490 Course Evaluation:
           
Three parts weigh about equally: Senior project, seminar participation, portfolio assignments.

I: Senior Project - Letter grade (A, B, C...)

II and III: Seminar work and Portfolio (points)
            * = points earned simply for completing assignment responsibly, effectively, and on time
Using a points system is artificial, but

7  pts per class meeting = 126 or so points - Seminar attendance and contribution to class discussion. More than one absence erodes class participation grade.

7pts            Discourse analysis
10            *Bonus points for completing WebCT online survey
10            *Course Reflections
8            *Program Reflections/ “Institutional Autobiography”
40            Self-Evaluation exercise – includes plan of rewrite
5 pts each – quizzes (quizzes happen if the class has little to say about the readings)

3             *Prewriting
4            * Source analysis
6            Research Proposal
5            *Working Bibliography (sent via e-mail)
7            Correct, final Works Cited or Bibliography page
req            *First Draft of project (required)
10            Presentation to class on Marquez – (adds to participation grade)
5            *Groupwork/Workshop participation on senior project
7            *Handout for workshop
40            Course exam on seminar readings
7            *Publishing venues report
20            Final portfolio as presented – overall effectiveness

This capstone experience expects both evidence of independent thought and research outside of class, and attendance and participation in seminar discussions. Your ability to function as an effective group member as well as to work independently will be a good indication of your readiness to graduate and pursue your desired profession. I will take attendance carefully and will keep track of your efforts to support the class conversation.

Conferences: Although you only need to meet with me once this term to discuss your project plans, feel free to stop by to talk whenever it would be helpful to you.

Take Note: To complete less than 75% of the course work (including attendance) means to fail the course.

Plagiarism of any kind or amount will result in a grade of F. Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s words or ideas without acknowledging that you have borrowed them. Citing all sources for your writing avoids this. See the SCSU Code of Conduct, Student Handbook http://www.stcloudstate.edu/studenthandbook/code/conduct.asp

Extensions on due dates must be arranged in advance. Otherwise, assignments will lose one grade increment for each day late.

Incompletes will be given if A) only a small proportion of course work remains to be done (such as only the final paper) B) submitted work would need to be revised in order to pass.

Unless you have a substantiated reason for being late to class, I will assign extra writing to late students.
Final grades make use of +/- grading, because it is likely that students at grade borders will not be sharply different from one another in their achievements.