YOUR COURSE POLICIES AND SYLLABI

Syllabi on File: Please give a copy of your current course syllabus to Cami as soon as you have it ready.  We need to keep a current file of all syllabi being used in our program.

Syllabus:  A syllabus is an outline of the material to be covered over the semester.  While it may not be possible to know exactly what you will be doing in class on a day-to­day basis, a syllabus can indicate the general topics to be covered, the specific deadlines and due dates for major assignments, the general pace and direction of the course.  Such a syllabus helps students organize their time throughout the semester and lets an instructor see the overall plan of the course.  It also creates a tone of organization and seriousness when an instructor walks into the first class with a syllabus and policy sheet in hand.  Samples of syllabi for English 1, 101, and 102 are included in this handbook, and the CWP office has additional examples on file.

Policy Sheet: The policy sheet is an instructor's contract with each student.  It outlines the basic requirements of the course, the number of papers and assignments to be given, the weighing of these assignments, the policy regarding attendance, late papers, missing assignments, etc.  Prepare a policy sheet for the first week of and go over it carefully with students.  It’s also a good idea to review this material with students after three or four weeks have passed.

Attendance:    Department policy states that an instructor may lower the grade of a student who has missed three contact hours of class (a full week’s worth of unexcused absences: three MWF classes, two TR classes, or a single once-a-week night class).  That is, the CWP office will back you up if you choose to follow this policy, as long as you keep accurate records and state your attendance policy clearly in writing.  On your policy sheet, be sure to tell students that ___ absences from your class (depending on how often you meet each week) may lower their final grade.  If students must miss class for school activities (athletics, debate, band, etc.), they should bring, in advance of the event, a list of dates (signed by the appropriate faculty member) indicating when these activities will take place. Dentist and doctor appointments or vacations should not be excused, nor is it acceptable for students to arrive late or leave early due to job obligations.

Many instructors choose not to get involved in dealing with student “excuses”; they simply say, “We are a community of writers, so attendance is important in this class.  You may be absent ___ times this semester with no effect on your grade.  After that, your grade may be lowered.  If there is an emergency or special problem, please let me know immediately.  Of course, you are responsible for any work and any information you missed due to any absence.”

For many reasons, which we’ll discuss at orientation, the CWP urges—but doesn’t require—teachers of first-year writing to have attendance policies.  It’s important to be firm but not rigid with these policies.  Students do get sick; emergencies occur: these justify an excused absence or some flexibility in your attendance policy.  However, if students have recurring medical problems, lengthy illnesses, or personal or family problems that require extended time away from school, urge them to drop the course and take it later.  Although excused, students are still responsible for all class work.

Missing Work: Our general policy is that all assigned, formal class work (essays, writer's notebook, exams, etc.) must be completed to pass the course.  Make your expectations clear on your policy sheet.

Office Hours: You are required to keep three regularly scheduled office hours per week; in addition, encourage students to make appointments for other meetings, especially if they have a schedule conflict during your office hours.

Conferences:  Individual writing conferences are an effective teaching technique: often, a 15-minute conference can make a big difference in a student’s work.  You should require at least one conference with every student during the semester.  You may cancel a class to schedule conferences with your students.  If you do, please inform the office.

Grading Policies: How do you weigh assignments? Do you average all essay grades or give more weight to those at the end of the course? How much do journals, writer's notebooks, class participation, daily assignments count? What about the final portfolio? Will missing work affect the final grade? (It should.) Students have a right to know how they are evaluated, and you should make this clear on your policy sheet.

Students will also want to know if they can revise papers for a better grade.  Revision should be an important part of any writing course, but caution students that they must write a revision, not merely a correction of errors.  Some instructors require that students meet with them to plan a revision strategy within the week after receiving a graded paper.  This is to avoid five "revisions" the last day of class.  During the semester, it is also helpful to give students your criteria for grades--or have them create their own--and do some grading sessions in class.  Students do recognize good writing, and they appreciate knowing the criteria on which they will be evaluated.

NOTE: The university has a +/- grading system.  You must inform your students if you will or will not use pluses and minuses on their final grades.

Late Papers: Instructors have different policies regarding late papers.  Some do not accept them at all.  Others will--after an arrangement has been reached with the student, for example, an "excused" late paper because of an illness.  What is important is to have a clearly stated policy and to show that you are enforcing it.

Students with Disabilities: Any student who has a documented disability that requires some accommodation in your class should notify you of this fact during the first week of class so that arrangements can be made.  You should note this on your syllabus.

Referring Students to the Catalogue: Many instructors now include this statement on all their syllabi, thus eliminating the need for lengthy discussions of academic honesty, appeals process, and so forth.  "All regulations regarding academic conduct, responsibili­ties, and rights, as they appear in the current university catalogue, apply in this course."

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