SC 101 Joss Whedon Productions

Course Details

  • Course title: SC 101 Joss Whedon Productions
  • Catalog course description: Joss Whedon has played a part in the creation of two Avengers movies, the original Toy Story, and TV shows such as Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. His shows are known for playing out difficult cultural issues in fantasy-world settings. Real problems people face become literal monsters in his shows. We will critically examine how Joss Whedon’s work applies to the metaphorical monsters in our own lives. Topics include gender roles, addiction, class, sexuality, bereavement, family, relationships, and how we find our own place in society. CRITTHNK, WRITCOM. Four credits.
  • Course level student learning objectives (SLOs).
    • Get introduced to college (academic resource center, career services department, library, study abroad, counseling services, mentors in violence, student activities, and more)
    • Learn to write at a college level. Express your idea, create a thesis, edit and correct for grammar, provide evidence to support claims, and structure your writing in a logical fashion.
    • Learn to think critically
  • Textbook: None

Instructor

Schedule

Class meets Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm.

Academic Calendar

Fall Semester 2020 Date
Classes Begin Aug-24
Convocation Aug-26
Last Day to Add/Drop Aug-28
Labor Day: Regular class day Sep-07
Midterm Oct-08
Last Day to Withdraw Oct-28
Thanksgiving Break Nov 25-27
Last day of class Nov-30
College Reading Day Dec-01
Final Exam Week Dec 02-04

Daily class schedule: https://whedon-sc101.readthedocs.io/en/latest/schedule.html

Student Assessment

Grading

Grades will be calculated on a percent scale. The percentage is calculated by total points earned, divided by total points possible. If there is an attendance penalty, then that is subtracted next.

Danger

Simpson’s Scholar/Moodle site shows can show the wrong grade, for the two reasons below.

  • Scholar will not show any attendance penalty. You can look up your attendance on Scholar.
  • If there is a missing grade that hasn’t been set at zero, then Scholar will not show that in the average. For example, if there are 10 assignments, each worth 100 points, but one is missing, Scholar will show your average as 100 instead of 90. I do try to go back and enter zero on missing assignments so Scholar shows the correct grade, but sometimes that isn’t practical.

If you want to calculate your grade, total up your points, divide by the total possible. Then take into account any attendance policy penalty. See the attendance policy.

Appealing an assignment grade: Please do this within a week or two of the grade being posted. Please regularly check for missing assignment grades. After final grades are posted, I’ll only re-examine assignments turned in during finals. I’m not going back to look at early assignments. Turning in tech assignments can be more complex than turning in a paper, so it is critical to notice right away if you are missing a piece.

Appealing your final grade: If you believe your final grade is in error, please go through the effort of calculating the grade yourself. Total up points earned and the total points possible. Calculate the percentage. Check your attendance. Include that information when contacting the instructor.

Grading Scale

Grades are not rounded. For example, 92.99% is considered an A-, and 93.00% is an A.

Percent Grade
100-93% A
92-90% A-
89-87% B+
86-83% B
82-80% B-
79-77% C+
76-73% C
72-70% C-
69-67% D+
66-63% D
62-60% D-
59-0% F

Late-Work/Make-up Work Policy

  • All work must be turned in on-time.
  • Late work is usually not accepted, unless approved ahead of time by the instructor. (If it is just a few minutes or hours late, you might be ok. Depends on when I check.)
  • All work must be turned in by the end of the time scheduled for the class final. No extensions beyond this date/time are given unless you have a form filled out and signed for an “incomplete.”
  • Extra-credit / make up work is not offered.
  • If you need to use the lab for doing work, make sure to understand when the lab is open. The McNeill lab is usually closed on Sunday nights, and if an assignments is due Monday morning that can be bad. Not knowing when the lab is open is not accepted as an excuse.

Attendance/Participation Policy

A student may miss three classes unexcused without penalty. After three unexcused absences, a student’s final grade will be lowered 3% for each class missed, not including the original three. So missing five classes will be a 6% penalty on the final grade.

Excused absences are those approved by the Academic Dean, or by prior permission of the instructor. Absences for sporting event functions are normally run through Dean’s office. E-mail me that you will be gone so that I can check you off as excused.

Danger

To be counted as attending class, the student must be present when the instructor takes attendance. Showing up to class 10 minutes late does not count towards attendance. Therefore continually showing up to class late can really hurt a student’s grade. If a student leaving class early with prior permission will be counted as absent.

