Requirements and Grading

• Four papers, each worth 20% of the final grade.  Assignment sheets with suggested topics will be handed out as the semester progresses.
• Final exam (10%)
• Homework and in-class assignments (10%).  In addition to your major papers, you will complete approximately ten response papers, quizzes, or other short assignments either in class or for homework.  These assignments will be announced in class.
• Active class participation.

• that you will participate actively in class discussion, group work, and conferences.
• that all papers and homework, unless otherwise indicated, will be typed or word-processed.
• that you will adhere to the style and format guidelines that accompany each assignment.
• that any work you turn in will be your own.  Please review the Tiger Cub (p. 87) and Holt Handbook guidelines (pp. 275-81) on what is and what is not plagiarism, and do not hesitate to check with me if you need further clarification.  The penalties for plagiarism are appropriately severe and they will be enforced without exception.

House Rules
Absences: You are given three unexcused absences to use at your discretion, except on days when a paper is due or peer editing is scheduled:   in fairness to those students completing the work on time, I must verify any excuse that results in an extension.   If you have used up your three absences and an emergency occurs that requires you to miss class, then you must provide me with appropriate documentation to excuse the absence.  See me during office hours to discuss any work that you missed:  that is, please do not ask me before the following class about work missed or send me an e-mail requesting a summary of the previous class meeting.  Students with more than three unexcused absences will have one full grade (1.0) deducted from the final grade for each additional unexcused absence.

Late papers:  Papers and other assignments are due at class-time on the days noted in your syllabus.  A paper turned in after the due date will be penalized one letter grade for each weekday that it is late.  If illness or another emergency prevents you from meeting a deadline or sitting for an exam, please contact me as soon as you know that you cannot come to class.
 
Classroom behavior: Avoid behavior that is discourteous to your classmates and disruptive.  Examples include:  arriving late; leaving class early without permission; sleeping; and talking to a neighbor when you should be listening.  If a student continues to be disruptive after being warned to stop, he or she risks failing the course.