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Course Policies

MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS:

Assignments are due by the beginning of class on the given due date, and they must be in the appropriate format if required (MLA format in a Word document).  Failure to complete one of the major assignments will automatically result in your failing the class. Also, failure to turn in a completed portfolio at the end of the term will result in automatic failure of the class.  Accidents happen with computers; therefore, it is a requirement for the class that you backup all of your work.
 
(Never post directly to the website. Create your document in word and then copy and paste it to the site to avoid deletion).

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

According to the policy set forth by the First Year Writing Department: “students may have three absences without a penalty to their final grade. Subsequent absences will result in a ten point grade deduction to their final course grade for every class missed thereafter.” Therefore, you will automatically be dropped a full letter grade at your fourth absence and another grade with each subsequent absence. In other words, if you miss four classes, the highest grade you can earn is a B; if you miss five classes, the highest grade you can earn is a C; and, so on.

 

If you are absent, you are responsible for any missed work and any modifications of the syllabus and/or assignments. Furthermore, if you are absent when an assignment is due, your work is late and it may result in a zero for the assignment. If we complete group work during class time, then you do not receive credit for the assignment. If you know that you will be absent, email or upload the work before the class period begins. 

TARDINESS:

We meet for less than three hours each week, so class time is extremely important. Tardiness occurs as soon as the class period begins and will not be tolerated. Furthermore, you are expected to be in class for the duration of the scheduled time. The combination of three tardies or early releases will result in an absence for the class. Please see the policy above for program guidelines on absences. If you are more than twenty minutes late or leave more than twenty minutes early at any time, you will be automatically counted absent for that day. 

LATE WORK:

Unless you talk to me before the due date, I will only accept late work under extremely extenuating circumstances (and this does not relate to final completion of major assignments).  I also reserve the right to deduct points for late work if it is accepted. Please contact me by email concerning any emergencies as soon as possible.

SYLLABUS/CALENDAR CHANGES:

I periodically make minor revisions to the syllabus in class, and you are responsible for any announcements I make in class. I will announce these revisions in the class and they will be reflected in the daily syllabus on Moodle. Please make sure that you are in contact with at least one other student in class in case you miss an announcement.

PROFESSIONALISM:

Please note that this class requires professionalism in both personal decorum and classroom behavior. Aside from arriving to class on time, be prepared and ready to work at the beginning of class. Do not chat to others when I or your peers have the floor. If you cannot apply yourself in a professional manner, you will be asked to leave and I will count that day as an absence. This professional behavior also requires you to turn off all electronic devices during class time including, but not limited to, cell phones, PDAs, iPods, and personal laptops without prior permission.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

Plagiarism and Cheating in this course are not tolerated and could result in automatic failure of the course or expulsion from the university. Plagiarism not only includes passing off someone else's writing as your own, but it also includes multiple submissions of your own work. Please see the Campus Info section for more information on this academic integrity matter.

WRITING FOR OTHERS:

Much of the work in this class will be public—whether it be on Moodle, in peer writing groups, on a public website, or on your e-portfolio. Please make sure that you are comfortable with others being able to access your final works and your work in process AND that you are comfortable with others commenting on and/or evaluating your work.

***By remaining in this class, you agree to abide by the standards and requirements set forth by this course description and outline.***
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