COVID-19: Absences due to Covid-19 are excused, but you need to let me know, along with health services.

Assignments

Assignments are listed here: https://whedon-sc101.readthedocs.io/en/latest/#assignments

Course Assessment

Engaged Citizenship

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking courses develop the lifelong intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information that is used to guide beliefs and actions. This skill helps with the ability to make sound arguments based on adequate evidence and to rationally examine and assess one’s own arguments and those of others.

Through completion of a CT course, students should be able to

  • draw conclusions by analyzing information critically
  • generate and articulate an argument supported by appropriate evidence
  • evaluate arguments for validity, bias, unchecked assumptions and/or other appropriate criteria
  • describe the effect of one’s experiences on the development of critical thinking skills

These objectives will be met through the following assignments and activities: _____ .

Syllabus grid template for CT

A student who completes a CT course will be able to …

Student Learning Objective (SLO) Class activities directly relating to this SLO Student work to be evaluated for this SLO
CT SLO1. draw conclusions by analyzing information critically Class writing activities Final paper
CT SLO2. generate and articulate an argument supported by appropriate evidence Class writing activities Final paper
CT SLO3. evaluate arguments for validity, bias, unchecked assumptions and/or other appropriate criteria Class writing activities Final paper
CT SLO4. describe the effect of one’s experiences on the development of critical thinking skills Class writing activities Final paper

Written Communication (WC)

Written communication is the ability to communicate successfully via handwritten, printed, or electronic text.

Writing is an essential skill that students need in order to comprehend, analyze, and synthesize a variety of texts in a variety of disciplines. In college, students will learn to write in multiple contexts: in the Simpson Colloquiums, in general education courses, in courses for their majors, and in elective courses. Effective writing is also a skill they will find indispensable in their professional lives beyond the undergraduate academic setting.

Engaged citizens rely on strong writing skills, whether they are exploring and developing their own ideas, responding fairly and responsibly to the ideas and perspectives of others, or crafting the polished, compelling and persuasive expression so often necessary to shaping and creating a diverse and just community.

A student who completes a WC course will be able to…

Student Learning Objective (SLO) Class activities directly relating to this SLO Student work to be evaluated for this SLO
WC SLO1. articulate an idea and formulate a thesis as appropriate to the discipline Class writing activities Final paper
WC SLO2. identify and correct errors in grammar and/or style in written communication Class writing activities Students review each other’s final paper draft and turn in a marked-up copy
WC SLO3. provide credible evidence to support claims and arguments in written communication Class writing activities Final paper
WC SLO4. organize thoughts in a logical fashion in written communication Class writing activities Final paper

SC 101 Contact Time

TBD

Policies and Procedures

Course Continuity Plan

Should the normal instructional activity on the campus be shortened or interrupted by a campus-wide closing, students will receive information from the instructor or other representative of the college about when and if the course might be continued or completed via Internet, telephone, or United States mail.

Academic Integrity

Simpson’s Statement: In all endeavors, Simpson College expects its students to adhere to the strictest standards of honesty and integrity. In keeping with the College’s mission to develop the student’s critical intellectual skills, while fostering personal integrity and moral responsibility, each student is expected to abide by the Simpson College rules for academic integrity. Academic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to) any form of cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, misreporting any absence as college-sponsored or college-sanctioned, submitting a paper written in whole or in part by someone else, or submitting a paper that was previously submitted in whole or in substantial part for another class without prior permission. If the student has any questions about whether any action would constitute academic dishonesty, it is imperative that he or she consult the instructor before taking the action. All cases of substantiated academic dishonesty must be reported to the student’s academic advisor and the Dean for Academic Affairs. For further guidance on these rules and their sanctions, please see the college catalog.

My addition: Students are strongly encouraged to work with one another on homework; however, blatant copying of assignments will be considered cheating.

If I get two assignments that are the same thing, both people will get zeros. Guard your homework carefully, so it is not used as a source for cheating. Don’t e-mail it to a friend so they can ‘use it to learn’ or ‘as a template’. Don’t allow someone to simply read off what you have on your computer screen. By allowing someone to cheat, that will allow the person to get behind in what they understand, and they will never catch up.

