Course Policies and Expectations
You ought to be in class and on time every day. Absences cause you to miss out on instruction, learning time, and thinking opportunities. Consequently, absences, excused and unexcused, damage your learning experience and will negatively affect your grade. Assignments, directions, homework, and due dates will be updated in class and posted to our course website. It is your responsibility to know what these are, even if you miss a class. As mentioned above, you cannot earn points for reading quizzes, participation, or in-class activities on days when you have an unexcused absence.
If you plan to be absent for any reason, please contact me before the day you plan to miss. If your absence is unexpected, notify me as soon as possible. If you are absent for any reason, be sure to return prepared for the next day’s lesson. Before emailing me to ask what you missed in class, contact a classmate for notes and check our course website for information on assignments and updates to the syllabus. If you are still unclear as to assignment details, please stop by during office hours and speak with me.
Communication with me
As the instructor of this course, I look forward to fostering and participating in an environment of respectful and thoughtful idea exchange. I also hope to be a resource for each of you as you develop your reading, writing, and reading aloud (-: skills, both in class and in one-on-one appointments during my office hours.
I strongly encourage students to make an appointment or stop by my office hours to ask for clarification on assignments, raise concerns or discomforts, request help on assignments, or discuss any issue relevant to this class. Attending my office hours shows commitment to this course and demonstrates accountability for your learning.
If, for any reason, you find it necessary to email me (in regards to absences, time-sensitive questions, etc.), know that I do not check my email after 6 pm. I will do my best to respond to your email within 24 hours during the weekdays and 48 hours during the weekends.
Technology in the classroom
I expect that you will turn off/silence and put away all of your electronic devices (cell phones, iPads, iPods, etc.) before class begins. This includes laptops and e-readers unless otherwise specified. Inappropriate use of electronics during class time will negatively affect your participation grade. If, for any reason, you have a particular need for iPads, cell phones, or laptops during class time, please come talk to me during office hours.
