Course Expectations | Grades | Grading Criteria | Plagiarism | Grade Complaints | ESL Students | Students with Disabilities

Course Expectations & Advice

To do well (or even passably) in this course, you must do a few key things...

• Come to class. If you do miss a day, ask a classmate about what was covered. 7 or more absences will cause you to fail the class.  If you come late, see me after class to be counted on the roll; I will only amend the roll on that class day.

• Turn in assignments on time. I will accept final drafts only up to 24 hours late, with a deduction of one full letter grade. This means that if, for example, you turn in Paper 3 two hours late, your B will drop to a C. Papers more than one day late will not be accepted and you will receive a grade of 0. If you cannot attend class on the date an assignment is due, have a classmate or friend drop it off during scheduled class time. I will accept assignments by e-mail, but I am not responsible for them - e-mailed assignments may be forgotten, lost, deleted... e-mail at your own risk! All assignments should be typed.

• Be ready for class. Do your homework. 

• See me during office hours. Students who seek out individual conferences are usually those who make the most improvement throughout the semester. I am always happy to schedule appointments for those who cannot attend my regular office hours. 

• Similarly, I recommend that you visit the Undergraduate Writing Center for additional consultation. The UWC is located in FAC 211 near the SMF lab. 
  
  During class you should...

• show respect for the instructor and for your classmates.  Students who are persistently disruptive or abusive will receive an F for the class.

• use your time wisely--when you are in class, work on material related to class only; if you have spare time, work on your ongoing projects, reading, or other preparations for this class 

• turn your cell phone off!

Grades

Grades will be based on 

 All assignments should be typed, 10- 12-pt font, and double-spaced.

Grading Criteria

C: To earn a C, your argumentative paper should, first and foremost, take a clear stand on one debatable claim and provide sufficient evidence to support that position. To accomplish this requirement, make sure your paper fulfills the assignment (type of argument, outside research, length, format, and so on) and give your paper a discernible structure, using transitions to help your reader move from one idea to another. The ideas you present should demonstrate that you understand the rhetorical concepts that your instructor has addressed in class. If you use outside sources, summarize them accurately and employ them fairly. Grammatical and syntactical mistakes should not impede your readers' understanding of your argument.

B: To earn a B, first build on the skills needed to earn a C. In addition to making a clear argument, you might address a more complicated or challenging topic. You might synthesize and evaluate outside sources in the service of developing your own claim. Finally, show that you understand the importance of word choice, voice, and style, in addition to grammatical competency.

A: To earn an A, you should continue to build on the foundations discussed above. Your thesis should be provocative, possibly addressing an issue from a perspective that most readers have not considered, perhaps even changing the way they look at it altogether. As always, you should demonstrate your command of style, voice, mechanics, and usage.

If you receive a D on a paper, carefully consider the criteria listed above for a C. Instructors may give Ds to papers when writers, while demonstrating a general understanding of the topic and concepts, have not mastered some basic skills. If you misunderstand the assignment; show little understanding of the required rhetorical concepts; or ignore the technical requirements of topic, length, or format, your paper may receive an F.

Plagiarism

Turning in work that is not your own or any other form of scholastic dishonesty will result in possible failure of the course. A report of the incident will also be made to the Office of the Dean of Students. Do not use editing services other than those offered by the Undergraduate Writing Center (FAC 211) or the Learning Skills Center. Approved tutors are trained to help you resolve your problems, so that all your writing reflects what you have learned. We will be covering the use of sources and the skills of paraphrase and summary extensively in class. If you have any questions about the use you are making of sources for your assignments, see me before you turn in the project.

Grade Complaints

Bring any questions you have about grades or policies to me first. Formal grade complaints will not be accepted on the day I pass back an assignment--they must be presented in writing within one week. 

ESL students

I will grade the language and style portion of ESL students' papers slightly more gently. Let me know if you qualify.

Students with Disabilities

The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TDD.