1. a. Grading: Letter grades will be determined as follows:
   1. Original posts to the discussion forum: 45%
   2. Comments on other students’ posts: 9%
   3. Review of the documentaries: 12%
   4. Outline of entire paper, draft of first two pages, and tentative Works Cited: 5%
   5. Twentieth Century Revolution Paper: 25%
   6. 2 peer reviews: 4%

• b. Grading Scale:

  • A = 90-100% – outstanding. “A” work demonstrates a superior level of thinking and understanding, as well as clear and concise analytical writing. All course learning objectives have been achieved in an exemplary manner. This work is insightful, and shows the student’s ability to apply his/her knowledge. He or she is able to articulate the meaning and consequences of various points of view. This student’s work is consistently excellent.
  • B = 89- 89% – very good. “B” work demonstrates a very good level of reasoning and understanding of the course material. It is usually clear, concise, and insightful. The student often applies his or her knowledge, and articulates the meaning and consequences of various points of view. This students work is consistently very good, and all learning objectives have been well achieved.
  • C = 70- 79% – average/adequate. This work demonstrates an adequate understanding of the course material. Literal, rather than analytical thinking is usually exhibited. Writing is sometimes unclear and imprecise. This student’s work is often inconsistent, and a few learning objectives are unachieved.
  • D = 60- 69% – below average. “D” work exhibits poor understanding of course material. Literal, rather than analytical thinking is usually exhibited. Writing is usually unclear, confusing, and imprecise. Learning objectives have been achieved at a minimal level, and several are unachieved.
  • F = Below 60% – failing. This work is inadequate. It is confusing and unclear, and shows many misconceptions. Few of the learning objectives have been achieved.

2. Academic Integrity Policy

Per the Student Handbook, “St. Edward’s University expects academic honesty from all members of the community, and it is our policy that academic integrity be fostered to the highest degree possible. Consequently, all work submitted for grading in a course must be created as a result of your own thought and effort. Representing work as your own when it is not a result of such thought and effort is a violation of our code of academic integrity. Whenever it is established that academic dishonesty has occurred, the course instructor shall impose a penalty on the offending individual(s). The maximum penalty for a first offense is failure in the course, and if that penalty is imposed, the student does not have the option of withdrawing from the course.” http://think.stedwards.edu/deanofstudents/studenthandbook/academicintegrity

• • In an effort to help students avoid inadvertent plagiarism through the use of inadequate paraphrasing or the failure to cite incorporated source material, each student will submit her/his paper draft and final paper to Turnitin via Blackboard prior to submitting the paper to the instructor on the scheduled due date. If the student’s paper has more than 20% quotations, a hardcopy Turnitin report, with the student’s hand written response next to each section Turnitin highlighted, must accompany the student’s paper when submitted to the instructor.  In order for the report to be available at the time the paper is due, the draft and final paper MUST be submitted to Turnitin via Blackboard AT LEAST 4 HOURS BEFORE the due date

3. Dropping/ Withdrawing Policy:

• It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of add/drop/withdraw and refund deadlines. See web link: http://think.stedwards.edu/registrar/datesanddeadlines
• Students should also communicate with their instructor, academic advisor, and financial aid advisor.
• If the student sees that he/she cannot adequately participate in the course, it is the student’s responsibility to drop the course.
• An instructor has the option, but is not required, to request the registrar to assign a grade of WA (Withdrawal Due to Absences) to a student who has excessive absences (missing more than 3 online discussions/deadlines) from a class by the last day to withdraw from the specific course.

4. Incomplete Grades Policy

The grade of I (Incomplete) is given at the sole discretion of the instructor and with the approval of the dean. A grade of I must always be requested by the student; it is not automatically earned. To qualify for an Incomplete, students must have completed no less than one-half of the work in a course and have attended no fewer than one-half of the scheduled class meetings. The student must be able to document that the situation qualifies as exceptional. Exceptional circumstances include but are not restricted to a death in the immediate family; the onset of a serious medical condition; or an unexpected change in job or family circumstances. Exceptional circumstances do not include situations that can be considered a normal part of living. Course work must be completed and a grade submitted by the instructor to the Office of the Registrar no later than October 1 for summer courses, March 1 for fall courses and July 1 for spring courses, or a grade of F will be entered on the transcript.

 5. Disability Services/Special Circumstances

St. Edward’s University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in making reasonable accommodation for qualified students with a disability. If you have an established disability as defined in the Americans with Disability Act and would like to request accommodation, please let me know early in the semester or as soon as you are eligible. Students will need to present documentation of their disability to the disability coordinator in Academic Planning and Support Services located in Moody Hall. Documentation guide:http://think.stedwards.edu/apss/requirementsproperdocumentation

6. Late Work Policy :

• Assignments are considered late after the due date and time. Only in significant extenuating circumstances, which the student discusses with the professor within 24 hours of the due date, may any late work be accepted. Otherwise, the point value of the missing assignment will be deducted from the student’s grade. Comments on a classmate’s posting are worth 1 point each week. These cannot be accepted late, since ordinarily classmates will not check the discussion forum after the Saturday noon deadline. Therefore, if a student fails to post a comment on another student’s answers by the Saturday deadline one week, 1 point will be deducted from his or her grade. Due to the nature of the course, make up of assigned posting answer/s, which are due every Wednesday at midnight, is possible ONLY with approval of the instructor as described above. Otherwise, 5 pts will be deducted from a student’s grade for each missing set of discussion answers.

7. Attendance and Tardy Policy: 

• Since this class is online, missing the weekly discussion postings is missing a week of class. Points will be deducted as described under “late work policy.” As described under the dropping/withdrawing policy, missing more than 3 online deadlines may result in being withdrawn or asking the student to withdraw from the class.

8. Syllabus subject to change: 

• Note that course structure, assessment, and assignments are subject to change. It is your responsibility to remain informed of the routine changes and adjustments announced on Blackboard.