Course Policies

Returned messages: You can expect class mail and/or telephone messages to be returned within 48 hours. (Tip: class mail is most effective.)

Graded work: You can expect graded work, including tests, to be returned to you one week after the due date.

Incompletes: A grade of incomplete may not be given in this class. If you cannot complete the work due to circumstances beyond your control, you are advised to withdraw. Petitions for late withdrawal may be filed in the Academic Services Office (see "Tech Help" for contact information).

Late Work: Late work will not be accepted. If you miss an assignment deadline, I recommend that you plan to complete extra credit assignments to make up the points.

Attendance: Class meeting attendance for a "W" course is not required. Class meeting attendance for an "M" course is required. If you miss more than three weeks of class (three scheduled class meetings), you will fail. If you attend all scheduled class meetings, at the end of the semester you'll be awarded a bonus of 3% of the points you have earned (excluding extra credit). Arriving more than 15 minutes late or leaving more than 15 minutes early will count as an absence. Arriving 5-15 minutes late or leaving 5-15 minutes early will count as 1/3 of an absence.

Assignment Format: All coursework should be completed according to the posted protocols. Work which is not completed according to protocol will not earn credit.

Computer Viruses: If I receive any files or mail messages from you which contain a virus, or if you post anything containing a virus to the course website, your course grade will be reduced by a full letter grade. See "Tech Help" for more information on how to avoid computer viruses.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism is use of the words or ideas of another without proper acknowledgment. This includes sharing or discussing answers for homework or tests for which you each receive individual credit. Committing an act of plagiarism is grounds for failure in this course.

Privacy: Your work may be used anonymously as an example in other classes, workshops, or scholarly publications, for educational or scholarly research purposes only. If you do not wish your writing to be used in this manner, let me know in writing by the first week of the next semester. For example, if you are taking this class in the spring, you need to let me know by the first week of the following summer semester.

Accommodation: If you have a disability which you think may affect your performance in this class, please let me know before the second week of the semester so that we can discuss what accommodations may be necessary.

Changes to this syllabus: It may be necessary to change this syllabus during the semester. Any changes will be posted to the course website.

Grammar mistakes in course materials: You may occasionally notice grammar mistakes or typos on course materials. As you probably suspect, these mistakes were intentionally put there for the amusement of students who enjoy finding them and pointing them out to others. You can demonstrate your skill at proofreading by (nicely) letting your teacher know what you have discovered.