Course Policies
Course Policies:
Course Calendar: The daily course calendar and assignment prompts will be available on this Medium page as well as linked on Blackboard. Keep in mind, the course calendar is subject to change based on the needs and interests of the class. You are responsible for regularly checking the calendar for updates. Please ask questions if you are ever unsure of a deadline or assignment.
Graduate Students: Graduate students in this class are required to produce longer and more deeply-researched written assignments, and to engage with secondary scholarship in a more sustained way than the undergraduate requirements. These requirements will be detailed on individual assignment prompts. In addition, graduate students are expected to take on leadership roles in class discussion and to model effective, engaged scholarship to undergraduate students through their active participation in the class.
Because there is so much material I would like cover for the course, graduate students are asked to select an additional theoretical text (from a provided list) to cover and explain, helping the class to make connections to texts, concepts and ideas.
If you are taking this class for both undergraduate and graduate credit as a student admitted in the Accelerated B.A. to M.A. Program, be sure to notify me. You will be required to complete all course-specific extra requirements for graduate students. If you have not done so already, please make sure you have submitted both the Intent to Pursue Accelerated Graduate Program form to the Director of Graduate English Studies and the Undergraduate Student’s Request to Take Courses for Graduate Credit form to Records and Registration. If you have any questions, please contact the Director of Graduate English Studies (hoffmandm@winthrop.edu).
Using Your Camera: You are NOT required to turn your camera on during virtual class sessions or office hour drop-ins, so don’t feel obligated. I recognize that not all of us have rooms that we’re comfortable inviting everyone into and let’s face it: sometimes we just aren’t “camera ready”. While I would love to see your face, it’s okay to have your camera turned off if that makes you more comfortable. Alternatively, if you have your camera on but need to turn it off temporarily, feel free to do so.
Access & Accommodations: Winthrop University is committed to providing accessible learning experiences and equal access to education for all students.
If you are a student with a condition (including mental health concerns, chronic or temporary medical conditions, learning disabilities, etc.) and you anticipate or experience academic barriers due to the condition, please contact The Office of Accessibility (OA) for information on accommodations, registration, and procedures.
☎️ PHONE: 803–323–3290
📩 EMAIL: accessibility@winthrop.edu.
I am committed to doing everything I can to make your learning experience in this class accessible. If there is anything I can do to increase the accessibility in this course, please reach out.
Face-to-Face Meetings & Attendance: This course is hybrid which means we will do our work in several modalities. Occasionally, we will meet in person in our physical classroom in Owens G02. (See the calendar for dates). You are expected to abide by the University’s posted protocols for mitigating the effects of COVID-19 (e.g. wearing a mask, social distancing, avoiding large gatherings, hand washing, etc.). If you have a documented accommodation or permission from the Dean of Students’ office to vary from these protocols, please provide me with the documentation of that as soon as you can.
Do not attend your in-person class if you have COVID-19, if you are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, if you have been in close contact with others who have symptoms, if you need to care for an individual with COVID-19, or have other health concerns related to COVID-19.
If you are unable to attend class, take the following steps.
Notify me in advance of the absence or inability to participate, if possible.
Participate in class activities online and submit assignments electronically, to the extent possible.
Reach out to me if illness will require late submission or other modifications to deadlines.
If remaining in a class and fulfilling the necessary requirements becomes impossible due to illness or other COVID-related circumstances, contact me to discuss other options.
As your instructor, I will trust your word when you say you are ill, and in turn, I expect that you will report the reason for your absences truthfully.
Classroom Community: The most important rule: be a generous and kind colleague. This involves engaging with one another respectfully and collegially. This doesn’t mean we have to always agree, but we should strive to interact with kindness and understanding. Please keep an open mind when engaging with your peers.
You should also be a generous reader. The readings you’ll encounter in this class might be difficult. If you have a negative reaction to a text, couch your criticism in what it is about the idea, theory, or issue that sparked your reaction. We’re covering a lot of topics, so please keep an open mind to our readings!
Academic Integrity: The assumption is that your work is original and generated for WRIT 502/615 during the Spring semester of 2021. However, many kinds of writing rely on collaboration and/or sticking to strict templates. In these situations, it can often feel like you’re plagiarizing when in fact, you’re not.
There are many types of plagiarism — some more obvious than others, but there are subtle forms you may not be aware of. A good rule of thumb to live by: if you’re not sure you’re violating these rules, talk to me about it before turning in the work in question. To familiarize yourself with the details of Winthrop University’s Academic Dishonesty policy and examples of/penalties for instances of academic dishonesty, visit: https://www.winthrop.edu/academicintegrity/resources.aspx
Self-care: Balancing your classes, job, personal life, and everything else in-between is incredibly difficult, even under ideal circumstances. The ongoing global crises (health, financial, and otherwise) have put undue stressors on us that make it difficult to maintain a quality of life that we are all deserving of.
An important part of being healthy and happy is prioritizing the activities that address your human needs, including taking breaks to rest, relax, and do the activities that bring you joy. Whether it’s taking a walk, drawing, playing a video game, or talking on the phone with a friend, schedule these things into your calendar. They are necessary parts of your success. And if you’re ever feeling overwhelmed by this class, please reach out to me.
Flexibility during a pandemic: Navigating life, both in and out of the classroom during the ongoing pandemic is going to be challenging for all of us. I’m committed to extending as much flexibility as I can to those who need it. I will prioritize your humanity and well-being while also trying to provide you a stimulating learning environment. Collectively, I hope we can build a community that maintains personal connections and academic engagement while recognizing that accommodations may be necessary to foster such an environment. Let me know how I can help.
