Class Policies:

Attendance:

            Because class attendance is critical to your understanding of class material, you are only allowed two unexcused absences over the course of the semester. After two unexcused absences, your final grade average will be dropped five points for every day missed. An absence due to illness or family crisis may be excused if properly documented to my satisfaction. In addition, if you participate in a university-sponsored event (music, theater, field trip, or athletics), you must provide me with documentation from an appropriate authority. Whether or not an absence is excused, you are responsible for contacting a classmate or me to find out what material you missed and any work that was assigned. If work is due in class on the day of the absences, the work is due in my mailbox by 4pm that day.

            One or two tardies (arriving late in class or departing class early) will be excused if the reasons are acceptable and if there is valid documentation. Otherwise, tardiness is not acceptable because it is disruptive, and, beyond any excused tardies, class participation grade and overall grade will be affected (2 tardies = 1 absence).

Format:

            All work is due at the beginning of class on the day it is due. All major essays should be typed on only one side of 8 ½” x 11” white paper, double-spaced with 1” margins on all sides, and be in Times New Roman font. On days when drafts are due (workshop days), you must bring two copies of your paper to class. These copies should be clean, typed papers (the same format as the final draft) and already well edited by you. I will not accept any papers that are not in this format.

            Any in-class writing assignments should be on one side of loose-leaf college-rule notebook paper and in blue or black ink.

Peer Review:

        On peer review days, you have the opportunity to earn two 100 quiz grades: one for reviewing others’ essays and one for having your own rough draft. In order to earn the quiz grade for having your rough draft, you must have at least 95% of the draft finished.

Revisions:

        You may revise any and/or all of the essays in this class. Revision does not simply mean fixing all of the errors that I have marked on your paper; rather, it entails make global changes to your essay. To this end, you must first work on your essay on your own. Then you MUST make conference with me about the essay. I will not simply tell you what you should do with the essay but will instead answer any questions that you have. The revision of each essay is due on the peer review day of next essay.

Gordon Rule:

        All work must be completed for a grade since the work assigned fulfills the Gordon Rule, which stipulates that students are to write a minimum of 6000 words that receive feedback are graded, and give experience in various types of writing important in disciplines, workplace, and civic areas.

Plagiarism:

            Unless the work assigned is specifically designed to be completed in groups, all work must be individual. Evidence of collusion (working with another student or tutor not connected with class) and plagiarism (use of another’s ideas, data, and/or statements without acknowledgement or with only minimal acknowledgement) will lead to the procedures set up by the university for academic dishonestly.

Classroom Dynamics:

            Because class participation relies heavily in individuals feeling comfortable expressing their opinions, you must always show respect for the diversity of opinions expressed in this class. You must also demonstrate respect for gender, racial, class, and ethnic differences among your colleagues and instructor. Also, any cell phone that rings during class will be used by me to place long-distance call to the person of my choice.

Challenging a Grade: