The emphasis of this course is more on critical thinking and logical analysis employed in reading texts, and planning and writing your own. It will involve reading a variety of essays and articles in order to deconstruct the elements and stimulate your own writing skills. There will be a prevalence of writing activities, peer reviews and workshops aimed at skills development.

You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. 

Attendance is crucial to student success and you are expected to attend every class meeting.

·       You will be allowed three, no-questions-asked absences. After the third absence, 5% will be deducted from the overall grade for each additional absence. After the sixth absence, you will be failed automatically from the course.

 ·       The only absences that will be excused are those that are approved by the Dean’s office.

·      Most of the coursework relies on positive interdependence in in-class group work, which means that not completing the required preparatory work for a lesson will have a negative impact on the quality of the class and on the experience of the classmates that depend on you. Therefore, you are allowed to come unprepared no more than once, and this instance will be no-questions-asked. From the second time, lack of preparation will count as an absence. You can still be present and listen in to others' discussions, but you will be marked absent on the registers. 

·       You are responsible for the material covered and completing in-class assignments if you are absent. Ask a classmate and check the Moodle course page.

·       Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor at least three weeks in advance to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.

·       Absence does not excuse work from being graded as late.

If you are unable to attend a class session, you should make arrangements with one or more of your classmates to catch up on anything you missed. While illness and emergencies are often unavoidable and understandable, this does not affect how the absence policy will be applied.

Keep in mind that it will be difficult for you to make up missed peer reviews, small group discussions, and spoken lectures and instructions. Even if you are not able to attend, you are still responsible for making sure any assignments due that day are in the Professor's hands by the start of class.

You are expected to do your own work. Cheating, plagiarism and any other form of academic dishonesty (such as submitting AI-generated content) will not be tolerated.

All students are expected to come to class prepared and on time, and remain for the full class period.

Laptops and Cellphones are not permitted in class if not required for specific class meetings, as stated by the Professor.

Disruptive behavior will result in dismissal from the class and will be counted as one absence. This includes repeatedly entering and leaving the class once the lesson has begun, doing work for other classes during this class, inappropriate use of the computers (checking on your e-mail while in class, surfing the ‘net, etc), talking to others while someone else is talking, repeatedly arriving late to class, sleeping, using profanity, personal or physical threats or insults, damaging property.