Course Policies

Grades:

Grades are based on the quality of your written work, online responses, quizzes, and your engagement in the material we will be studying throughout the quarter. Engagement in an online course is different than in a face-to-face one. You need to post regularly and comment on the work of your classmates in order to stay plugged in to what we’re doing. In order to be engaged in the class, you also must read. Since we will be reading primarily comics in this class, I would prefer that you not use e-readers since they do not reproduce the images and page layout of comics well. Our online environment will be relaxed and discussion-based, but it’s necessary to do the reading in order to participate in and create this environment. 

 Plagiarism:

The University of Cincinnati provides the following examples of plagiarism:

 ·         Turning in someone else's work as your own.
·         Changing the words of an original source is not sufficient to prevent plagiarism. If you have retained the essential idea of an original source, and have not cited it, then no matter how drastically you may have altered its context or presentation, you have still plagiarized.
·         Copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit.
·         Failing to put a quotation in quotation marks.
·         Giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation.
·         Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit.
·         Copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not

Plagiarism is a serious offense and can result in your failing the course and being charged with academic misconduct.  If you are unsure about whether something in a paper is properly cited, please contact me before you submit it. 

Assignments:

Class assignments will vary: short un-graded responses on course material, a mid-term paper (5-7 pages), a creative assignment, and a final paper with a small research component (8-10 pages).  I will give out detailed information about the paper assignments and expectations later in the quarter.

Since we will primarily be reading graphic texts this term, it is important to read each text carefully and with an awareness of the ways in which images and words work together in the works we will be reading.

In addition to our work in class, I recommend that you be in touch with me via email or at office hours at least once during the course of the quarter. Our conversation gives us a chance to discuss your thoughts about the course and your paper ideas.

Special Needs Statement:

If you have any special needs related to your participation and performance in this course, please speak to me as soon as possible. In consultation with Disability Services, we can make reasonable provisions to ensure your ability to succeed in this class and meet its goals.