Required course materials you must have all of these

Required Course Materials:
You must have all of these materials to be successful in the class.

Hacker, Diana and Nancy Sommers. A Writer’s Reference, Seventh Edition with Writing in the
Disciplines (rainbow and orange cover).

Hayden McNeil Custom Reader: Evolving Ideas: Focused Inquiry, VCU 2012-2013 Edition .

Full Body Burden by Kristen Iversen (2012 Summer Reading)

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. Dick (2013 Winter Reading)
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
VCU email account/Blackboard account and reliable daily access to those accounts.
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Course Grading:
Weight of course components in final grade:
Please Note!
o
Please note: Failure to turn in an electronic
“learning portfolio” of coursework at the end of the
term will result in failure of the course.
o
Students must earn a D or better in UNIV 111 to
enter UNIV 112.

Formal Writing Assignments:
o
Unit I narrative: 10%
o
Unit II essay: 15%
o
Unit III paper: 15%

Informal Writing Assignments:
o
Response papers, drafts, worksheets: 20%

Presentations:
o
Collaborative presentation: 10%
o
Individual presentation: 10%

Attendance and Participation:
o
Attendance: 10%

See Attendance Grading Scale in “Course Policies” section below
o
Participation: 10%
Course Policies:
Focused Inquiry Program Attendance Policy :
UNIV 111 requires prepared, active participation during class sessions.
Attendance Grading Scale
0-1 absences – 10 pts/10
2 absences – 9pts / 10
3 absences - 7 pts / 10
4 absences - 6 pts / 10
5 absences - 4 pts / 10
6 absences - 3 pts / 10
7 absences - 1 pts / 10
8 absences - automatic failure of the course

While attendance is mandatory, students should not expect to do well simply by attending.

Being absent from class does not relieve students of responsibility for completing all course
work by the scheduled due dates.

The instructor has the right to lower a student's final course grade as the sole result of his or
her repeated absences and tardiness

Students who miss more than 25% of the classes will automatically fail. In a TTH class, this is
8 or more absences.

There are no “excused” or “unexcused” absences.

Late arrivals (aka, tardies) are recorded. Every three tardies will be counted as
one absence.
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
Students who arrive more than ten minutes late to class will be counted as
absent.
I keep and report daily attendance. You will receive an automated email each time you are absent. This
email is also sent to your advisor. If you receive an email in error, please let me know immediately.
Cell Phone and Laptop Policy:
Under no circumstances are cell phones allowed to be used in our classroom. Cell phones must be
turned off and put away before class begins. If the instructor witnesses a student using a cell phone
during class, regardless of the purpose, the student will lose one participation point (out of the
possible 10 as indicated in the ‘Course Grading’ section), and may be asked to leave the class.