Course Requirements and Department Policies

CLASS REQUIREMENTS/DEPARTMENT POLICIES

Attendance

The Department of Writing policy states that if you miss more than four classes you will not receive credit for Writing 150 and will have to take the course again.

Completion of assignments
It is extremely important that you complete all of the papers assigned and have your drafts (at least 2-3 pages worth) completed by the due date that is given on the syllabus.  Failure to complete those assignments on time will create a serious delay in the feedback that you get from your peers, the writing consultant, and me.  Many of the activities in class are planned with the presumption that you will have your work completed on time.  If you fail to have your draft ready, you may be required to take an absence for that day since you will be unable to participate in the class activities.  Failure to complete and share all of the assignments during the course of Writing 150 will prohibit the student from submitting a final portfolio for the course, thereby necessitating that the course be retaken.

Correct usage of MLA format for research papers
To pass Writing 150, in fact to have your portfolio even read, you must demonstrate that you have learned and can use the MLA/APA format for writing research papers.  This means that at least one of your final portfolio papers must have in text citations (documented correctly), a works cited page (in the correct format), and an absolute minimum of five (5) academic sources to demonstrate you know how to perform research in an academic library.  Keep in mind that any paper that uses outside sources in it requires this documentation, even if you already have a “research paper” for your portfolio.  We will discuss this particular requirement at great length, but it is important enough to mention here in the syllabus as a minimum requirement.  Many students have failed Writing 150 due to carelessness with their research paper(s).  Don’t be this student.

Academic Integrity

You, no doubt, will have plenty of exciting things to talk about.  At times you might want, or need, to bring in outside sources that can help support your ideas.   When doing so, make sure you give credit where it is due.  It goes with out saying (but I am saying it anyways) that you need to write all of your own papers, unless you are writing in group collaboration.  I value your own creativity and originality. 

If you plagiarize anything in this class you will fail and be formally sanctioned. That is not fun for anyone, so if you have a question on citing sources or plagiarism, please do not hesitate to ask me.   If in doubt, always provide citations and acknowledgements when using anyone else’s work, regardless of the medium.  As mentioned in the above section, we will have plenty of time to become familiar with MLA formatting.

STUDENT SUPPORT

Writing Center

The Fred Meijer Center for Writing, with locations at the Allendale, Pew/Grand Rapids, and Meijer/Holland campuses, is available to help you with the writing you do in any of your classes. Writing consultants, who are GVSU students, have been trained to help you with all stages of your writing process, from brainstorming to organizing to editing your papers. The Center’s services are free, and appointments aren’t necessary. Simply bring a draft of your paper, the assignment sheet, and your questions/concerns about the writing to any of the Center’s three locations.  See WRT 150:  A Guide to First-Year Writing at Grand Valley State University, pp. 34-35 for hours and additional information.

The Writing Center is an invaluable tool for you as you work on all of your college writing assignments.  The Meijer Center for Writing and Michigan Authors (331-2922) is located on the Allendale Campus in Lake Ontario Hall 120.  We will have a writing consultant in our classroom from the Writing Center, but you are encouraged to visit the Writing Center during its normal hours of operation: Monday through Thursday 9:00am to 8:00pm, Friday 9:00am to 3:00pm, and Sunday 5:00pm to 8:00pm.  Writing Consultants can help you with a variety of tasks, from getting started to putting the final polishing revisions on your paper.  They are available to look at papers from any classes on GVSU’s campus, not just Writing 150. 

Disability

If you have special needs please contact me and Disability Support Services (DSS) at (616) 331-2490. Furthermore, if you have a disability that will require extra assistance in evacuating this classroom and/or building in an emergency, please make me aware so that the university and I can develop a plan to assist you. It is the student’s responsibility to request assistance from DSS.

Other Issues of Note

It will be tempting to text, play Words with Friends and update your Facebook status.  Resist this temptation and stay off of your numerous electronic devices while we are in our class unless there is a specific purpose (identified by me). It is disrespectful to the entire class, but more importantly limits your own productivity. 

We will not be “doing grammar” or having random pop quizzes on grammatical norms.  But, your work does need to be grammatically correct, and follow rational conventions.  We will discuss punctuation, mechanics and word usage when it is needed or appropriate.  As a rule of thumb you should always spell check before handing something in.

Proper email etiquette is a major component to understanding specific genres.  We will discuss what is acceptable on the first day of class.  Consider this your warning that I will immediately delete emails that break convention. 

And lastly, this is not a slumber party so do not show up in your pajamas.  You will be asked to leave.