You can also track all assigned work by setting Canvas "Notifications" by email, text and phone app to "Notify Immediately" on everything.

And/or just click on the course and see "Course Summary," "To Do," "Coming Up"

For quizzes, Canvas automatically saves your work throughout the period the assignment is open. So, you may open and reopen them repeatedly and work on them as slowly as you wish until the due date. Don't click "Submit" until you are sure you are done. You may work with other classmates on them.

Feedback on quizzes: 24 hours after the due date, you will be able to see your correct/incorrect responses and the answer key.

Attendance policy:

You are expected to attend class every day, to be punctual, and to not leave early.
From 1 to 5 minutes late, you're counted as tardy. (Leaving up to 5 minutes early counts that same way.)
5 or more minutes late, you're counted as absent. (Leaving more than 5 minutes early counts the same way)
A tardy is 75% of a presence
By Dec 9, the last day before finals exam week, if you have under an 88% for "Roll Call Attendance," 15 percentage points is subtracted from your course grade.
So, you can be absent from class 12% of the time, i.e., 5 class sessions (1 2/3 weeks of class), and not suffer this penalty, assuming you have no tardiness. This is a very reasonable attendance policy.
I make no distinction between excused and unexcused absences. All absences are treated equally. That way, I don't need to hear from anyone about why they are absent. There are plenty of permitted absences for athletic competitions, FPU-sanctioned events, personal matters, and individual preferences to skip.

Classroom engagement: Showing up and taking notes are forms of engagement that help you absorb lessons and do well on Class Review Questions. Also, we sometimes get "homework" done in class, so it can lessen your homework. Show an interest, ask questions, raise points, contribute to discussion in class. On occasion, I may give you extra points for your genuine engagement and participation. For all classroom sessions, on the home page, there's a OneNote notebook with bulleted items I cover in class.

Impressions on the instructor. Keep in mind that showing up, speaking up, and showing an interest are ways to impress an instructor and to get the benefit of the doubt when you need it.

Academic accommodations must be sought through the Center for Academic Excellence.

Extra credit is given at the discretion of the instructor and is not to be requested by students.

Course Goals: 1) FPU orientation: To introduce students to the academic resources and technology, career services, and campus community and activities of Franklin Pierce University; 2) Academic and career exploration: To have students think about their possible academic and career plans. 3) Scholarly inquiry: To introduce students to critical thinking about politics, especially issues of domestic and foreign affairs.