Grading
This course uses the Learning Record to determine final grades. Students record observations of learning that occur both in class and in comopleting assignments. These are collected in a portfolioo. Students then analyze and evaluate their work in terms of the five dimensions of learning (confidence and independence, skills and strategies, knowledge and understanding, use of prior and emerging experience, reflection) and the course strands (rhetoric, the rhetoric of nature, revision, and collaboration). Descriptions of the dimensions of learning, course strands, and grading criteria can be found on the Learning Record Online.

Students evaluate themselves in both a midterm and final evaluation based upon the content of their observations and the assignments they have produced. More detailed information about the Learning Record can be found at its official site.

Absences
You contribute to the class through your presence. Classes which you miss also miss you. And you may miss important information or activities. When you are absent you are still responsible for any material covered in class, and for arranging to submit any materials due on that date. Each student will be allowed three absences with no penalty. Any additional unexcused absences will reduce the student's final grade; under DRC policy six unexcused absences result in a failing grade. Absences may be excused for religious holidays, documented medical reasons, and compelling personal reasons such as funerals. If you find you must miss class for an extended period you should arrange to drop the class.

Lateness: If you are late for class, or leave early, it counts as one third of an absence. Be careful with these; they can add up quickly. Please plan to attend every class, be in class on time, and stay until the end of class.

Revision
All assignments may be revised. If after receiving my comments on the original assignment you feel that you can significantly improve your performance on the assignment, you may revise and resubmit it. You must turn in these revisions within one week of when I return the orginal assignment to you.

Forum Responses
Sometimes I will assign a forum response to texts that I have assigned for homework. The responses are due by 9 am on the day that they are assigned. These responses needn't be very very long (a healthy paragraph will do); they are there to get you thinking critically about our texts before coming to class.

Assignment Turn-in Logistics
All papers must be emailed to me by the time class starts on the day that they are due. If I do not receive them by 9:00 am, they will be considered late.

All assignments will be turned in by attaching them to an email to me. Name each paper's file with your last name and its number (e.g. "Smith1.doc")--this is very important because otherwise I receive 20 Paper 1.doc's.