However, if I sense that the class or some members of the class are routinely not prepared and/or interested in class, then I will start calling on people to report on the reading assignments or on the material covered the previous class or various other issues which I feel that a typical involved students should be aware of.
Students who cannot answer satisfactorily (because either they are not present or because they are not prepared) will be marked down in their class participation (the amount at my descretion).