Overview & Policy

We are conducting this class in a Face-to-Face (Mask-to-Mask)/Hybrid mode of instruction. That is, we will attempt a traditional, in-person class of the sort that many students have expressed a desire to take. For some specific assignments  (e.g., the debate and presentation of the chatbot), class will be held synchronously and remotely. You will be notified in advance when those will be. However, the assumption is that class attendance is a student obligation and is essential to completion of the course.

Of course, you should not attend class if you are sick. That is always the case but is especially important given the pandemic. If you are not able to attend class because you are sick (or have another reason for an excused absence), then you should contact me as soon as is practicable. In addition, there are a few enrolled students who are not able to attend class. I will stream the class meetings synchronously to allow them to take the class remotely, but other students are expected to attend class unless they have an excused absence.

To maximize the safety and health of participating in the class, we will follow Carolina’s Community Standards. You have already signed a statement saying that you agree to follow those standards and you should be familiar with them. Here, I will only repeat those standards that are most central to this class.

• Wear a face mask in class and when entering or exiting the building.

This fall semester, while we are in the midst of a global pandemic, all enrolled students are required to wear a mask covering your mouth and nose at all times in our classroom. This requirement is to protect our educational community — your classmates and me – as we learn together. If you choose not to wear a mask, or wear it improperly, I will ask you to leave immediately, and I will submit a report to the Office of Student Conduct.  At that point you will be disenrolled from this course for the protection of our educational community. Students who have an authorized accommodation from Accessibility Resources and Service have an exception.  For additional information, see Carolina Together.

To repeat: If you do not wear a mask of wear one improperly you will be asked to leave immediately and will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct.

Information on how to wear a mask properly is given by the CDC.  The essential points are repeated below:

• • Wash your hands before putting on your mask
  • Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
  • Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face
  • Make sure you can breathe easily
  • CDC does not recommend use of masks or cloth masks for source control if they have an exhalation valve or vent

• Practice physical distancing. Sit in the designated seats in the classroom that maintain physical distance, but I ask you to sit as close to the front of the room as possible so as to facilitate communication.
• Wash your hands often and well.
• Clean and maintain the cleanliness of your desk, seat and their immediate surrounding.

Class meetings will be a combination of lecture and discussion/activity. Students will be expected to attend class prepared to discuss relevant topics and engage in planned activities. There will be an online tutorial about learning to program a Chatbot and a group project to create and present a Chatbot. There will also be a “debate” where groups of students will present different viewpoints. There will be 2 midterm exams and a final exam.

Note: Your grade is also affected by participation.

Grading of Participation

The participation grade will be based on a series of 10 short assignments in response to prompts. Your responses do not need to be long; a short paragraph is enough though if you have more to say you should say it. To get credit for a participation assignment, you must complete the written portion of the assignment by the specified time and you must attend class for discussion of the assignment. If assignments are missed because of an excused absence, then a makeup exercise will be assigned. No makeups will be assigned for unexcused absences. Participation assignments will be graded satisfactory (1 point), unsatisfactory (0 points) or in rare cases extraordinary (2 points). A total of 7 points will constitute satisfactory performance and will be counted as maintaining the grade level earned from the exams, final and other assignments. The final percentage score on which your grade is based will be increased by the number of participation points beyond the required 7 points or will be decreased by the number of participation points less than the required 7 points.

So, suppose your average on the exams, final and Chatbot assignments is 89.7%. If you earn exactly the number of required participation points then your score remains 89.7% and your grade for the course is B+ (see note on rounding below).  However, if you earn one extra participation point beyond the required number then your score becomes 90.7% and your grade for the course is A-.  Alternatively, if you earn three points less than the required number of participation points the your score becomes 86.7% and your course grade is B.

Late Paper Policy: Unexcused late papers will be marked down by a full letter grade for each calendar day that they are late. Unexcused late papers will not be accepted after two calendar days.

Goals of Assignments

• Higher Levels (create, evaluate, analyze): participation assignments, chatbot creation (Chatbot Project 1), debate
• Lower Levels (apply, understand, remember):  tests

Further Facts on Grading

Numerical Equivalents for Letter Grades on Assignments

A = 95
A- = 91
B+ = 88
B = 85
B- = 81
C+ = 78
C = 75
C- = 71
D+ = 68
D = 65
F = 50

The grading scale for the course is given below. Please note that no rounding is used in applying this scale (e.g., a score of 86.999 is less than 87 and therefore is a B).

A > 93
A- >=90 to 93
B+ >=87 to <90
B >= 84 to <87
B- >= 80 to <84
C+ >= 77 to <80
C >= 74 to <77
C- >= 70 to <74
D+ >= 67 to <70
D >= 60 to < 67
F < 60

Attendance: Regular class attendance is a student obligation and is essential to completion of the course.

Honor Code

The Honor Code is, as always, in effect in this course. The following explains what is expected from you in terms of meeting these standards. If you have any questions about these matters, please contact your instructor.

Pledge: The Instrument of Student Judicial Governance requires that you sign a pledge on all written work. (“On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this assignment.”). This includes the exams, projects and papers.