You will be evaluated by papers, exams, and participation. Improvement will mitigate any disastrous performance early in the course.

ESSAYS: You must write five essays (two-pages each, typed, double-spaced). For the first four essays, submit five copies of each of the first four (one original and four copies) during class on the day assigned in the syllabus (above). Distribute copies of each paper to your group of four other students, who will read and evaluate them on a peer evaluation form between thursday and tuesday. Your group will meet briefly tuesday to select the best essay for that group. For each top-rated essay your final grade will be raised one-fifth of a letter grade (.2 on a 4 point scale). The remaining essays for that week will receive two points credit on participation grade (see below), but they must be submitted (with copies) on time. No late papers are accepted, and two-thirds of a letter will be deducted from your final grade (for example, if you would have received a "B" for the course, you will receive a "C+") for each essay not submitted. Let me repeat, late papers detract heavily from your final grade. Excuses have to be overwhelming and documented. As the essay questions are in the syllabus, I cannot offhand think of a valid excuse for not submitting them on time.

Why should you work on these essays? This course is designed to help you think like an historian. And historians think on paper. Essays questions will help you ask and answer the types of questions that historians ask about documents and events. Also, exam essay questions will be based on questions for earlier, typed essays. Keep a copy of all essays. Bring stapled essays (and nothing else) to the exams. Essays may be and should be used for inspiration during the in-class mid-term and final exams. Stapled essays will be collected at the end of exams, so no extraneous material please.

I will also read and comment on most essays. I will occasionally note top essays (which, if not voted such by a group, will also receive additional credit [.2 as noted above]). I will grade the Revolutionaries as well as the French Revolution essay (5% each).

Exams: Purchase, sign, and turn in three exam books (15 cents each at the bookstore) by Sept. 12, to take the two in-class mid-terms (20% & 25%) and final (30%). Each mid-term will consist of: (1) short-answer questions, and/or map questions; (2) quote evaluation based on selections from Reilly, Readings; and (3) an essay based on readings discussed and your past essays (see above).

Participation: Contributions to discussion and peer evaluations are required (15%). [A curved participation grade is derived in large part from points for papers (2 each), peer evaluations (1 per set), discussion (1), in-class assignments and assigned discussion (2), minus missed discussions, etc.] There is an extra-credit essay on the final exam worth up to 5% of your total grade. Generally speaking, more than two absences will adversely affect your participation grade, two or less will not. As this is a participation grade, I tend not to countenance "excused absences." Of course, your grade as a whole will be lowered if your absences fall on the date of debates, peer evaluations (one-third of a letter off your final grade for each set not submitted on time), or exams. (There is, of course, no make-up for the final. Other make-ups will be at the professor's discretion.)