Writing Programs Guide

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. May I get an override to enroll in a closed section?

2. How can I withdraw from a composition course?

3. How will I know what are the policies for the class I am taking?

4. What are the guidelines for class discussion?

5. What if I miss class?

• What if I have to miss the first week of school?
• What is an instructor initiated drop?

7. May I turn in papers late?

8. How do I avoid plagiarizing?

9. Generally, what will my teacher think is plagiarism?

10. Electronic plagiarism

11. What will happen if I do plagiarize?

12. Do I have to take a final exam in a composition course?

13. May I take the final exam early so I can leave campus?

14. May I get an Incomplete in a composition course?

15. What is the procedure for recording an Incomplete?

16. When may I appeal a grade in a composition course?

17. How do I file a final grade appeal?

18. What if I have a problem in a class during the semester?

19. What will happen if my teacher must miss class?

20. What is the Writing Programs Policy regarding Plus/Minus Grades?

1. May I get an override to enroll in a closed section?

Enrollment in composition sections is limited. Instructors are discouraged from permitting overrides because the effectiveness of instruction in composition depends largely upon the instructor's ability to respond frequently to the writing of each student.

Students may submit a withdrawal request on ASU Interactive (www.asu.edu/interactive), they may call Sun Dial at (480) 350-1500 or they may withdraw in-person at any University registrar location through the withdrawal deadline date. The withdrawal request form is available online at www.asu.edu/registrar/forms for in-person requests.

Course Withdrawal Deadline

Spring & Fall Semesters	The end of the tenth week of the semester
Summer Session	The end of the third week of the semester
Winter Session	The midpoint of the semester

A course withdrawal may be processed after the Course Withdrawal Deadline, but before the semester transaction deadline with authorized approval from the College offering the course.

Instructor initiated withdrawal: Instructors may withdraw a student from a class if the student does not attend class during the first week of the semester.
Instructors may initiate withdrawals with a grade of "E" or "W" in cases of disruption or harassment.

Students may appeal these withdrawals in composition classes to the Standards Committee of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

3. How will I know what are the policies for the class I am taking?

During the first week of classes the instructor in each section will distribute a detailed syllabus. The syllabus will state the instructor’s policies for that class which supplement the policies in this book.

All ASU Composition classrooms are public spaces. What you say in class could appear on the front page of a newspaper. Please remember that you are responsible for what you say--even in anger or to be funny.

Learning to communicate with language means considering the audience and purpose of your message. When participating in class discussions, remember that other students are your immediate audience and consider how what you say may be received by those who hold different perspectives. Since you are enrolled in composition classes to practice effective language practices, your teacher will want you to think of other people before you speak and respect the rights and perspectives of others.

If you miss class, you are still responsible for all the work done in class and for keeping up with the assignments announced. Because you will miss participating in class for that day, your instructor may reduce your total participation points for each absence. You cannot expect to make up or receive credit for work specifically designed to be done in class; nor can you expect an instructor to repeat missed classes at your convenience.

• What if I have to miss the first week of school?
• If you miss the first week of classes, your instructor may drop you from the class (see below), to make room for other students who want to enroll.  For that reason, the College encourages instructors to drop students who miss the first week of classes.
• What is an instructor initiated drop?
• Instructors are encouraged to drop students who miss the entire first week of classes; because it is initiated by the teacher, it's called an "instructor initiated drop."

Yes, you may fail the course because of excessive absences. Teachers define excessive absences in the syllabus for the class. The Writing Program supports teachers who enforce the following attendance policy: A student who exceeds 6 absences in a class meeting MWF or 4 absences in a class meeting TTH will fail the course. Attendance Policy for Hybrid/Online Courses: Students enrolled in hybrid or online courses in the ASU Writing Programs must comply with the attendance policy of the instructor during face-to-face and online meeting classes as described in the course syllabus.

Hybrid classes: In the case of hybrid course that meet twice a week, a student who misses more than four classes -- either face-to-face, online, or a combination -- will fail the course with a grade of E.

Online classes: More than four absences will result in failure.

Definition of attendance in online classes: The instructor will define attendance in the syllabus. Generally, a student who fails to post an assignment to the class website during the assigned "window" of time will be counted absent for that class day.

Technical problems online: While these do occur either at home or from an on-campus connection, they are usually not valid reasons for failing to fulfill the requirements for attendance on that day. Students are responsible for allocating enough time to complete online assignments, and they should include the possibility of technical "glitches." Thus students need to allow enough time to try again later or to travel to a campus computer lab or alternative place to complete the assignment and therefore avoid an absence for the day.

