Calculated Fiction
syllabus
...the regular work of the program
and the requirements for receipt of credit

Seminar Papers
These are generally short pieces of writing in direct response to a program text in preparation for seminar.
These short critical reflections will be due at each seminar, on Tuesday in draft form, and on Thursday in a more polished and coherent form. Writing for seminar should not be summative of the text, nor should it quote abundantly—don’t write a book report! Instead, it should respond analytically to the text and pose questions for discussion. These writings will be central to the success of our seminar and should provide ample evidence of your individual engagement in the readings.

Synthesis Essays
On Friday of week four and week eight, you will submit a 3-5 page, thesis-driven essay that synthesizes major program themes.

Projects
Much of your work this quarter will be driven toward the production of a final manuscript, described in detail elsewhere.

Assignments
All assignments are due on time. If you expect to be absent, your work is still due via e-mail (to be followed by hard copy). Late work will not be accepted. All assignments must be typed in 12 point, 1.5 space between lines (it’s easier for us and your peers to write comments that way.) Please back up all computer work. A “crash” or a lost file is tragic, but not an excuse for late work.

Collaboration
Collaborating with group members is a critical part of Evergreen life. Everyone’s learning is directly related to the preparation, engagement, and contributions of other participants. We’ll be doing some specific work to build group communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution skills.

Workshops
Graphic design workshops will cover basic principles of design through practice with Adobe InDesign and Photoshop. Workshops will be scheduled through week five, after which you will be expected to work independently to design and produce your final project according to specifications.
Math workshops will expose students to a wide variety of mathematical concepts and techniques. Workshops will focus on building a conceptual rather than computational grasp of the material. Take-home work will challenge students to apply concepts in a series of weekly projects.
Writing workshops will be built on the careful study of one of our texts, Italo Calvino’s If on a winter’s night a traveler. In-class discussions and activities will cover specific concepts in fiction writing. Weekly assignments will give students diverse strategies for fiction writing and literary study. We will also discuss and practice basic essay writing skills.

Seminar
The goal of seminar is to share, enhance, and extend our independent learning, primarily that learning done through the assigned readings. Students are expected to participate actively in the structuring and facilitation of discussions.
Project Seminar
Your project seminar will be a group of 5-6 students that meets weekly. You will provide each other with critical feedback on writing, work on mathematical concepts, discuss project work, course themes, and texts.

Attendance & Participation
The importance of attendance cannot be overemphasized. Besides missing out on valuable information and ideas, poor attendance can alienate you from the learning community, make it difficult for faculty to assess your engagement in the work of the program, and ultimately jeopardize your credit.

•Seminar attendance and preparedness (beyond mere reading) are essential for success in the program. One absence from seminar, if unexplained, may be grounds for a loss ofcredit. Similarly, a pattern of lateness or unpreparedness are also grounds for credit reduction. Most unavoidable or otherwise planned absences can be compensated for by arrangement with your seminar faculty.

•No class session is merely what is on the schedule. Last minute changes, announcements, conversations, and much else happens without planning. To maintain a connection to the program community, to be aware of expectations, and to demonstrate your engagement in the course, you must attend every class session.

•Attendance should be thought of as more than “showing up.” When you step into the classroom, you should be prepared mentally and materially (with texts, tools, etc.), ready to engage your peers, wrestle with ideas, and participate with enthusiasm.

•Anytime you miss class or know in advance that an absence is unavoidable, discuss it with a faculty member.

Accommodations
If personal circumstances affect your academic work, you should meet with Teresa (x5625), our core connector, and/or Linda Pickering inAccess Services (x6364).

Final Portfolio
At the end of the quarter, you will submit a final portfolio that contains everything for which you desire credit. Your portfolio, along with your self evaluation and an evaluation conference should provide faculty with a complete picture of your academic achievements in the program. Portfolios should be neatly organized and reflect the care that you have taken in all your work.

Credit
Credit is awarded when you have met the basic course requirements, including attendance and completing all assigned work by the due dates. Your actual level of performance (something like a grade) is assessed in the evaluation process.

Loss of Credit
Your faculty will do their best to give you some warning if you are at risk of losing credit, including an official warning during week five if they perceive some risk. If ever you are uncertain about your performance or standing in relation to course expectations, make it your responsibility to check in with a faculty member.