Participation
Graduate courses are meant to advance knowledge, and successful learning requires active engagement of the student. Learning at the graduate level requires that you connect yourself with information and materials and actively participate in class. In addition to coming to class on time, class participation also includes critical thinking and in-depth discussions.

Homework
Homework will be assigned accordingly. They are used to reinforce concepts that we have gone over in class, and can be a guide to what material will be emphasized on the exams. It is a good idea to look through an assignment at the beginning of the week before it is due. In writing up the assigned questions, keep in mind that these are exercises to practice knowledge; they are not mini take-home tests. So, don’t agonize over any single particularly difficult question at the expense of others. Points will be taken off if the assignment is incomplete or carelessly done. Also, because solutions to assigned exercises will be discussed in class on the day that the homework is due, late homework CANNOT be accepted.

Exams
There will be two exams for this course. The midterm will cover material from the first section of the course, and the final will be comprehensive, although the focus will be on the second half. No make-up exams can be given except in the case of death in the family or dire documented medical emergencies. Any other reasons for a make-up exam would only be possible if prior consent from the instructor is obtained.

Course project
You are required to do a course project on a topic of interest that is related to or an extension of the topics covered in class. There will be a presentation period at the end of the semester. Three milestones, described below, are set throughout the semester for the course project.

(1) CP1: Research plan (20%)
This is due on 5/8 and should include a brief sketch of what you propose to study. You should include your research question(s), method of study, prediction(s) of results, and implication of the study. Relevant literature should also be included.

(2) CP2: Presentation (40%)
You will be given a presentation time slot on 6/5. During this time-slot, you are to highlight whatever significant findings you have found in your study. The style of presentation should be formal. You can use whatever media you please. You will be graded on both your presentation skills and audience response.

(3) CP3: Final report (40%)
This is due on 6/10 Tuesday. 10% of the grades will be deducted for each late day. It should be no more than a 20-paged, double-spaced, polished report incorporating all the comments you have gathered during your presentation. The report should follow a formal format, with at least seven sections—abstraalct, introduction & literature review, methods, results, discussion, conclusion, and references.

A note on collaboration
Students often find it helpful to form study groups with classmates to discuss the readings regularly. The course instructor encourages such cooperative study habits. However, each student must work independently in writing up his/her works.