How to do well in Wilson's class

• THINK; DOUBT; QUESTION; ANALYZE; EXERCISE YOUR INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY

• TAKE GOOD NOTES.
  • That does not mean a verbatim transcript.
  • Take down anything I put on the board, repeat, or otherwise call your attention to

• DO THE READINGS BEFORE THE CLASS IN WHICH THEY WILL BE DISCUSSED
  • Bring the texts to class, always.
  • Highlight major points, facts, and examples in your readings.

• PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN CLASS DISCUSSION:
  • ask questions
  • don't be afraid to voice your own ideas and to contribute to the breadth of the discussion from your own background
  • help make the classroom a true community of learning through active listening and engagement of others' ideas

• DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT BEING LATE FOR MY CLASS: habitual tardiness demonstrates disrespect for your peers, your professor, yourself, and the community of learning; it is not responsible adult behavior; don't do it.

• BUDGET AT LEAST TWO HOURS of prime reading/writing/study time OUT OF CLASS FOR EVERY HOUR IN CLASS AND ONE ADDITIONAL HOUR A WEEK for reviewing class notes and annotated/highlighted readings.
  • Summarize and organize
  • Come by my office hours for clarification on anything you don't understand

• FORM A STUDY GROUP.

• DON'T TRY SHORTCUTS, like Cliff's Notes, Monarch Notes, and such; they will not help you with close reading and critical analysis; they will not substitute for reading the text firsthand; they will not help you think for yourself; they frequently offer facile and romanticized interpretations; they are a waste of your money and time if you want to do well in this class.

• LET ME GET TO KNOW YOU
  • Come by my office hours at least once during the semester, even if you are not having serious problems with the material.
  • You should get to know at least one new professor every semester. You will need us to write letters of recommendation for you and sometimes to advise you in your academic programs.

• TAKE MY SYLLABUS SERIOUSLY. Do not try to see whether I mean business; I do.
  • Attendance and participation matter
  • Quizzes announced and unannounced matter
  • Don't miss an exam without prior negotiation; you won't be able to make it up
  • Good writing matters
  • Do not turn your paper in late; if you foresee a problem, negotiate with me beforehand.
  • Don't, don't, don't, plagiarize. If in doubt about what constitutes plagiarism, read the Brooklyn College Student Handbook. If you plagiarize and I catch it, you will automatically fail the paper/exam with a 0 and you will be reported to the Dean of Student Life.

   

• TAKE THE WRITING ASSIGNMENTS SERIOUSLY
  • If you don't understand the assignment, come and talk to me about it
  • Organize before you write
  • Seek help from the Writing Lab
  • Follow the guidelines posted on the website
  • Do your own work

• USE THE WEBSITE to check your class notes and announcements, to supplement your reading with visual materials, to replace your syllabus if you lose it, and to contact me.

*These guidelines taken in part from Professor K. Galinsky's website, University of Texas Classics Department