Policies and Expectations

I think it's important that you know what I expect from each of you. It is this:
do the work, come to class and contribute, and do your best to make the class atmosphere a
positive one. The list below is longer than I would like, but it answers many questions that
students have had in the past and will likely have this semester, too. Almost all of you will
have no trouble meeting these expectations; but if you do, there are some consequences.
So read this carefully - you will be held to these policies.

Absence and Late Policies: You can miss 3 classes with no penalty. If you miss 4 classes, four
points are deducted from your final grade; if you miss 5 classes eight points are deducted; if you
miss 6 classes, twelve points are deducted. If you miss 7 classes, you automatically fail the course. 
Also, you will be penalized for lateness: 2 lates = 1 absence. Chronic lateness will seriously harm
your grade; it is also a University Academic Disruptive Behavior violation and you can be removed
from the course. Students who are late run the serious risk of missing quizzes, which are only given
at the very beginning of a class period. If you miss a scheduled appointment with me you will be
charged an absence. 

There is no need to ask me if it is OK for you to miss class (although I always appreciate prior
notification); just remember that you will be charged with an absence. In other words, you can miss
a class for any reason you want, from "I felt like sleeping late," "The pipes burst at my house,"
"I had a school observation for my Elementary Ed class," "I was sick," "A family member is ill," 
"I was in a minor car accident," "I had a university sports meet" . . . .
I strongly suggest that you save your absences for when you really need them . . .

So: Three missed classes are automatically excused (you do not need any kind of note). When you go
beyond this amount, you cause your grade to be lowered.

If you are not in class, you are absent. Exceptions are made in the rare case of a serious problem, 
such as a documented illness. In this instance you are required to bring me the necessary documents. 
Student Health Services does not issue official written excuses for illness or injury, but will
provide a note confirming that the student has received medical care. So, a note from any doctor
does not equal an excused absence.

If you will often be unable to make it to class on time or will need to leave early, do not take this section;
find a better time for you. Students will occasionally ask if they can regularly
leave early to go to work, but you need to be in class for the entire class period.

So:
If you leave early you will be marked absent. If you sleep in class you will be marked absent.
If you keep your head on the desk and don’t pay attention you will be marked absent.
If you carry on a private conversation with your peers you will be marked absent.
You can’t leave class to meet with an advisor, prepare for another class, or go to a meeting. 
We meet for the full class period and you must be there for all of it.
If you violate these rules, I might tell you that you are being marked absent, but I might not. 
Do you really need me to tell you that you slept through class or left early?
These things will hurt your grade.

If you know that you will need to miss class at some point in the semester because of school-
related activities, then plan ahead. You can't miss the allowed amount and then say, for example,
"I have to miss the next 2 classes - but I will get an excuse." Again, it's a good idea to save your
absences for days you are not feeling well or have something scheduled . . .

Late Papers/Assignments: NOT ALLOWED. An assignment is due when I collect it in class.
If you are not present to hand it in when I collect it (if, for example, you are late to class that day),
the assignment is late and therefore will receive a zero. If you are absent, you must get a hard copy
of the assignment to me by the beginning of the class period - a friend or classmate should put it
under my door, BATE 2124.

Participation and Professionalism:
Your participation in class discussions is an important part of everyone's experience 
in this course. Talking about the course material helps us to better understand our
own ideas. If you do not contribute to class often, you will receive
a low score in this important category. Participation counts for a large part of
your grade. If you don't plan on talking often, consider not taking this section.

Also: Negative participation of any kind - especially in the form of carrying on a private
conversation during a class discussion - will count against you.  I also might randomly call on
students, so always be prepared to speak. Also, please don't dominate the conversation in a way
that is counter-productive; make sure that others can speak. If you have any concerns about 
your participation, please ask me. And if I have any concerns about your negative participation, I may
mention them to you privately or in class, as the case calls for. You are responsible for your actions.

My Negative Participation Pet Peeves:  These activities are disruptive in the classroom:
Eating [drinking, however, is fine]                   
Reading non-course books or newspapers/etc.
Carrying on a private conversation
Doing work for other classes during
Cell-phones ringing/flashing/beeping/vibrating/rotating/etc. Turn off your cell.
Do not keep cell phones out on the desk - do not use a laptop in class, just take notes on paper.
Your grade will be marked down for any of these things . . . . So,  in other words, the only things
you should be doing in class are paying attention, taking notes, and contributing.
The class is a technology-free zone: you should not use or look at a
cell-phone, blackberry, tablet, laptop, camera, digital recorder, Apple watch, Google glasses, etc. . . 
Violations will result in points taken directly off of your FINAL grade.
Each unauthorized use of technology in class will result in a four-point deduction from your final grade.

Plagiarism: If you claim something as your work that is not, you have committed plagiarism. 
If you use a source, you must cite it. If you use wording that comes from a source, you must
put it in quotes. When in doubt, cite it and/or ask me. Plagiarism of any sort is a breach of the 
academic contract; you may fail the course.

What You Can Expect from Me:
I will treat you and your comments in class with respect, I will be fair in my assessment of you,
and I will try to create an environment in which we can learn, talk freely, and succeed.
If you ever feel that I have not lived up to these expectations, you should talk about it with me.

_____________________________________

1) Cut and paste the text below into a one-page word document and then print it out.
2) Sign your name and date it. 
3) Bring the signed and dated document to class. Do not hand in the entire policy sheet.

ENGL 1100  Course Contract:

I have carefully read the course description at http://core.ecu.edu/ENGL/parillek/1100BDescription.html
and have read each of the policies at http://core.ecu.edu/ENGL/parillek/1100BPolicies.html.
I have asked any questions that I have about this material, I know what is expected of me, and
I agree to abide by the policies. In particular, I understand how important positive in-class
participation is to my grade, how harmful negative participation can be to the class and my grade,
and that the class is a technology-free zone. I understand that if I violate any of  the policies, my grade
and/or status in the course will be adversely affected.

________________________________ -- _______________________________ -- ________________
            [print your name]                                            [sign your name]                                     [date]