Syllabus

Evaluation

  1. Participation points: 30%. Includes daily quizzes, in-class writing, and contributions to small-group and class discussions.
    • Students will be assigned participation points as follows:
      • Correct answers on quizzes: 1 point each
      • In-class writing: 1–5 points, depending on quality
      • Participation in small-group discussions: 3 points
      • Thoughtful contributions to whole-class discussion and impromptu presentations: 3–10 points per day
      • Prepared presentation (1 per student at the end of the semester): 1–15 points, depending on quality.
    • Participation points may be deducted for missing class or for distracting behavior such as arriving late, having private conversations at inappropriate times, using electronic devices, wearing headphones, doing work for other classes, leaving early, etc.
    • I reserve the right to change the above point values or add or remove opportunities to gain or lose points. Any changes will be announced in class, by email, and/or on Blackboard.
    • Final participation grades will be assigned based on a total number of possible points which will be calculated at the end of the semester. Because it is highly unlikely that anyone will earn all of the possible points, grading will be flexible.
  2. Project: 40%. Each student will undertake a structured, semester-long investigation of a neighborhood using direct observation of field conditions, attendance at a community board or other local meeting, and online research. The project will include the following components:
    • Field observation (OBS): 25% of project grade
    • Demographic report (DEMO): 25% of project grade
    • Group presentation: 10% of project grade. You will join with a group of 4-5 students to present your work together. Presentations will be held at the end of the semester. Details will be announced.
    • Custom data report (CUST): 10% of project grade
    • Final report: Incorporating final essay and community meeting report: 30% of project grade

Submission deadlines: as shown in schedule. The final report will be submitted at the end of the semester. I may provide comments on your OBS and DEMO reports. I will expect you to incorporate changes based on these comments into the final report.

  1. Midterm: 10%. There will be a midterm exam held in class. Further details will be announced.
  2. Reading responses: 10%. Four times during the semester, each student will submit a written reading response on Blackboard by the beginning of class.
    • Responses must be 300-500 words in length, divided into logical paragraphs, and address the day’s question (which will be announced in class) by drawing on both the readings for that day and your own personal experience.
    • Students will sign up for days to prepare responses at the beginning of the semester.
  3. Walking tour and response: 10%. All students will participate in the class walking tour and prepare a response to the tour (for date, see schedule). Responses are due the class day after the tour, and there will be no regular reading response due on that day. The response must be 500-700 words in length. Further instructions will be provided on or before the day of the tour.

General Class Policies 

  1. Materials. You must acquire and bring to class an iClicker device which will be used to record in-class participation. Readings will be provided in advance in the form of photocopied handouts. You must bring two readings to class each day: the reading assigned for that day and the reading assigned for the previous day. There is no textbook to purchase.
  2. Devices. Electronic devices, including phones, laptops, tablets, and earphones may not be used or consulted during class except on days announced in advance by the instructor. Because of this restriction, the app version of iClicker may not be used in this class.
  3. Website. The syllabus, all readings, and assignments will be posted on the course website at UL3S19.COMMONS.GC.CUNY.EDU. To access the website you must create an account on the CUNY Commons.
  4. Email. I will email announcements and schedule changes directly to students. Announcements may also be posted on the course website, but email will be my primary mode of communication with you. Therefore, each student will need to provide me with at least one email address which you check regularly.
  5. Submissions and feedback. Unless otherwise specified, all assignments are due at the beginning of class both in hard copy and on Turnitin.  Grades and comments will be posted on Turnitin. If you do not submit in both hard copy and on Turnitin, you will not receive a grade. To submit to Turnitin, go to Turnitin.com, create an account if you do not have one, and enter class ID 20235734 and enrollment key “flaneur”. Emailed submissions are not accepted and will not be reviewed. If you are having trouble with Turnitin, bring your hard copy to class and try uploading again after class.
  6. Contacting me. If you have any questions about anything related to the class, please feel free to email me at [email protected]. I will normally reply to student email on weekday afternoons.
  7. Office hours. I am very happy to meet students in person; in fact, this is usually the best way to resolve issues. I am normally available Monday and Thursday afternoons from 2:30 to 4:00, but as I do not have an office at Hunter, it is necessary to email me or speak to me in class first to let me know you would like to meet. I can also find other times to meet if needed.
  8. Absences and latenesses.
    • This class regularly involves group teamwork. When you don’t come to class, you make it harder for your team to complete their in-class assignments. You also lose the opportunity to earn points. Up to 3 participation points may be deducted for each absence, but the greater loss from not attending class regularly comes from the missed opportunities to earn points.
    • The point system is designed to accommodate most students’ typical absence patterns (normally 2–3 classes each semester for such things as minor illnesses, appointments, transit delays, funerals, etc.). I will not accept documentation for such matters. Please be mindful of how many quality points you are losing each time you are absent or late and think carefully before taking a “personal day.”
    • I will consider granting make-up quality points if you are participating in a school activity or if you or a family member have an illness that takes you away from class for more than a day, but I will need documentation.
    • I will take attendance at the beginning of every class. After I have taken attendance, I will make available a tardy sign-in sheet, which I will collect 10 minutes after class has started. If you arrive in class late and do not sign the tardy sheet, or if you arrive more than 10 minutes late without notifying me, you will be counted absent.
    • Even though transportation in New York can be slow and unreliable, I must expect everyone to arrive on time; please build enough time into your commute to account for transit delays and cancellations. If you are physically able, consider using human-powered modes of transportation, such as bicycling or walking, for at least part of your commute, and build time for these into your schedule.
    • Tests and presentations can only be rescheduled in the case of documented illness or other emergency or attendance at a funeral that takes place the same week as the test or presentation. For non-emergency reasons, I will consider rescheduling only if you notify me at least a month in advance.
  1. Access and accommodations. In compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Hunter College is committed to ensuring educational access and accommodations for all its registered students. Hunter College’s students with disabilities and medical conditions are encouraged to register with the Office of AccessABILITY for assistance and accommodation. For information and appointments contact the Office of AccessABILITY, located in Room E1214, or call (212) 772-4857 or VRS (646) 755-3129.
  1. Grading policy. 

