Course Syllabus

English 3764: Technical Writing will enable you to gain an understanding of the theories, issues, and practices of technical communications you might encounter in the workplace, such as general correspondence, proposals, reports, and presentations.

From a foundation based on the principles of rhetoric, you will learn to analyze writing situations, consider the needs of your audience, assemble researched and original evidence, and design final documents that are user friendly and visually persuasive. By the time this course is over, you should be able to understand these documents and produce them with ease and confidence.

Course Objectives

Having successfully completed this course, students will be able to perform the technical writing tasks defined by the learning objectives for the course:

• Analyze the rhetorical situation and determine the appropriate audience or users of written communication, considering the needs of global audiences and people with disabilities. [CLO 1]
• Conduct research appropriate to workplace problem solving, such as literature review, evaluation of online resources, interview, and site inspection. [CLO 2]
• Interpret research findings with understanding of ethical and human implications. [CLO 3]
• Use conventions of various workplace genres, such as proposals, instructions, correspondence, reports, and slide decks, with understanding of how the genre conventions can be used as heuristics and as principles of arrangement. [CLO 4]
• Collaborate with classmates in planning, researching, writing, revising, and presenting information. [CLO 5]
• Apply principles of effective visual design for print and electronic presentation, including hierarchical, chronological, and spatial arrangements. [CLO 6]
• Identify and apply the principles of effective style in the composing of usable, reader-centered written communications. [CLO 7]

Your Teacher

I'm Traci Gardner, an instructor in the English Department. I teach in the professional and technical writing program. In the past, I have worked at a small, educational software company in Austin, Texas, where I did technical writing, user support, and interface design. I did just about everything except coding, though I did learn to hack code a bit.

I have also worked as a web developer and writer for a nonprofit, educational association (National Council of Teachers of English). I created and maintained flat-file and database-driven websites, wrote online and print content that was published on various association sites and in journals, and wrote blog posts and social media updates for the association.

I have a B.A. and an M.A. in English from Virginia Tech. I originally taught in the English Department from 1986 to 1994, before I set off for Austin. I returned to the English Department in the Fall of 2013. My research focuses on ways to use digital tools for writing and teaching. I am currently working on an article about how writing handbooks cover intellectual property rights and a piece on how to manage group work in online forums.

Contact Info 

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.

• Email: tengrrl@vt.edu
• Office: 214 Shanks Hall
• Phone: 540-231-6739 (NOT a good way to find me)
• Details of Contact: I check email and Canvas messages several times a day, every day. I try to answer student messages within 24 hours on weekdays and within 48 hours on weekends and holidays. I will take a break from messages during Fall Break and during Thanksgiving Break.
• Questions about Your Grade or Work: For personal questions, send a personal message in Canvas, using the Inbox tool. Because Canvas messages are secure, they meet all FERPA requirements and protect your privacy. I only answer messages about grades and course work via Canvas for this reason.

Texts & Materials

Resources to Buy 

• Markel, Mike. Technical Communication. 12th ed. Macmillan, 2018. (Print or e-book)
• LaunchPad : http://www.macmillanhighered.com/launchpad/techcomm12e/8261114 Links to an external site. Note that the ebook is included in LaunchPad. You do not need the paper version unless you want it.

Digital Resources You Need

You probably already have all these things, but if not, be sure to acquire them during the first week of class. Since this is an online course, you must have the necessary technology and accessories.

• A reliable computer—Linux, FreeBSD, Windows, or Mac. I don’t care as long as you know how to use it and can access the tools we are using on it.

• Working, dependable Internet access and a backup access plan. This course takes place online, so you need to be online. If the connection where you live goes out, know where you can go for free WiFi.

• A word processor or Google Drive. Again, I don’t care which as long as you know how to use it. Whatever word processor you choose must be able to save your work as a *.DOC, a *.DOCX, or a *.PDF file, OR to share a link that will give others permission to read and comment on your work.

