Assignments, Assessment and Grading
Writing Exercises and Assignments
You will be doing numerous writing assignments and exercises in and out of class. Type all assignments.
Course Evaluation
Your grade will be measured predominantly by your ability to write clearly, cleanly, concisely and therefore effectively. I want to see you use the writing tips you learn in this class, and I want to see your writing improve as a result. During the semester, you will have the opportunity to earn 1,000 points. Here’s how your final grade will be determined:
900 to 1,000 points = A
800 to 899 points = B
700 to 799 points = C
600-699 points = D
Below 600 = F
Assignments and Points System
Ten Exercises – 30 percent of your grade (300 points)
Three Major Assignments – 30 percent of your grade (300 points)
Midterm Exam – 15 percent of your grade (150 points)
Final Exam – 15 percent of your grade (150 points)
Five Math Quizzes – 5 percent of your grade (50 points)
Five Current Events Quizzes – 5 percent of your grade (50 points)
Late Assignments
Journalists don’t miss deadlines. That’s why you shouldn’t either. If you don’t have an assignment complete when it’s due, you lose half of the assignment’s points. If you don’t turn in the assignment before the next class starts, you lose all the points. If you miss a class and a written assignment is due, your assignment is still expected unless you and I have made prior arrangements. Email the assignment to me or put it in the D2L Dropbox, and it must be there by the time class starts.
Academic Integrity/Misconduct
Please review the information on Academic Integrity and Misconduct. Academic integrity is a hallmark of Middle Tennessee State University. We expect students to complete academic exercises, i.e., assignments turned in for credit, that are original and appropriately credit all sources used.
Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
- Plagiarism: The adoption or reproduction of ideas, words, statements, images, or works of another person as one’s own without proper attribution. This includes self-plagiarism, which occurs when an author submits material or research from a previous academic exercise to satisfy the requirements of another exercise and uses it without proper citation of its reuse.
- Cheating: Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise. This includes unapproved collaboration, which occurs when a student works with others on an academic exercise without the express permission of the professor. It also includes purchasing assignments or paying another person to complete a course for you.
- Fabrication: Unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.
To be clear: Going online and taking information without proper citations, copying parts of another student’s work, creating information for the purposes of making your paper seem more official or anything involving taking someone else’s thoughts or ideas without proper attribution is academic misconduct. If you work together on an assignment when it is not allowed, it is academic misconduct. If you have a question about an assignment, please come see me to clarify. Cases of academic misconduct will be reported to the Office of Academic Affairs for violating the academic honesty requirements in the student handbook. Remember – ignorance is NOT a defense.
Attendance and Participation
Class Participation
As is the professional world of communications, this class is fast moving and demanding. Your attendance and participation are important to making this class a success.
Attendance will be taken every class meeting. You are allowed one unexcused absence; beyond that unexcused absence, deductions will be taken from your final grade for additional unexcused absences.
Absences may be excused for serious illnesses, religious observances, University-sanctioned activities, or in situations where the institution’s policy on inclement weather is applicable. The University considers participation in military duties as an excused absence.
The simple rule of thumb: If you know you’re going to miss a class (for whatever the reason), contact me PRIOR to the class you’re going to miss. Odds are very likely that I will consider it to be an excused absence if I know about it ahead of time.
In all cases, the student has the responsibility to present written excuses and make arrangements to make up any work missed. Non-attendance in class does not relieve a student of the responsibility for work covered or assigned in their absence.
Class Cancellation
If I need to cancel class for any reason (weather, illness, etc.), I will notify you prior to class via your MTSU email. I will also make every effort to make sure a sign is posted on our classroom door.
Communication Guidelines
Per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), all course communication will be conducted using D2L and MTSU email. Faculty will not respond to student emails via a non-institutional assigned email account.
- Please check both MTSU and D2L email several times each week for communication regarding this course.
- Always include a subject line and sign your name. Please also note the Course Name.
- Remember, without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails.
- Do not send large attachments without permission.
- Use standard fonts.
- Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
- Respect the privacy of other class members.
Cell Phone / Social Media Policy
Silence cell phones before class begins. No texting during class.
Computer Use During Class
Restrict your surfing to topics that are class-related.
Diversity
This class celebrates the unique ways that people from varying social intersections have contributed to American media institutions. Please choose your words carefully and be mindful of difference in this classroom.
Student Resources
Frequently Used Student Resources
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
In general, under FERPA I am not permitted to disclose your academic progress to anyone not allowed to receive such information. Thus, I cannot discuss your academic progress, grades, etc., over the phone or via e-mail. All such discussions must be in person. At the end of the semester, I cannot disclose your final grade over the phone or via e-mail. Nor can I “post” your grades. You will receive your final grades via PIPELINEMT or WEBMT. Additionally, I cannot access your grades if you have a “hold” on your records.
Students with Disabilities
Middle Tennessee State University is committed to campus access in accordance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Any student interested in reasonable accommodations can consult the Disability & Access Center (DAC) website and/or contact the DAC for assistance at 615-898-2783 or dacemail@mtsu.edu. Also, if you require the use of assistive technology, please make sure to download the documents in order to access the accessibility that I have built into the content for you.
Hope (Lottery) Scholarship Information
Do you have a lottery scholarship? To retain the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship eligibility, you must earn a cumulative TELS GPA of 2.75 after 24 and 48 attempted hours and a cumulative TELS GPA of 3.0 thereafter. A grade of C, D, F, FA, or I in this class may negatively impact TELS eligibility.
If you drop this class, withdraw, or if you stop attending this class you may lose eligibility for your lottery scholarship, and you may not be able to regain eligibility at a later time.
For additional Lottery rules, please refer to your Lottery Statement of Understanding form or contact your MT One Stop Enrollment Counselor.
Tutoring
Free tutoring in study skills and learning strategies including sessions on time management, notetaking, when and where to study, and memory principles are available at the Tutoring Spot, located inside Walker Library. Tutoring is also available in several courses including biology, history, computer information systems, physics, math, psychology, chemistry, economics, recording industry, and many more. For available tutoring opportunities, visit http://mtsu.edu/studentsuccess/tutoring.php#on. For questions, call the Tutoring Spot at 615-904-8014.
Walker Library
For additional resources for research and continual learning, please learn and use the various online research gateways at MTSU’s Walker Library, and to the Walker Library’s Distance Learning site. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by students to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included in course materials.
Grade Appeals
University Policy 313, Student Grade Appeals, provides an avenue for MTSU students to appeal a final course grade in cases in which the student alleges that unethical or unprofessional actions by the instructor and/or grading inequities improperly impacted the final grade.
Title IX
Students who believe they have been harassed, discriminated against or been the victim of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence or stalking should contact a Title IX/Deputy Coordinator at 615-898- 2185 or 615-898-2750 for assistance or review MTSU’s Title IX website for resources.
MTSU faculty are concerned about the well-being and development of our students and are legally obligated to share reports of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking with the University’s Title IX coordinator to help ensure student’s safety and welfare. Please refer to MTSU’s Title IX website for contact information and details.
Exploring New Media 