Assignment and Grading Policy

Daily homework assignments will be given. In addition to reading the texts as outlined in the syllabus by the dates indicated, you will be asked to complete and turn in several pieces of written work. Each of these assignments are described briefly below to show how they complement one another in meeting our goals for the course.

1. You will be asked to keep a daily clipping journal for a one-week period during the term of all articles on AIDS or related topics that you can find in the New York Times and in a supplementary periodical of your choosing (see last page for suggestions). Your responsibility, with at least one other student in the class, is to report to the class a summary of your findings on how AIDS is being communicated through the public press. Some time each Thursday during the term will be devoted to these reports. Copies of the articles you find should be turned into your instructor so that they may be put into a reserve file in the library.

2. We will also periodically assign short writing tasks. These short papers should be type written and brought to class on the day assigned.

3. We have arranged to have several evening presentations during the term. Attendance at these events is required. Writing assignments will be given on these presentations and you will be held responsible for these in examinations. Evening film presentation on Jan. 22. AIDS Rochester presentation to be announced.

4. Term Research Project. Each of you will choose some specific aspect of the AIDS crisis to study in detail. By the end of the term you will produce a 15-page-minimum research paper that presents what you have learned. You must include both relevant scientific and humanistic materials in your report. You will be assigned to serve as an editor for one other student research project. We have designed several intermediate assignments to help you in this process. Each of these assignments are listed below.

a. Research Question (Jan. 20). This one-page paper describes a problem or project area that you wish to pursue. You should briefly describe your question, show how your project relates to the general AIDS epidemic, and show how scientific and humanistic perspectives might be incorporated into the project.


b. Library Research Workshop on Jan. 20. Instruction on searching the periodical indices. We will give a short assignment that will allow you to demonstrate your skills and begin research for your paper. This workshop will be very helpful in completing your term research project. Problem set due Jan. 26 by noon in Demerest 208


c. Thesis Statement/Bibliography (Feb 1). This annotated bibliography should contain no fewer than 25 periodical references and supporting books. The reference citations should conform to research paper format (see Gefvert). Annotations of one to three sentences should show the importance of the article to the project. You should write a 75-word abstract of your research question as it has been refined from 'assignment a' above and include it at the top of the bibliography on the first page.


d. First Submission. Your initial version will be due by 5:00pm Feb 16 to your student editor. We will devote class time on Feb 20 to discuss the drafts with your editor. After revising in light of these discussions, the edited submission will be due to your instructor by 5:00pm on Feb 23, Rosenberg 111. This is the first copy of your research paper that your instructors will be graded. This draft should also turn in your initial version, student editor's comments, and your responses to those comments.


Final Submission (Mar 15). This is the final version of your completed paper.


f. Student Editing Reports (as assigned). We will give you guidelines for editing student papers. Each editor will submit to their assigned author their constructive criticisms of the work at its current stage. The quality and thoroughness of the editor comments will be graded.

5. Comprehensive Examination (Mar 5). There will be a comprehensive in-class written examination that covers the readings, classroom presentations and evening presentations.

6. Student Presentations (Mar 12-17). The last few class meetings will be devoted to student presentations. Students will be grouped by related topic areas to present to the class the important issues raised by that topic area. Creative presentations that involve the entire class are encouraged.

7. AIDS in the Community Service/Learning Activity. Each student will be responsible for connecting some aspect of AIDS to the larger community. This may be with the HWS community or in the Geneva area. Students may contribute to AIDS education activities on or off campus; examine educational programs in the public school system; volunteer with local AIDS Rochester efforts; or other related activity. These activities must be approved in advance with one of the faclulty in this course before you undertake the project. We will be developing possible activities throughout the term and will keep you aprised. You will be graded based on the submission of a written report of your activites and on the time you spend (10 hr=A; 8 hr=B; 6 hr=C; 4 hr=D; <4=F)

GRADING AND ATTENDANCE POLICY

Attendance is required. Class meetings will involve extensive student participation. You must be present for this course to work. Please don't come if you are sick, but otherwise we expect you to come. Unexcused absences will reflect in a negative way on your grade. Homework assignments will be due periodically through the term. Homework, papers, the final examination, and class participation will contribute to your final grade in the way shown below.