COURSE SYLLABUS

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Attendance: Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  As a hybrid course, students are expected to attend class when it meets face to face and by logging in to the course in CANVAS daily. For the days the class meets face to face students can be penalized for excessive absences.  Because this course progresses very quickly, I reserve the right to block from this course students who fail to complete assignments for more than one week. Students who are blocked MUST contact the registrar's office and withdraw from the course, or they will receive a semester grade of F. 

Students who leave class before being dismissed by the instructor will be counted absent or tardy (at the discretion of the instructor).  Those who leave at break will be counted absent.  Each absence will affect the final grade. The absence limit varies with the day and meeting schedule of the class.  The limit is five (5) absences for classes meeting three (3) times a week (automatic F for the course on the sixth (6) absence).  The absence limit is three (3) for classes meeting two (2) times a week (automatic F for the course on the fourth (4) absence).  The limit for classes meeting one time a week is two (2) absences (automatic F for the course on the third (3) absence).  No further warnings concerning absences will be given.  It is the student’s responsibility to remember absences.  Students who exceed the absence limit may or may not be dropped (at the discretion of the instructor).  If you do not plan to continue attending the class and want a ‘W’ for the semester, be sure to drop the class.  Do not assume that the instructor will do this for you.

Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

Disability Accommodations: North Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of disability for admission or access to its programs. The College is committed to providing equal access to its students with disabilities by providing appropriate accommodations; a variety of services and resources are made available through the ACCESS Department. Students are responsible for notifying the ACCESS Department of their need for assistance. Students with documented disabilities, such as mobility impairment, hearing or visual impairment, learning, and/or psychological disorders are eligible for services.

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. A disability is anything that can interfere with learning, such as a learning disability, psychological challenge, physical illness, or injury. Accommodations may include extra time on tests, tests in a distraction-reduced environment, volunteer note taker in class, etc.

On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 in the Administration Building (100) or call 940-668-4209.  Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209 to arrange for an intake appointment with OSD.

North Central Texas College is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112). http://www.nctc.edu/student-services/disability-services/index.html

EEOC Statement: North Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability in the employment or the provision of services.

Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Veterans Services: The Financial Aid Office is responsible for administering a variety of programs for students who need assistance in financing their education.  The first step for financial aid is to complete a FAFSA.  For more information, please visit your nearest Financial Aid Office: http://www.nctc.edu/financial-aid/index.html.

Last day to Withdraw: Last day to drop a class with grade of “W” is April 5, 2018.

Scholastic Integrity – Plagiarism: Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. See Student Handbook “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct [FLB- (LOCAL)]” #18.

Disciplinary Actions [Student Handbook, #5] “When cheating, collusion, or plagiarism has occurred beyond any reasonable doubt, the instructor may give the student or students involved an “F” on a particular assignment or in the course. [See Scholastic Dishonesty FLB (Local)] The instructor shall make a written report of the incident and of the planned action to his Department Chair. The Department Chair shall report the incident and action to appropriate instructional dean who shall review the case, notify the student and, if necessary, take further action. This may involve either probation or suspension of the student or students in question. If such disciplinary action is deemed necessary, the Dean of Student Services shall be notified, and the action shall be taken through that office.”

Plagiarism, which should be avoided at all costs, includes the following student actions:

1. Turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own;
2. Unintentionally or inadvertently turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own as the result of failing to document sources both internally and in the Works Cited;
3. Copying words, ideas, or images from someone without giving credit; Failing to put a quotation in quotations marks;
4. Giving incorrect information about the source of information, quotations, or images;
5. Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit;
6. Copying so many words, ideas, or images from a source that it makes up the majority of the student's work, whether or not the student gives credit.

Please be aware that I take plagiarism very seriously.  You may not have another person write, type, edit, or revise any parts of your Writing Assignments.  You may not use someone else’s Writing Assignment or buy one from a “professional” source.  You may not use material on the internet or in print sources without documenting it.  Failure to follow the proper guidelines for documentation constitutes plagiarism. 

