General Student Responsibilities:

• Helping to create a space where people feel welcomed and encouraged to participate. This includes not interrupting, insulting or disrespecting others in class;
• Contacting the instructor before leaving early or being absent (except in emergencies, when the instructor should be contacted as soon as possible);
• Emailing homework/essays to instructor by noon on due dates, if absent;
• Using technology in ways that are helpful to class discussion and learning;
• Cleaning up after any food or drink.

For a grade of A (excellent) students will:

• Produce essays of at least “A”-level quality;
• Turn in all homework on time;
• Participate in all classroom activities, with the exception that one (1) day of unexcused non-participation is okay;
• Be late to class unexcused no more than once (1);
• Sustain effort and investment on each draft of all papers;
• Give thoughtful feedback and worked faithfully with your group on collaborative tasks (e.g., sharing papers, commenting on drafts, peer editing, discussion boards, answering peer questions);
• Copy-edit final revisions of main assignments until they conform to the conventions of edited, professional English.

For a grade of B (good) students will:

• Produce essays of at least “B”-level quality;
• Turn in all homework on time, with the exception that one (1) unexcused missing or late assignment is okay;
• Participate in all classroom activities, with the exception that two (2) days of unexcused non-participation is okay;
• Be late to class unexcused no more than twice (2);
• Sustain effort and investment on each draft of all papers;
• Give thoughtful feedback and worked faithfully with your group on collaborative tasks (e.g., sharing papers, commenting on drafts, peer editing, discussion boards, answering peer questions);
• Copy-edit final revisions of main assignments until they conform to the conventions of edited, professional English.

For a grade of C (average) students will:

• Produce essays of at least “C”-level quality;
• Turn in all homework on time, with the exception that two (2) unexcused missing or late assignment is okay;
• Participate in all classroom activities, with the exception that three (3) days of unexcused non-participation is okay;
• Be late to class unexcused no more than three times (3);
• Sustain effort and investment on each draft of all papers;
• Give thoughtful feedback and worked faithfully with your group on collaborative tasks (e.g., sharing papers, commenting on drafts, peer editing, discussion boards, answering peer questions);
• Copy-edit final revisions of main assignments until they conform to the conventions of edited, professional English.

Instructor’s Responsibilities

• Returning assignments in a timely manner (by the following week, unless it’s a revision).
• Respond to student questions outside of class in a timely manner (within 24 hours or 48 on the weekend)
• Provide thorough feedback for improvement on written work
• Treat students with respect and grade according to the agreed policies
• Teach required essay genres, as well as the other genres we decide on as a class.
• Teach classes on time and only once.

Notes

1. Arriving more than five minutes after class begins is considered late.
2. Participation includes listening actively and responding thoughtfully and respectfully to everyone in the classroom. It includes volunteering to read, answer questions, offer opinions, and helpfully cooperating during group work. It also includes taking notes and annotations.

Writing Expectations

A level
Exceeds many expectations for college-level writing and encourages the reader to engage with the author’s argument. The reader appreciates the author’s style and clarity.

• Professional format (MLA); descriptive title; relatively free of mechanical errors; varied use of sentence structure for positive impact
• Central idea is clearly defined and well developed; essay has clear purpose; demonstrates thorough knowledge of the text
• Demonstrates close reading and analysis by using abundant meaningful evidence; examples that are vivid and specific
• Logically organized, cohesive, easily followed; effective transitions;
• Tone is clear, consistent, and appropriate for the intended audience

B-level
Meets expectations for college level writing and generally does not impede the reader from engaging with the author’s argument.

• Paper has logical structure with some ambiguities or irrelevances; easily followed; basic transitions;
• Standard format; uses complex sentences with few mechanical errors
• Vocabulary is varied, subject-specific and appropriate; writer’s tone emerges and is generally appropriate for the audience;
• Central idea and purpose are generally clear throughout the essay;
• Evidence of critical careful thought and analysis; relevant supporting examples.

C-level
Meets some expectations for college level writing but the reader can be distracted from the argument.

• There is some level of organization though digressions, ambiguities, irrelevances are distracting; Paper is difficult to follow with some ineffective transitions;
• Inconsistent format; use of compound sentences; distracting mechanics;
• Vocabulary is used correctly though sentences may be simple; infrequently uses subject-specific language correctly; writer’s tone exhibits some level of audience sensitivity;
• The central idea is expressed although it may be too broad, overly general, or vague; some sense of purpose is maintained throughout the essay; some evidence of careful critical thought; some evidence is offered although it is often general.