Technical Requirements: |
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Participation
Participation in class activities and discussions is a must. To learn, you have to be actively engaged with the material; ultimately, the responsibility of learning is yours. It is impossible to learn speak a foreign language without being in class. Effort counts, even if your French is not great. You will speak French during every class session. Failure to attend class always results in missed opportunities to hear and speak French. Speak up, ask questions, confirm your understanding -- and remember to give others a chance to do the same. In principle, each one of you deserves no more and no less than an equal share of time and attention. Take advantage of this, but don't abuse it.
Assignments
• You will be assigned a number of unannounced homework assignments. Turn in your work at the beginning of the class on scheduled dates unless you get permission from me beforehand.
• You are encouraged to discuss homework assignments together with your classmates, but the copy you turn in should be in your own words, not copy word by word.
Tests and Exams:
• There will be tests and a final exam in this class. Tests will be given at the beginning of the class period. The final exam is comprehensive in nature and follows the format of the tests.
• No changes to the final exam day schedule will be made.
• Don’t hesitate to ask, should you have any questions about the course.
Grading:
The final grade is based on the following:
Participation 10
Homework, Lab work 20
Tests 40
Final exam 30
Total 100
University Attendance Policy:
Savannah State University endeavors to provide optimum conditions for the intellectual growth and development of its students. With the exception of University approved activities, it is expected that students should attend and be punctual to their classes, laboratories, and officially scheduled class requirements. All matters related to student absences, including the making up of work missed, are to be arranged between the student and the instructor. Instructors will publish their guidelines for handling absences in their syllabi. Students are obligated to adhere to the requirements of each course. Faculty is encouraged to take into consideration religious holidays of the student's faith, summons, jury duty, or similar compelling reasons for absences.
Class Attendance Policy:
Attendance for the entire class period is mandatory for all students. Topics not covered in the textbook may be discussed in class and may be included on quizzes and tests. Learning a foreign language is a skill acquired a bit at a time through regular daily practice. Your preparation and participation in class on a daily basis are essential to your success. Preparation involves listening to, pronouncing the vocabulary and studying the structures that we will be covering in class prior to that class session.
1. Attendance will be taken daily at the beginning of class.
2. A maximum of 3 absences (excused or unexcused) is allowed. More than three (3) absences
without a written medical excuse will lower your grade by five (5) percentage points per
class missed from your overall final grade. However, absences are not encouraged. Experience
has shown that it is dangerous to miss even a single class at any time, for much of what we
cover in class supplements the textbooks.
3. If a student’s absences exceed 3 class periods, I reserve the right to withdraw such a student at
any time during the semester. Instructor withdrawals after the midterm reporting deadline will
result in the assignment of a grade of “WF”. If you are very ill, suffering from personal
problems, have work conflicts, or anticipate other circumstances that may prevent you from
attending class regularly, please withdraw by the deadline.
4. If for any reason you have to miss a class– whether your absence is excused or unexcused – do
not expect a run-down of the class you missed from me. Find out what happened in class from
a classmate, look the material over carefully, and only then should come to me with any
remaining questions you may have. I will be happy to meet with you to go over any
lingering questions you might have. If you know you will need to miss a class for a legitimate
reason, please try to let me know ahead of time. In addition, it is your responsibility to find out
from a classmate about notes, handouts, assignments, announcements, and any changes to the
syllabus for that particular class session.
5. As a general rule, I do not answer questions about a reading, a lecture, and class discussion, a
homework assignment, a test, etc., if more than one week has passed since the reading was
discussed, the lecture took place, the assignment or test was handed back to the class. The time
to ask questions (or to contest a grade) is immediately. But even then, grades will be changed
only for plain errors; matters of judgment are final.
Absences due to University Scheduled Conflicts
The following policy applies to athletes who are required to travel to attend scheduled athletic event(s) in which an athlete is currently participating. Such students are considered to be on official University business. Students who are absent because of participation in approved University activities will be permitted to make up work missed during their absences, provided that no more than 15% of class hours per course per term are missed and that work is assigned for completion prior to the University sanctioned activity (http://www.savannahs. ((http://www.savannahstate.edu/academic-affairs/documents/11-12UndergraduateCatalog_026.pdf).
