DA 401 - Seminar in Data Analytics

Reading Materials

Computers and Software

Grading and Feedback

Since there are multiple sections of DA 401 every semester, the various instructors work hard to make sure there is approximate parity in terms of content, workload, and expectations. However, it is also true that each professor has their strengths, areas of interest, and priorities, and I'm sure I'm no exception. We'll have to spend some time together for you to get a real sense of what I value, how I grade, etc., but I look forward to that process, and to getting to know you all better more generally.

As a general rule, the expectations in this course are high, and I'm confident you can all do great work. The feedback I provide on assignments is designed to help you get there. My goal is to provide specific, relevant, and honest feedback when I grade your work. This will include constructive criticism, strategies for improvement, and guidance on how students can achieve success. I will not do "compliment sandwiches" just to begin and end on a positive remark, but this means that, when I praise your work, it's an honest (and I think more meaningful) act of praise.

Regarding the major assignment rubric, it is adapted from the standards that the data analytics program uses for all its majors.

Major Assignment Rubric

Grade Breakdown

Late Work

If you have a legitimate emergency such as a serious illness, a mental health emergency, or a death in the family, I will grant an appropriate extension with a new due date. The trade off is that work turned in this way is probably not going end up in my hand when I grade everything else, so it's going to get very sparse feedback. If you miss a deadline entirely without getting an extension, you will automatically lose 10 points off the top of your grade for each day it is late, in addition to any points you lose for the quality of the work. Retroactive and last-minute extensions will not be granted.

Distractions

Cell phones should be off and put away. Laptops are okay for notes and such, but you should not be messaging, using Facebook, etc. I’ll check screens regularly give you a verbal warning on your first offense. After that, I reserve the right to ask you to leave class and mark you absent if you are creating a distraction.

Attendance

Attendance is particularly important in a course like this: we often learn as much from the generative discussions we have as from the texts we read. Therefore, it is particularly important that students arrive on time and come prepared to engage with the community we will be building in this classroom. I expect you to attend class every class meeting and I expect you to arrive on time. If you cannot attend class, it is your responsibility to get (from a classmate) all written notes about what we discussed in class, including in-class announcements. As stated above, participation counts for 15% of your final grade for this course, but regular attendance is also a prerequisite to passing this course.

I will allow each student two unexcused absences without penalty. Late arrivals will count as half an absence. Missing class beyond these two free cuts will result in a participation score zero for that day (or a 50 for coming late). If you miss five classes, each unexcused absence thereafter will result in a 5% deduction from your final grade for the course. Note that you may not use a free cut to miss final presentations. If you cut on any other day when a graded, in-class activity is taking place, you will not be permitted to make up that assignment. If you miss class on a day when written work is due, that work must still be turned in on time.

Here's an example of how these policies will work. A student misses class six time without an excuse. He gets two free cuts but, for four of the six absences, he gets a zero for participation. On two of the days, he missed scaffolding assignments, so he gets zeros on both those assignments. Six absences is one absence above the five-absence limit so, in addition to these penalties, his final grade will be lowered by 5 points (out of 100) after all other grading has been tallied.

Being Prepared for Class

Coming to class prepared means that you have the day's reading in hand (printed or digital) and have come to class with a way to take notes (printed or digital). If you are not prepared for class, I reserve the right to grade as if you were absent for that day. Anything due on a given class day is due at the start of class on that day unless otherwise noted on Canvas. 

Disability Resources

If you are a student who feels you may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability, you should contact me privately as soon as possible to discuss your specific needs. I rely on the Academic Resource Center in 020 Higley Hall to verify the need for reasonable accommodations based on documentation on file in that office.

Academic Integrity

Proposed and developed by Denison students, passed unanimously by DCGA and Denison’s faculty, the Code of Academic Integrity requires that instructors notify the Associate Provost of cases of academic dishonesty. Cases are typically heard by the Academic Integrity Board, which determines whether a violation has occurred, and, if so, its severity and the sanctions. In some circumstances the case may be handled through an Administrative Resolution Procedure. Further, the code makes students responsible for promoting a culture of integrity on campus and acting in instances in which integrity is violated.