Exceptions may be made by the instructor in the event of widespread computer viruses or some other large-scale event affecting ASU's computer network, but exceptions will not be made for routine computer problems.

First week of classes: Students enrolled in hybrid/online courses must make every reasonable attempt to attend class or contact the instructor during the first week. After the first week those who do not show up either in person or by calling or e-mailing the instructor may be dropped.

If you turn in papers late, instructors may reduce the grade or may refuse to accept them at all.  The syllabus your instructor gives you will explain the course policies in detail.

8. How do I avoid plagiarizing?

You must acknowledge the source of all material in your essays. This is done by systems of documentation, such as MLA and APA. If you have any doubt, you should credit the source or sources, even if the source is a roommate or parent. When in doubt about specific cases, you should ask the course instructor.

If you are having trouble writing an essay, visit with your teacher during office hours and visit the Writing Center or the Learning Resource Center.

The general definition of plagiarism is "knowingly presenting someone else's language or ideas as one's own." Plagiarism can take several different forms:

• Using all or part of another writer's work word-for-word without quotation marks and proper acknowledgment.
• Closely paraphrasing or summarizing another writer's work without acknowledgment.
• Using original ideas expressed by another, in writing or in speech, without acknowledgment.
• Copying another student's composition or allowing another student to copy one's own composition.
• Submitting a composition significantly revised by another person.
• Submitting as one's own work a paper written by another student or supplied by a professional paper-writing company.

Some sites on the World Wide Web contain essays that have been written by students, often by students who are not successful writers. Generally, teachers find these essays to be of poor quality. They are usually examples of how NOT to write essays in the ASU Writing Program. Teachers are aware of these sites and do browse them. Teachers can search these sites for key words and, thus, quickly find a specific essay. If a teacher finds the essay you turned in is posted at one of these Web sites, you are guilty of plagiarism.

If you plagiarize an essay electronically, you will be punished in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct (see the next section). It is much better to work with drafts of your own essay during in-class workshops than to risk failure and other punishment.

In accordance with policies stated in the Student Code of Conduct, the English Department will not excuse, condone, or ignore plagiarism. Offenders may receive severe penalties, including 1) immediate failure for the assignment, 2) immediate failure in the course, 3) referral to the Student Conduct Committee of the University, and 4) possible expulsion from the University.

When you are enrolled in a composition course, you must take a final examination or submit a portfolio analysis to receive a grade.

Instructors are prohibited from giving early exams. The final examination schedule is published in the Class Schedule each semester. You must plan your trips after your finals are over.

You may take an Incomplete, with a mark of "I" on your transcript, only when you have already done more than half the work in the course, have a passing grade, and cannot complete the course for reasons of health or other serious and unavoidable difficulties. Instructors in composition are discouraged from giving Incompletes.

To record an Incomplete, the student and instructor must both sign a Contract for a Grade of "I." This completed form must specify what work is to be completed, a date (not to exceed 1 year) when the work must be finished, and the grade the student earned on work already completed. The student and the instructor will each keep a copy of the contract. Also, a third copy, with the folder of the student's work attached, must be filed in the Writing Programs Office.

You may file a grade appeal after you receive a final grade in the class. You must file the appeal no later than four weeks after the beginning of the next semester.

If you believe that a teacher’s evaluation of your writing is inaccurate, you may file a course grade appeal. You must follow the steps in the Writing Program's grade appeal policy. Contact the Writing Programs Office for further instruction. (480) 965-3853

You may appeal course grades after the semester has ended. However, if you encounter other kinds of problems during the semester of enrollment, you may pursue the Writing Program’s problem-resolution process. Contact the Writing Programs Office for further instruction. (480) 965-3853

19. What will happen if my teacher must miss class?

Substitutes: The Writing Programs cannot assign substitutes or post signs when instructors are ill or cannot attend class. Instead, instructors should either contact students via e-mail or arrange for a colleague to post signs. If neither of these options is possible, students should wait for the instructor in the classroom for fifteen minutes. If the instructor does not arrive after that time, students may then leave and assume class is cancelled for the day.

20. What is the Writing Programs Policy regarding Plus/Minus Grades?

Beginning Fall, 2004, ASU will allow teachers to award plusses or minuses to As and Bs. Only plusses may be added to Cs; Ds and Es are reported as whole grades only. Teachers may choose to award plusses and minuses (as stipulated) at their discretion. The Writing Programs supports this policy.