Class Policy on Missed Work and Make-up
All tests in the syllabus are published in advance. In the event that a student is participating in an official University business, he or she can arrange with the instructor to take the test early. It is his/her responsibility to come to my office to make arrangements well in advance of the test date. Please note that
i) Official documentation from SSU is required for one’s case to be considered.
ii) Homework assignments announced or given in advance should be submitted before students
leave on official school business. Please, don’t email me or slip any work under my office
door!
iii) In case a test is not ready when a student is on official school business, it should be made up
immediately the student returns to campus and before the instructor returns the work, which
is normally the next class meeting.
iv) Students who miss tests and unannounced assignments due to documented court dates or
appearances may be allowed to make up and/or submit late assignments as soon as they
return to campus. They must inform the instructor immediately in the office of any
emergency that may cause them to miss any assignment, not at the
desk during class,. Official documentation of proof of an emergency is required.
v) Note that a make-up test must be negotiated and agreed upon with the instructor. It is given
at my convenience, and typically during my office hours within four days from the day of the
missed test.
Incomplete
• There are no make-ups for finals. If you are unable to be present for the final exam due to an
emergency, please inform me in advance in person, by email, or phone before the start of the
start of the exam so that I give you an Incomplete in the course if you so wish. Failure to do
so will result in a zero grade for the exam. However, students will not be given an incomplete
grade in the course without sound reason and documented evidence as described in the Student
Handbook. In any case, for a student to receive an incomplete grade, s/he must be passing and
must have completed a significant portion of the course.
Classroom courtesy
1. Civility: We are all adults in a serious learning environment. We are expected to
demonstrate adult behavior and show consideration for others. Mutual respect is
required for the smooth and productive running of this class. Respect the instructor and
your classmates as well as the views expressed in the classroom. I will be happy to
take time to help you with anything related to the course, but only if you are polite with
your requests for that time. This also applies to classroom discussions.
We will engage in whole class discussions, group collaborations, and pair work, so it is
imperative that students treat the instructor and one another with respect. Disruptions
of any kind are not allowed during the class period!
2. Chatting: The instructor wants your undivided attention during all class times. Your
class participation points reflect not only your thoughtful and constructive
contributions to the class, but also your ability to conduct yourself in a positive and
mature manner. I have been plagued with difficulty maintaining my concentration if
there are persistent small sounds in the room. This includes chatting. I lose my train of
thought completely, lose where I am in the discussion or lecture, and become irritated.
You will, therefore, do me a great service if you strenuously avoid talking to your
classmates during times when your attention is to be directed to me. This includes
times when I may be writing on the board or looking something up, or adjusting
technological devices. If students persist in chatting, I will ask them to change seats. If
the problem continues, more serious measures will then be taken. All communications
with me must be courteous and respectful if you expect a positive response!
3. As a courtesy to others and to ensure a good and positive learning environment for
everyone, please adhere to the following:
• Arrive to class promptly every time.
• Arrive on time for the test and the final exam. If you are late for any of the tests or
the final exam, don’t ask for additional time.
• Turn off cell phones and any other noisemaker or place in silent mode. The instructor
realizes that emergencies do occasionally occur and that students need to be notified
of such emergencies. If such cases arise and you need to respond, you should
unobtrusively step outside the classroom to respond.
• Refrain from texting, checking text messages, sleeping, eating, or chewing gum,
writing homework for this class or other classes, and working on other projects
during class time.
• Remove all electronic devices from the desk during tests and quizzes to prevent
cheating. You may be asked to place them on the instructor’s desk.
• Use blue or black ink for all in-class written work to be submitted, tests, quizzes, and
the final exam.
• All out-of-class assignments must be neatly typed; handwritten assignments will not
be accepted or graded. For in-class assignments, use loose-sheet paper only, not the
ripped-out spiral paper with fringe up and down the left side. Homework assignments
must be submitted on the due date at the beginning of the class.
• Do no talk once the test, quiz or final exam is in progress.
• On test, quiz or final exam day, do not leave the classroom after the material has been
distributed. If you have a cold or allergy, you should bring tissue to class with you. If
you have to use the bathroom, you should do so before you come to class. If you
decide to leave the classroom while a test, quiz or exam is in progress, you should
submit your assignments to be graded before you exit the classroom.
