Expect: Expectations

Grading

Minimum grades: A for > 90%; B for > 80% but <90%; C for > 70% but < 80%; D for > 65% but <70%; F for <65%. Grading will reflect performance as described below.
Please note that an above average grade requires performing above expectations!

A: Excellent work. Has exceeded requirements. Writing and factual errors in assignments are minor, if any. Content indicates a thorough comprehension of the material. Student always participates in class with enthusiasm and interest.
B: Good work. Has met requirements and exceeded some. Some errors in writing or factual content occur, these do not interfere with understanding. Content indicates good understanding of the material. Student usually participates in class with enthusiasm and interest.
C: Average work. Meets minimal requirements. Writing is poor and errors may interfere with understanding the writer's intent; factual errors occur but are not ubiquitous. Content is shallow, or fails to indicate a good understanding of the assignment. Student is present in class, but participation is minimal, without interest or with reluctance.
D: Poor work. Fails to meet some of the minimal requirements. The quality of writing interferes with understanding the writer's intent and factual error abound. Content contains substantial gaps, is shallow, and fails to indicate more than a minimal understanding of the material. Student is sometimes absent and fails to participate in a meaningful way in class.
F: Failing work. Does not meet requirements, writing is incomprehensible. At this level, it is likely to be difficult to assess factual errors due to poor writing. Content demonstrates a near complete lack of understanding of the material. Student is usually absent from class, fails to attempt assignments, and when present is disruptive.

Expectations

Conduct: Students are expected at all times to conduct themselves responsibly and to treat classmates and instructors with courtesy. Illegal actions and alcohol consumption are not allowed during classes or on field trips. Smoking is not allowed in class; if you must smoke on field trips, please be courteous and do so out of sight and smell of non-smoking classmates (your instructor is allergic to cigarette smoke). Telephone conversations are not appropriate in class: Please turn cell phones off. If you must leave your cell phone active, excuse yourself from class to answer it.

Class work load: A full college load of twelve or more credits is more than a full time job, especially as APU packs a full semester course into just eleven weeks (Session) or four weeks, full time (Block). Expect a substantial work load.

Block classes: Students earning an A in a four-credit Block course may expect to spend more than 20 hours per week outside of class on reading, studying, and assignments for that course. For example, this may mean spending more than 2 hours each class day reading assignment outside of class (8 hours) plus 4 hours each Friday, Saturday and Sunday on reading, studying and assignments (12 hours).

Session classes: Students earning an A in a four-credit Session course may expect to spend more than 10 hours per week outside of class on reading, studying, and assignments for that course. For example, this may mean spending more than one hour each week day reading assignments outside of class (5 hours) plus 2-3 hours each on Saturday and Sunday on reading, studying and assignments (4-6 hours).

Of course, putting the time in is not the only measure of success. It is also important how much you understand and retain. Students who work the hardest and struggle the most naturally gain the most from a course. Courses can be fun, but it is my experience that the fun follows on the heels of hard work. Students who engage their courses tend to enjoy them; those who arrive and ask "When does the fun start?" tend to be disappointed.

Grading, Attendance & Tardiness: Attendance has direct relevance to grading. At this point in your careers, you are truly professionals and should expect to be treated as such. Additionally, professional behavior is expected of you. One component of this behavior is attendance at all class meetings. There is some arbitrariness in how grading will be affected by lack of attendance, tardiness and class participation, as there must be to allow for extenuating circumstances. Please recognize that all students will be treated equally and fairly in this regard.

I expect students to attend every class and to be on time for class. Students who miss more than two classes or students who are chronically late for class may be dropped from the class or given an 'F' grade at the discretion of the instructor. ATTEND EVERY CLASS. ALWAYS ARRIVE ON TIME.

Late work: I am very strict about due dates unless you have made prior arrangements with me. Late work may be accepted but always at my discretion, and a 10% of grade penalty per day will be assessed. Late work interferes with your learning, my grading and teaching schedule, and my ability to give feedback; it impacts every student in the class. If you must miss class, make arrangements to turn in the work that is due for that class before it is due. If you are unexpectedly absent (illness, personal emergency or trauma, car accident) late work will be accepted within an agreed upon time after your return to class. See me outside of class your first day back to arrange due dates after unanticipated absences. Please do not ask to turn in late work for reasons of partying, sloppy computer back-up habits (always keep multiple copies on separate disks), or inefficient scheduling of your study time.

Editing & Assignment Formatting:

All assignments should be turned in on time, typed, in 12-point font on 8 ½ x 11-inch paper with one inch margins. Use a line spacing of 1 ½, which allows room for comments when I grade, but saves paper relative to double-spacing. For assignments longer than one page, staple all sheets together; for those longer than two pages, sheets must have page numbers. Cover pages, plastic folders, and other "jackets" should not be used. Both quality of writing and of content count towards your grade (see criteria, above). Proof-read all work before you turn it in. Visit the writing center on campus if you need help with writing skills. Assignments not meeting these guidelines will not be accepted until you reformat them.

Please give complete credit to sources of information and ideas. When citing another author's work, cite parenthetically in the text as (Author year). Include the complete citation in the Literature Cited section, Bibliography, footnote, etc. as appropriate. Give the title, author(s), date, and source (journal, book, publisher) of each reference. Use Chicago "Documentation Two" citation style, discussed on-line at the Duke University Library site: http://www.lib.duke.edu/libguide/works_cited.htm

Academic Honesty - See the APU Honor Policy in the current Catalog. Remember that you are bound by this. All work that you turn in must be your own; proper credit must be given to sources of ideas or materials that you draw upon in any assignment.