Please visit the RHET Frequently Asked Questions page for more detailed information about all the subject areas below by clicking on the link:
https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/rhetoric-and-composition/frequently-asked-questions
Grades and Grading in this Course
Available Grades in the Course (Note: D-, IP, and I grades are not available in this course)
A = 100-94
A- = 93-90
B+ = 89-87
B = 86-83
B- = 82-80
C+ = 79-77
C = 76-73
C- = 72-70
D+ = 69-67
D = 66-60
F =59
Assignment Breakdown
Revised Planning strategies (Hero/Heroism) 10
Final Writing Product (Hero/Heroism) 15
Revised Planning strategies (Evil) 10
Final Writing Product (Evil) 15
Revised Planning strategies (Duality) 15
Final Writing Product (Duality) 20
Professional Email 5
Engagement/Participation 10
Total 100
Rubrics for each assignment will be provided by the instructor on the course site, and formative assessment feedback and grades will be provided after each assignment. Once the final grades for the course have been posted, the instructor will be available to answer any questions both online and in person if circumstances allow.
Visit the RHET FAQ page linked above for additional information about grading and to get answers to questions like
● How will I know at what level (or grade) I am performing during the semester?
● I’m having trouble completing all the work by the end of the semester. What options do I have?
● Can I appeal a specific assignment grade?
● Can I appeal the final course grade given to me by the faculty?
Workload
This class is a writer’s workshop, couched in the theme of global migration and identity. You will be given agency to write, choosing your own topics within the theme, engaging fully with sources you select, and presenting final products as original thought and work. The class has a somewhat heavy workload, and requires you to dedicate yourself to the research writing process. You will write every day, which is the best way to become a better writer!
Instructor’s Policies and Expectations
The overriding principles that guide our work in this course are that we avoid any activity that detracts from the learning process for anyone in the class and that we show respect for the institution in which we meet. All members of the AUC community are entrusted with the responsibility to uphold and promote five fundamental values: Honesty, Trust, Respect, Fairness, and Responsibility. These core elements foster an atmosphere, inside and outside of the classroom, which serves as a foundation and guides the AUC community’s academic, professional, and personal growth. This means that students will be ready to work at 11:30 and avoid behaviors which distract (private conversations, phone/laptop use, getting up to use the restroom, etc.).
Late Submission and Missed Assignments: Major graded assignments will be reduced by half letter grade (5%) for each day submitted late, and assignments submitted more than one week late will not be accepted. In-class activities missed during an absence cannot be made-up, but if a student has official documentation (medical, school extra-curricular/sports) for an absence, then he/she will be allowed to make up major assignments the day he/she returns.
Participation in Conferences: Students who want to successfully complete the course should plan for an instructor conference at least three times per semester (about 10-20 minutes). In the schedule, we have many opportunities for students to work one-on-one with the instructor. To achieve optimum results, students must come to the conference on time, have shared the work with the instructor in advance, take notes from the instructor’s discussion, and implement the revisions in his/her process or writing.
Process in RHET: This course is designed so that students can experience the writing process, so each week’s activity is set up to build upon what the student has done the previous week. Student writing is completed in a google doc each week and presented in class to the instructor and peers; students receive feedback on the document and revise their work and/or approach accordingly. Following through on the process each week is essential to the student’s acquisition of knowledge and skills. To that end, if a student gets behind in the process, this will negatively impact the overall performance in the class and may even result in a failing grade. Students who do not submit part of the strategies cannot complete the inquiry unit, so the final paper will not be evaluated. The instructor cannot evaluate a portfolio of work submitted mostly or all at one time.
Attendance, Absences, and Tardiness
Class begins at 11:30. Students are highly encouraged to attend all classes, as regular class attendance can significantly help a student do better in the class. A student is not allowed to miss more than six classes without severe consequences, up to and including, failing the course. Also, missing more than 10 minutes of a class counts as half of an absence and missing more than 30 minutes of a class counts as a full absence.
There are many important additional guidelines related to this area. Visit the RHET FAQ page for additional information and to get answers to questions like
● Who is responsible for keeping attendance?
● What happens if I miss a class? What happens if I exceed six absences?
● What is the policy on tardiness or missing part, but not all, of a class session?
● What happens if I have a medical excuse, family crisis, or extracurricular activity?
