Policies
Attendance & class participation
Please be on time and attend as many classes as possible. Since we meet only once a week, your attendance is critical. You can miss one class for any reason with no penalty, but after that, more absences, for whatever reason, will lower your class participation grade.
Everyone should read all of the assigned materials, taking notes, noting problematic sections, and striving to understand the material. Reading is the basis for participating successfully in class activities and discussions. If you aren’t asking to speak in every class, you aren’t participating enough. Also, because we only meet once a week, participating in our online discussions is very important. Plan to invest a little time every day checking out the course weblog or email list.
I’ll evaluate your participation at midterm (3/8) and the end of the semester (5/10).
Ethical conduct
Every student should follow the highest professional standards for ethical behavior, especially regarding respect for other students. Criticism and enthusiasm are great; rudeness and antagonism are unacceptable. I also expect academic honesty. Plagiarism (use of another’s ideas, data, and statements with little or no acknowledgment), collusion (unauthorized or undocumented collaboration), or resubmission (presenting an assignment previously completed for course credit) are unacceptable. These types of academic dishonesty will be reported to G authorities.
Feedback
Please help me be a better teacher by telling me when you enjoy a class or benefit from an assignment. On the other hand, if something doesn’t work well, I’d also like to know. I always shape courses through student suggestions, and will change almost anything about a course to help you learn more effectively. If you prefer to remain anonymous, put a printed note in my mailbox, or contact me through Dr. David Boocker, Chair of the Department of English & Journalism.
Grading
You earn points for each completed assignment. A ten percent per letter grade scale is used for all assignments and final grades. Since there are 1,000 points in the semester, it’s easy to figure out where you stand at any time.
Please keep track of your grades and keep all graded assignments.
A grading matrix will be established by 2/15/2006.
Help
I want to help you achieve success in this class and all your studies at Western. Help me help you by asking me when you need some assistance. If you have a concern which you think others might share, please bring it up it in class discussions, before or after class, or by sending an email to our class list. For tutoring or other assistance, come to my office hours.
Students with learning needs requiring pedagogical accommodation: please speak with me ASAP.
Late work
Generally speaking, I don’t accept late work. If you know you are going to miss a class, turn in any assignments early. If you would like to turn an assignment in after the due date, please speak with me about it. No matter what the circumstance, late work will not be accepted after two weeks.
Course grades of “incomplete” will only be given in the case of documented medical emergency.
Privacy
There is no need to put your social security number or WIU ID number on any work turned in to me; your printed name will suffice. By law (20 USC § 1232g, or the “Buckley Amendment”), educational records must be kept confidential. So: I will only discuss your progress in the course with you in my office, where your privacy can be ensured. I will never post grades in public.
WIU brings you the following announcements
In accordance with University policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), academic accommodations may be made for any student who notifies the instructor of the need for an accommodation. It is imperative that you take the initiative to bring such needs to the instructor’s attention, as he/she is not legally permitted to inquire about such particular needs of students. Students who may require special assistance in emergency evacuations should contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to follow in such an emergency. Contact Disability Support Services at 298-2515 for additional services.
It is the responsibility of the student to comply with the prerequisites/corequisites for a course that he/she plans to take. Instructors who place the appropriate information on the syllabus and emphasize it during the first three class periods may exclude a student from the class who does not meet the prerequisites/corequisites by sending a note to the student with a copy to the registrar within the first two weeks of the term.