February 26

New Class Policies
OK, we have some discussion going in the forum, so for now I am more or less going to keep Flex Time in place. But we need to keep that forum momentum. I know it's hard because often you'll go to the forum and there will be nothing new, but I am hoping we will all check the forum once a day, and add something--a new thread or a response. If people get to the forum and see new things then we're more likely to keep momentum going.

On the other hand, papers and peer revision continue to be a real problem, so here's the new policies:

• Late drafts will have one-half letter grade deducted from the final paper per day that the draft is late. This policy will not be enforced for those students who contact me ahead of time to ask for an extension.
• Failure to complete peer revision will also mean a one-half letter grade deduction from the final paper. Even if you did not have a chance to do a draft you can still comment on the drafts of others.
• Late final papers will have one-half letter grade deducted per day that the draft is late. This policy will not be enforced for those students who contact me ahead of time to ask for an extension.

I think these policies are reasonable, and they're similar to what you would face in a regular classroom as well. These policies go into effect IMMEDIATELY.

Choosing text to work with
Remember that this class is all about critical thinking. The only way to think critically, really, is to work with ideas. When you're choosing projects, and even more crucially, when you're choosing quotations, try to focus on ideas from the text--you're just going to get more mileage out of that.

Go to the forum and look for the thread "Ideas from these texts." Post either 1)a concept from Pollan or Drucker or Blackmore (ex: knowledge society) and/or 2)a quotation (or page reference) that defines or explains that concept. I'll get you started in the forum.

This thread will give you a good database of things to work with in paper three.

Blackmore et. al.
Continue to discuss Blackmroe in the forum, and then we'll use the above thread to start thinking about how we can put these essays into conversation. If people post their projects for paper three, we'll have something specific to comment on.

To Do for Next Class:

1. Rough drafts are due by Friday at 7pm. Drafts will be posted in the forum (details on Thu)--no need to email me a copy. If your draft isnot posted by then, it will affect your final grade for paper three.
2. Continue existing Blackmore discussion.
3. Contribute to "Ideas from these texts" thread.
4. Try to check the forum AT LEAST once every day.