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English 1520
Leah
Michels, instructor
This handout contains the policies that will govern
this course for the semester. It is your responsibility to reread this
handout from time to time so that you remain aware of these policies at
they beomce applicable to specific assignments and situations affecting your
final outcome in the course.
Where to find me: I will be available to talk in
person during my posted office hours in G316. You can leave messages for me
by calling 522-3690. You can also leave me e-mail messages at
lamichel@oaklandcc.edu
What this course will do for you: In this class
you will develop your ability to write clear, focused prose. Your writing
will demonstrate and awareness of audience, organizational ability, and
competence analyzing information from various texts. You will learn several
research techniques (ranging from direct to electronic) and be able to
assess the credibility of materials you read. You will improve your grammar
and mechanics, become critical readers for one another, and develop
interpersonal and team skills.
What you need to do: I would really like to see
each of you complete this class and do well. To do that, I insist on the
following:
1.
regular, timely attendance;
2.
reading and comprehension of the assigned readings;
3.
work and participation in class;
4.
completion of assigned essays;
5.
thoughtful revision of essays.
Your past performance in English classes is not as
important for success as your present attitude and willingness to work a
reasonable amount. Please try to envision your success in here and agree to
do your work daily and weekly. This short-term effort should translate into
a good grade, the ability to read critically, the ability to write college
level research papers, and three transferable credits.
Don’t hesitate to talk to me if you have any problems
with the subject matter. If you do your best to follow my minimal rules,
I’m very happy to help you succeed in here.
Grades: I will record many grades. These grades
will be my evaluation of your attendance, reading and comprehension, use of
class time, and written and oral work. Some of my evaluations will be as
simple as looking out to see if you are present and on time. Other
evaluations will be more subjective, as I assess your class participation,
knowledge of assigned readings, and the quality of your writing.
The approximate percentage devoted to each area is:
10% quizzes
10% group work
15% argument paper
15% proposal and source critique paper
25% research paper
10% presentation
10% final exam
5% use of class time
If I recommend that you see a writing tutor (provided
free of charge, extensive hours, in the IIC), you should consider that an
assignment, and know that failure to complete assignments carries a heavy
penalty.
Attendance or lack thereof, while not given a
percentage of your grade, will affect your grade. Missing a single class is
considerable. You can miss two classes or be late twice with no averse
affect to your grade; three times, you grade is significantly lowered. If
you are absent four times, you will earn a WP. I do not assess absences in
terms of excused or unexcused. Missing four classes, for any reason,
will simply make it impossible for you to complete the course.
You will be responsible for information disseminated in
class, whether you are present or not. Make up assignments are generally
not possible. I will not seek you out to give you information or demand a
late paper or remind you how many absences or lates you have. Absence does
not absolve you of your responsibility to turn in work.
Class procedures: This is a workshop class.
Most days you will either sit at a computer and write, or you will work in
groups giving and receiving feedback on your drafts. Some days we will
discuss the readings as a class, take quizzes, or I will lecture on some
feature of an assignment or research technique.
Books, materials, technology: You will be
required to have:
The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing;
a good, college-level dictionary for
home use;
two folders with pockets for this class
alone, no sharing;
two computer disks that will
work for our computers (problems with technology are not my domain. I will
not accept, “my disk won’t work” as an excuse).
You must be able to work on the computers here. I give
no guarantees of compatibility between our computers and others. If you
wish to use another computer in addition to the computers here, that is your
prerogative, but you must be able to work here. Making the switch
between computers is your responsibility.
Keep all writing you do in your folder. Keep all
handouts in the folder. Bring all materials with you daily.
Hints: Here are some basic college
expectations:
1.
Know that in college you are expected to spend at least two
hours working outside of class for every hour you are in class.
2.
Use a planner—it is your responsibility to keep track of when things
are due. You are responsible for material covered in your absence—don’t
expect extensions.
3.
Read and annotate your assignments before they are due.
4.
Be prepared for class, be it finishing the reading, having copies of
your work, computer disks; don’t ask to get prepared during class.
5.
Attend class on time, regularly, and work until the end. Regularly
showing up late or leaving early is tantamount to insulting the instructor.
6.
Utilize the free writing tutor.
ADA Notification: Students requiring special
assistance (including those affected by the Americans with Disabilities
Act) should contact the PASS office (see attached sheet) and inform the
instructor of any special conditions pertaining to their learning.
Note on plagiarism: Any student caught cheating
(using someone else’s work as his or her own) will fail. There is no
negotiation in such a case.
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