• A camera or a phone with a camera. Some of the activities will include images, and you may want to take your own photos. A borrowed camera will be fine.

• Earphones/Headphones and a microphone. Some of the activities can include audio and video aspects, so earphones are handy. Additionally, you may create audio or video projects that you will need a mic for.

 Sites You Will Use

Everything for this course will be posted and shared online. Most of your writing will be public, shared with classmates and others who are interested in the course. The following sites are all free for you, but you may need to create some logins to use them if they are new to you.

• Canvas: https://canvas.vt.edu/courses/73812 (for turning in work that will be graded and course resources)
• Piazza: https://piazza.com/vt/fall2018/technicalwriting/home Links to an external site. (for class discussion)
• Lynda.com Tutorials: http://lynda.vt.edu/ (free with your VT PID and password)

Course Structure

This course will be taught online in Canvas. This course will be structured in weekly lessons or modules. The length of time spent on each module will vary depending upon the complexity of the assignment.

This course consists of eight modules. Project Module 1: Introduction to Course is a prerequisite to all other modules. It’s the “Get Started” module that you must view first.

To navigate the course, use the module links below or in the list at left. Within each module, pages are linked by previous and next buttons at the bottom of the page. All readings and assignments can be found at the individual module pages.

• Project Module 1: Introduction to the Course (Opens Week of August 20)
• Project Module 2: Intro to Tech Writing (Opens Week of August 27)
• Project Module 3: Correspondence (Opens Week of September 3)
• Project Module 4: Technical Descriptions (Opens Week of September 10)
• Project Module 5: User Documents (Opens Week of September 17)
• Project Module 6: Project Portfolio 1 (Opens Week of September 24)
• Project Module 7: Research Proposal (Opens Week of October 1)
• Project Module 8: Informational Reports for Non-Expert Readers—White Papers (Opens Weeks of October 8 & 15)
• Project Module 9: Progress Report (Opens Week of October 22)
• Project Module 10: Poster Presentation (Opens Weeks of October 29 & November 5)
• Project Module 11: Project Portfolio 2 (Opens Week of November 12)
• Project Module 12: Participation Self-Assessment (Opens Week of November 26)
• Project Module 13: Final Exam (Opens Week of December 3)

Assessment

An overview of each of these activities with details on how they are graded is included on the relevant tabs on this page. Complete descriptions and instructions for assignments are on the individual assignment pages, which you can access within each module. Due dates for all assignments will be indicated on the course schedule and on assignment pages. Please view the information included in all of the tabs here to learn all of the policies and practices related to the work you will do in this course.

Your grade in this course is weighted, based on the kinds of work you do, as shown in the table below and the pie chart on the right:

General Grading Details

• All work and participation in this course is governed by the  Undergraduate Honor System.
• Every assignment in this course is worth 100 points.
• All submissions in this course are due by 11:59 on their designated days (see individual assignments).
• I do not round grades.
• The Grades tool in Canvas calculates your grade and will have the current grade you have earned in the course.
• I use the default Virginia Tech grade scale for Letter Grades with +/- for the course grade (shown below).
• I will grade your work as soon as reasonably possible. More details are included on the tabs for the different kinds of activities.
• I do not provide extra credit for people who have not met satisfactory performance goals.

Participation

Plan to spend about 8-10 hours per week involved in the activities and completion of assignments over the semester. This amount of time is similar to the time you would invest in a course in a face-to-face classroom setting.

As you think about how much time to budget for this course, realize that this figure is an average, with some weeks requiring more and some less time to complete all assignments and activities. See the details on the Participation tab of the Grading Policies & Standards page for more details on how Participation is graded in this course.

Virginia Tech Grade Scale for Letter Grades with +/-

Questions about Your Grade(s)

If you have questions/concerns/issues with your grade(s), please send me a private message using the Canvas Inbox as soon as you can. Remember that to protect your privacy, I only discuss grades in the Canvas Inbox.

