Syllabus

**Fall Semester 2010** **Instructor--Stasia Weston** **Office Hours**—11-3, MW   **Office**--UCOM 3407 (Online Learning Lab Office) **Phone**--251/380-2642 **Skype**—aevalle.galicia **E-mail**—sweston@usouthal.edu **Second Life**—Aevalle Galicia **Required Texts**—//Simple, Clear, and Correct Paragraphs// / William J. Kelly/ Longman-Pearson/ 2010 Notebook for journal Additional handouts will be given out in class as needed. **Class Wiki—**http://developmentalstudieswriting014.wikispaces.com/ **Purpose**—According to the //Bulletin//, this course is “designed to teach essential writing skills, spelling, vocabulary, punctuation, sentence patterns, the paragraph, the summary, and the essay.” **Grading**-- Journal—10% Grammar Test—5% Generative Sentence Rhetoric Test—5% Six Paragraphs (5% each)--30% Two Essays (15% each)--30% Final—10% Quizzes and General Classwork/Homework Assignments—10% The Weekly Schedule will be handed out separately from this syllabus. All assignment dates will be listed on the schedule. Changes that are necessary to the schedule will be announced in class (see Changes in Course Requirements section below). Students will need a standard notebook to act as a class journal. Each Friday, we will wrap up the week by writing a page about what we discussed during the week and what's coming up. These journals will be taken up at mid-term and again at the end of the semester. The combined grades will count as 10% of the total course grade. Tests and writing assignments will make up a combined 80% of the total course grade. Quizzes and daily-type work will combine to make the last 10% of the course grade. If, on any writing assignment, a student makes below a low C (score of 70), the assignment may be reworked for a higher grade but //only// after the student visits the Writing Center (see Writing Center section below) for feedback on the assignment. **Grading Scale**-- 90-100 A     80-89 B      70-79 C      below 70 F      (Note—There are no D's in this course. Anything below a C is considered failure to complete the course objectives successfully.) **Penalties for Late Papers**—Any graded paper, not turned in by the due date, will be penalized one letter grade for each day is is late, including weekends and holidays. **Plagiarism**—The University of South Alabama is committed to the fundamental value of academic honesty. The student handbook, //The Lowdown//, defines plagiarism as one form of academic misconduct which is “subject to investigation and disciplinary action through appropriate university procedures.” Plagiarism is using somebody else's words or ideas in your writing, without correctly identifying the sources. As one resource for helping you avoid plagiarism, your written work in this class may be submitted to Turnitin.com, or a similar detection method, for an evaluation of the originality of your ideas and proper use and attribution of sources. Assignments submitted to Turnitin.com will be included as source documents in a restricted access database solely for the purpose of detecting possible plagiarism in such documents. As part of this process, you may be required to submit electronic as well as hard copies of your writing. By taking this course, you agree that all assignments may be subject to some form of originality review. A paper not submitted according to procedures and format set by the teacher may be penalized or may not be accepted at all. Any paper plagiarized in whole or part will receive no credit. **Attendance**—The Developmental Studies Program considers attendance mandatory. Students should not miss more than two weeks of the semester. Because this class meets three times a week, you should not have more than six absences. At the end of the semester, your final grade will be lowered one letter grade for each week you miss over the two-week limit; it will be lowered ½ of one letter grade for each course meeting you miss over the two-week limit. Excused absences include illness, death in the family, and participation in an authorized off-campus function. Any tests/papers missed due to an excused absence may be made up. Please bring prompt, written notification from your physician, the University Health Center, or the Office of Academic Affairs. “For excessive absences (two or three consecutive class meetings)...the Dean of Students' Office should be advised.” Students are responsible for all work missed because of absences. See the appropriate sections of the //Bulletin//. **Writing Center**—The University Writing Center, located in 207 Alpha East (460-6480), is available at no charge. Feel free to take advantage of their services. **Special Needs**—In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, students with bona fide disabilities will be afforded reasonable accommodations. The Office of Special Students Services (OSSS) will certify a disability and advise faculty members of reasonable accommodations. If you have a specific disability that qualifies you for academic accommodations, please notify the instructor and provide certification from Special Student Services. (OSSS is located in Room 270 of the Student Center—460-7212.) **Changes in Course Requirements**—Since all classes do not progress at the same rate, the instructor may wish to modify the above requirements or their timing as circumstances dictate. For example, the instructor may wish to change the number and frequency of exams, or the number and sequence of assignments. However, the student must be given adequate notification. Moreover, there may be non-typical classes for which these requirements are not strictly applicable in each instance and may need modification. If such modification is needed, it must be in writing and conform to the spirit of this policy statement. **Cell phones and other electronic devices**—These should be turned off and stored safely during class. If your phone goes off while you are in class is in session, you will be dismissed immediately. **Academic Conduct Policy**—The University policy on academic conduct is located in The Student Lowdown on pages 138-139 (revised January 1, 2010). “As a community of students and scholars, the University strives to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All members of the community are expected to exhibit honesty and competence in academic work. This responsibility can be met only through earnest and continuing effort on the part of all students and faculty. Any dishonesty related to academic work or records constitutes academic misconduct including, but not limited to, activities such as giving or receiving unauthorized aid in tests and examinations, improperly obtaining a copy of an examination, plagiarism, misrepresentation of information, or altering transcripts or university records. Academic misconduct is incompatible with the standards of the academic community. Such acts are viewed as moral and intellectual offenses and are subject to investigation and disciplinary action through appropriate university procedures. Penalties may range from the loss of credit for a particular assignment to dismissal from the University. Degree revocation may be warranted in cases involving academic misconduct by former students while they were students at USA. Note that dismissal from any University of South Alabama college or school for reasons of academic misconduct will also result in permanent dismissal from the University. Faculty, students, and staff are responsible for acquainting themselves with, adhering to, and promoting policies governing academic conduct. **Emergency Response Information**-- To report an emergency call the USA Police at 460-6312 or 511 and then 911. In the event of an alarm, all persons are to immediately vacate the building by walking quickly to the nearest marked exit and alert others to do the same. The evacuation route is posted at every exit of the building where your class is located. Assist persons with disabilities in exiting the building. If necessary, move those individuals to stairwell landings and request another building occupant stay with them until emergency responders can be notified of their location to provide rescue assistance. Do not use elevators. Once outside the building, move to a safe clear area at least 150 feet from the affected building. Shelter in Place (events such as tornadoes or explosions) In the event of an emergency such as a tornado or explosion, shelter in place may be a better option than evacuation. In such events, reduce the air exchange rate of the building before a hazardous plume could arrive by closing all windows and doors. Turn off all fans and air conditioners. Secondly, increase the air exchange rate of the building after a hazardous plume has passed, by opening all windows and doors. Turn on fans to aerate the building. Do not leave the building until official notification has passed. Remember to update emergency contact numbers on Jag accounts so that the University can access current emergency contacts.
 * DS 014--DS Writing**