Advertising Lines of Argument, Critical Analysis Project:
5 %     Outline
10%    Paper                                                                                    Advertising Lines Essay Grade-sheet

Pseudo-Science Project:
10%    Pseudo-Science Outlines                                                    Pseudo-Science Outlines Grade-sheet
15%    Pseudo-Science Analysis/Evaluation Paper                      Pseudo-Science Essay Grade-sheet

Short Epistemology Paper:
5%       Defining Knowledge Terms

Final Project:
5%      Position Statement
10%    Group Media Campaign Project                                        Media Campaign Grade-sheet
10%    Rebuttal Outline  or the Final Strategy Outline
15%    Rebuttal Essay or Rebutt-Yourself Essay

Students will also:
5%    Complete frequent quizzes and short written assignments on readings
5%    Attend at least two conferences with the instructor
5%    Contribute to formal and informal classroom and group discussions

Laptop Policy

Attendance:

English Department's Attendance Policy

By taking this class you are agreeing to attend, on time.  Either attend class regularly, accept the consequences of not attending, or take another class instead of this one. 

All students are allowed one unexcused absence;  after that, 3% (4% T,Th and Summer courses) is deducted from your overall grade for each unexcused absence.  Absences are only excused for either medical reasons or official university activities;  you must provide appropriate, dated documentation upon returning to class. If you’re too sick to come to class, go to the doctor and bring me the receipt. If your grandmother dies, bring me the dated obituary.  If you miss a class, you are responsible for knowing before the next class what you missed and what work is due the day you return.  Please ask another student what you have missed, and not your instructor. I will help you where and when I can, but your absences are your responsibility.

I take roll at the beginning of each class.  If you are not present when I take roll, you are marked absent.  If you wish to have your absence changed to a “tardy”, it is your responsibility to ask me to do so after class.  Excessive tardies will lower your grade.

These policies will not change, so if you are not interested in agreeing to them, please do not remain in this class.

Plagiarism and Cheating:

Academic Honesty

English Department's Plagiarism Policy

Those caught cheating and/or plagiarizing in my class will be failed. If you don't know what cheating and plagiarizing are, it is worth your time and it is your responsibility to find out.

Assignment Guidelines:

Type all drafts that will be read by others.  Format papers and cite sources using standard MLA conventions.  Hand in all formal assignments in a two-pocket folder WITH ACCOMPANYING DRAFTS.  THREE DRAFT POLICY:  every formal assignment you want me to read and/or grade must be accompanied by at least two rough drafts (not copies but clearly revised drafts);  I am not at all interested in reading, helping with or evaluating any piece of writing its author has not carefully revised at least twice.  Please also include any notes, outlines, etc. used to generate your papers.  Staple your final draft, label it “Final Draft” and put it on top of everything else so that it's the draft that gets graded.

Unless otherwise specified, all formal written assignments are due by 5:00 and may be turned in, on time, in my English office mailbox, Brink 200.  DO NOT pin assignments to or slide them under my door;  all assignments received in this manner will be counted one day late. Homework assignments are due in class.

Keep returned/graded papers so that you can keep track of your grade or in case I lose the copies you hand in.  Also, I may ask for the graded copies later in the semester.

N/C or No Credit Grades: 

Assignments that do not meet the minimum criteria of a 200 level college essay will be graded “N/C” or No Credit; such papers are considered Incomplete and must be revised up to a minimum passing level before being graded. Normally, students should conference with me for help with such revisions. Upon revision, N/C papers will be given a grade no higher than a C+.

Late assignments:

Normally, all late assignments are penalized 10% for each day late (20% for any paper due on a Friday and turned in on the following Monday).  After three days late assignments will receive a grade of no higher than "C".  Assignments will not be accepted more than one week late, and a grade of 0 will be recorded for that assignment.

Every student is entitled to one late paper gratis; with the exception of the final paper, any one of the major assignments can be turned in up to one week late without penalty.

Grading:

My responsibility as a teacher is to grade both achievement and effort equitably and fairly, regardless of how I feel about my students individually.  I have worked hard to develop a grading system that rewards most those students who both put in the most effort and created the highest quality of work. 

In my mind, final letter grades generally translate as follows:

A means “outstanding”.  By definition, this is an honor grade reserved for students who show achieve far above and beyond the classroom norm.  Students who receive A’s not only produce the highest quality work but also show effort through consistent achievement on all assignments, punctual attendance, and contribution to discussions.

B means “above average”.  Often students who are only capable of producing C-quality writing receive a B grade because of above average effort, as evidenced by attendance, contribution to discussion, and willingness to seek and receive help from the instructor or others.  Conversely, often students capable of A work receive B grades because their effort, as evidenced by attendance, quiz scores, homework etc., is below average or is not, at least, outstanding.

C means “average” or “meets the requirement”.  Students receive C grades when their work or effort meets the minimum requirement, as evidenced by assignment, quiz and homework grades, and attendance and contribution to the class.           

D grades are given to students who complete all of the assigned work but fail to meet minimum standards or fail to attend regularly. (On most “D” level assignments I opt to award “N/C” and require revision.           

F as always means “fail”.  Students most regularly fail my courses in three ways: failing to complete assignments, failing to complete assignments on time, and failing to attend class.

In short, the final grade students receive will be based entirely on points earned and lost through assignments, quizzes and homework, attendance, and (to a small degree) contribution to discussions.  Unless I have made a mathematical error, final grades are non-negotiable. I won’t grade you down because I don’t like you, and I won’t grade you up because I do like you.

Failure to complete major assignments will in most all cases result in a failing grade.