Students are held accountable for knowing and practicing each of the following course policies. Consider them like the law: the excuse “I didn’t know” will carry no weight. In addition, students are responsible for reading, understanding, and adhering to all Middle Georgia State University institutional policies, including those linked on the Syllabus Policy page.
Students may withdraw from the course and earn a grade of “W” up to and including the midterm date. After midterm, students who withdraw will receive a grade of “WF.” Students are encouraged to read the MGA withdrawal policy before dropping/withdrawing from class.
 | TL;DR: These official polices should be read and followed by all students. Failure to do so will likely effect your grade and could result in disciplinary actions. |
Assignments and Deadlines
Your work represents you. Everything you turn in for evaluation should exemplify the very best of your professional self. Late work is unacceptable and will receive a zero. Technical problems do not excuse late work. Plan ahead and turn in your work on time. Last-minute work submissions are ineligible for revision for a higher grade.
Attendance
Poor attendance will negatively affect your grade. You must endeavor to attend every class, and it is your responsibility to ask a fellow classmate what you missed; in-class assignments, like quizzes, cannot be made up. Too many absences will constitute class failure. Please read the attendance policy carefully.
As much as we seem to be pretending the COVID-19 pandemic is at an end, it is not.[1] In light of this fact, our face-to-face attendance could change at any point if conditions warrant. Please be flexible and attentive to any contingencies. According to Anthony Fauci, 99.2% of people who died in June 2021 were not vaccinated.[2] Similarly, 99.7% of all new COVID-19 cases affect those who are not vaccinated, increasing hospitalization rates in states with a low vaccination numbers.[3] Please get vaccinated if you have not already.
Behavior
Students should conduct themselves like students: take notes, pay attention, ask questions, eliminate distractions, and listen. Improper conduct, including academic falsehood, will negatively effect your grade and may result in other disciplinary measures.
Communication
Communication is integral to success, no matter what we’re talking about. In a digital world, these literacies are particularly important. Not only should you develop and perfect your communication skills while in college, you need to use those skills everyday with your peers and professors.
Evaluation
Evaluation depends on overall student performance: on the successful completion of all requirements, regular participation, and positive attitude. Some requirements are weighed heavier in evaluation, but all are essential to successfully complete the class. Letter grades are based upon a traditional ten-point scale. Grades for this class will be based on the point system.
Participation
Active participation in the classroom is required. Your daily work and attendance represents your participation, e.g.: reading, discussions, training, exercises, library tasks, reading quizzes, peer editing, the viewing of a film, and similar activities. Your participation in group activities and your preparation for class will be weighed heavily in evaluation: participation, effort, and attitude count significantly. You should not sit in class like you’re watching TV: learning requires active participation and enthusiasm . Participation grades cannot be made up.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is serious academic misconduct. Willful or accidental plagiarism—including using AI tools to generate assignments—will result in assignment failures, potential class failure, and will be pursued to incite the utmost penalty for such dishonesty.
Research
All writing in this course should be supported with both primary (readings I assign you) and secondary (sources you find yourself) texts. All suppositions must be supported with evidence, whether they appear on a forum post, a blog post, a Wikipedia article, or class discussion. In other words: research is an integral component of everything you do in this course. Any ideas that are not supported might as well not be written.
Rewrites
Rewrites are an integral part of the writing process, so students are encouraged to revise and rewrite formal essays. Students may rewrite any formal essays with two requirements: (1) approval of the instructor, and (2) an appointment at the writing center.
notes
- ↑ Incredibly, according to USA Facts, under 40% of Georgians are fully vaccinated as of July 2021.
- ↑ Schnell, Mychael (July 5, 2021). "Fauci: More than 99% of people who died from COVID-19 in June were not vaccinated". The Hill. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
- ↑ "Almost all new COVID-19 cases are among people who have not been vaccinated". CBS News. July 10, 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
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| 🕒 07-13-2022 | 📆 Make an Appointment | 💬 Ask a Question | 📣 Leave Feedback |