Policies (or the fine print)

Equal Access and Opportunity

Everyone needs special accommodations at some point because we all learn differently. I am happy to work with the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) staff or directly with you to make sure that you have the support you need.

Please let me know during the first week of the term so that I can be sure you have the resources you need as soon as possible. Also see full details on the Accessibility page for additional information.

Communication Guidelines

We will use Canvas and Piazza for class discussion. Rather than emailing general questions to me, post your questions in Piazza so that anyone who knows the answer can help you.

• General questions about logistics (including the course or assignments) should be posted to Piazza. This will guarantee you a faster response time over emailing me.
• I make it a priority to respond to your questions as quickly as possible, but please be prepared for a 24-hour response time for questions posted to Piazza.
• Use your real name when logging into Piazza so we know who you are (and can therefore give you credit for all your hard work!)
• Always include your full name in your signature in your messages please. 

For personal questions, send a personal message in Canvas, using the Inbox tool. Because Canvas messages are secure, they meet all FERPA requirements and protect your privacy. I only answer messages sent via Canvas for this reason.

I try to answer student messages within 24 hours on weekdays and within 48 hours on weekends and holidays. I will take a break from messages during Fall Break and during Thanksgiving Break.

Normally, I am online from late afternoon through early morning hours, so look for responses from me during those hours. I’m not a morning person, and I usually take a two- or three-hour break each evening around 7:30 PM for family time.

Honor Code

All work and participation in this course is governed by the Undergraduate Honor System.

The Undergraduate Honor Code pledge that each member of the university community agrees to abide by states:

“As a Hokie, I will conduct myself with honor and integrity at all times. I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I accept the actions of those who do.”

Students enrolled in this course are responsible for abiding by the Honor Code. A student who has doubts about how the Honor Code applies to any assignment is responsible for obtaining specific guidance from the course instructor before submitting the assignment for evaluation. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the University community from the requirements and expectations of the Honor Code.

For additional information about the Honor Code, please visit the Undergraduate Honor System page.

Principles of Community

This course adheres to the the Virginia Tech Principles of Community:

• We affirm the inherent dignity and value of every  person and strive to maintain a climate for work and learning based on mutual respect and understanding.
• We affirm the right of each person to express thoughts and opinions freely.
• We encourage open expression within a climate of civility, sensitivity, and mutual respect.
• We affirm the value of human diversity because it enriches our lives and the University. We acknowledge and respect our differences while affirming our common humanity.
• We reject all forms of prejudice and discrimination, including those based on age, color, disability, gender, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, and veteran status. We take individual and collective responsibility for helping to eliminate bias and discrimination and for increasing our own understanding of these issues through education, training, and interaction with others.
• We pledge our collective commitment to these principles in the spirit of the Virginia Tech motto of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).

 

Late Policy

My late policy includes a grace period that should cover most problems that come up, whether academic conflicts, an illness, a religious holiday, or a personal issue. It applies to all graded work and can be used multiple times. You do not need to ask in advance or explain why your work is late. Just take advantage of the grace period, as explained below, for any work OTHER than your final exam:

• The due date is the day that your work is due. Every student has a 3-day grace period after the due date during which the project can still be submitted.
• The grace period occurs between the due date and the deadline. Work submitted during the grace period will be marked as late in Canvas; however, there is no grade penalty for work submitted during the grace period.
• The deadline comes 3 days after the due date and is the final moment that Canvas will accept a project (listed as the “available until” date in Canvas). There are no extensions on deadlines. If you do not turn in your work by the end of the grace period, you receive a zero for that activity, and you cannot revise. Unlimited, punishment-free revisions are NOT intended to support those who never did the work in the first place.

Final Exam: There is no grace period or make-up option for your final exam. Your final exam must be submitted by the due date (11:59 PM on Wednesday, December 12) so that I can turn course grades in on time. If you have three exams on Wednesday, December 12, let me know and we can make alternative arrangement.

