FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

 

Why do we have to turn in our assignments on specific dates? I have other online classes and we can turn our work in at our own pace when we complete it. It's much more convenient for me that way.

My classes have a high volume of written work and a large number of students. Due dates are imposed so that I can anticipate when assignments are coming in and schedule my time accordingly. It also avoids huge amounts of work coming in at the end of the semester and delays in reporting grades. Frankly, it is also much more efficient for me to grade the same assignments at the same time rather than having to "shift gears" for random assignments as they come in. Ultimately, whether there are due dates or not is up to each instructor. I make it very clear on the class web site that this is the policy of this class.

 

Why do I not always get confirmation that you have received a quiz that I know I took?

Although I sometimes do make mistakes, the most common reason why this happens is an e-mail addressing error in the boxes at the end of the quiz:

1. Your e-mail address is not filled in
2. Your e-mail address is missing its suffix (@aol.com, @hotmail.com, @yahoo.com)
3. There is a typo in your address

 

What do the points I got for an assignment mean? What letter grade is it equal to?

The best way to estimate the letter grade equivalent of the points earned on a test or assignment is to use the grade scale for the class which is found on our home page.

Grade Scale
A=100-91
B=90-80
C=79-69
D=68-57
F=56-0

Since this is a 100 point class, the point ranges are the same as percentages (i.e. 100 points equals 100% or 79 points equals 79%).

To find your letter grade for any work, take the number of points you received and divide it by the number of points possible for that work. Move the decimal point of the result over two places to the right and you will have your percentage. Compare that to the scale above and you will have your letter grade.

For example you got 3.6 on a test worth 5 points; if you divide 3.6 by 5 the result is 0.72. Move the decimal and you get 72%. By comparing that to the class grade scale above you can see that you got a low middle C on the test. Using this basic math you can calculate a letter grade equivalent for any assignment or test. Quizzes are the easiest since the website tells you what percentage you got and you can compare it to the scale without doing any math at all!

 

Can I take a quiz twice? What happens if I do?

You are free to take the quizzes as many times as you wish, but I will only record the grade you earned the first time if I receive more than one.

 

What is considered plagiarism (copying)?

"Plagiarism is literary theft. When you copy the words of another, be sure to put those words inside quotation marks and to acknowledge the source with a footnote. When you paraphrase the words of another, use your own words and your own sentence structure, and be sure to give a footnote citing the source of the idea. A plagiarist often merely changes a few words or rearranges the words in the source. As you take notes and as you write your paper, be especially careful to avoid plagiarism. Unless you are quoting directly, avoid entirely the sentence patterns of the source." L.A. Times, 8/4/02

For this class you do not need footnotes or full citations with page numbers, merely place a simplified reference in parenthesis or in the body of the sentence, such as:

"This play is very much in the Shavian idiom," according to Mary Barnes' review in Time Magazine. I disagree with her intensely.

or

"This play is very much in the Shavian idiom." (Time, 6/26/02). I disagree with this conclusion intensely.

 

Why is the play or film I want to see removed from the approved list?

There are two reasons. First, it may be a "one person show." I want you to see plays in which actors are interacting with each other. Second, it may be a big Hollywood or Broadway blockbuster film or musical which you would likely see anyway. Third, it may be a documentary or animated film. One of my goals for this class is to introduce you to excellent plays and films that you might otherwise overlook and miss.

Why is Extra Credit limited to only six points?

The reason for the limit is illustrated by the following example. A student who is incapable of doing any better than C work for sixteen weeks does a lot extra credit the last week of class to gets enough points for an A. Is this really an A student? Extra credit exists primarily to give good students who have missed or blown an important assignment or test a chance to recoup some of the lost points--to preserve the grade that they were consistently earning. It does not exist to simply provide a means to boost grades up to the next level.

Can I turn in work early?

Yes and no. My e-mail program has the nasty habit of moving things to the old mail file if I don't open it within one month. Since I don't begin opening and grading work until on or about the due date, if you submit your work more than a month in advance of its due date you run the risk of having it lost. If you must do your work more than a month early, save it and wait to send it less than four weeks before it is due.