GENERIC ADVICE

This advice is generic because it applies (or should apply) to all courses
(in Linguistics), but it particularly applies to this one.

You are encouraged to work together on homework problems and the take-home
exams.  Some of the assignments will be quite strenuous, and designed
to be too hard for a person to do alone.  For this reason it is a good idea
to form study groups and get into the habit of collaboration.  We only
require that you write up your work independently, so that what you
hand in really is your own work.  Write the names of the people you worked with
at the top of your paper.

Homeworks will generally be somewhat open-ended.  There will not always be
a particular right answer, and the important thing will be how well you
present and support the proposal you come up with.  So two equally good papers
might have different and indeed incompatible solutions.  We can work differences
out in class discussion.

Form: use 8 1/2 x 11 paper (lined or unlined) and write on only one side.
Leave at least one inch margins so that we will have some space to write
comments.  Most assignments will require more than one page to answer; when
there is more than one page, staple the pages together.  It is not required
that you type or word-process your papers, but they should be neat and
legible.

To do well in this course, here are the things you need to do:

	ATTEND CLASS
	ATTEND SECTION
	(PARTICIPATION in class and section discussions is not required,
	but strongly advised.  You learn more by participating in the discussion.)
	TURN IN ALL ASSIGNMENTS
	DO THE ASSIGNMENTS CAREFULLY AND WELL

Here are the things we look for in written work:  a written assignment
should be

	NEAT
	CLEAR
	CAREFUL
	THOROUGH

Neatness should be self-explanatory; clarity is mainly about the quality of
your writing, but in this course will also concern the relation between
what you write and certain formal representations which we will adopt,
as well as argument and reasoning; in the next few weeks we will point out
things that you need to be careful and thorough about.

[An afterthought: neatness should be self-explanatory, but if you don't
know it already you should become aware that neatness includes punctuating
and spelling correctly.  If you don't do those things right, you can piss off
the reader of your paper, and you don't want that.]

Homeworks will be scored on a scale of 1-5 on the basis of these criteria.
The final grade will be based on an average of the homework and exam scores,
with the midterm and final exams (or other final project, such as a squib)
counting about three homeworks each.  Passing level on this scale is 2.
We will usually not write your score on homework papers, but from the
written comments you should get some idea of how you are doing grade-wise.
If you are concerned about your probable grade, you can come in for an
estimate.


Some course policies:

	Attendance is expected.  We will not formally take attendance,
	but we will surely notice any absences.  Absences will have a
	negative effect on the grade.  Particularly if you miss a quiz.

	Sections are mandatory.  You must sign up for and regularly attend
	a section.  New material will be introduced in sections, and you
	will be responsible for it.  You can change sections if you need to.

	All homework assignments must be turned in.  Failure to turn in a
	homework results in a zero in the record, and (since the homework
	is the most important component of the course) just a few zeroes
	will result in failing the course.  There will be no way to
	make this up.

	Homework turned in late will be accepted, if turned in before the
	next homework is due; but it will not receive
	the scrutiny and feedback that on-time homework receives.  And it
	will get a score of 1 in the record.  An average score of 2 will be
	required to pass.

The final bit of generic advice is: USE YOUR RESOURCES.  Collaborate with
your peers.  Bring issues up in class.  Participate in section discussions.
Come to office hours with specific questions or concerns.  You can always
get in touch with me [JH] or one of the TAs by email.