Course Policies
Email: Email is a useful way to communicate with your professor or another member of the teaching team, especially to set up a time to meet to discuss concerns about the course or assignments. Some students are unaware of email etiquette or how to communicate effectively with their professors. Here are some tips: http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2005/01/how-to-e-mail-professor.html
We will answer all email in a timely manner (within 48 hours of receipt) during regular hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). Before you send an email I ask that you do the following:
1. Read and follow the tips here (PLEASE NOTE: you do not need to reply to say “thanks”)
2. Ensure the answer to your question is not available in the syllabus or reading schedule. If you lost yours, don’t worry. It’s all available on this site.
3. Ensure the answer is not available in the course blog.
This will help all of us to avoid wasting time during a busy semester. If the answer to your question is readily available in the syllabus, reading schedule or blog, you will not receive a reply. (examples: what is the reading for the next class? Which citation style do I use in my assignment? where do we meet for the library seminar?)
4. Use only your Brock address (other addresses may not make it past the spam filters) and type “VISA1Q99” in the subject line. If you fail to do this, your email may be lost. Please sign with your name and student number. Email should be written in full sentences, using correct grammar.
Many topics are better dealt with in person than by email because email is not sufficient for dialogue. If this is the case with your question or concern, I will ask you to make an appointment or to come to office hours.
Class Conduct: To learn, students need to be able to be free to express themselves in a comfortable environment. To that end, this class aims to be inclusive and respectful of diversity. Students and the teaching team are expected to maintain a professional relationship characterised by courtesy and mutual respect and to refrain from actions disruptive to such a relationship. Debate is encouraged, as is respect for the positions of others. Brock policies regarding student conduct are available here . Students who do not follow this code of conduct will be asked to leave.
In addition to this, students have the right to be able to work in an environment that is free from distractions. Therefore, laptops are only permitted for taking notes in class. All other activities must be limited to breaks. This policy applies to seminars as well. Please refrain from using facebook, youtube, chat, watching old Friends episodes, sending email or conducting any other activities besides taking notes during class. If you must distract other members of the class, you will be asked to leave.
** All students MUST sign a learning contract for this course. If you do not submit a learning contract, 2 marks will be deducted from your participation grade.
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism: Plagiarism, cheating and other forms of dishonesty are serious academic offences. Penalties range from a warning, to failure of the course with a notation on your transcripts, or suspension from university. It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of the rules and terms governing academic honesty. We are all bound by the Brock University policy on academic integrity. It is your responsibility to be aware of it.
In relation to this, it is the instructor’s responsibility to track and report plagiarism in the university. Turnitin.com is an anti-plagiarism tool that screens all assignments against a database of the internet, e-journals, e-books, a range of other scanned material including other assignments for this course. This ensures that all assignments are graded on a level playing field and means I can read your papers for ideas and content rather than as a police officer. I can spend my grading time providing all students with the feedback they deserve rather than spending inordinate amounts of time investigating the few papers that seem to present academic honesty issues. Submitting your paper to turnitin.com also means that it is time and date stamped and cannot be lost. The process of registering and submitting papers to turnitin.com is simple. All students must submit all written work BOTH through turnitin.com and as a hard copy on the due date.
To enrol in turnitin.com for this class:
Go to www.turnitin.com and click the “create a user profile” button (below the login button. Follow the on-screen instructions. If you need help, consult the PDF manual for students.
class ID: 3040705
enrollment password: introart2010
*Please note that if you have a principled objection to turnitin.com, you must come and speak to me by January 19 so that alternate arrangements can be made. Students who object to using turnitin.com will instead submit research notes, drafts and photocopies of all sources along with their papers rather than uploading their papers to the website.
Late assignments: All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date both in digital (turnitin.com) and paper copy. If you are unable to come to class on the day the assignment is due, take it to the Visual Arts Department Office in GLN 119 and ask that it be date stamped and placed in my mailbox. If the office is closed, place it in the drop box outside the door. The penalty for late assignments is 5% per day, beginning at 9 am or at the start of your seminar (depending where you are to turn in your paper). Assignments submitted more than two weeks late or after the last class will not be accepted. Exceptions to the lateness penalty for valid reasons such as illness, etc. will be entertained by the Course Director only when supported by written documentation (a medical certificate is now required by Brock University). Students are given assignment due dates at the beginning of term and are expected to plan their time accordingly. You are strongly encouraged to work on your assignments throughout the semester and not attempt to complete your assignment the night before it is due. Running out of time or failing to budget your time appropriately does not constitute grounds for an extension on assignments in this course.
Exams: All students are expected to be available during the final exam period. Any student who misses the final exam must apply for deferred standing. Deferred standing will only be granted if the student provides a compelling reason with valid documentation (i.e. a medical certificate). Under no circumstances will vacations, concerts, sporting events and other extra-curricular activities be considered a valid excuse for missing an exam.
For more information, please consult the academic calendar.
Requirements for Written Assignments:
1. All written assignments must adhere to the Chicago Manual of Style, humanities (footnote) format. Please see pgs. 335-341 in Barnet, A Short Guide to Writing About Art (9th edition) for guidelines.
2. All written assignments will be marked with attention to style, grammar, and spelling. Students who received 60% or less on a written assignment are encouraged to attend a writing workshop. For more information on these and other academic skills workshops, please visit the Student Development Centre.
Accessibility: Students who are registered with any of Brock University’s disABILITY services (SSWD) and require accommodations in teaching style or evaluation methods are encouraged to come and see me during my office hours by January 19. I will work with you so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
