Professor Hall's Expectations for Students and Himself
Professor Thomas Hall; 420 Anderson St.
EMAIL: THALL
Last updated July 27, 2007

I. What I expect of you (the student) [or 9 easy steps to an A]:

• 1) I assume you are genuinely interested in learning the course material, and are not taking the course simply to pass the time or day, or get in some "face time;"
• 2) I expect you to put your education first, and non-academic activities (sports, recreation, work, social life, greek activities) second on your list of priorities;
• 3) I expect you to take this course as seriously as any other course;
• 4) Demand excellence of yourself. Genuinely try to do your best on all course assignments;
• 5) Seek help if you are confused, fall behind, or uncertain. That is what office hours are for. Use them!;
• 6) Come to class prepared. This means having done all assigned readings, given some thought to those readings, and prepared questions about those topics or issues which you have found confusing, unclear, or with which you disagree;
• 7) Participate actively in class by asking and answering questions about the course material;
• 8) Edit your assignments carefully before you turn them in. [Careful writing reflects careful thought; careless writing reflects careless thought. I grade accordingly];
• 9) Recognize that all course material is cumulative and does not come in discrete chunks that can be forgotten after each test or assignment.
  

II. What you can expect of me (the professor);

• 1) FAIRNESS in assignments, tests, and grading. I ask questions about topics, facts, interpretations that are important. Remember, however, that part of your job is to keep track of and figure out what is important, and what is illustration. Also remember I must be fair to the entire class, not one individual.
• 2) I view myself not as a "teacher," but as a professor. This means I am not simply passing on knowledge or skills, but also professing something -- a set of ideas and understandings, a world view which I advocate. This world view is sociological, it is not political, although it frequently has political implications. This does not mean you must agree with me, but that you must understand this worldview.
• 3) Intellectual rigor in the material I present. You will not receive a watered-down treatment of the material.
• 4) A sincere desire for you to learn about and understand the social world in which we all live.
• 5) My most important goal, and hence expectation of myself, is to empower you to make informed decisions in the future. I do this by challenging your beliefs and values. In my view unexamined values are mere habits and rituals, with little or no significance. I do not necessarily seek to change your values, but to get you to think about them explicitly and to make reasoned decisions about those you keep and those you change. That way, you are in charge of what you believe and value, not anyone else.

If you have comments or suggestions, email me at thall@depauw..edu