"The
Fine Print"
A guide to doing well in my classes
I typically
give two equally weighted exams: one midterm and one final. Each
exam counts 100 points. Please note that this varies from class
to class. Make-up exams will be given only to those who can
verify a valid excuse for missing the exam. The make-up exam
will given at a time that is mutually agreeable to both the student
and myself. Failure to take the make-up exam within two weeks
of the original exam date will result in the missed exam counting
in as a zero. In addition, the exam question sheet must be returned
to me after the exam and after the exam review. Failure to do so
will result in a ten (10)-point reduction in the student's grade
for that exam. Your grades will be available on the class website,
www.calstatela.edu/faculty/sleyva/grades/index.html.
Didn't
do so hot on the test? Most of
the time this is due to a failure to read the textbook, not attending
classes or simply not reading the question correctly. Do not assume
that you will get everything off of the on-line PowerPoint lectures
- I embellish upon those lectures in class and you will miss key
points if you do not attend.
There
are a variety of activities and assignments scheduled for each class
- please refer to your class syllabus for specific details. The
assignments will be due the following week at the beginning of
class. Students are encouraged to work together in completing
the activity work. However, each student should be sure to understand
the techniques and concepts involved because midterm and final exam
test problems will be very similar to activity problems. Late
submissions will not be accepted.
Students
are expected to attend each class session and to arrive on time.
It will be difficult to make up missed class sessions. However,
if you miss a class session of valid reasons (illness), it will
up to you to make arrangements to complete the activity. Students
who miss a class due to an unexcused absence will NOT be allow to
make up the work. Make-up labs/assignments will be given only to
those who can verify a valid excuse for missing the assignment.
The make-up lab/assignment will given at a time that is mutually
agreeable to both the student and myself. Failure to take the
make-up lab/assignment within one week of the original lab/assignment
date OR before the last week of class will result in the missed
exam/lab/assignment counting in as a zero.
Papers
& Presentations:
The
University requires students in General Education classes to demonstrate
writing proficiency. One of the assignments in many of my classes
will be to write a short essay on current issues in the field of
geology, oceanography, or Earth Science (subject will depend upon
the class you are taking). Neatness, grammar, spelling, overall
presentation will be a part of your grade. LATE WORK WILL NOT
BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT A VALID EXCUSE! Please review the guidelines
below, which will vary depending upon the assignment given to you.
Didn't
do so hot on the assignment? Most
of the time this is due to not following the directions. Did you
change the margins and line spacing to the required dimensions?
Did you include all of the required elements? I give a rubric, or
grading checklist, with all assignments that you should use as a
guide. You may also ask me to review your paper/project prior to
handing it in and I will be more than happy to critique it for you.
Please don't ask me to do this the day before it is due: I won't
do it. Please visit wikiHOW'a "How to Write an Essay"
page at http://www.wikihow.com/Write-an-Essay
for tips.
- Required
Elements for ALL Assignments (including Extra Credit):
- Body
of Report: This will vary slightly depending upon the
assignment. In generally, you will need an introductory paragraph,
the body of your report, and a conclusion. Provide your opinion
or analysis. The body of the paper should be typed using a
10 or 12-point font similar to Times New Roman or Arial, standard
1" margins on all sides, and 1.5 line spacing. Do not
include photos, graphics, or charts.
- Bibliography:
You will need to include a bibliography that contains at least
3 different sources; you may not use your textbook or my lectures
as your sources. If you do not know how to create a bibliography,
see the staff at the library. It's worth 1/5th of your grade
and will hurt your score if you fail to do it or fail to do
it properly.
- Articles
- Acceptable
Articles: Use published papers, not Internet articles.
INTERNET ARTICLES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. NO exceptions. Please
note that there is a difference between an Internet web site
and a published article accessed from a website (such as those
through the library). You will need to attach a copy of your
articles to your paper. I want the actual article and not
just the abstract.
- Magazines:
Discover, Time, Newsweek, Nature, etc. You may use the
online version of these articles as accessed from the
school's library database or via the publisher's website.
- Journals:
Journal of Geology, California Geology, Bulletin of
the Geological Society of America, etc. You may use the
online version of these articles as accessed from the
school's Library database or via the publisher's website.
- Newspapers:
L.A. Times, N.Y. Times, etc. You may use the online version
of these articles as accessed from school's Library database
or via the publisher's database.
- Article
Review (assignment): Find 3 articles that deal with one
of the topics listed below and write a summary of each
article. Combine the 3 summaries into a paper that is no more
than 3 pages long, not including a title page and bibliography.
You are summarizing articles, not writing a report. Be sure
to cite your sources where necessary.
