Course

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College Policies

Student Conduct

All students shall adhere to the code of conduct as outlined in the Administrative Rules and Regulations for Student Behavior. Failure to comply with this code by the illustration of disruptive behavior will lead to the student’s dismissal from the in-person and/or online classroom.

Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Generative Writing Tools (like Chat GPT, Grammarly, etc) Statement

I am a professor because I genuinely care about my students and their success. I love reading your essays and skill builders, viewing your projects, and learning about your unique interests, brilliant ideas, and opinions on the texts we are discussing in class.

Sadly, examples of A.I. have been appearing in Saddleback writing classrooms. That text generated from ChatGPT, Grammarly, or other A.I., that is not appropriately attributed and cited (MLA) within the essay, skill builder, or assignment/ work, is plagiarism and is in violation of the Saddleback College student code of conduct.

Unless otherwise specified by Dr. Hoida, all submissions, whether in draft or final form, to meet course requirements (including skill builder, peer replies, essays, drafts, projects, exams, reflections, computer programs, oral/ video presentations, or other work) must either be the Student’s own work or must clearly acknowledge the source. The use of ChatGPT or other generative AI tools for course assignments is akin to plagiarism and/or receiving assistance from another person, and raises the same concern that the work is not the student’s own original writing.

If you use these tools, your actions would be considered academically dishonest and a violation of Saddleback College’s Academic Honesty Policy. In addition, you are discouraged from relying heavily on support tools like Grammarly, especially the “Academic Voice” feature. I am interested in your authentic voice—not the voice of a robot. While this feature might make your writing sound better, it does not impact the quality of your ideas, which is the most important purpose of every written assignment. If these tools suggest that you rearrange your sentence structure and dramatically alter your vocabulary, then you should avoid using those suggestions.

Academic Integrity Statement from the Saddleback College Student Handbook

Plagiarism involves the misrepresentation of someone else’s words, ideas, or data as one’s original work, including, but not limited to, the following:

Intentionally representing as one’s own work the work, words, ideas, or arrangement of ideas, research, formulae, diagrams, statistics, or evidence of another.
Taking sole credit for ideas and/or written work that resulted from a collaboration with others.
Paraphrasing or quoting material without citing the source.
Submitting as one’s own a copy of or the actual work of another person, either in part or in entirety, without appropriate citation (e.g., from Paper Mills or other internet-derived products).
Using Artificial Intelligence (like ChatGPT, Gamma, QuillBot, etc.) to generate writing or ideas that are not properly cited/ quoted.
Sharing computer files and programs or written papers, and then submitting individual copies of the results as one’s own individual work.
Submitting substantially the same material in more than one course without prior authorization from each instructor involved.
Modifying another’s work and representing it as one’s own work.
Your own commitment to learning requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to Student Services, wherein a range of disciplinary measures may take place, including receiving an F for a plagiarized assignment, and possibly an F in the course and expulsion from the college.

Online Conduct & Netiquette

You are enrolled in either an online or hybrid class, which means we will be interacting through Canvas. When posting material in our online class, you should:

Make posts that are on topic and within the scope of the course material
Take your posts seriously and review and edit your posts before sending
Make thoughtful comments that are respectful to all involved
Always give proper credit when referencing or quoting another source
Be sure to read all messages in a thread before replying
Don’t repeat someone else’s post without adding something of your own to it
Avoid short, generic replies such as, “I agree.” You should include why you agree or add to the previous point
Always be respectful of others’ opinions, even when they differ from your own
When you disagree with someone, you should express your differing opinion in a respectful, non-critical way
Do not make personal or insulting remarks; avoid profanity
Be open-minded

Remember that online “conversations” are different from in-person conversations, and we cannot use tone of voice or body language to help us determine the intentions behind the words. It is imperative that you are careful in your discussion board posts (and emails) to use appropriate language that cannot be mistaken for something else.

Although I frequently monitor posts, I cannot keep up with all posts when they happen. If you notice an inappropriate comment, please email me immediately. You should do so even if you think the author of the post had good intentions, but that the post could be taken the wrong way by another student.

Students do not have to agree with what other people say, but they should accord others a basic degree of respect. Inappropriate or unkind comments will not be tolerated. Comments that include unnecessary profanity will not be tolerated. A good general rule of thumb is to ask yourself: “Is this something I would say to my grandmother?” If not, then maybe it is not the best thing to post online.

Note: Use standard netiquette. Be polite, sensitive, kind and use business language. Avoid negative language or being critical. Netiquette Website

Privacy Concerns & Sharing Your Work

Please consider every piece of writing you do for this class to be "public.” Remember that you will often be expected to share your writing online with others, so avoid writing about things that you may not be prepared to subject to public scrutiny or things you feel so strongly about that you are unwilling to listen to perspectives other than your own. This does not mean that you are not entitled to an opinion, but that you adopt positions responsibly, contemplating the possible effect on others. Because we will be sharing journals, discussions, creative nonfiction writing, and projects, please note that you are not allowed to redistribute, reproduce, cut & paste, photograph, screenshot, record, or film any part of this online course without prior written approval from the instructor and/or student(s) involved.

Statement on Unauthorized Recording

State education code along with Saddleback’s district board policies and administrative regulations clearly prohibit recording or reproducing classroom content and/or activities without explicit prior consent: Other than Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) directed auxiliary aids and academic accommodations, the use of any electronic listening or recording device in any classroom is prohibited without the explicit prior consent of the instructor (CA Ed Code Sec. 78907). It is in violation of South Orange County Community College District (SOCCCD) policies (BP 5401 & AR 5401) which address student conduct. It is also a crime to record any private communication, such as a classroom lecture, without the consent of all parties to the conversation (Cal. Penal Code § 632). Violation of such rules may result in disciplinary action.

Course Content Disclaimer

While I do not choose readings or other course content with the express purpose of offending students, you need to be aware that you may encounter print, electronic, or visual materials whose language or images could offend you. In such a case, I ask that you keep an open mind and consider why such language or images are being used; the author may actually have a purpose. However, do bear in mind that this is college and that you inevitably will be exposed to ideas that are inherently controversial; as a responsible member of a democracy, you have a social obligation to prepare and nurture your critical mind beyond the comfort zone of individual safe ideas. If you encounter material that you consider unsuitable to your liking because you find it offensive, please see me, and we will work together to make other arrangements.

Trigger Warning

Please note that this class will cover readings and discussions that include adult themes and issues. We may read, view, and discuss mature subject matter (relating to the arts, entertainment, sexuality, race, class, religion, politics, nature, science, crime, violence, etc., as well as a range of points of view on those issues). As challenging as those subjects may be, you are encouraged to remain in the class, to learn about diverse points of view, and to--tactfully and respectfully--contribute your point of view. If you would like to be warned about particular content, please inbox me, and I'll be happy to prepare you via trigger warnings. All participants will honor this boundary. Hate speech is prohibited (definition: “any advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence”).

Diversity & Inclusion Statement

In order to learn, we must be open to the views of people different from ourselves. Each and every voice in the classroom is important and brings with it a wealth of experiences, values, and beliefs. In this time we share together over the semester, please honor the uniqueness of your classmates, and appreciate the opportunity we have to learn from each other. Please respect your fellow students' opinions and refrain from personal attacks or demeaning comments of any kind.

Mandated State Reporting and Title IX

In accordance with Title IX, a federal law, educational institutions must provide a learning environment that is safe and free of discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and violence. Instructors are obligated to report any incidents involving students who have experienced these issues. You should feel free to explore these topics in your writing assignments, but if you have been affected by these issues, I may need to contact the Office of Student Services to ensure that you receive support and resources.

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