SECTION OVERVIEW
Discussion section provides us with the opportunity to personally engage with the texts and with each other. Section work may include general discussion, small group work, presentations, and in-class writing. Your section grade will be determined by your attendance, contribution to in-class activities, and completion of individual assignments.

STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITIES:
In-Class--1) Attendance is mandatory and will be monitored. Missing more than two classes will result in an F for your section grade. 2) Discussion requires the active participation of everyone involved, both listening and speaking. This is the time to
try out ideas, both your own and others'. Your commitment to in-class activities will determine at least 50% of your section grade. 3) You are responsible for reading all of the assigned text(s) in advance of section and for bringing these texts with you to discussion.
Discussion "Opener"--Beginning the second week, 3 students will provide discussion openers for each class. You are required to construct one of these during the quarter. It must be typed, single-spaced, 1/2 page in length, and is due in lecture
on Tuesday of the week you are assigned. It should be a well thought out and sincere exploration addressing some aspect of the reading(s) for that week. It should focus on a specific passage or moment from the text, which you may quote briefly in your opener. You should then open up discussion of this passage by posing a provocative question, stating a problem, or proving a point. I will collect these in lecture, edit them, and hand out a single sheet of openers for discussion in section. You will then be asked to present your own opener to the class.

TA'S RESPONSIBILITIES:
As TA for this course, I'm here to: provide you with supplemental information regarding class business and course materials, answer questions about the class and texts when I can, refer you to other sources when necessary, serve as a facilitator and participant in discussion, be available for meetings outside class time, hand out and clarify assignments, grade and comment on papers, return papers to you in a timely fashion, and determine your overall course grade. However, the professor has ultimate responsibility for your grade and will verify my decision.

SECTION POLICIES:
Assignments--The assigned paper must be the proper length (8 pages), typed and double-spaced, with conventional margins and font size, and correct documentation of citations (MLA format). The paper is due . Late papers will lose 1/3 of a letter grade for every day late. You must complete all assignments to receive a passing grade.

Plagiarism--Representing the words or ideas of another author as one's own original work may result in failure for the paper, failure for the course, and ultimately expulsion from the University.

Messages--You should contact me by leaving a note in my mailbox (South Hall 2623), not at my office. Do.not call the English office, as they have more important things to do than take messages for TA's.
Please refer to the course syllabus for more information on class requirements.