Read Course and Grading Policies

Following are the Course and Grading Policies.

I've made this an "assignment" so I can be sure everyone has read this item.

Please enter as plain text as an assignment submission "I have read and understood the course policies," "Got it," or equivalent. Make sure to click "submit."

You are responsible for all information on this page. We will not use class time to review it.

While you're at it, make sure your time zone is set in Canvas as you wish (probably Pacific Time for this course), and upload a recent photo to your canvas profile -- makes it much easier for me to learn your name.

Due Dates and Assignments

Please look carefully at the list of assignments and record their due dates in your calendar (accounting for time zones). I have made the due dates either (a) the day and time I expect to start grading or (b) the day and time by which you need to do something to support class discussion or some other activity. If your work is not there when I go to grade it, or not there by the start of class in the case of (b), you will receive a zero. No exceptions other than documented illness. You can do essentially every assignment starting now...so there is no good excuse for submitting late. I do excuse absence from class for observance of a religious holiday. All assignments are posted, so if you will be out for  a religious holiday, you may simply complete the assignment at your convenience anytime prior to your absence. 

Bad Luck, Murphy's Law, and Amnesty

We all face unexpected challenges, lapses in memory, and bad luck. I do not excuse individual assignments, including attendance, except as noted. Instead, you may simply omit any single assignment (including missing a class) and we will treat it as if you received full credit. We do this after the course has ended and we do it automatically. This amnesty applies to any single assignment EXCEPT the final paper and the peer review of the final papers. If you do all the assignments, we will simply apply the amnesty policy to the assignment that would benefit you the most. (By the way, I hope you'll give me amnesty for at least one screw up on my part. For instance, I come directly from the airport to class at least once with a tight connection.)

Grading

• Your assignment scores should be available on this site under "Grades." If you believe that there is has been a grading error, you must notify the TA within 72 hours of the grade being posted. No changes in grades (e.g., for attendance errors) can be accommodated after that time.
• At the end of the course, I map your numerical score (a simple sum of points) to letter grades such that (a) the average grade is less than the Wharton graduate division constraint and (b) those who receive a grade of A (+/-) truly demonstrated professional-level competence in their work. By regulation, I must flag with an "LT"  those students in the bottom 10 percent of the ranking.

Attendance

Each session of this course is discussion-based and an essential part of the course. As a result, I simply make attending each session an assignment. That way you can assess the costs and benefits of attending class. I excuse absence only for religious holidays and documented illness or medical emergency. Attendance is defined as your being present with name tag in place at the start of each session and remaining for the duration of the session.

Classroom Behavior

• It is distracting to me to have laptop computers open when we are in class together. I understand that there are good arguments for allowing use of laptops in class. However, my informal observations are very consistent: Facebook and email are just too tempting for at least some members of a class. (Anyone who has sat in the back row of a class that allows laptops knows this.)
  
• I don't think you typically need to refer to documents in class, so I don't think you need a tablet computer open in class. If you are really discrete about it, and really need to refer to a document on a tablet to support our discussion, I am ok with that.
• Make sure your mobile devices are turned off and put away during class. If necessary, you may check them during breaks. (It is really obvious to me when you are txting under the desk, even in the last row. When you do it, I feel anxious because I fear class is not interesting. The class will be better if I'm not anxious.)
• I don't mind your consuming beverages or snacking discretely during class, although your classmates will probably appreciate your avoiding food with strong aromas (e.g., hongeo with a side of kimchi).
• If you really need more justification for my "no devices" policy, read this article by Clay Shirky.
• I find it very distracting to have you come in and out of the classroom during our time together. I suspect your classmates do as well. Please plan to be in your seats for the 80-minutes we are together between breaks.
• Lateness really annoys me and distracts your classmates. The administrative coordinator takes attendance at the precise start of class (e.g., 9:00am, 10:30am, or 1:30pm in most cases). Most of our sessions start at 9:00am, so I would appreciate your buffering your arrival to campus by 30 minutes or so in order to be sure you are seated and ready to go at 9:00.