In the case of extenuating circumstances, let me know immediately. I understand that things happen. As long as you are honest and timely in letting me know what’s going on, we can try to work something out.

Religious Holidays

Please take advantage of the grace period explained in the Late Policy section above if the due date for any work in this class coincides with a religious holiday that you celebrate. Please let me know before the holiday if the grace period will not be adequate, and we will come up with an alternative plan.

Absences & Missed Work

You need to participate in this course on a regular basis every week by turning in your work and collaborating with your classmates. If you do not participate for a full week, you will be considered absent. Failure to participate for one full week will result in lowering of grade by 10 points. Failure to participate for two weeks will result in a failing grade for the course.

If you miss a deadline completely because of an illness, death in the family, or family emergency, see information from the Dean of Students Office for details on how to document the situation. You must provide official documentation within one week of any situation.

If you have an issue that affects your ability to complete the course, you may qualify for Academic Relief. For personal medical issues, contact the Schiffert Health Center, and for psychiatric or psychological issues, contact the Cook Counseling Center.

Backups

Save backups of all your work for this class. Maintain these backups in multiple places (your laptop, a flash drive, Google Docs, Dropbox, Box). Printed backups can also be useful. Do not discard any files, notes, or other work until the term is over and you have received your final grade. Be sure that you maintain backups so that you can continue your work when you encounter computer problems. If you need assistance with your computer, check with the Customer Support Center (4Help).

Technology

Students in this course will need a working and reliable computer and Internet access that will allow the use of Canvas course site tools and any online resources provided. No special software is required but students will need access to MSOffice products.

 Program Assessment

Please note that the Department of English may use your written work in its assessment of its teaching and learning goals. In such cases, your name will be removed and your work assessed anonymously. Your work will not be shared with any individual outside of the department. It will be used strictly to help the department offer students the best possible academic experience.

Course Support

• Technical: I cannot provide technical support. If you need technical support and/or help with Canvas, use the help button on the lower left of the screen.  VT specific technology support can be directed to 4Help via the Help Request Form Links to an external site. or by calling (540) 231-HELP (4357). You can also refer to Zoom support Links to an external site. for help.
• Classroom Accessibility: Any student who has been confirmed by the University as having course accommodations must notify me as soon as possible, preferably during the first week of the course. For more information please go to the Services for Students with Disabilities web site.
• Academic Support Services: Any student requiring academic support should investigate the Support Resources for graduate students or Academic Affairs for undergraduate students.
• For complete information on student services at Virginia Tech, please visit the web site for the Division of Student Affairs.

Students should feel free to approach the instructor with concerns or questions about special needs or considerations that fall outside of the services listed here. All information shared will be kept confidential. For complete information on student services at Virginia Tech, please see the Division for Student Affairs.

Writing Support

The Writing Center—located on the second floor of Newman Library—is for all writers. You can go if you have a draft, an outline, or just ideas. Bring your assignment description with you. You can now make appointments online by setting up an account with WCOnline Links to an external site.. In addition, multilingual or international students may be interested in their Conversation Groups. (Click on this option from the drop-down menu on the online appointment page.)

Primary Contacts for Mental or Physical Well-Being

• Emergencies: Dial 911. Subscribe to campus alerts Emergency Warning System
• Personal Counseling (including help with drinking, drug abuse, mental health, stress, sexual assault recovery): Thomas E. Cook Counseling Center, 240 McComas Hall - dial (540) 231-7473 or Cook Counseling Center
• Reporting sexual assault: dial 911 or Student Health Care Center - dial 231-7642 or Women's Center at Price House - dial 231-7806
• Health Care Appointments:  Schiffert Health Center - dial 231-7642 or Health Care Website
• Legal Concerns: Student Legal Services - dial 231-4720 or services website

Quick Links

• Course Syllabus
• Course Schedule
• Course Expectations
• Course Logistics
• Tips for Success in an Online Course
• Grading Policies & Standards
• Daily Discussion Posts
• Writing Groups
• Writing Projects Overview

Virginia Tech Policies & Resources

• Technology Requirements
• Learner Support
• Privacy
• Accessibility
• 360 Digital Studio & Online Tutoring
• General Q&A Discussion Board
  (Ask questions here!)