Academic honesty, the cornerstone of teaching and learning, lays the foundation for lifelong integrity. Academic dishonesty is intellectual theft. It includes, but is not limited to, providing or receiving assistance in a manner not authorized by the instructor in the creation of work to be submitted for evaluation. This standard applies to all work ranging from daily homework assignments to major exams. Students must clearly cite any sources consulted--not merely for quoted phrases, but also for ideas and information that are not common knowledge. Neither ignorance nor carelessness is an acceptable defense incases of plagiarism. It is the student’s responsibility to follow the appropriate format for citations. Students should ask their instructors for assistance in determining what sorts of materials and assistance are appropriate for assignments and for guidance in citing such materials clearly.

Our Commitment to Liberal Arts Education

Denison's mission statement articulates an explicit commitment to liberal arts education. It emphasizes active learning, which defines students as active participants in the leaning process, not passive recipients. Denison seeks to foster self-determination and to demonstrate the transformative power of education. A crucial aspect of this approach is what Denison's mission statement refers to as "a concern for the whole person," which is why the university provides a "living-learning environment" based on individual needs and an overriding concern for community. This community is based on "a firm belief in human dignity and compassion unlimited by cultural, racial, sexual, religious or economic barriers, and directed toward an engagement with the central issues of our time."

In this class, we will discuss inequality directly. In many cases, you will asked to apply quantitative reasoning skills to these subject, which can be difficult because there is always the potential for the available data to complicate or contradict something you may feel very passionate about. In these cases, you should aspire to adopt an attitude of critical skepticism, i.e. wary of claims that are not supported by evidence but potentially willing to be persuaded by evidence if you find it compelling, and willing to give that evidence a fair hearing.

How we treat one another will be a cornerstone of these conversations. Denison's "Guiding Principles" speak of "a community in which individuals respect one another and their environment." Further, "each member of the community possesses a full range of rights and responsibilities. Foremost among these is a commitment to treat each other and the environment with mutual respect, tolerance, and civility." It's easy to treat someone this way when you like them and agree with their ideas, but the real challenge is treating those who differ from us with the same compassion and respect. However, I consider disruptive, deceitful, or hateful behavior to be breaches of these responsibilities. Bullying, trolling, hate speech, and harassment of any kind will not be tolerated.

Discrimination, Sexual Misconduct, and Sexual Assault

Essays, journals, and other coursework submitted for this class are generally considered confidential pursuant to the University’s student record policies. However, students should be aware that University employees are required by University policy to report allegations of discrimination based on sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation or pregnancy to the Title IX Coordinator or a Deputy Title IX Coordinator. This includes reporting all incidents of sexual misconduct, sexual assault and suspected abuse/neglect of a minor. Further, employees are to report these incidents that occur on campus and/or that involve students at Denison University whenever the employee becomes aware of a possible incident in the course of their employment, including via coursework or advising conversations. There are others on campus to whom you may speak in confidence, including clergy and medical staff and counselors at the Wellness Center. More information on Title IX and the University’s Policy prohibiting sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking and retaliation, including support resources, how to report, and prevention and education efforts, can be found at: https://denison.edu/campus/title-ix.

Proposal (5% of total grade)

An early assignment designed to help you establish your research topic, articulate your research question, and refine your research intervention.

Domain knowledge assignment (10% of total grade)

A mini review paper that can stand on its own (not a rundown of your specific study or planned methods), describing the landscape of the field to which your work should apply, or from which your method or idea originates. Includes a reflection on the skills you already have and need to develop in order to carry out your plan.

Early results (10% of total grade)

This short paper should summarize your early findings. The focus is on communicating an early concrete story, effectively translating your visuals and quantitative data and analysis. In order to succeed on this assignment, you will need to demonstrate significant progress on your project analysis, including completion of all data preparation and fully written, functional code.

First draft (15% of total grade)

This draft of your seminar paper should be a complete draft (i.e., all sections written out) but will inevtiably be revised based on peer and instructor feedback.

Final presentation (15% of total grade)

This is an oral presentation (with supprting visual material) that distills the essential ingredients of the research rather than incorporating every detail of it. These overviews should cover the research question, the logic of inquiry, your results, the implications of your work, and any appropriate qualifications to your conclusions.

Final draft (20% of total grade)

Submission of this assignment will include a detailed response to peer review comments (a scaffolding assignment), as well as a fully polished and in every possible sense completed version of your seminar paper.

Scaffolding assignments (15% of total grade)

This includes several assignments that begin with an in-class activity and conclude with a take-home assignment, or vice versa. They include but are not limited to a research design assignment, a written peer review assignment, an executive summary assignment, and a practice presentation. Scaffolding assignments are described in full on Canvas.