Oldest known version of this page was edited on 2005-08-27 12:00:00 by EschaTon []
Attendance and preparation for class: I expect you to attend every class, every day with your textbook,
homework and supplementary materials in hand. You will be held responsible for announcements and material presented during class. Although information may be posted on the web site, all official information as well as any changes will be announced in class. I keep careful attendance records, and I reserve the right to lower your grade based on lack of attendance. Note that sleeping in class counts as one absence.

Instructor Expectations: In addition to attendance, you are expected to bring your active attention and full participation to each class. Your participation grade is NOT based on mere attendance, although absences will affect this grade negatively. Anyone can just show up for something. Minimum participation counts as occasionally raising your hand to make a comment or asking a question. Good, or active, participation means frequent and thoughtful contributions and questions, and staying in contact with me, when you need to, through email and meetings. You are the most important factor in your own education.

Finally, you are expected to demonstrate good citizenship as classmates. This entails taking responsibility for participating in discussions and answering questions, helpfully responding to and critiquing your fellow students' writing and thinking, and being respectful of others' voices, opinions and opportunities to speak.

Assignments: ALL assignments are due at the beginning of the class period. Late papers will be penalized one full letter grade per day. In academic and professional worlds, you must meet deadlines, so get in the habit now. All assignments are noted in the syllabus with the due date and are given well in advance. You are encouraged to complete homework and writing assignments before the due date. All writing assignments must be hard copy (on paper) unless otherwise announced. Homework, writing assignments, etc. sent to the instructor via email or as an email attachment will not be accepted unless this is the medium specified by the instructor. Students are responsible for handing in their own work.

Final Grades for the course will determined as follows:

• Blogs: 20 percent (Have the blogs been written? Do they respond rhetorically and in a timely fashion to the course and other bloggers?)
• Narrative and Argument Assignments: 10 percent each, for a total of 50 percent
• Final Project(10-12 page "paper"): 20 percent
• Revision and Other Participation: 10 percent

Please read the Composition Office Grading Standards∞ for further details.

Back-up Copies and Portfolios: You are expected to keep a clean copy of each assignment, as well as backing up computer disks and files. I will ask you to turn in all of your written work for the semester as a portfolio at the end of class. You MUST keep graded papers (with my comments), as well as all other graded and returned work for the portfolio!!!

Conferences: Think of my office hours as an extension of class time, and feel free to drop by. Please see me when you have questions about an assignment, when you would like to try out some ideas before a paper is due, or when you have questions about a comment on a draft. You can also contact me by email and – in cases of “emergency” only – by cell phone. Keep in mind that while email is the most reliable way to reach me, I may not always be able to answer an email immediately.

Individual vs. Group Assignments: You will occasionally be asked to work in groups in class. All other homework and written assignments are considered individual assignments and not group assignments unless specified by the instructor. Therefore you should complete assignments individually. Additionally, the use of previous work by other students is prohibited. Specifically, all assignments are the responsibility of the individual student and are not considered group assignments unless specified by the instructor. Any assignment not completed in the appropriate manner—individual or group—will be subject to the University's Academic Integrity provisions.

Plagiarism: Talking over your ideas and getting comments on your writing from friends are NOT examples of plagiarism. Taking someone else's words (published or not) and calling them your own IS plagiarism. Plagiarism has dire consequences, including failing the paper in question, failing the course, and university disciplinary action. The simplest way to avoid plagiarism is to document the sources of your information carefully. We will discuss methods of documentation in class; see me if you have any questions, and I will give you a handout with the department's definition of plagiarism.