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Course Calendar

Assignments & Grading

General Policies

1. All essays must be word processed and must be in the format found in this MS Word template. Simply open this template and replace each item with your own information, e.g. name, title, etc. Please set 1" margins, use 12 pt. Times Roman or 10 pt. Arial. To replace the information in the footer, simply double-click on the footer and it will open - add the page number and date.

2. You will receive instructions on how to submit each assignment. Most essays will be submitted via MyCompLab, but in some instances you may be required to bring hard copies to class. I do not accept emailed copies of assignments and essays.

3. Because the instructions are written out on each assignment, please do not ask me for information about an assignment unless you have read it and still don't understand something. It may seem faster and more efficient for you to ask me than to read carefully, but this class is about reading as much as it is about writing.

4. Assignments submitted through MyCompLab must be submitted by the beginning of class on the day they are due. You may be required to bring hard copies of essays to class for peer review workshops. If this is the case, and you fail to bring copies to class, you will lose 5% from your final grade for the essay.

5. First drafts of essays will be accepted after the due date, and I will give comments, but you will lose an automatic 5% from your final grade for the essay. (Please note that on the Research Essay you will lose 2% of your final grade, in addition to the 5%, for late drafts.)

6. Final drafts are due on the date stated. No drafts will be accepted after the final due date. You will receive the grade you were given for the first draft if no 2nd draft is submitted by the due date.

7. Save ALL of your assignments, drafts, and writing exercises.

Grading

DIAGNOSTIC EXAMS (4%)

You will be required to complete two diagnostic exercises during the course. Both of these will be administered through Blackboard. The first you must complete between Monday, January 29 and 3 P.M. Friday, February 2. You will be required to complete the second, follow-up diagnostic at the end of the semester. The "grade" you receive on these exams will not count toward your course grade; however, you will receive a credit of 2% for completing each diagnostic. You can't lose - just complete them both and receive full credit!

ESSAYS (55%)

For the first three essays you will submit a 1st draft, I will grade the 1st draft, then you will have the opportunity to revise the essay based on my comments and the feedback from your classmates. I will read and assess your revision and assign a new grade based on whether and how well you 1) modified your writing based on my suggestions, 2) responded to the comments of your classmates, and 3) applied the strategies for revision laid out in Chapter 14 of your textbook. Be aware that you may not receive a higher grade just because you changed a few things in your original draft, especially if you did not change more than editorial things such as spelling and grammatical errors. In order to have a 2nd draft considered for re-grading, it MUST be turned in on the due date, otherwise you will receive the grade for the 1st draft. If you wish to turn in more than two drafts of an essay, just talk to me and we'll arrange a time frame for you to do so to insure that you get the 3rd draft in by the due date.

You are not required to turn in a revised version of any of the first three essays. You are free to chose NOT to revise your essay if you are comfortable with the grade you receive on the 1st draft. It is completely up to you.

You ARE required to turn in a 1st and a 2nd draft of the Research Essay.

I grade essays based on a system of 100 points based on a rubric you will receive in class. This system allows me to grade you in a more refined method than the broader strokes of an A or a B, which I believe is fairer to you in the end. Grading Rubric for Essays

Personal Essay (8%)
650-700 words - 2 pages.

Review Essay (10%)
750-900 words - 2 and 1/2 pages.

Proposal Essay (10%)
750-900 words - 2 and 1/2 pages.

Research Essay (27%)
1700-1800 words - approximately 5 pages (not including the annotated bibliography).

1st Draft of Essay 2% (You receive 2% simply by turning this in on the due date.)
Final Draft of Essay 15% (Credit for this will be based on criteria from a rubric.)
Annotated Bibliography 5% (Credit for this will be based on criteria from a rubric.)
Research Narrative 5% (Credit for this will be based on criteria from a rubric.)
 

SHORT WRITINGS, GRAMMAR EXERCISES, POP QUIZZES (25%)

Short writing exercises will generally be one page or shorter. Most will be completed during class time. Unless you have a documented excuse, missed in-class exercises cannot be made up and you will NOT receive credit for the assignment. Each individual exercise will be worth anywhere from 1% to 4% of your total grade. Generally, you will receive full credit for these by simply being in class that day and completing the exercise. Writing exercises will be posted on the class schedule.

Grammar exercises will be completed in MyCompLab, outside of class time. These will be posted on the class schedule, or assigned to you individually as I assess your specifWelcome to MyCompLab!ic needs.

Pop quizzes will consist of one or two simple questions about the readings. Pop quizzes will be unannounced. These are intended to insure that you do the assigned reading before you come to class!

PEER REVIEWS (8%)
During the course you will be working together with classmates, reading and commenting on one another's essays. You may be making these comments in MyCompLab or you may be required to bring hard copies of your draft to class. 

FINAL EXAM (8%)
The exam will consist of an in-class essay.