Considering the severity of the issue, if you ever have any questions or concerns regarding plagiarism, please consider this an open invitation to visit with me about the issue. If I discover that a student has committed intentional plagiarism, the Writing Assignment that has plagiarized materials will receive a zero, and I will recommend to the English Department Head that the student fail the course.

Student Rights & Responsibilities: NCTC Board policy FLB (Local) Student Rights and Responsibilities states that each student shall be charged with notice and knowledge of the contents and provisions of the rules and regulations concerning student conduct.  These rules and regulations are published in the Student Handbook published in conjunction with the College Catalog.  All students shall obey the law, show respect for properly constituted authority, and observe correct standards of conduct.

Student Success: The Student Success Center is designed to help all students at NCTC develop tools to achieve their academic goals.  This program also links students to FREE tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab, and free 24/7 online tutoring and helps new students acclimate to college by providing computer lab services for prospective students.  All students are invited to visit the Student Success Center on the Corinth Campus go to rooms 170, 182, or 188; on the Gainesville Campus go to rooms 114 or 111; on the Flower Mound Campus go to room 111, on the Bowie Campus go to room 124.

ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION: EVALUATION OF MAJOR WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

• “A” Work: This writing is excellentand demonstrates excellence in development, organization, style and tone, and mechanics. There is clear evidence of the writing process (invention, drafting, revision, editing, and proofreading).  
  • A = 95  
  • A- = 92  
  • A-/B+ = 90
• “B” Work: This is goodwork and delivers substantial information—that is, substantial in both quantity and interest-value. It is well-developed and unified around a clear organizing principle that is apparent early in the piece. There is evidence of the writing process.  
  • B+ = 87  
  • B = 85
  • B- = 82
  • B-/C+ = 80
• “C” Work: This is an averagepiece that is generally competent in its development, organization, style and tone, and mechanics.  It meets the needs for the assignment, has few mechanical errors, and is reasonably organized and developed. This piece also shows some evidence of the writing process. 
  • C+ = 77
  • C = 75
  • C- = 72
  • C-/D+ = 70
• “D” Work:  This is below-averagework that lacks develop and/or is not effectively organized to facilitate reader’s understanding.  The paper also shows little or no evidence of the writing process. 
  • D+ = 67
  • D = 65
  • D- = 62
• “F” Work:  This work failsin all aspects of the evaluation criteria.  There is no evidence of the writing process and the paper fails in all aspects of development, organization, style, and mechanics.
  • F (work submitted and attempted) = 55
  • F (no work submitted or attempted) = 0

OTHER AREAS OF CONSIDERATION

Attendance Requirements: Attendance, in both online and face-to-face courses, is required.  

Email Correspondence: I reserve 24 hours to respond to students’ emails. Emails sent to me become my personal property and I may disclose them to third parties if I determine it’s necessary. Emails constitute correspondence between instructor and student; therefore, remember your audience when sending me emails. Email correspondence may contribute positively or negatively to your professionalism grade.

Gender Identity: This course affirms people of all gender expressions and identities. If you prefer to be called a different name than is what on the class roster, please let me know. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records, and so I may call you by your preferred name and pronoun. 

Late-Work Policy: A major writing task is due on the day listed on Canvas. However, if you need an extension, please visit with me privately to make those arrangements. I reserve the right to not evaluate any work submitted more than 5 days late.

Professionalism: Your college courses are also opportunities for you to learn what it means to be a “professional” in your field.  Therefore, I expect you to act like a “professional” student in this course.  Consider these suggestions:

• Prepare and participate meaningfully in online discussion boards.
• Be assertive. (An assertive student exhausts all available resources of information before contacting me. In other words, read the assignment sheet closely before e-mailing me to ask how many sources are required in your paper, and if you are unsure how to cite a source, look it up in your handbook or a credible, online source—such as The Purdue Owl or a handbook.)
• Consider the quality (and effort) of required drafts, notes, and daily assignments.
• Turn in writing assignments on-time and as assigned.
• Mind the quality and tone of email correspondence.