A student caught cheating will either get a zero for the assignment, have his/her over-all letter grade reduced, or be flunked from the course. Cheating students may be required to do extra work.

The instructor keeps a database of prior assignments and assignments commonly found on the Internet. The instructor will periodically run scans to look for duplicate assignments. We catch students cheating every. single. year. Don’t do it.

Regardless, cheating is like paying for a gym membership, and then sending someone else to work out for you. It doesn’t make sense. You aren’t going to get stronger that way.

Accommodations for Students with Accessibility Needs

I want everyone in this class to be successful. If you have a physical, sensory, learning, or psychological disability that can interfere with your learning, I want you to receive the accommodations to which you are entitled by law. In order for me to do provide accommodations to a student, the student’s disability must be documented with the Student Accessibility Office. I cannot assist a student with accommodations that I don’t know are needed, so if you need something, please make sure that you either contact me or that you ask Simpson’s Student Accessibility Coordinator, to do so on your behalf. If you have any further questions on the policies and services for students with disabilities, please refer to the academic catalog or go to http://simpson.edu/academics/student-accessibility/

Inclusive Explanation Statement

In this course, each voice in the classroom has something of value to contribute. Please take care to respect the different experiences, beliefs, and values expressed by students and staff involved in this course. We support Simpson’s commitment to diversity, and welcome individuals of all ages, backgrounds, citizenships, disabilities, sex, education, ethnicities, family statuses, genders, gender identities, geographical locations, languages, military experience, political views, races, religions, sexual orientations, socioeconomic statuses, and work experiences.

Sexual and Relationship Misconduct

Simpson College strives to create an environment free from sexual or relationship misconduct of any kind; and in which those who have experienced sexual misconduct get the help and support they need. Simpson’s Sexual and Relationship Misconduct Policy outlines expectations the college has students and employees, including faculty. In order to do all that we can to maintain a safe campus community, and in compliance with Federal law, all employees of the college are expected to report knowledge of alleged sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator. Therefore, if you reveal to me, in conversation, writing, class discussion, or in any other manner, that you have experienced sexual misconduct it is my obligation to share that information with the Title IX Coordinator on our campus. Please know that if this is a step that needs to be taken, I will do my best to involve you in that process so that you know what to expect as a result of the communication with the Title IX Coordinator. To learn more about the expectations the college has of you with respect to sexual misconduct, you can find the full policy here:

http://simpson.edu/sexual-and-relationship-misconduct-policy/

Special Covid Additions

Thanks to COVID here are some additional elements:

Wearing Facial Coverings in Classrooms is Required

To help mitigate the transmission of COVID-19, it is required that all students, faculty, and staff wear masks in classrooms, laboratories, and other similar spaces where in-person instruction occurs. This requirement is for all individuals regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status. The masks must cover both nose and mouth and be worn for the duration of class. Consumption of food or drink will not be allowed inside classroom spaces. Mask requirements (both within the classroom and inside campus buildings) will be linked to Simpson College COVID-19 Color Phases and will be evaluated frequently. Please note that Color Phases are heavily influenced by the vaccination rate on campus. You can find more information at COVID-19 Plan. Non-compliance regarding masks may result in students being asked to leave the class, disciplinary action from the academic dean, or failure of the class as outlined in the Student Handbook Standards of Classroom Behavior.

COVID-19 Health-Relates Class Absences

Please evaluate your own health status daily and refrain from attending class if you are ill. Students who miss class due to illness will be given opportunities to access course materials and will not be penalized for not attending class in person. Please work with instructors to either reschedule or electronically/remotely complete exams, labs, and other academic activities as you are able. You are encouraged to seek appropriate medical attention for treatment of illness. In the event of contagious illness, please do not come to class or to campus to turn in work. Notify me by email about your absence as soon as practical so that accommodations can be made. Please note that documentation (a doctor’s note) for medical excuses is NOT required.

Additional Contingency Plans

Should the normal instructional activity on the campus be shortened or interrupted by a campus-wide closing, students will receive information from the instructor or other representative of the college about when and if the course might be continued or completed remotely.

Recording Policy

Recording: Class meetings may be recorded by the instructor for student use. To respect the class community, there shall be no other audio or video recording of class activities and no sharing or disseminating recordings or images (including screen shots) of class activities without the permission of the instructor and other members of the class.