English 3764: Technical Writing will enable you to gain an understanding of the theories, issues, and practices of technical communications you might encounter in the workplace, such as general correspondence, proposals, reports, and presentations.

From a foundation based on the principles of rhetoric, you will learn to analyze writing situations, consider the needs of your audience, assemble researched and original evidence, and design final documents that are user friendly and visually persuasive. By the time this course is over, you should be able to understand these documents and produce them with ease and confidence.

Course Objectives

Having successfully completed this course, students will be able to perform the technical writing tasks defined by the learning objectives for the course:

• Analyze the rhetorical situation and determine the appropriate audience or users of written communication, considering the needs of global audiences and people with disabilities. [CLO 1]
• Conduct research appropriate to workplace problem solving, such as literature review, evaluation of online resources, interview, and site inspection. [CLO 2]
• Interpret research findings with understanding of ethical and human implications. [CLO 3]
• Use conventions of various workplace genres, such as proposals, instructions, correspondence, reports, and slide decks, with understanding of how the genre conventions can be used as heuristics and as principles of arrangement. [CLO 4]
• Collaborate with classmates in planning, researching, writing, revising, and presenting information. [CLO 5]
• Apply principles of effective visual design for print and electronic presentation, including hierarchical, chronological, and spatial arrangements. [CLO 6]
• Identify and apply the principles of effective style in the composing of usable, reader-centered written communications. [CLO 7]

Your Teacher

I'm Traci Gardner, an instructor in the English Department. I teach in the professional and technical writing program. In the past, I have worked at a small, educational software company in Austin, Texas, where I did technical writing, user support, and interface design. I did just about everything except coding, though I did learn to hack code a bit.

I have also worked as a web developer and writer for a nonprofit, educational association (National Council of Teachers of English). I created and maintained flat-file and database-driven websites, wrote online and print content that was published on various association sites and in journals, and wrote blog posts and social media updates for the association.

I have a B.A. and an M.A. in English from Virginia Tech. I originally taught in the English Department from 1986 to 1994, before I set off for Austin. I returned to the English Department in the Fall of 2013. My research focuses on ways to use digital tools for writing and teaching. I am currently working on an article about how writing handbooks cover intellectual property rights and a piece on how to manage group work in online forums.

Contact Info 

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.

• Email: tengrrl@vt.edu
• Office: 214 Shanks Hall
• Phone: 540-231-6739 (NOT a good way to find me)
• Details of Contact: I check email and Canvas messages several times a day, every day. I try to answer student messages within 24 hours on weekdays and within 48 hours on weekends and holidays. I will take a break from messages during Fall Break and during Thanksgiving Break.
• Questions about Your Grade or Work: For personal questions, send a personal message in Canvas, using the Inbox tool. Because Canvas messages are secure, they meet all FERPA requirements and protect your privacy. I only answer messages about grades and course work via Canvas for this reason.

Texts & Materials

Resources to Buy 

• Markel, Mike. Technical Communication. 12th ed. Macmillan, 2018. (Print or e-book)
• LaunchPad : http://www.macmillanhighered.com/launchpad/techcomm12e/8261114 Links to an external site. Note that the ebook is included in LaunchPad. You do not need the paper version unless you want it.

Digital Resources You Need

You probably already have all these things, but if not, be sure to acquire them during the first week of class. Since this is an online course, you must have the necessary technology and accessories.

• A reliable computer—Linux, FreeBSD, Windows, or Mac. I don’t care as long as you know how to use it and can access the tools we are using on it.

• Working, dependable Internet access and a backup access plan. This course takes place online, so you need to be online. If the connection where you live goes out, know where you can go for free WiFi.

