As a considerable amount of our writing and revision will take place during class time prompt attendance at all class sessions is necessary to pass this course. Each absence in excess of 3 will result in a two point reduction in your final grade. Being tardy by more than twenty minutes will constitute an absence. After 4 absences you will be required to have a conference with me to discuss whether or not you should continue in this course.
Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of the thoughts, words, of a source other than yourself. Any student who plagiarizes will receive a failing grade for the course and will be reported to the Dean, the Department Chair, and the Judicial Officer. Incompletes: A grade of incomplete will be given at the instructor’s discretion, and then only in cases of emergency.
· Class discussions will be drawn from the texts assigned for that day. Students will be responsible for knowing the material covered in class. It will be impossible for you to participate in class discussions or to do well on in-class assignments if you are not prepared.
· It is expected that you will read carefully and critically, take notes in your journal, jot down questions, and bring all required materials to class each day. Your journal will not be graded as a formal paper but will be a place for your observations and growth as an analytical reader and writer. Summaries of the novels and/or essays do not constitute acceptable journal entries. Feel free to use your journal to take notes, outline a future paper topic, doodle, rage against an idea, etc. As it would benefit you to have your thoughts accessible to you at all times, you should bring your journal to class everyday. Journals will collected at least two (2) times during the semester at the instructor’s discretion.
· There will be an in-class writing exam or one page type response to reading due every Thursday. The subject matter for this writing will be that week’s reading.
· As we will be discussing subjects that will be controversial, to some students, all remarks made in class must be based solely on fact. Personal opinion and theological beliefs should not be brought into class discussions unless they are specifically requested. Please be advised that we will be reading about, discussing, and writing about issues of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, etc. if you have personal or theological beliefs that may hinder your discussion and/or participation please let me know ASAP so that we can discuss your options.
· Students will be required to write approximately 5,000 words during this course. You must complete all assignments to pass this course.
· Students will be responsible for participating in in-class writing workshops where they can benefit from the constructive criticism of their fellow students. Attendance and participation in peer workshops is mandatory. A 1 point (3 points for the final research project) reduction in grade will be taken for all students who do not have a draft of their paper ready for our workshopping sessions.
· All papers that receive a grade of 7 points or below are subject to one revision. The grade of the final draft of the essay will be the only one that will be recorded. Revisions are due one week from the day that the essays are returned to you by the instructor. Final research projects are eligible for revision at the discretion of the instructor. · No out of class papers will be accepted if they are handwritten and accompanied by your computer diskette.
· All in-class writing exams will be done in blue books and completed in class.
· Late assignments will only be accepted with the specific, prior agreement of the instructor.
· Pagers and other electronic communications devices will be turned of or on silent during class time. If you do not adhere to this policy you may be asked to leave the class for the remainder of the day.