Grammar and Spelling Problems
Composition is not a course in grammar. You need to have mastered basic grammar rules by now. From time to time, we might have a quick refresher course in grammar or mechanics; in addition, we will have workshop sessions on how to proofread for grammar and mechanics. But at this point in your academic career, you are expected to take responsibility for learning whatever grammar issues you need to improve. If you are having problems, you should go to the Writing Lab for help. Oh, and grammar checkers and spell checkers? Pay attention to them, but don’t count on them.
Adaptive Programs
Students with disabilities must be registered with Adaptive Programs in the Office of the Dean of Students before classroom accommodations can be provided. If you are eligible for academic accommodations because you have a documented disability that will impact your work in this class, please schedule an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss your needs.
Professionalism and You
Please conduct yourself professionally at all times. You should not harass, threaten, or belittle others in any way. You should listen respectfully to the views of others. Your cell phones and iPods should be off and in your bookbag (not on your desk) and you should not be reading the newspaper in class unless it is part of our assignment that day. I will give you one warning if you do any of these things. If you continue, I will ask you to leave the room. If you continue further, you may be asked to leave the class for that day and marked absent.
Computer Responsibilities and Etiquette
Some class time will be reserved for computer work when we are in the computer lab. You must be able to access the space available to you on the server. In addition, you must back up your documents. Make sure you have the appropriate tools to do so. I strongly recommend a flash drive.
You are expected to treat all computer equipment with respect. You must follow Purdue’s and ITaP’s rules concerning your internet account and software theft.
Classroom “Rules”
I have three main rules for my classes.
• Respect others and yourself. If another student is speaking, give that student your full attention. Likewise, when I am speaking, give me your attention. Do not IM or email, play video games, mess with your cel phone or IPod, surf the net, tinker with your keyboard or engage in other disruptive behaviors when someone is speaking in class. It's very rude, and I expect you all to offer each other common respect.
• Do your best work. Make it a point to learn something unexpected this semester. Take responsibility for your education. YOU can make a difference in your own learning process.
• Do YOUR best work. Hold yourself to a high level of integrity. Don't succumb to academic dishonesty. Doing so cheats YOU, and cheating yourself of your own education is being disrespectful to yourself. Let’s discuss more on academic dishonesty in the next section....
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
We will have discussions throughout the semester about plagiarism. I want to stress that I value learning and honesty in the classroom. I also want to stress that I do report cases of plagiarism to the Dean of Students: I have, I do, and I will. When you plagiarize, you cheat and defeat yourself. You rob yourself of your own educational experience. That is a kind of violence to yourself.
The English Department's official definition of plagiarism is:
When writers use material from other sources, they must acknowledge this source. Not doing so is called plagiarism, which means using without credit the ideas or expression of another. You are therefore cautioned (1) against using, word for word, without acknowledgement, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, etc. from the printed or manuscript material of others; (2) against using with only slight changes the materials of another; (3) against using the general plan, the main headings, or a rewritten form of someone else's material. These cautions apply to the work of other students as well as to the published work of professional writers.
Penalties for plagiarism vary from failure (NO credit) of the plagiarized assignment to expulsion from the university, and may include failure for the course and notification of the Dean of Students' Office.
The Department of English considers the previous explanation to be official notification of the nature and seriousness of plagiarism.
You should become familiar with the student regulations located at http://www.purdue.edu/oop/univregs/pages/stu_conduct/stu_regulations.htm... (the section on plagiarism is at III, B, 2, a.) and with the Dean of Students policies at http://www.purdue.edu/odos/osrr/integrity.htm.
We will use the following website in further discussions about plagiarism: http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/technotes/workshops/talkingplagy.htm. If you still have questions about what is and is not plagiarism, do not hesitate to ask me in class, in my office, during conferences, or via email.
Resources
Besides seeing me during your conference time or in my office, you have other resources at Purdue to help you with your writing and writing assignments. The Writing Lab in Heavilon Hall, Room 226, offers FREE tutorials to students by appointment or on a drop-in basis. For more information or to make an appointment, call 494-3723. You may also access the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at http://owl.english.purdue.edu. You may use The Digital Learning Collaboratory (DLC) to help you create multimedia projects. You can check out equipment, use the computers, learn new software, or reserve space to work collaboratively on a class project. For more information, go to http://www.lib.purdue.edu.
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