- Article
Review (extra credit): This is very similar to the assignment
above, but is less intense. Find 3 articles that deal with
one of the topics listed below and write a summary
of each article. Combine the 3 summaries into a paper that
is no more than 2 pages long, not including a title page and
bibliography. You are summarizing articles, not writing a
report. Be sure to cite your sources where necessary.
- Essay
Paper: Pick a topic of your choosing and write a brief paper
that is no more than 3 pages long, not including a title page
and bibliography. You may use books in addition to any articles
that meet the criteria listed above. Be
sure to cite your sources where necessary.
- Student
Presentation: Students will be expected to present a research
project on current issues in the field of geology, oceanography,
or Earth Science. The presentation may be in the form of a PowerPoint
presentation or an oral speech. In addition, the student will
be expected to hand in a written summary of their project. This
written summary is expected to be in compliance with the criteria
listed above. Be sure to cite your sources
where necessary.
Grading:
Total
possible class points will come from exams, papers/presentations,
lab work, field trips, and any additional assignments. The points
scored on each exam and on all other assignments will be totaled
and a percent determined for each student. A class grade will be
assigned according to the following scale:
A+>=98, A>=92, A->=90, B+>=88, B>=82, B->=80,
C+>=78, C>=72, C->=70, D+>=68, D>=62, D->=60,
F<60.
IMPORTANT
POLICIES (a.k.a. the "fine print")
- Student
Conduct:
- Student
conduct is viewed as a serious matter by the faculty members
of every University/College. The University/College faculty
members assume that all students will conduct themselves as
mature citizens of the campus community and will conduct themselves
in a manner congruent with college policies and regulations.
Inappropriate conduct is subject to discipline as provided
for in Title 5, California Code of Regulations. Academic honesty
is expected of all students in the College, in accordance
with College policy. There are established college reporting
procedures if a student is suspected of committing an academically
dishonest act.
- Every
University/College has a clearly defined policy on Academic
Honesty. This policy will be enforced in this class. Cheating
and plagiarizing will not be tolerated. Students caught plagiarizing
and/or cheating will be subject to the consequences and set
forth in the College Catalog. You may access it online at:
- Make-up
exams/assignments: Make-up exams and/or assignments will be
given only to those who can verify a valid excuse for missing
the exam/assignment. The make-up will given at a time that is
mutually agreeable to both the student and myself. Failure
to take the make-up exam and/or assignment within two weeks of
the original exam date will result in the missed exam counting
in as a zero.
- Grading:
University/College policy allows a grade of incomplete to be given
only to those who have been sick, injured, or have a similar valid
excuse. A grade of "incomplete" will not be given after
poor performance in the course. University/College policy requires
that all students shall be graded in exactly the same fashion.
What does this mean? You may not ask for extra assignments
or to repeat an exam to improve your grade, or additional assignments
after the course is completed.
-
Enrollment:
- Attendance:
If you are enrolled in my class, you are expected to attend
each and every class session. That said, there are times in
life when you cannot make it to class (illness, emergencies,
etc.). Please contact me at CSULA
or PCC if you will
not be in class and why. Make up work is only allowed if you
have an excused absence (see above).
- Dropping:
If, for some reason, you need to drop my class, please be
courteous and let me know. I will assume that you no longer
wish to be enrolled in my class if you miss more than three
consecutive classes without contacting me. PCC students will
be dropped from the class after the third consecutive absence.
CSULA students will be issued a grade of "U".
- Adding:
Students will be added to the class if and only if there is
room to do so. CSULA students are expected to add the class
themselves PRIOR to the add deadline. PCC students allowed
to add will be given and add code which they can use to add
the class. Adding the class MUST be done prior to attending
the next class session. Failure to do so will result in the
student not being allowed to attend the class until they have
officially enrolled. If after the second class session the
student has still not enrolled in the class the student will
not be allowed to attend the class at all.
- Incompletes:
The college has a clearly defined policy on receiving a grade
of "incomplete". If a student demonstrates that
he or she meets the requirements for receiving a grade of
"incomplete" I will then consider their request.
Upon receiving a grade of "incomplete" the student
must complete the missing work with a year. Once the missing
work is completed, paperwork will be submitted to change the
student's grade accordingly.
CSULA STUDENTS:
Avoid the hassles. Take the Writing Proficiency Examination (WPE)
after you have completed your English Composition and prior to the
completion of 135 units in order to avoid a registration hold. The
dates for the WPE are published in the Schedule of Classes. Enroll
by registering in UNIV 400 and paying the $15 exam fee. Do it now!!!
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