Dr. De Nys
Requirements for formal themes
These requirements apply to the summary, the proposal, and the critique.
Peer Workshops
On the days the drafts of the short papers are due, we will meet in
small groups to discuss the drafts.
For each workshop, you must prepare the assigned number of clear, typed
copies by any means you choose. Double or triple spacing is recommended
on drafts.
Note well: You can not participate in a workshop without
copies of your draft, no matter what your excuse is. Printers on campus
are frequently temperamental. Please allow time to complete this assignment.
It is
strongly recommended that you prepare your copies a day early.
If you miss a workshop for any reason, your paper will be judged strictly, adversely affecting a borderline grade. By missing a workshop, you forfeit the option to rewrite the paper subsequent to grading.
If you wish input on a preliminary draft from the professor, you must
submit the draft in person, in hard copy by the class before
the workshop. The draft will be returned to you with comments after the
workshop. You are encouraged to consult the Writing
Center at any time for any assignment.
Drafts
When you hand in the final copy of any theme to be graded, it must be accompanied by the drafts and the worksheets from the workshop.
If you missed the workshop, the paper must be accompanied by at least one preliminary draft that shows evidence of your writing process. When working at the word processor, you should print up an early draft prior to revising it. Then work on the paper and print up the next draft.
Please note: Two copies of a paper that are virtually identical except for the fonts do not represent a paper and a preliminary draft. Only papers that show evidence of a process of thought and revision will be graded.
Length
The assigned length refers to the number of typed, double-spaced pages of the finished copy.
I do not "weigh" the papers. A long paper is not necessarily better than a shorter paper. But if your paper is more than a ½ page shorter than the minimum assigned, it undoubtedly needs further development.
Form for final copies
All final copies must be double-spaced, using font size 12. Paper must be proofread, but corrections may be made neatly in pen or pencil. Avoid ornate or exotic fonts.
Include a title page. On the title page, include the title (!), your name, the course number, and the date due.
Leave reasonable margins (about one inch).
Number each page.
Fasten pages together with staples or paper clips. Folders are unnecessary, but if you like them, I will accept them.
Late paper policy
These three papers do not incur an automatic penalty if they are late.
However:
A late paper will receive a grade only. It will receive
no comments.
I will not discuss a late paper or its grade.
You may turn in only one late paper at a time. It must be turned in
on a day that the class meets.
You may not hand in a late paper along with a revision of another paper.
No late papers will be accepted for any reason after June 19.
Rewrite policy
If your paper is on time, and if you have participated
actively in the peer workshops, you may revise it as often as you wish.
Revision may raise your grade, although this is not guaranteed.
It will not lower your grade.
You may turn in only one revised paper at a time. It must be turned
in on a day that the class meets.
You may not hand in a revised paper along with a late paper.
No revised papers will be accepted
for any reason after June
19.
The revised paper must be accompanied by the original paper and by a brief cover essay (100 - 150 words) summarizing the changes you have made and stating hy you consider the revised paper better than the original. A revision will not be accepted if these requirements are not met. Be especially alert to this if you are handing in revisions near the deadline.
Back up your work!
Keep some sort of copy of your work in your possession. I recommend a copy on disk along with an extra hard copy. If I do not have a copy of your paper, I shall assume that you did not hand it in.
Read and remember
Any use of material that is not your own as if it were your own - that
is, without identifying it clearly and completely - is plagiarism.
Plagiarism is a violation of the University Honor Code and will be dealt
with as such.
FYI: All cases I have sent to the university Honor Committee in the last three years have resulted in the guilty party receiving a grade of F for the course.