Students’ Responsibilities

Attendance at Class Meetings, Workshops, and Conferences

Because instructors share important information and advice during class, and because composition courses generally rely on a collaborative workshop approach, the success of individual students and the class as a whole depends upon students’ regular attendance.  Do not enroll in a composition course unless you expect to be available for every class meeting.

Instructors in first-year courses are encouraged to articulate an attendance policy.  In the writing program, the recommended policy is as follows:

Regular attendance in class is required.  If you miss more than six classes [more than four in a MW or TR section/ more than two in an evening section], you will not earn credit for the class.  This policy applies without exception, no matter when or why classes are missed.

A missed conference or workshop counts as a missed class.

Athletes whose travel schedules might force them to miss more than six [four/two] classes should enroll in composition during the off-season semester.

Please note that this policy is merely a recommendation: instructors may adopt different policies as their judgment directs.  For the policy that applies to your section, see the course syllabus.

Participation

Students are responsible not only for being present but for actively participating in the work of the class.  Come to class prepared to contribute to discussions, and do your part to make workshops effective.

Respectful Behavior

Students are expected to behave respectfully toward their instructor and classmates.  See the Student Code of Conduct in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Communication with the Instructor

Important announcements may be distributed via email or Blackboard.  Check both the course Blackboard site and your Lotus Notes email account regularly (at least once before every class meeting).

If you are having trouble with assignments, let your instructor know.  He or she may be able to clarify matters in a quick email or conversation.  If the trouble runs deeper, the instructor can offer you individual assistance or direct you to the appropriate campus service (e.g., the Writing Center).

Similarly, if you have a complaint about the course, communicate with your instructor.  If your instructor’s response is unsatisfactory, bring your complaint to Dr. Nora Bacon, Writing Program Administrator, at 554-3318.  You can also leave a message for Dr. Bacon with the English Department office (ASH 192, 554-2635) or send an email to nbacon@mail.unomaha.edu.

Academic Integrity

The Undergraduate Catalog explains the university policy on academic integrity. It identifies eight varieties of academic dishonesty and spells out the procedures for addressing them.

The misconduct of greatest concern in composition classes is plagiarism, which the catalog defines clearly:  “Presenting the work of another as one’s own (i.e., without proper acknowledgement of the source) and submitting examinations, theses, reports, speeches, drawings, laboratory notes or other academic work in whole or in part as one’s own when such work has been prepared by another person or copied from another person” (2006-07 catalog, page 53). The sanctions for plagiarism are severe, ranging from a failing grade on a paper to expulsion from the university. 

Don’t put your name on any paper that you have not written.  When you take information or language from an outside source – as you will frequently do in research papers – acknowledge the source using appropriate citation conventions.  If you have any questions about whether or how to cite a source, ask your instructor. 

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