Written assignments for a given course are described briefly in the course syllabus, with the dates for any exams specified in the schedule accompanying the syllabus. In courses that have exams, a midterm exam is scheduled about midway through the course, and a final exam, at the time listed in the University Schedule of Classes.

Sometimes I also list due dates for papers in the schedule, but sometimes I leave these flexible at the beginning of a given course, to be determined after I get a sense of the pace of our class discussions. Later handouts are destributed describing the paper topics and/or giving formatting requirements and other guidelines for writing the papers. My guidelines for term papers give a general idea of what's expected in a philosophy paper, though I assign term papers -- with topics to be chosen by individual students -- only in upper-level courses.

Depending on my workload during a given term, I sometimes also arrange for optional assignments. The due dates here are subject to individual agreement, but in order to supply feedback before the end of the term the assignments have to be in before the last two weeks of the course. Possible optional assignments include:

• a rewrite of the midterm exam,


• an abstract or similar brief piece explaining plans for a term paper assignment, and


• an oral report, typically coordinated with a group of students.

For papers due at specified dates during the term, fairness to other students requires that I penalize unexcused lateness; I do so by taking off 1/3rd grade (e.g., A- goes to B+, B+ to B) for each day or portion of a day late. For submission of term papers I generally allow two options:

• get it in by the last day of class, and I can guarantee you detailed, line-by-line comments, or


• hand it in at the time of the exam and I'll accept it for a grade, plus whatever comments I can manage along with my other grading responsibilities at that time.

According to Philosophy Department policy Incompletes are not given to undergraduates except in special circumstances, and only if they have completed most of the requirements for the course and have filled out a contract available in the Philosophy Department Office. The contract involves an agreement between student and professor as to when the final work must be submitted in order to avoid a "default" grade specified by the instructor.