• A word processor or Google Drive. Again, I don’t care which as long as you know how to use it. Whatever word processor you choose must be able to save your work as a *.DOC, a *.DOCX, or a *.PDF file, OR to share a link that will give others permission to read and comment on your work.

• A camera or a phone with a camera. Some of the activities will include images, and you may want to take your own photos. A borrowed camera will be fine.

• Earphones/Headphones and a microphone. Some of the activities can include audio and video aspects, so earphones are handy. Additionally, you may create audio or video projects that you will need a mic for.

 Sites You Will Use

Everything for this course will be posted and shared online. Most of your writing will be public, shared with classmates and others who are interested in the course. The following sites are all free for you, but you may need to create some logins to use them if they are new to you.

• Canvas: https://canvas.vt.edu/courses/73812 (for turning in work that will be graded and course resources)
• Piazza: https://piazza.com/vt/fall2018/technicalwriting/home Links to an external site. (for class discussion)
• Lynda.com Tutorials: http://lynda.vt.edu/ (free with your VT PID and password)

Course Structure

This course will be taught online in Canvas. This course will be structured in weekly lessons or modules. The length of time spent on each module will vary depending upon the complexity of the assignment.

This course consists of eight modules. Project Module 1: Introduction to Course is a prerequisite to all other modules. It’s the “Get Started” module that you must view first.

To navigate the course, use the module links below or in the list at left. Within each module, pages are linked by previous and next buttons at the bottom of the page. All readings and assignments can be found at the individual module pages.

• Project Module 1: Introduction to the Course (Opens Week of August 20)
• Project Module 2: Intro to Tech Writing (Opens Week of August 27)
• Project Module 3: Correspondence (Opens Week of September 3)
• Project Module 4: Technical Descriptions (Opens Week of September 10)
• Project Module 5: User Documents (Opens Week of September 17)
• Project Module 6: Project Portfolio 1 (Opens Week of September 24)
• Project Module 7: Research Proposal (Opens Week of October 1)
• Project Module 8: Informational Reports for Non-Expert Readers—White Papers (Opens Weeks of October 8 & 15)
• Project Module 9: Progress Report (Opens Week of October 22)
• Project Module 10: Poster Presentation (Opens Weeks of October 29 & November 5)
• Project Module 11: Project Portfolio 2 (Opens Week of November 12)
• Project Module 12: Participation Self-Assessment (Opens Week of November 26)
• Project Module 13: Final Exam (Opens Week of December 3)

Assessment

An overview of each of these activities with details on how they are graded is included on the relevant tabs on this page. Complete descriptions and instructions for assignments are on the individual assignment pages, which you can access within each module. Due dates for all assignments will be indicated on the course schedule and on assignment pages. Please view the information included in all of the tabs here to learn all of the policies and practices related to the work you will do in this course.

Your grade in this course is weighted, based on the kinds of work you do, as shown in the table below and the pie chart on the right:

General Grading Details

• All work and participation in this course is governed by the  Undergraduate Honor System.
• Every assignment in this course is worth 100 points.
• All submissions in this course are due by 11:59 on their designated days (see individual assignments).
• I do not round grades.
• The Grades tool in Canvas calculates your grade and will have the current grade you have earned in the course.
• I use the default Virginia Tech grade scale for Letter Grades with +/- for the course grade (shown below).
• I will grade your work as soon as reasonably possible. More details are included on the tabs for the different kinds of activities.
• I do not provide extra credit for people who have not met satisfactory performance goals.

Participation

Plan to spend about 8-10 hours per week involved in the activities and completion of assignments over the semester. This amount of time is similar to the time you would invest in a course in a face-to-face classroom setting.

As you think about how much time to budget for this course, realize that this figure is an average, with some weeks requiring more and some less time to complete all assignments and activities. See the details on the Participation tab of the Grading Policies & Standards page for more details on how Participation is graded in this course.