This course strives to adhere to the following standards for letter grades:

  • A: Excellent work that demonstrates full and insightful understanding and mastery of course concepts, with only minor errors or deficiencies
  • B: Very good work that demonstrates solid understanding and mastery of course concepts, often with at least one significant deficiency
  • C: Fair work that demonstrates partial understanding and mastery of course concepts and usually has at least one significant deficiency
  • D: Below-standard work that demonstrates only a basic level of understanding and mastery of course concepts and has major deficiencies
  • F: Work that demonstrates little or no understanding or mastery of course concepts.

The following final grades may be assigned for incomplete work:

  • WU (Unofficial withdrawal): This is the final grade that is normally assigned if one or more required assignments was not completed. Be aware that if you receive a grade of WU, you may retroactively lose financial aid eligibility. You must complete all assignments by the end of the semester to avoid a WU.
  • Incomplete: If you experience a serious problem such as a major illness, I may consider assigning an Incomplete grade. This grade can only be assigned if the student and instructor agree on a plan for completing the work. If think you need an incomplete, you must meet with me before the end of April so that we can decide whether an incomplete is appropriate and create such a plan. Otherwise, college regulations require that I assign a WU for unfinished work.
  1. Academic integrity and disclosure of sources.
    • Students will be held responsible for following CUNY’s policy on academic integrity at http://www2.cuny.edu/about/administration/offices/legal-affairs/policies-procedures/academic/integrity/policy/. Cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. You should be aware that Hunter College regards acts of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism, cheating on examinations, obtaining unfair advantage, and falsification of records and official documents) as serious offenses against the values of intellectual honesty. The College is committed to enforcing the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty according to the Hunter College Academic Integrity Procedures.
    • In work that you submit in this course, all information and images that you obtain from external sources must be disclosed and appropriately cited. This includes exact quotes, paraphrases, pictures, maps, charts, graphics, or any other information. For each source of information or image that you use, you must provide the author, title of the work, publisher, date, and URL. Exception: You do not need to provide citations on in-class writing such as exams.
  1. Late work.
    • Late assignments will be penalized 1/3 letter grade (e.g., A to A-, etc.) for each 24 hours that they are late. I will consider waiving this penalty in cases of a documented illness or in other extraordinary, documented, circumstances.
    • Late reading responses and walking tour responses will receive zero credit.

10. Hunter College Policy on Sexual Misconduct.

In compliance with the CUNY Policy on Sexual Misconduct, Hunter College reaffirms the prohibition of any sexual misconduct, which includes sexual violence, sexual harassment, and gender-based harassment retaliation against students, employees, or visitors, as well as certain intimate relationships. Students who have experienced any form of sexual violence on or off campus (including CUNY-sponsored trips and events) are entitled to the rights outlined in the Bill of Rights for Hunter College.

  • Sexual Violence: Students are strongly encouraged to immediately report the incident by calling 911, contacting NYPD Special Victims Division Hotline (646-610-7272) or their local police precinct, or contacting the College’s Public Safety Office (212-772-4444).
  • All Other Forms of Sexual Misconduct: Students are also encouraged to contact the College’s Title IX Campus Coordinator, Dean John Rose ([email protected] or 212-650-3262) or Colleen Barry ([email protected] or 212-772-4534) and seek complimentary services through the Counseling and Wellness Services Office, Hunter East 1123.
  • CUNY Policy on Sexual Misconduct Website: http://www.cuny.edu/about/administration/offices/la/Policy-on-Sexual-Misconduct-12-1-14-with-links.pdf