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EDF 3604—Miscellaneous course policies
Unique to this course (perhaps)
The No Quotation Rule
Because some students use extensive quotation of course materials as a substitute for showing genuine understanding, I am imposing on this course a simple rule to give students practice in paraphrasing (putting ideas in one's own words). The rule is as follows: Students shall not directly quote any author in this course. I will admit that this rule is entirely arbitrary and has little if anything to do with the discussion of plagiarism below. However, if this rule prevents any misunderstanding about what I consider important (students' demonstrating what they have learned in the course), I find value in it. (Students still need to acknowledge the source of ideas or details when paraphrasing rather than quoting word-for-word. This rule does not mean that one simply omits the quotation marks.)
I encourage students to contact me by e-mail with questions or comments about the course. To facilitate communication among students, there will be a "Dorn EDF 3604" e-mail list.
The "easier to apologize after the fact than receive permission beforehand" principle does not work in this class!
In general, students who discuss matters with me early will receive a far more favorable hearing than students who explain on the last day of class about the "sudden crisis that interfered with work and could I please have an incomplete because my life is in ruins ..." I would much prefer helping students early in the semester to cleaning up a mess at the end.
Late work
I have designed the semester schedule to work best both for students and also for my overall workload. I will not quibble with an assignment that shows up at my door a few hours after the designated class. However, if you miss the due date significantly, you miss the opportunity to receive prompt feedback, as other tasks of mine will then take priority.
Two firm deadlines exist for this course, the eighth week for the revision of one short paper and the penultimate week for the final version of the perspectives paper. I will not accept a revised short paper after the end of the first class in the eighth week, and a late final perspectives paper will lose up to 40 points, depending on when I receive it.
Questions about grades
If, at the end of the semester, students think I have robbed students of ten or more points, please provide your work and some description of my mistakes. I am fallible and willing to admit errors that are likely to make a significant difference in grades.
No Assignments and Grades by Email, Fax, or Phone
Grades will be available through Blackboard. Students may provide me the last day of class with a self-addressed stamped envelope (with sufficient postage—weigh together the envelope, your self-evaluation, and six or seven extra sheets of paper to substitute for the cumulative quiz), in which I will return work to students.
Common Sense
Courtesy
I expect students will help each other in the course by disputing ideas (not personalities) and by being polite to each other and to me in the classroom.
Keep all work!
Please keep copies of all work, both work I have not evaluated and that with written feedback. A portfolio of work can help students evaluate progress in the course, troubleshoot problems during the semester, and document achievement in the event I lose my computer files, a fire destroys my office, or someone kidnaps me.
Incompletes
Rarely, students need incompletes for extraordinary reasons. I will not grant an incomplete at the end of the semester without prior discussion with the student and a firm deadline the student proposes for completing the work.
Students with disabilities
A student should notify me in writing within the first week if one needs a reasonable accommodation for a disability for this course. A letter from the Office of Student Disability Services must accompany the request. Additional resource information is available through the College of Education Guide for Undergraduate Students (Pathfinder), the USF Undergraduate Catalog, or on-line at http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0102/ATMOSPH.HTM
Religious Observances
Please notify me in writing within the first two weeks of any day you will not be attending class for religious reasons.