COURSE POLICIES
By remaining in this class, you agree to abide by the standards, policies, and requirements set forth by this syllabus and to abide by the Code of Student Conduct set forth by North Carolina State University.
EDUCATIONAL DECREE No. 1.......................................Attendance
Because of the collaborative and cooperative nature of first-year writing courses, class attendance is crucial. In ENG 101, students who miss nine 50-minute classes or five 110-minute classes will earn
a grade of F. That is, more than two weeks' worth of absences will result in failure to meet this element
of the General Education Program (GEP) requirement, and you will need to repeat the course.
This policy does not distinguish between "excused" and "unexcused" absences, even in the case of emergencies. All absences will count toward the total number, and this policy is in effect from the
moment you are registered in the course. Thus, if you are on my roster and miss the very first class,
you already have one absence. As is the case for all courses, students experiencing extended medical
or family emergencies during the semester should consult with the instructor about seeking a
medical drop.
No matter what the cause of the absences, as a student, you are responsible for finding out what material was covered, getting notes, being prepared for class on the day you return, and turning in subsequent assignments on time. Since due dates for major assignments are established at the beginning of the semester, and since these projects are developed over a series of class periods, students are advised
that submitting these projects late will result in penalties. If you are absent, you are responsible for any missed work and any modifications of the syllabus and/or assignments.
EDUCATIONAL DECREE No. 2..........................................Tardiness
We meet for a limited amount of time each week, so our time together in class is extremely important. Late arrivals and early departures disrupt everyone's learning, so please be respectful of your peers
by arriving on time and remaining for the duration of our scheduled class.
You will be considered tardy if you arrive after class has already begun, and you will accrue one absence per three tardies and/or early releases you accumulate. Additionally, please note that if you miss more than half of any given class period, either by arriving late or leaving early, you will be automatically counted absent for that day.
EDUCATIONAL DECREE No. 3........................................Late Work
For low-stakes writing, late work will be assigned a grade one tier lower than they would have otherwise received (for example, if you would have originally received an “exceeds expectations,” your grade will be dropped to “acceptable”). For high-stakes writing (i.e., your course projects), late assignments will be penalized 1/3 of a letter grade (A to A-, for example) for every day they are late. If I have not received an assignment within three days of its due date and you have not communicated with me about its submission, I will assume that you do not intend to submit it and assign you a 0.
If you know that you will be unable to complete an assignment on time, please contact me at least
48 hours in advance of the due date, and we can possibly adjust when you must submit your work. I
am willing to offer extensions, but only in the event of significant extenuating circumstances, in which students must submit written evidence documenting said extenuating circumstance. Exceptions to the abovementioned policy are made only in the event of an emergency and at my discretion.
EDUCATIONAL DECREE No. 4................................................Email
I generally check my email at least twice a day on weekdays (M-F) and once per day on weekends (Saturday and Sunday); however, I do not respond to student emails after 8 p.m. on any given day. As a student, it is your responsibility to take this into account when emailing me. Additionally, please check
your own email regularly, as this will be how I send out any changes to the schedule and/or time
sensitive class information.
EDUCATIONAL DECREE No. 5....................................Conferencing
In order to best facilitate your successful completion of course projects, it is expected that you meet with me at least once before the final draft deadline of all major writing assignments to discuss your drafting progress. Time will be set aside during class for these one-on-one conferences throughout the semester; however, it is your responsibility to make an appointment to meet with me during these times. If you miss a conference or all available in-class appointment times are filled, I am happy to accommodate you during regular office hours and by appointment.
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In addition to the mandatory conferences, I am available for supplemental conferences throughout the semester during office hours. There is a clear correlation between student engagement in the writing process (i.e. seeking feedback regularly and talking about process and product) and success in writing courses, so please use office hours for questions about reading and/or writing assignments, as well as draft review conferences and post-grade follow up.
EDUCATIONAL DECREE No. 6...........................Academic Integrity
NCSU Policies, Regulations, and Rules on Student Discipline set the standards for academic integrity
at this university and in this course. Students are expected to adhere to these standards. Plagiarism
and other forms of academic dishonesty will be handled through the university's judicial system and
may result in the failure of a project or the entire course.
