Through a variety of writing projects, students will use inferential and critical skills in the process of composing documented essays. Extensive reading materials serve as structural models and as the bases for discussion and for the writing of essays involving response, analysis, and synthesis. Writing will be understood as being both high- and low-stakes in nature. Low-stakes, or informal writing assignments, are designed to provide the fledgling writer with the time and space needed to work through a given task. Students will have the opportunity to get acquainted with what may prove to be some complicated and complex ideas. High-stakes writing consists of larger assignments, and will evolve and grow through collaboration and conferences, which support the multiple drafts that writers produce. High-stakes writing will utilize the writing process to generate final drafts of papers that are worth significantly more points than low-stakes writing assignments.
AI/Plagiarism Policy
Academic integrity is essential to all educational endeavors and demands that every individual adhere to its basic ethical principles. All academic work must be wholly the product of the individual or individuals who submit it except as properly noted.
AI Policy Statement: Unauthorized AI-generated work submitted as original is a form of cheating and will be punished to the fullest extent of what our institution allows (yes, we are using the latest AI-detection software to check--and double-check--ALL assignments in order to ensure the integrity of this course). Remember that you are in this course because you have chosen to pay for the opportunity to develop the critical thinking, communication, and research skills essential for you to advance in your academic and professional careers, as well as to grow in your personal and civic lives. Using AI instead of developing your own abilities and talents is to deprive yourself of this opportunity and to undermine your own potential and integrity. Choosing to use AI instead of developing these abilities may also “come back to bite you” in the future when you will need to rely on skills that you never developed.
My rule is as follows: No AI is allowed unless specified. This includes Grammarly (and any other grammar checker or external program that uses generative AI), translators (which often have embedded AI within them), and any add-ons that come built within word processors. You are responsible for deactivating and not using these.
Note: In some special instances, the professor may include specific activities that permit AI use as a tool in the writing or research process according to a particular set of instructions, but otherwise, ANY use of AI elsewhere in the course is NOT permitted.
For AI incidents, I follow a 2-strike approach for assignments:
1st offense: The assignment will receive a temporary 0 and you will be given the opportunity to resubmit it only after we have a formal discussion/meeting regarding the usage of AI. This will serve as the only formal warning regarding future AI usage. An alternative assignment may be given. Parent/Guardian will be notified.
2nd offense: The assignment will receive a 0 and no redo will be offered. This will be the final warning for the term. Parent/Guardian will be notified.
If an accusation is leveled, you must be able to meet with me to discuss or it will automatically escalate to the next level.