Course policies

  1. All assignments must be turned in on time.  Late assignments will not be accepted without a physician’s excuse.
  2. All print essays must be typed (double-spaced with a works cited page; the works cited page does not count in the total number of pages.
  3. On peer response days, you must come to class with a draft.  Failure to come with a draft will result in your grade being lowered one letter grade for the assignment.
  4. Class attendance is mandatory.  You may have no more than two unexcused absences.  For each unexcused absence after the second, your grade will be lowered one half letter grade.  Being more than 10 minutes late will result in an absence for the day.
  5. Please turn your cell phone off before class starts.
  6. I encourage you to meet with me at least twice during the semester; however, your team is required to meet with me to discuss your final project.
  7. You are free to agree, disagree, or extend a point made during discussions; however, you are expected to be civil in tone.  No personal attacks.
  8. You must participate in at least four of your team’s interviews and work with your team throughout the group project.  Failure to participate fully will result in your individual grade being lowered.
  9. You must bring your texts to class.

I am available to conference with you about drafts of your assignments at whatever stage in the writing process you may be.  You may not, however, email me drafts to read.  In other words, I will only read a draft when you come for a conference.  I can have a conversation with you about your goals and strategies.

TEAMWORK

Working in teams is an expected part of most professional settings.  For groups to be successful, everyone must carry his or her weight.  I expect every member of the group to contribute throughout the semester.  While it is up to each group to decide on individual roles, no one or two persons should shoulder the burden of the group project.  I will check with each graduate student leader for feedback on group progress. In addition, I will check with each group weekly to get updates.  I expect any disagreements within groups to be resolved within the groups.  Only if there is no apparent resolution will I allow a member to change groups.  No members can change groups after week five.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY (ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT)
Academic integrity is essential to maintaining an environment that fosters excellence in teaching, research, and other educational and scholarly activities.  Thus, The Ohio State University and the Committee on Academic Misconduct (COAM) expect that all students have read and understand the University’s Code of Student Conduct, and that all students will complete all academic and scholarly assignments with fairness and honesty.  Students must recognize that failure to follow the rules and guidelines established in the University’s Code of Student Conduct and this syllabus may constitute “Academic Misconduct.”

The Ohio State University’s Code of Student Conduct (Section 3335-23-04) defines academic misconduct as: “Any activity that tends to compromise the academic integrity of the University, or subvert the educational process.”  Examples of academic misconduct include (but are not limited to) plagiarism, collusion (unauthorized collaboration), copying the work of another student, and possession of unauthorized materials during an examination.  Ignorance of the University’s Code of Student Conduct is never considered an “excuse” for academic misconduct, so I recommend that you review the Code of Student Conduct and, specifically, the sections dealing with academic misconduct. Other sources of information on academic misconduct (integrity) to which you can refer include:  The Committee on Academic Misconduct web pages