Grading and Course Policies

Course Materials

The textbook/workbook for this course will be Norsk nå by Nancy Aarsvold. It is available in the St. Olaf Bookstore. You will need a three-ring binder to hold the workbook pages. The tapes that accompany the textbook are available for your use in the Language Lab.

Grading System

Participation........................................................................................10%

The participation grade will be based on students' attendance and active participation in all class sessions. Active participation requires that students come to class with homework finished so that they are prepared to use Norwegian in real-life contexts. If you know in advance that you will miss a particular class due to participation in a co-curricular activity, you should notify me beforehand.

Students are also required to attend weekly discussion group sessions led by native Norwegian students attending St. Olaf. The discussion groups last for a half hour and will meet during 9 of the 13 weeks in the semester. The discussion groups will give students the chance to use Norwegian in a more informal setting and get to know more of the students studying Norwegian at St. Olaf.

In addition, students are required to spend three half-hour periods per week in the language lab. This time is to be spent listening to the tapes that accompany the textbook or supplementary material assigned by the instructor. Language lab tapes are intended for practice so they should be listened to more than once.

Homework............................................................................................10%

Homework will consist mainly of the exercises found on the yellow workbook pages that accompany the textbook. They include reading, writing, speaking, and listening exercises and will be assigned regularly. Most can be completed in pen or pencil, but essay assignments should be typed on a word processor to facilitate the revision process. In order to receive full credit for the homework, the assignment must be complete and handed in on the day it is due. In addition to the workbook pages, students will also be asked to view videos, listen to tapes, and access Norwegian World Wide Web sites. Chapter assignment sheets will be kept updated on the Norwegian Department World Wide Web site. All homework must be turned in during the class period assigned. No late homework will be accepted, but you will be allowed to drop the 3 lowest homework grades.

Chapter Tests........................................................................................30%

There will be four chapter tests during the semester, after chapters 7, 8, 10, and 12. They will take approximately 50 minutes to write and will include sections for listening, reading, grammar, and writing. Students must take all tests and exams on the scheduled day. Exceptions to this policy will only be granted in cases of serious illness or emergency, and must be requested beforehand. Travel plans should be made with the course calendar in mind. Airline reservations or rides leaving do not constitute emergency.

Oral Tests.............................................................................................20%

There will be three oral tests during the semester, after chapters 8 and 10 and at midsemester. Students will meet with the teacher individually, in pairs for a 10-15 minute test or demonstration of their speaking skills, or they will take a test in the language lab.

Midterm and Final Exams.......................................................................30%

The midterm and final are comprehensive exams, occuring after chapters 9 and 13 respectively. The midterm will take approximately 50 minutes to write and the final approximately 2 hours, and will include sections for listening, reading, grammar, and writing.

Grading Scale