Virginia Tech Grade Scale for Letter Grades with +/-

Questions about Your Grade(s)

If you have questions/concerns/issues with your grade(s), please send me a private message using the Canvas Inbox as soon as you can. Remember that to protect your privacy, I only discuss grades in the Canvas Inbox.

Policies (or the fine print)

Equal Access and Opportunity

Everyone needs special accommodations at some point because we all learn differently. I am happy to work with the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) staff or directly with you to make sure that you have the support you need.

Please let me know during the first week of the term so that I can be sure you have the resources you need as soon as possible. Also see full details on the Accessibility page for additional information.

Communication Guidelines

We will use Canvas and Piazza for class discussion. Rather than emailing general questions to me, post your questions in Piazza so that anyone who knows the answer can help you.

• General questions about logistics (including the course or assignments) should be posted to Piazza. This will guarantee you a faster response time over emailing me.
• I make it a priority to respond to your questions as quickly as possible, but please be prepared for a 24-hour response time for questions posted to Piazza.
• Use your real name when logging into Piazza so we know who you are (and can therefore give you credit for all your hard work!)
• Always include your full name in your signature in your messages please. 

For personal questions, send a personal message in Canvas, using the Inbox tool. Because Canvas messages are secure, they meet all FERPA requirements and protect your privacy. I only answer messages sent via Canvas for this reason.

I try to answer student messages within 24 hours on weekdays and within 48 hours on weekends and holidays. I will take a break from messages during Fall Break and during Thanksgiving Break.

Normally, I am online from late afternoon through early morning hours, so look for responses from me during those hours. I’m not a morning person, and I usually take a two- or three-hour break each evening around 7:30 PM for family time.

Honor Code

All work and participation in this course is governed by the Undergraduate Honor System.

The Undergraduate Honor Code pledge that each member of the university community agrees to abide by states:

“As a Hokie, I will conduct myself with honor and integrity at all times. I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I accept the actions of those who do.”

Students enrolled in this course are responsible for abiding by the Honor Code. A student who has doubts about how the Honor Code applies to any assignment is responsible for obtaining specific guidance from the course instructor before submitting the assignment for evaluation. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the University community from the requirements and expectations of the Honor Code.

For additional information about the Honor Code, please visit the Undergraduate Honor System page.

Principles of Community

This course adheres to the the Virginia Tech Principles of Community:

• We affirm the inherent dignity and value of every  person and strive to maintain a climate for work and learning based on mutual respect and understanding.
• We affirm the right of each person to express thoughts and opinions freely.
• We encourage open expression within a climate of civility, sensitivity, and mutual respect.
• We affirm the value of human diversity because it enriches our lives and the University. We acknowledge and respect our differences while affirming our common humanity.
• We reject all forms of prejudice and discrimination, including those based on age, color, disability, gender, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, and veteran status. We take individual and collective responsibility for helping to eliminate bias and discrimination and for increasing our own understanding of these issues through education, training, and interaction with others.
• We pledge our collective commitment to these principles in the spirit of the Virginia Tech motto of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).

 

Late Policy

My late policy includes a grace period that should cover most problems that come up, whether academic conflicts, an illness, a religious holiday, or a personal issue. It applies to all graded work and can be used multiple times. You do not need to ask in advance or explain why your work is late. Just take advantage of the grace period, as explained below, for any work OTHER than your final exam:

• The due date is the day that your work is due. Every student has a 3-day grace period after the due date during which the project can still be submitted.
• The grace period occurs between the due date and the deadline. Work submitted during the grace period will be marked as late in Canvas; however, there is no grade penalty for work submitted during the grace period.
• The deadline comes 3 days after the due date and is the final moment that Canvas will accept a project (listed as the “available until” date in Canvas). There are no extensions on deadlines. If you do not turn in your work by the end of the grace period, you receive a zero for that activity, and you cannot revise. Unlimited, punishment-free revisions are NOT intended to support those who never did the work in the first place.

Final Exam: There is no grace period or make-up option for your final exam. Your final exam must be submitted by the due date (11:59 PM on Wednesday, December 12) so that I can turn course grades in on time. If you have three exams on Wednesday, December 12, let me know and we can make alternative arrangement.