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Plagiarism involves the copying of language, phrasing, structure, or specific ideas of others and
presenting any of these as one’s own original work. This includes buying papers, having someone
else write your papers, and improper citation and use of sources. When you present the words or
ideas of another (either published or unpublished) in your writing, you must fully acknowledge your sources through proper citation. Plagiarism is considered a violation of academic integrity whenever
it occurs in written work, including drafts and homework, as well as for formal and informal papers.
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Revealing or sharing another student's course work to which he or she may have access as a member
of the class is also considered a form of academic dishonesty prohibited by the Code of Student Conduct. As a condition for enrollment in this class, students may only share another student's course work with third parties after obtaining the express consent of the student author and the course instructor. “Sharing with third parties” includes posting or causing the course work to be posted on social-networking or other websites. Violations of this condition will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct, which may take further action.
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For additional information about academic integrity, see the Office of Student Conduct website.
EDUCATIONAL DECREE No. 7..............Diversity & Civil Discourse
It is my intent that students from all diverse backgrounds and perspectives be well served by this course, that students’ learning needs be addressed both in and out of class, and that the diversity that students bring to this class be viewed as a resource, strength, and benefit. It is my intent to present materials and activities that are respectful of diversity: gender, sexuality, disability, age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, and culture. Your suggestions are encouraged and appreciated. Please let me know ways to improve the effectiveness of the course for you personally or for other students or student groups.
In this class, we will disagree with one another – this is entirely okay! Part of your college experience (and life in general) involves being exposed to and challenged by perspectives different from your own. These perspectives may, in turn, provoke an emotional response - you may become uncomfortable, offended, angry, or even distressed. These reactions are entirely normal, and being an adult means that we must not shy away from them; rather, we must learn to manage these reactions in constructive ways. We will thus work together to negotiate “ground rules” for civil discourse and managing our reactions to one another in constructive, not destructive, ways. In addition to those negotiated ground rules, students are expected to uphold the following standards:
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The intention to understand — The process of civil discourse places responsibility on both the speaker and the listener to be willing to learn, acknowledging that neither one has all of the answers. It can be messy, involves risk, and is ultimately rewarding. Active listening and asking thoughtful questions are key components.
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Respect for the inherent dignity and worth of every person — Civil discourse means that we recognize that all persons, regardless of differences and disagreements, have inherent dignity, worth, and their own unalienable right to express themselves.
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Commitment to learning and appreciation for critical thinking — Freedom of speech is fundamental for learning, critical inquiry, and growth as an individual and as a community. Civil discourse involves thinking critically about all ideas, opinions, and identities one encounters. The invitation to think critically is meaningless unless diversity of opinion and perspective is not only respected but actively sought out.
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Empathy — A critical component of civil discourse is empathy. In practicing empathy, each individual involved attempts to understand the feelings, experiences, and perspectives of another.
EDUCATIONAL DECREE No. 8..........................Non-Discrimination
North Carolina State University is a diverse community that holds a deep commitment to welcoming and supporting all people. All NCSU community members are responsible for ethical conduct and for helping build our stature as an inclusive, ethical and respectful institution. This means that all NCSU community members are expected to help create and maintain an inclusive working and educational environment
free from all forms of discrimination, harassment and retaliation.
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Discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status, or sexual orientation is a violation of state and federal law and/or NCSU policy and will not be tolerated. Harassment of any person (either in the form of quid pro quo or creation of a hostile environment) based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status, or sexual orientation also is a violation of state and federal law and/or NCSU policy and will not be tolerated. Retaliation against any person who complains about discrimination is also prohibited.
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NCSU's policies and regulations covering discrimination, harassment, and retaliation may be accessed
at http://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-04-25-05 or http://www.ncsu.edu/equal_op/. Any person who feels that they have been the subject of prohibited discrimination, harassment, or retaliation should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity (OEO) at 919-515-3148.
EDUCATIONAL DECREE No. 9......Accommodations for Disabilities
Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. Accommodations may be made for lifelong medical conditions, persistent medical conditions, or temporary medical conditions.
In order to take advantage of available accommodations, students must register with the Disability Resource Office. You may contact them via their website or by phone, 919-515-7653.
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