• If you need/want to use a laptop, you must ask my permission in advance.
4. Lateness: I will not delay the class waiting for latecomers. If you come in late (not
more than 5 minutes), the situation I do not encourage,
a. Find a seat where your settling in will be least disruptive.
b. Be as quiet as possible pulling items out of your bag.
c. It will be up to you to check with me after the class is over to verify that I have
marked you present.
5. Movement: Once the class begins, you are expected to stay through a class period by
staying involved, unless in the case of a grave emergency. Do not leave the class
before the end of the session. Thus, you should take care of these needs
before you arrive.
6. Packing: It is both disruptive and disrespectful to begin packing up your things before
class has been dismissed. I will not keep classes overtime. If it happens that I have
forgotten to check time, it is fine to let me know. If you have a tight schedule for your
next class, discuss this with me. In such a case you should sit near the door so you can
leave as quietly as possible.
Academic Misconduct:
Academic dishonesty is a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. It is a serious offense in college is never a good way to learn anything, defeats the purpose of true education, and is unjust to your fellow students. You are expected to maintain the academic honesty, be familiar with and adhere to the Savannah State University’s Code of Student Ethics. The following excerpt on academic misconduct comes from the Student Handbook, PLANNER & Code of Student Rights, RESPONSIBILITIES, and conduct (2013-2014).
Students are subject to disciplinary action for engaging in academic misconduct and academic dishonesty, which includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Cheating or academic dishonesty is defined as the deception of others about one’s own work or about the work of another.
Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to:
a. Submitting another’s work as one’s own or allowing another to submit one’s work as though it
were his or hers.
b. Several people completing an assignment and turning in multiple copies, all represented either
implicitly or explicitly as individual work.
c. Failure to properly acknowledge authorities quoted, cited or consulted in the preparation of
written work (plagiarism). Specific examples of plagiarism are:
i. Copying and/or presenting the words of others as one’s own writing, including from Internet
sources.
ii. Copying words, even if you cite the sources, unless appropriate quotation is noted.
iii. Copying words and then changing them a little, even if you give the source.
iv. Expressing in your own words someone else’s ideas as your own.
d. The use of any materials, textbook, notes, cellular phones, MP3 players, or other electronic
devices during an examination without the expressed permission of the instructor.
e. The receiving or giving of unauthorized help on assignments.
f. Stealing a problem solution from an instructor.
g. Tampering with experimental data to obtain ‘desired’ results or creating results for
experiments not done (“dry labbing”).
h. Tampering with or destroying the work of others.
i. Submitting substantial portions of the same academic work for credit of honors more than once
without permission of the present instructor.
j. Lying about these or other academic matters.
k. Falsifying college records, forms or other documents.
l. Unauthorized access of computer systems or files. With regard to plagiarism, themes, essays,
term papers, tests, and other similar requirements must be the work of the student submitting
them. When direct quotation of paraphrased material are used, they must be attributed to the
source, and when the ideas of others are incorporated in the paper, they must be appropriately
acknowledged.
m. Unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for
fulfillment of course requirements (collusion).
Disability Accommodations
Savannah State University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to students with documented disabilities, as required under federal law. The purpose of disability accommodation is to provide equal access to the academic material and equal access to demonstrate mastery of the material. Students with disabilities must meet all the academic requirements and standards of the class, including the attendance policy. If you have a disability and need accommodations, please contact Amelia Castilian-Moore, Coordinator of Disability Services at (912) 358-3115 or moorea@savannahstate.edu. The Disability Resource Center is located in King Frazier 205. You will need to meet with Ms. Castilian-Moore, who can help you gather documentation of your disability or refer you to an appropriate resource for assessment. Once documentation of the disability is gathered and approved, Ms. Castilian-Moore will provide you with an Accommodation Letter, detailing the appropriate, approved accommodations, which you should present to me so we can discuss and implement your accommodations.
Course Schedule
The course schedule will be discussed in class. At the end of each unit there will be an end-unit test. Students will be quizzed in the meantime at the end of each lesson. Quizzes may be conducted orally, which involves students’ participation, and/or in writing. The final exam will be administered at the end of the semester. (Date TBD)
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