delCarmen, Rolando, et al. (2005). The Death Penalty: Constitutional Issues, Commentaries and Case Briefs. LexisNexis. (ISBN: 1593452675)

Publisher's Website

Zimring, Franklin (2004). The Contradictions of American Capital Punishment. Oxford University Press. (ISBN: 0-19-517820-3)

Publisher's Website

Five journal entries are due, one at the end of each week. Journals are intended to be your own words. Cut-and-paste from web sites is not acceptable. Use this journal to provide comments on the readings, discussions, web sites, and other experiences. The total amount of writing should be 6 to 8 pages for each journal.

After you complete the assigned readings, sit back and think about what it all meant. Once you have an idea of what you want to say, start typing your journal, much of it off the top of your head. Whatever comes to mind. While I expect a certain amount of organization, the journals are not expected to be "term paper quality."

The journals should contain two separate parts:

The second section of your journal should include a 2 to 3 page summary in which you integrate the readings, class discussion, current events, other classes, and any other experiences. This should be labeled the "So What?" section.

My grading criteria is fairly simple. While reading the journal entries I ask three questions:

These journals are submitted in the cjcampus classroom. Remember that the cjcampus calendar and clock is ruthless and will not allow you to submit late assignments. Missed assignments are recorded as a zero. Please keep up with your assignments. Pace yourself. Do not wait till the last day of the week to complete your assignments.

Online Discussions: (40%)

Two discussion question will be posted each week. Instructions are included with the postings. In general, students will be expected to formulate a response to the discussion question and post at least two comments that refer to the responses of other students.

Participation and Engagement (10%)

This course will be better if you talk more and I talk less. I prefer not to dominate the discussion, so each of you will need to remain active throughout the course. You all have interesting ideas and viewpoints and we learn more by sharing and trying to understand various views. The assumption is that you will participate and remain engaged throughout the class. Daily participation is expected during summer sessions.

Note that this criteria includes participation and engagement. While we may be able to assess participation through a simple count of posts, we are also interested in active engagement throughout the course. Engagement is demonstrated by remaining active, submitting assignments on time, joining discussions, grading discussions, and helping each other create a vibrant learning environment.

Teaching Strategies

This course has been designed as an "online learning environment." You are all familiar with the dynamic of the classroom - the professor may lecture while students listen and occasionally interact. Most classrooms are designed as "teaching environments." Students may not be an integral part of a teaching environment and in some cases the class could be held even if no students were in attendance.

In contrast, the online learning environment requires student engagement. In fact, the environment fails to function if students are not engaged. As the professor, Dr. Mentor has designed this course and included materials that if consumed, will result in learning. Like the story of "leading a horse to water," this course environment is the water. To make it work, you must each "take a drink."

You are all expected to help each other. While your professor has knowledge about the subject matter, each student in this class also has knowledge that can help us learn. For example, if a student posts a question to the discussion forum we do not need to wait for an "official" response form the professor. Help each other learn as we make our way through the materials.

Deadlines are not suggestions. All written material will rapidly lose points in the days following the due date. Zero points will be awarded for missed assignments.

ADA

Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments is requested to speak directly to Disability Support Services and the instructor, as early in the semester (preferably within the first week) as possible. All discussions will remain confidential. Please contact Disability Support Services, DF Lowry Building, 910-521-6695. Please see http://www.uncp.edu/dss/ for more information.

Class withdrawal is your responsibility. If you disappear, we will wonder where you are. However, we will not drop you from the class. Withdrawals should follow University procedure. The student is responsible for obtaining all necessary signatures on drop slips.

A very high price can be paid when you are caught cheating. Too high to risk. All written material must be your own composition. Appropriate credit must be given for sources used in developing your ideas and arguments. Provide appropriate citations. It is easy to see when large sections of text have been lifted from other Web pages. This is quite easy to verify as well.

It is not appropriate to submit work that was originally completed for another course.

NOTE: The penalties for engaging in any of these acts of academic misconduct will be determined on a case-by-case basis, but will follow general university guidelines as to severity.

Classroom climate is not solely the Professor's responsibility. We encourage each of you to engage in conversation on any issue. The University is a place for free speech, limited through individual choice. These choices may be altered with awareness of the real or potential reaction of others. However, you should not be intimidated into keeping quiet. We do not condone racist, sexist, homophobic, or other hateful speech. You are all adults, capable of understanding generally accepted rules of conduct and modifying your behavior in an effort to comply with these social or legal expectations. You are responsible for your behavior.

If grades are made available online, be advised that if there is any error the grade you receive from the registrar is your official grade. Grade changes will be made only in cases of data or computation error. Please do not ask, beg, or otherwise attempt to change a properly computed grade.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

May 2008 - Kenneth Mentor