Plagiarism and Cheating:
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 college-level 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.