All papers must be typed and double-spaced, with appropriate margins. If you are unaware of what that means, it means one-inch margins all around and a font size of 10-11, depending on the font style. Don't give me two or three inch margins and size 20 font. It will result in an "F", no questions asked; just do what you are supposed to do. No handwritten papers will be accepted. All papers must include appropriate footnotes (or endnotes) and bibliography associated with a formal research paper, in an acceptable and recognized form. Should you fail to include either appropriate footnotes (or endnotes) or bibliography, you will loose a minimum of one letter grade for each. If you are a History major, you must use Turabian. Failure to do so, will result in one letter grade off your grade. If you are not a History major, you may use the citation form appropriate to your discipline.

Do not tell me that your computer ate your disk or your dog ate your paper. You are adults and I expect you to be capable of acting as such. Make backups of your files. I will not accept "computer crashes" as an excuse for late papers.

I will not accept papers with bibliographies composed entirely (or mostly) of websites. You must go to the library and use actual books and journals. In a parapharase of Sturgeon's Law, 90% of what is on the Web is crap. Should you fail to do the basic research expected of you, you will receive an "F". Also, you may not use encyclopediae or similar resources. This is college, people, not junior high school. Use real books.

Plagiarism will not be tolerated. It will result in an "F" on your paper, an "F" for the course, and may result in your expulsion from the University, if I have anything to say about it. Avoid it as you would the plague!

I will give you a separate handout detailing Department Guidelines for grading written work.

Class participation will also count toward the determination of your grade. NO extra-credit work will be approved. Please, do not ask.

Grading scale: The grading scale will be the "plus-minus" scale which is standard across the University.

Attendance: Consistent attendance will represent 20% of your final grade. Failure to attend on a regular basis WILL materially affect your grade.

If there is any student who has need for test-taking or note-taking accommodation, please, feel free to come and discuss this with me.

Textbooks:

• N. Cantor The Civilization of the Middle Ages
  
• R. W. Southern. Western Society and the Church in the Middle Ages.
  

• Please begin reading the Cantor book. I will give you a list of reading assignments on Wednesday, if all goes well.

Last updated: Ides of August, 2005