- “Equipments for Living” Course Packet (at Target Copy on W. Tennessee) (CP)
- Assorted articles and webtexts in Blackboard (Bb) and via web (web link)
- The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms, Third Edition (ISBN 9780312461881)
- Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi (ISBN 9780375714573)
- Arab in America by Toufic El Rassi (ISBN 9780867196733)
Required Access
- Regular access to Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and Blackboard
- Regular access to this course blog
Due to the interactive nature of our in-class discussions, you must bring texts to class on the dates they are assigned without exception so that you can participate. Readings marked CP should be brought to class in hard copy. Readings marked Bb and web link should be brought to class in either digital (laptop, iPad, e-Reader) or print format. Readings brought to class on your smart phone won’t do you or your classmates very much good. Please bring the Glossary to every class in case we need it.
Evaluation and Grade Scale
Each assignment has specific evaluation criteria that we will review in class. You should always feel free to meet with me if an assignment is unclear, if you get stuck, or if my first response on an assignment is unhelpful. You may also meet with me at any time if you are unsure of where you stand in the course.
Final grades are calculated using the 4-point system described in the Academic Regulations and Procedures (http://registrar.fsu.edu/bulletin/undergrad/info/acad_regs.htm). Please keep in mind that at FSU, an “A” indicates exemplary work and means you have mastered the concepts of the assignment or made expert improvement as a result of careful revision. A “B” indicates very good work in which you have not only met all of the assignment requirements, but you have also met them at a level above expectations. A “C” indicates that you have sufficiently completed the assignment, have improved, and are moving positively towards mastering the concepts. A “D” indicates that you have struggled to execute some portion of the assignment properly and may need help. An “F” indicates that you either did not understand or did not follow through with the assignment.
Regular Reading (Critical Reading)
Reading assignments must be completed by the date they are assigned, and all assigned readings must be brought to class in appropriate form. Some of our readings will seem immediately accessible, while others will seem impenetrable at first, due to terminology, length, or authorial voice. Overall, I think you will enjoy our readings and, although you may not love all of them right away, I fully believe that you can master them by the end of the term. I will regularly provide discussion questions, lexical terms, an application, or a reading guide to help you navigate difficult texts; however, your success in the class ultimately depends upon your persistence, diligence, and fortitude.
On-Time Submission of Work
Unless otherwise specified, all assignments must be submitted by the beginning of class on the date they are due. Blog posts must be completed by the posted deadlines in order to receive credit. Please plan ahead so that you can get them done on time. If you have a university-excused absence, an emergency, or severe illness and cannot attend class when something is due, you must contact me in advance to request alternate arrangements for turning in your work. I will not accept it otherwise. I can work with you ahead of time, but not after the fact.
Attendance
Because this class emphasizes intellectual participation, your attendance and promptness are mandatory. Because your lives are constellations of activity, I offer the following attendance policy for this course:
- You can be absent 3 class periods without receiving any reduction of your participation grade. Please note that I and the University are expecting you will use absences only when you need them, i.e., for documented illness, childcare, jury duty, religious holy days, military duty, and sanctioned university business.
- At 4 absences, your participation grade is reduced 10% for each additional absence. In compliance with university policy, exceptions may be made in documented circumstances but are not always guaranteed.
- At 9 absences, you are unable to pass the course.
- If you miss class, you must find out what you missed and turn in what is due (see On-Time Submission of Work, above).
- Frequent or excessive lateness will be counted as an absence, as will leaving class early.
- In the event of weather-related emergencies, please check your e-mail for Blackboard notifications of how we will conduct class online in lieu of the classroom.
Academic Integrity
For this course, you are responsible for reading and abiding by the FSU Academic Honor Policy, and for living up to your pledge to “strive for personal and institutional integrity” in all things (http://academichonor.fsu.edu/policy/policy.html). All of your work for this class should be authentic, original, and specific to the tasks I have assigned, rather than written for another class. Cheating and all forms of misrepresentation, including plagiarism and constructing assignments via paper mill, can result in automatic failure of the course. “Plagiarism” occurs when you misrepresent someone else’s work as your own by:
- having someone write your paper for you or turning in someone else’s work;
- simply copying, pasting, or “patchwriting” published information into your paper;
- deliberately using sources without attributing them.
While it is reasonable to receive tutoring, help, or support for your writing and technology use, every aspect of your project (including visuals, design, and written text) must be original or cited appropriately. As you get into more advanced writing, it becomes important to annotate and incorporate sources productively and fairly, so that your process does not get mistaken for plagiarism. Feel free to ask me if you are unsure at any time about what constitutes “fair use.”
Reading-Writing Center (RWC)
If you decide that you would like more sustained feedback on your writing than I am already giving you at any point in the semester, please seek me out in conference or office hours. However, I also highly recommend that you visit the Reading-Writing Center in Williams, Johnston, or Strozier, especially if you are concerned about the communicability of your ideas. I recommend RWC to any writer who is working through a difficult project, since talking with others is helpful at all stages of your writing, from planning the project to editing the final draft. You can make appointments by calling (850) 644-6495 or using their online scheduler (http://fsu.mywconline.com).
Digital Studio
I also recommend the Digital Studio for out-of-class work, especially when it comes time to think about your multimodal component. The Studio also provides support to students working individually or in groups on conducting online research for an essay, selecting images for visual projects, making podcasts, and just increasing your overall capacities in digital communication. They are located in Williams 222B or Johnston Ground G0062. You can make appointments by using their online scheduler (http://fsu.mywconline.com).
Accommodations
The Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC) can arrange for assistance, auxiliary aids, or related services if you think a temporary or permanent disability will prevent you from fully participating in class, or if you need our course materials in an alternative format. Contact them with individual concerns at (850) 644-9566 (voice), (850) 644-8504 (TDD), or http://www.disabilitycenter.fsu.edu/. You must be registered with the SDRC before classroom accommodations can be provided, and you should bring a letter to me requesting accommodations in the first week of class so that I can follow through appropriately.
