Informal Writing, Lab Work, & Discussion Posts
Informal writing and shorter assignments, taken together, are a major component of your grade in this course. Each week, you are required to write the equivalent of several pages in response to the readings, response to my questions, or conversations with your colleagues. Ideally, you will question ideas from the text or brainstorm ideas for the projects. These informal writings will include discussion threads via Canvas, peer reviews of other students’ work, and other short assignments.
Note: Unlike major projects, any minor assignments, peer review workshops, discussion posts, and your responses will have set deadlines throughout the week. Make sure to note these deadlines in the Weekly Plan.
Feedback and Commenting on Major Projects
Final Drafts for Projects 1 and 2 will have a submission window of one business week (8AM Monday to 5PM Friday) in which you can turn your paper in via Canvas. You may submit your paper at any point during this submission window. In an attempt to customize my feedback to best suit your learning style, the detail of my feedback will be based on when in the submission window you submit--earlier submissions will receive more detailed feedback than later submissions, and YOU control your destiny. For example, if you submit on Monday of the submission window, you can expect marginalia, a substantial end note, individual style notes, etc. If you submit on Friday, you can expect an end comment.
The final draft for Project 3 will be due no later than 5PM on the last day before finals week and will not follow the submission window pattern like the first two major projects.
Notes of Importance
- Your grade will never be affected by when you submit--only the level of detail in my feedback will change.
- Documents that cannot be opened will be considered missing. Generally .doc, .docx, or .pdf are safe extensions.
- Due dates and times are based on Canvas Standard Time and are firm.
- I am always happy to discuss a paper in detail during office hours regardless of when it is submitted in the submission window. Simply schedule an appointment with me to ensure that I will be available to meet with you on Zoom.
Writing Center Visits
Peer tutors guide students through the writing process by creating a safe space to practice, experiment, make mistakes, and find a voice when writing. Bring your writing projects to the Writing Center in at any stage of our class projects and take advantage of this free service.
For those of you on campus, in-person appointments are available in the Braithwaite basement and the Sherratt Library. Sign up online for a session at on the SUU Writing Center website:
suu.edu/hss/writingcenter/. Email:
writingcenter@suu.edu Phone: (435) 865-8176.
Online appointments with writing tutors are available for distance learners or per your convenience. I recommend in-person appointments when possible.
Class Participation
Students who participate at a high level in our online course discussions will be rewarded.
Class Policies & Expectations
To pass this course you must complete all the major assignments, fulfill all the weekly assignments, and submit all the writing assignments on time. Though there is no official meeting time, you are expected to log into Canvas regularly to stay up to date with our class readings, discussion boards, writing workshops, and assignment deadlines.
Technology
Obviously, you need easy access to Canvas in order to participate in this class. You must also have access to some type of media software (like Google Docs or Microsoft Word) and a phone or computer with basic video or sound recording capabilities. If you have trouble accessing Canvas because of your particular computer set up or poor Wi-Fi, you’re going to find this course difficult. Important: You need to have back-up technology plans, because a disabled computer or lack of internet will not excuse you from the work in the course. If you have problems accessing Canvas here are some resources for you:
For Passwords or any other computer-related technical support:
For Canvas help:
Decorum
In this class, I will establish and support an environment that values and nurtures individual and group differences. Taking the time to understand multiple perspectives challenges us to learn about others, the world, and ourselves. In short, I expect students to respect their classmates and respond kindly to perspectives that differ from their own worldview. Our differences should stimulate positive exchanges, collaboration, and promote mutual understanding.
As in all of your classes, also respect your instructor and your education by coming prepared each week:
- Read the assigned materials
- Engage meaningfully (and civilly) with your peers.
- Turn your work in on time
Decorum violations may result in students losing credit for discussion participation.
Project Formatting
Choosing a format is a rhetorical decision—it’s all about delivery. So, keep in mind that your papers should typically be typed in dark ink, double-spaced (unless it’s a memo), with one-inch margins. Place your name, the date, and the instructor’s name in the upper left-hand corner of the first page. Number all of the pages, except page 1. I also suggest you create a file naming system like:
- Firstname_Lastname_Project#_Draft#
- LastnameFirstInitial_Project#
Your file naming should include at minimum your name and the assignment name/number. This will help you stay organized. Naming and saving multiple drafts (especially in the cloud) can also help you avoid catastrophic technology mishaps.
Plagiarism
As explained in the SUU General Catalogue, “the university’s goal is to foster an intellectual atmosphere that produces educated, literate people. Cheating and plagiarism are at odds with this goal and therefore will not be tolerated in any form. All work submitted by a student must represent that student’s own ideas and effort. When the work does not represent the student’s own work it must be properly cited; if it is not, the student has engaged in academic dishonesty. Cheating, forgery, plagiarism or the use of work belonging to another are all considered academic dishonesty...Except in cases of major offenses, responding to academic dishonesty is the responsibility of the instructor of the course in which the violation occurs. If a student is found responsible for academic dishonesty, the student may be dismissed from the class and may receive a failing grade. Other penalties may include suspension or expulsion from school. Such transgressions become part of the student’s permanent University record.”
My policy, based upon the Plagiarism Statement found in the SUU Guide to English Composition, entails a failing grade for egregious cases of intentional plagiarism/academic dishonesty or for the failure to remedy instances of unintentional plagiarism after being warned about it. The university policy on plagiarism is available online at
http://suu.edu/pub/policies/pdf/PP633Academic.pdf