Rules for Discussion

As part of the “great books” curriculum, this class will function primarily as a seminar. This requires that students take an active part in beginning, shaping and developing the content of the course. Thus, most class sessions will be structured broadly in terms of discussion of the texts that we are reading for the course. Remember, that attendance and participation count for 15% of your final grade, and your own efforts at leading discussion count for another 15% of your final grade. Hence, 30% of your final grade for this class is dependent upon the degree and significance of the discussion of the material.

What follows are some simple rules that we will use to help foster strong and meaningful discussion in the class. Every student must agree to abide by these rules. So, read them carefully and make sure you understand them fully.

1. Students must bring a copy of the reading to class in order to participate in the discussion.
1. Since discussion is text-based, it is essential that students come with the text.
2. If a student comes to class without their text they will be asked to leave and will not be allowed to return until they have the text.
2. Students must prepare (read and think carefully about) the reading in order to participate in the discussion.
1. Students who have not prepared adequately will be unable to offer textual support for their ideas and interpretations, and their responses to other students’ ideas and interpretations.
2. Remember that a great deal of this class is about how to read carefully and critically, and how to think about what you have read.
3. The schedule of readings may change over the course of the semester –so you should make sure that you keep abreast of the changes.
4. If a student is unprepared for discussion, they may be asked to leave the class.
3. Students must be able to support their ideas, interpretations, criticisms, and questions with evidence from the text.
1. It is permissible to make reference to evidence outside of the text –personal experience, contemporary events, etc.—but, only in support of ideas which themselves have originated or respond in some way to the text itself.
2. If you are responding to a comment or idea from another student, again, you must be able to make reference to the text for support.
4. Students must be respectful to one another during the discussion.
1. In interacting with one another it is essential to be respectful and considerate.
2. Do not use racial, sexual or ethnic slurs.
3. Students who are disrespectful or inconsiderate to others will be asked to leave the classroom, and may not be permitted to return.
5. While there are a number of possible interpretations, some interpretations are stronger or better than others.
1. The idea here is the learn together (and this includes the professor) –you should try not to “wed” yourself to a particular position, but be willing to change your mind if the evidence suggests that your interpretation is not as strong as an alternative interpretation.
2. Those interpretations that are more strongly supported by the text are stronger than other interpretations.
3. Part of our job here is to discover the best interpretation and understanding of the material that is possible.