ComS 100B Critical Analysis of Messages

COURSE POLICIES:

Laptops
Cell phones
Discussion of grades
Attendance
Due dates
Quizzes
Grade of "incomplete"
Cheating
Dropping the course

Laptop Policy
If you wish to bring a laptop, please keep it closed until there is "tops up" time for writing a few notes to yourself or there is a need to do some research online. I find it hard to connect with students who are focused on a laptop display; some students find the key clicks and monitor images distracting as well. If you have a disability verified by the Services to Students With Disabilities (SSWD) office and you wish to discuss academic accommodations relative to laptop use in class, please talk with me immediately.

Cell Phone Policy
Using cell phones is not permitted during class; theymust be off for the duration of class sessions. Texting or websurfing indicate users devalue what is happening in the classroom. If I see you “checking,” texting, tweeting, gaming, surfing the web or otherwise playing with your phone, I will dismiss you from the class. (This has happened.) This is the first and last warning.  The reason is that you cannot actually multi-task when it involves control of attention--you can't be involved in processing significant, complex ideas in class while texting.  Take a look at this video.

If you must be available for a call or expect to receive a text message, please let me know of your need, put your phone on vibrate and sit near the classroom door so you can discretely exit and take your call or text.


Please turn off your cell phones while class is in session. If you must be available for a call or expect to receive a text message, please put your phone on vibrate and sit near the classroom door so you can discretely exit and take your call or text. I expect this will be a rare event.  If you use your phone as a minicomputer, the usage policy is the same as that for laptops.Texting or websurfing indicate users devalue what is happening in the classroom. This is a first and last warning. If I see you texting, tweeting, gaming, surfing the web or otherwise playing with your phone, I will dismiss you from the class.

Discussion of Grades
I will not discuss any grades for any assignment on the day I hand it back to you, nor will I discuss individual grades in the classroom.  All such discussions will take place in my office at least one day after the grade was received.  If you wish to contest a grade, write out your argument clearly, concisely and completely and bring it with you to the meeting in my office.

Attendance
Your attendance and participation each day is important. I expect you will attend each scheduled class meeting unless you are ill or have an emergency.  After three (3) absences, (which I assume will be used only in case of emergency or illness--I don’t ask for nor do I want excuses if you choose to miss three days) your final grade will be lowered at least one (1) grade  (e.g. B+ to C+) for each day missed thereafter. [Note: I take attendance each class period.  If you are late to class, it is your responsibility to see me at the end of that class period to make sure you are marked present.  If you do not take care of the attendance at that time, I will not change the attendance record at a latter date. Please be considerate of your colleagues and me by coming on time. If you are late, please be discrete and quiet as you enter the class and take a seat near the door.]

Due Dates
All assignments are due at class time on the date announced or assigned. Late assignments for whatever reason will be penalized one (1) full grade for each calendar day late (e.g. B to C).  After three (3) calendar days, I will not accept the assignment.  So, if a due date is Monday, I will accept the assignment no latter than Wednesday; if the due date is Wednesday, I will accept the assignment no later than Friday. 

Quizzes
There will be no make-ups for missed quizzes.

Grade of “Incomplete”
I will not assign an “incomplete” unless the requirements and conditions of the university for that designation are met.  Incompletes are not routinely assigned if you are slow in getting work done or not responsible in management of your time.  As is the case with dropping the course (see below), you must present me with substantial and compelling documentation that persuades me that your case meets the requirements for assignment of incomplete.  You must also present to me, at the same time, a clear and coherent plan and time line for completion of the course which will function as a starting point for negotiation of a joint plan for course completion.

Cheating
 I follow the departmental policy on plagiarism reproduced below.  In a nutshell, plagiarism is the use of other’s ideas or words without giving them credit.  This includes paraphrases of another’s ideas.  You must always give credit where credit is due.  Plagiarism is a serious academic offense. Note that the Department Policy is very strict and very clear: “Any student proved guilty of plagiarism in this course will be failed for the entire course.” (If you are still unclear as what defines plagiarism, go to

http://library.csus.edu/content2.asp?pageID=353

If you are unsure as to whether or not you are plagiarizing on a draft, ask me about it.   I’m delighted and forgiving if you ask about drafts. I am not forgiving when plagiarism occurs in final drafts.

Department of Communication Studies Plagiarism Policy

Any student proved guilty of plagiarism in this course will be failed for the entire course, not just for the piece of work in which the plagiarism occurs.  It is important, therefore, to understand exactly what plagiarism is.

Plagiarism is literary thievery:  the use of somebody else's material as you own in a speech, film, or research paper without giving credit to the author.  It includes, particularly, the following:

1.   Use of somebody else's exact wording, whatever the material, without indication of the source and quotation marks or other accepted typographical devices.  Changing a few words here and there is not sufficient to avoid plagiarism.

2.   Borrowing the whole pattern of organization and points of view of a source without giving credit via standard in-text written citation.

3.   Borrowing facts, figures, or ideas with originated with and are the property of a particular source, rather than a matter of common information available in many sources.

Collaborating with other students to the extent that two or more assignments are identical in pattern of organization, points of view, or wording.

Dropping the course
 I follow the attached departmental policy on dropping.  Be sure you drop by the end of the second week if you are at all inclined to do so because dropping after the fourth class session will require documentation of extenuating circumstances.

Department of Communication Studies Add/Drop Policy

During the first two weeks of the semester, Communication Studies classes may be added only by using an Add Permit (obtained on the 5th floor of Mendocino) signed by the instructor and brought to the Department Office in MND-5014.  It is the student's responsibility to make sure that the form is filled out correctly -- using the correct 5-digit course call no., the department and course number, and section number.  During this same time period, classes may be dropped using CASPER.

During the 3rd and 4th weeks of the semester, students must obtain a Petition to Add/Drop After Deadline form to add or drop a class.  This form must be signed by the instructor and by the Department Chair.  Attached to the petition is a student statement to be completed by the student explaining the reason for dropping or adding after the deadline.  This statement must be completed before the petition can be processed in the Department Office.

Please be aware that, after the 4th week of the semester, all adds must also be signed by the Dean of Arts and Letters and then processed through Admissions and Re cords. The same is true for all drops requested after the 6th week of the semester.