GRADING SCALE: Course grades will be evaluated using a point system measured against a straight (non-curved) grading scale:
Students receive points for all
course-related activities and can gain them in anyway you
choose. This system allows each student to customize the
course to fit his or her schedule and interests. A student
interested in improving his or her writing, for example,
might choose to focus on the papers, doing rewrites as
necessary, and also place an emphasis on other authors' work
through the reading summaries. A student who needed to be
out-of-town for an audition would be able to skip the
assignments leading up to the audition and make up for lost
points by completing work during the later part of the
semester. NOTE: You may complete any and all assignments
that you wish, but only the first 1250 possible points will
count towards your grade. A few assignments are required
(see below). Assignment Point Table:Individual work:
LATE WORK AND MAKE-UP POLICY: Late papers will be accepted only on the first class after the original due date and will be marked down ten percent. Papers arriving after that date will not be accepted. No make up quizzes will be offered. To balance the inflexibility of this policy, I have set up the grading scale to allow students to miss assignments without penalty. You do not need to ask for permission to skip one quiz or paper. Just don't turn it in. The only exceptions are in cases of serious illness or a death in the family. Because of abuses in the past, such exceptions must be documented with a doctor's note or obituary. You will be given writing assignments in lieu of missed work. Please do not ask for other exceptions to this policy. Remember that you can turn work in early if you will be out-of-town on a due date.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Cheating and/or plagiarism are not acceptable. . The University has very clear, published policies on this matter, and they will be followed in this class. It is your responsibility to make yourself aware of them. Your signature on each test or assignment will be taken to be your pledge that you have read, understood, and followed these policies; you will therefore be held responsible. If you have any questions, at any time, do not hesitate to speak with me. The minimum penalty for cheating will be a zero on the assignment and a grade penalty of -5% against your final grade. Summary: If you do the work, come to class, and participate, you will do well in this course. If you give your work your best effort, you will do very well in this course. If you don't do the work . . .
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