On-line Class Policies
Contemporary U.S. Women of Color
(Re) rac-/class-/gender-/sex-ing Identities
Fall 1999

• Ideas/ Helping Out
  If at any time you have any ideas or suggestions you would like to share with me or with the class, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! Any questions or concerns you have about your work or the class can be voiced to me outside of class, during my office hours, or by e-mail. I'm only the instructor -- YOU make the class.

• Gordon Rule
  This course satisfies the Gordon Rule mandate of 6,000 words of polished, instructor-evaluated writing. However, this requirement is met only if you actually DO the work.

• Assignments
  Assigned writing must be turned in on time, or it will receive no credit. Students absent during any class are still responsible for turning in assignments. I will return student papers as soon as possible to facilitate the writing process.
  Make photocopies of your work to distribute for peer review.
  Final papers must be accompanied by all preceding drafts. Keep drafts in a folder with final papers, and turn in folder on the assigned day.

• Format
  All assignments written outside of class -- including drafts -- are to be typed or computer-printed (if using a dot-matrix printer, the print must be dark, clear, and easy to read) on standard 8 1/2 x 11" typing paper. Type must be double-spaced, and on one side of each page only. Maintain margins at one inch from the top, right, and bottom sides of the paper; the left margin is to be one and one-half inches. The student's name, the paper number, course/section numbers, and the CORRECT date must be in the upper right-hand corner of the first page of the paper, on separate lines. If a paper exceeds one page, the student's last name and the page number must appear in the upper right-hand corner. Papers of more than one page are to be stapled BEFORE turned in. These requirements are necessary to safeguard against misreading, and to acclimate students to preparing professional-looking documents. I will not accept papers that do not adhere to these guidelines.

  Example first-page header =	Nick Melczarek Paper 2 ENC 1102.1719 January 6, 2006
  example following-page header =	Melczarek 2

• Class Participation
  I would like this course to be a group effort, rather than just me tossing things at you or droning on interminably (which I will probably do anyway). While I will point out specific items in the critical texts or novels which I think will help or be of interest, I would like to conduct the class otherwise as an informed discussion group. To this end, everyone must have the day's assigned readings read, and written work completed. Failure to do so counts as an unexcused absence. We may work in smaller groups as well to facilitate the learning process. Therefore, not only attendance, but also careful and attentive note-taking on readings and active participation in class discussions are mandatory. If you have trouble speaking out in class, let me know early in the semester so that we can work on this.

• Class Conduct/ Harassment
  Students are expected to show respect for diverse opinions (both the instructor's and peers') during class discussion and in papers. Each student is also expected to participate in class discussion in a responsible, adult manner, presenting opinions but also permitting others to present their opinions. Harassment -- comprising name-calling, derogatory comments, and rudeness of any sort -- directed toward either myself or any student will not be tolerated. One instance will receive a reprimand; more than one will affect the class-participation grade; continued incidents will result in expulsion from the class and disciplinary measures from University authorities. [text adapted from official English Department Policies]

• Attendance/ Absences/ Tardiness
  Since class participation and experience is important in shaping student writing, attendance is mandatory. Roll will be taken each class session. Two absences are permitted to each student with no questions asked. More than two unexcused absences will result in a student's grade being lowered one letter. (Excused absences include those for University sports/music/academic programs with prior notification from those departments; for illness with a verifiable doctor's note; and for religious holy days with prior notice.) If you anticipate an absence, DO NOT CALL THE UF ENGLISH DEPARTMENT. If you need to, make an appointment to see me during office hours. Otherwise, use the contact other students and find out what assignments or notes were missed in class -- remember: as stated above, students absent during any class are still responsible for completing readeings and turning in assignments for the next class session.
  Tardiness hinders other students by disrupting the class flow. Make your best effort to arrive to class on time. (On time means on time -- not five or ten minutes later.) If you are frequently tardy due to parking difficulties, then make efforts to arrive earlier on campus. Three late arrivals will count as an absence (you are advised not to rely on this: tardies accumulate quickly). If you are absolutely unavoidably tardy, enter the classroom as quietly as possible and take the nearest seat (don't trek across the room); if you are compelled to explain your late arrival, approach me about it after class.

• Academic Honesty
  Unless otherwise indicated by me in connection with group work, all work must be individual. Evidence of collusion (working with another student or tutor), plagiarism (use of another's ideas, data, and statements without acknowledgment or minimal acknowledgment), or multiple submissions (submitting the same work for more than one class), will lead to procedures set up by the University for academic dishonesty. All students are expected to honor their commitment to the University's Honor Code. [text adapted from official English Department Policies]

• Plagiarism
  Plagiarism, quite simply, comprises taking any amount of someone else's written work or ideas in any form and claiming it as your own. This is not the same as paraphrasing or quoting (where you still give credit for another person's work). Extended definitions of plagiarism, and methods to ensure against plagiarism (i.e. methods of quotation and citation), will be discussed in class. Plagiarism by any student on any assignment, no matter how small or at what stage, will result in failure from the course; will be reported to department and school authorities; and could result in expulsion from the university. Plagiarism is no way to learn -- why risk it?

• Student Grievance
  Complaints about separate assignments should be discussed with me. Complaints about the final grade should be discussed with me in at least one conference soon after the next term begins. If the conference on the final grade does not resolve the problem in a valid, college-level manner, the complaint can be expressed on a form in the English Office, 4008 Turlington; the form must be accompanied with copies of every assignment and the instructor's directions. The form and accompanying course material will be given to the Director of Writing Programs for further action. Please note that the department does not review a complaint about a separate assignment, nor will it review a complaint about final grades unless all assignments are submitted along with the instructor's directions for the assignments. The review committee may decide the grade should remain as is or be raised or lowered; its decision is final. [text adapted from official English Department Policies]

• Grading
  Your grade is based on a number of items including your work and class participation. Your work is not graded in comparison to anyone else's -- i.e. there is no curve -- so everyone is graded individually.
  Assignments:
• 3 papers, 5-8 pp. each (no less than 5 pages) (see "Format" above)
• creative project
• quizzes; short work for terms, readings, and/or for writing practice -- averaged together
• class participation (q.v. above)
  (for quizzes: 100-90=A, 89-80=B, 79-70=C, 69-60=D, 59-0=no cigar) (GPs for papers and final grades: A+, A,A- =4; B+ =3.5; B,B- =3; C+=2.5; C, C- =2; D+=1.5; D, D- =1; F=no cigar)
  

  Paper 1	=	20%
  Paper 2	=	20%
  Paper 3	=	20%
  creative project	=	20%
  average quizzes/short work	=	10%
  Class Participation	=	10%
  Final Course Grade