Academic Integrity
In accordance with the AUC’s efforts to promote a culture of academic integrity on campus, the Rhetoric and Composition Department strictly enforces the academic integrity principles found in AUC’s Code of Academic Integrity. Instructors are trained to ensure students are doing their own work; additionally, students must also use Turnitin.com for all drafts of major assignments. Violations of academic integrity can lead to serious consequences, including failing the course and having notes about violations added to your permanent transcript.
Visit the RHET FAQ page for further details about academic integrity and to get answers to questions such as
● How do I know what is legitimate borrowing from a source and what is plagiarism?
● How will the instructor know if I have copied my paper from the Internet, had the paper written by a professional writing service, or tried some other tricky thing?
● What are the consequences of violations of academic integrity?
● What is Turnitin.com and how do I use it?
Timely Completion of Required Freshman Classes in the Core Curriculum
AUC has a “Timely Completion Policy” that governs a number of Freshman Program and CORE courses, including RHET 1010, CORE 1010, and RHET 1020. According to this policy, students should complete their RHET 1010, CORE 1010, and RHET 1020 courses during their first two semesters at AUC. Students are not allowed to postpone these courses; they also have a limited number of attempts to pass them.
Visit the RHET FAQ page for additional information about timely completion and to get answers to questions like
● What is “Timely Completion?” How does that affect me taking RHET courses?
● What happens if I fail or drop my RHET course? Will I be in violation of the completion policy?
● Can I postpone a RHET course?
Dropping, Failing and Repeating Courses
AUC’s Timely Completion policies say that a student should complete RHET 1010, CORE 1010, and RHET 1020 during their Freshman year. That is the preferred and best process for incoming Freshman students, however, disruptions do happen, and students, at times, drop or fail RHET courses. There are a number of important policies that affect these situations. Importantly, there are restrictions on students being allowed to drop, limits to the number of times a student can fail, and limitations on when and how courses can be repeated.
Visit the RHET FAQ page for further details about dropping, failing, and repeating and to get answers to questions such as
● I’m thinking about dropping my course. What should I do?
● What happens if I miss the drop deadline?
● Can I drop either RHET 1010 or CORE 1010 and still continue in the other tandemized course?
● What happens if I fail RHET 1010 or CORE 1010?
Special Needs, Concerns, or Additional Support
The Department of Rhetoric and Composition provides practical support to all students in a fair and equitable manner. Students who have special needs or concerns about the class should talk to their instructors the first week of classes or as soon as possible. Students requesting accommodations from their instructors must first provide documentation from the AUC Office of Student Well-being; reasonable accommodations for students are made starting from the date the instructor receives the official documentation (accommodations are not applied retroactively). AUC complies with the American Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Visit the RHET FAQ page for additional information about special needs, concerns or additional support and to get answers to questions such as
● I have a documented special need. What should I do?
● I feel that I will need some additional support. What should I do?
● I have a concern about the instructor or the course. What should I do?
● What does the writing center offer? How can the writing center help me?
Research in RHET
Research is highly valued at AUC, and students are encouraged to participate in research during their time at AUC, however, research, both on-campus and off-campus, MUST comply with a number of important policies and regulations for security, legal, and ethical reasons. Students who plan to do ANY on-campus research involving people (surveys, interviews, etc) or ANY off-campus research of any nature MUST receive approval PRIOR to starting their research. To begin this process a student should discuss their plans with their instructor as well as be familiar with the policies found at the link below.
For important information about the research process, ethical research, extracurricular research opportunities, and to get answers to questions like
● When I conduct a survey or an interview, can I collect data from subjects off-campus?
● Do I need any approvals if I collect data from subjects on-campus?
● What is the IRB and what is CAPMAS?
● What presentation or publication opportunities do I have?
Scope of this Syllabus and Contingency Plans
This syllabus includes all written content, graphic displays, as well as the content referenced in the links/QR codes included in this document. Any student who continues in the course is expected to understand and abide by all policies, guidelines and schedules mentioned therein. However, in the event of the suspension of normal university classes, the initial plan is to continue with the course as long as there is internet accessibility in Egypt, but this may require adjustment to policies, guidelines, and schedules. Thus, in the case of the suspension of classes, please check your email and course website for details about how the course will continue.