College Writing II: Writing and Literary Study (Fall 2010)

• Attendance policy: Students must attend a majority of class sessions in order to pass the class; long-term and repeated absences are unacceptable. Your first 3 absences are automatically excused and need no explanation please. Beyond that, you will need a note from your physician or the Dean of Students in order to excuse an absence for medical reasons or family death. Attendance is a part of your Participation Grade, which is also determined by your active and enthusiastic participation in class discussions; original and thought-provoking discussion questions; and informal writing assignments. For our online class meetings, you must complete all assigned online activities no later than 2:15 on Wednesdays (unless otherwise indicated) in order for your attendance to count. Please make a friend in class to cover material missed while absent. 
  

• Discussion questions (called DISC. below) must be ORIGINAL and include either ones you would pose as an instructor of the class, things you are confused about in the reading, or a mix between the two. The purpose of discussion questions is to open a dialogue between you and me; to make this a student-centered classroom; and to help students become better writers by becoming critical thinkers, or people who question what they read. Discussion questions are not evaluated,  are not mandatory, but are taken into consideration for your Participation Grade. Please bring a copy of your discussion questions to class so that you can reference them in discussion. However, I will look at them on Blackboard/Discussion Board. Please feel free to respond to other students' queries if you feel inspired to answer; I will take such responses as extra credit for your Participation Grade (and enjoy reading them, of course). You may print up and re-present your Discussion Questions in an optional Participation Packet at the end of the semester if you'd like to remind me of your hard work.

• Check = Fine/Good/Very Good (79-88 range): Shows fine understanding of themes and issues in the book. Provides a summary that may need some revision, such as articulating the reader’s position and argument, providing support for assertions, and writing in an academic style.
• Check plus = Very Good/Great/Excellent (89-100 range): Shows excellent understanding of the material. Provides a clear and an original analysis that articulates the reader’s position. Needs very little or no revision.
• Check minus = Unsatisfactory/Okay (0-78 range): Shows poor understanding of the material. Provides an unclear summary or analysis. Needs a lot of revision in terms of clarity and/or style.

• Turn off and put away cell phones, blackberries, and related electronics. Absolutely NO TEXTING or talking on handheld devices ANYTIME in class, including breaks and before class. Laptops should be used to write lecture notes only (not IM'ing, poker playing, etc.). If these policies cannot be followed, you will be asked to leave.
  
• Papers should be no longer or shorter than the length assigned and should be submitted on time as stapled hard copies (no cover pages, loose pages, or folders please).  2 points are deducted from formal writing projects for every class day they are late. With the exception of journals and discussion questions, double space and use twelve-point type, in Times New Roman or CG Times (or 10 pt. in Veranda, etc.).
• To teach students to avoid plagiarism, lectures will also include instruction in MLA documentation of all work. This course engages in questions of authorship, including web authorship (http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/web.html). Submitting work and words that are not your own will result in failing this course and disciplinary action by the Dean of Students. You can see my entire FAQ on plagiarism here: http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/citation.html
  
• Accommodations are always arranged for students with documented disabilities. Please call, email, or see the instructor personally, as well as Services for Students with Disabilities (Linda A. Smith in Morehead Hall 305, X5431).
• Please note that I do not discuss grades via email.