FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When/where does this class meet?

We meet every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9:35am. Check your registration for class location.

2. Will I have to do a lot of writing in this class?

Plan on writing (and reading!) every day for this course. There is a lot of material to go over throughout the semester, so being able to plan your time responsibly is a necessary evil. The Gordon Rule requires students to reach at least 24,000 words of critical composition, 6,000 of which will be done in this course.

3. What do I do in the event of a zombie attack on campus?

See the plan here.

4. I woke up and I don't feel good. Will being absent from class significantly impact my grade?

You are allowed six absences throughout the semester. The most successful students attend every class session. "This is your education. You are paying for it. Get the most out of it by coming to class" -- advice from a former student.

5. I missed class. Did we do anything important?

Nope. We sat around and stared at each other the entire hour, playing charades to pass the time until your return so we could get back to normal activities.

6. Who should I contact about how any homework that was assigned while I was absent? 

Chain of communication: course blog > classmates > Barack Obama > me.

7. I don't know anything about hip hop. Is it okay that I am in this class?

It's unlikely that you will have never been exposed to any aspect of hip-hop culture, but if you are nervous about entering a class about hip hop, don't worry! One of the positive aspects about having a course theme is that you can see how you can explore a topic from various points of view. Since course readings/activities will almost always be centered on hip-hop culture and your essays will trace another music culture (e.g. indie culture, ballet culture, jazz culture), you are provided with the opportunity to critically analyze to sets of cultures instead of just one. Don't expect to walk away from this class being an expert in hip-hop studies or music culture. Do, however, expect to walk away from this class knowing how to analyze hip-hop studies and music culture from various rhetorical standpoints.

8. I want to adopt a cat. Where do I go?

I have plenty strays around my house that are looking for homes. You should let me know if you're interested.

9. I'm not tech savvy. Is it okay that I am in this class?

A point I should make here is that I will never ask you to code a computer, create an app, or hack the government. Any time I ask you to do anything with technology (e.g. research, create a blog, Turn It In), I will guide you with step-by-step instructions if need be. If you have questions outside of this class about technology, direct your attention to the University's Help Desk.

Did I miss any burning questions? If so, let me know in the comments so I can add and answer them!