POLICIES AND EXPECTATIONS--Bellamy

POLICIES AND EXPECTATIONS--Bellamy

Expectations:

That you will attend all classes. If you must miss class because of illness, athletics, or emergency, call me to find out what you missed and how you can catch up. If you miss more than 20% of scheduled classes (6 classes), you will not pass the course.

Read all assignments by the assigned date. Come to class prepared to discuss, answer questions, or write about the readings. You’ll find this easier if you make note of the ideas, observations, objections, or questions you had when you were reading. Expect a short quiz on the assigned readings.

Write, edit, proofread, and print out all writing assignments by the assigned date. If you get behind, let me know how I can help you catch up. If you do not keep up with the class, you may not pass.

Make timely conference appointments and keep them. Not being prepared or not showing up for a scheduled conference counts as three absences. See first point above.

Take responsibility for your learning.

PAPERS: To earn credit, papers must: adhere to the "Standards for Written Work"; meet the requirements for the assignment (length, documentation, etc.); and be turned in when we are working on that assignment (i.e., not weeks later or at the end of the semester). Written work must be done on the computer and is due in class or conference on the scheduled date. If you cannot meet the schedule, call me before the deadline.

If an assignment is not acceptable, you may receive a TA (for "try again"). Instructions for how to proceed are contained on the "TA sheet" which will be attached to the assignment when it is returned to you. It is your responsibility to follow through on TAs.

GRADING: If you have two grades, the one on top is for content and the one on the bottom is for mechanics. While it is not entirely possible (or desirable) to separate these, I want to give you as much information as I can about what you need to work on. Bonus: everyone can get an "A" on the mechanics part—all it takes is hard work, attention to detail, and careful proofreading.

Work which fulfills the assignment and meets the "Standards for Written Work" at the college level earns a grade of "C," which is average.

Work which shows evidence of greater than average effort, achievement, and ability earns a "B," which is better than average.
Work which shows exceptional achievement and ability is an "A."

A grade of less than "C" or a "TA" (for try again) or "NW" (for needs work) indicates work which does not fulfill the assignment or does not meet the minimum level expected for college work.

Remember that what is being evaluated is your performance--not your personality, your perspective, or even your promise--but only this: How you perform the various tasks that you are asked to complete for this course.

Mid-Term: If your absences total 20% or more or if your written work does not show satisfactory progress, it would be in your best interest to drop the course.

Final Grades: Grades will be derived from an evaluation of your writing, your critical responses to the readings, your peer reviewing, your improvement, and the overall quality of your attendance and participation. Papers will make up 50% of your grade. Absences in excess of 20% will ordinarily trigger a WF (withdraw failing). Effort and improvement in all of your assignments will be taken into account, but you must pass the final exam and your work must meet the minimum for college-level work to pass.

Accommodations for students with special needs: Please refer to the policy described in the Academic Bulletin.

PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: If you present another person’s ideas or words as your own, that’s plagiarism, and it is strongly condemned by the College and by me. See the section on the Honor Code in the "Student Handbook." You are encouraged to quote others and are free to use their ideas, but you must give proper credit in the form of citations. Downloading papers from the internet, buying papers, using old papers, copying from books or other sources without giving credit, or helping someone else to do so, all constitute plagiarism and are a violation of the honor code. You are encouraged to discuss your ideas with others and to seek help when you need it, but you are honor bound to learn from this help not just to accept it blindly. The safest way is to ask me for help or go to the Writing Center.