In the case of extenuating circumstances, let me know immediately. I understand that things happen. As long as you are honest and timely in letting me know what’s going on, we can try to work something out.

Religious Holidays

Please take advantage of the grace period explained in the Late Policy section above if the due date for any work in this class coincides with a religious holiday that you celebrate. Please let me know before the holiday if the grace period will not be adequate, and we will come up with an alternative plan.

Absences & Missed Work

You need to participate in this course on a regular basis every week by turning in your work and collaborating with your classmates. If you do not participate for a full week, you will be considered absent. Failure to participate for one full week will result in lowering of grade by 10 points. Failure to participate for two weeks will result in a failing grade for the course.

If you miss a deadline completely because of an illness, death in the family, or family emergency, see information from the Dean of Students Office for details on how to document the situation. You must provide official documentation within one week of any situation.

If you have an issue that affects your ability to complete the course, you may qualify for Academic Relief. For personal medical issues, contact the Schiffert Health Center, and for psychiatric or psychological issues, contact the Cook Counseling Center.

Backups

Save backups of all your work for this class. Maintain these backups in multiple places (your laptop, a flash drive, Google Docs, Dropbox, Box). Printed backups can also be useful. Do not discard any files, notes, or other work until the term is over and you have received your final grade. Be sure that you maintain backups so that you can continue your work when you encounter computer problems. If you need assistance with your computer, check with the Customer Support Center (4Help).

Technology

Students in this course will need a working and reliable computer and Internet access that will allow the use of Canvas course site tools and any online resources provided. No special software is required but students will need access to MSOffice products.

 Program Assessment

Please note that the Department of English may use your written work in its assessment of its teaching and learning goals. In such cases, your name will be removed and your work assessed anonymously. Your work will not be shared with any individual outside of the department. It will be used strictly to help the department offer students the best possible academic experience.

Course Support

• Technical: I cannot provide technical support. If you need technical support and/or help with Canvas, use the help button on the lower left of the screen.  VT specific technology support can be directed to 4Help via the Help Request Form Links to an external site. or by calling (540) 231-HELP (4357). You can also refer to Zoom support Links to an external site. for help.
• Classroom Accessibility: Any student who has been confirmed by the University as having course accommodations must notify me as soon as possible, preferably during the first week of the course. For more information please go to the Services for Students with Disabilities web site.
• Academic Support Services: Any student requiring academic support should investigate the Support Resources for graduate students or Academic Affairs for undergraduate students.
• For complete information on student services at Virginia Tech, please visit the web site for the Division of Student Affairs.

Students should feel free to approach the instructor with concerns or questions about special needs or considerations that fall outside of the services listed here. All information shared will be kept confidential. For complete information on student services at Virginia Tech, please see the Division for Student Affairs.

Writing Support

The Writing Center—located on the second floor of Newman Library—is for all writers. You can go if you have a draft, an outline, or just ideas. Bring your assignment description with you. You can now make appointments online by setting up an account with WCOnline Links to an external site.. In addition, multilingual or international students may be interested in their Conversation Groups. (Click on this option from the drop-down menu on the online appointment page.)

Primary Contacts for Mental or Physical Well-Being

• Emergencies: Dial 911. Subscribe to campus alerts Emergency Warning System
• Personal Counseling (including help with drinking, drug abuse, mental health, stress, sexual assault recovery): Thomas E. Cook Counseling Center, 240 McComas Hall - dial (540) 231-7473 or Cook Counseling Center
• Reporting sexual assault: dial 911 or Student Health Care Center - dial 231-7642 or Women's Center at Price House - dial 231-7806
• Health Care Appointments:  Schiffert Health Center - dial 231-7642 or Health Care Website
• Legal Concerns: Student Legal Services - dial 231-4720 or services website

Quick Links

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Virginia Tech Policies & Resources

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