Much of the work for this course occurs during class time. You should plan on attending every meeting. I understand, however, that occasionally illness or some other personal problem may interfere with attendance.

If some problem arises that will result in extended absence, you must contact me to explain the circumstances. I will ask for a doctor's excuse if I have not been advised by the Student Development Office that you will be unable to attend class. In the event of such excused absence, make an appointment with me as soon as you are able and will discuss an appropriate course of action, which may include withdrawing from the class if you have exceeded the English Department's allowed number of absences.

The Honor Code:
It is expected that the writing each student turns in is her or his own and that material drawn from sources--whether quoted, paraphrased, or summarized--will be clearly documented. Plagiarism will be reported to the Honor Council.  See Ethics in Academic Work, a policy statement adopted by the full faculty of Bridgewater College in August 2005.

Computer Lab Classes:
Most of my classes take the form of a writing workshop.  You will be working at the computer for most of the class meetings.  It may not feel like real class time, if you are used to a teaching-and-learning model that involves an instructor's talking to you from the front of the room, telling you information on which you later are tested.  You may be tempted to use this time to check on your email and chat with friends.  Or you may feel that this is a good time to study for your Biology test.  Please resist the temptation to stray off task.  Using classroom work time to pursue your social life or prepare for another class (unless it's the linked PDP 150 class for the Fall 2008 ENG 101 class) will result in your doing poorly in this course, whether I'm looking over your shoulder or not.  You will do poorly because of your inattention to the work for this class. The writing, research, and small-group work is the teaching-and-learning experience in this class, not "busywork" so that I won't have to spend much time teaching.  Instruction within this writing workshop atmosphere will include some lessons I teach to the whole class, some whole-class discussion of activities you've engaged in within small groups, and some mini-conferences--conversations I have with you individually or in small groups while others are engaged in writing activities. 

Your midterm and final grades will be based on your portfolio of work and your class participation. Your portfolio will contain both formal and informal writing. In-class writing activities, assigned out-of-class writing, drafts shared during scheduled workshop class sessions, and quizzes will be considered evidence of participation. You should include an essay that introduces and explains the contents of your portfolio. During the class period when your portfolio is due, expect to exchange it with a peer so that you may both give and receive peer evaluation.

In general, the standards for acceptable work will include:

• clear focus and organization;
• full development of general statements
• with relevant evidence
• that is adequately documented, according to an accepted style (MLA, APA, CBE, CMS, etc.);
• adherence to the conventions of standard written English (that is, conformity to rules of grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation); and
• understanding of the rhetorical requirements for each piece of writing.

See the English Department's rubric.

A portfolio must contain all of the required texts to receive an average or above-average grade. Excellent work will meet the above standards and, in addition, show:

• thoroughness of research,
• thorough revising,
• originality, and
• sophistication of thinking.

More specific guidelines for evaluating excellence will be developed as part of the class work for this course.

Policies on this page:

• Attendance Policy

• The Honor Code

• Computer Lab Classes

• Grading Policies