Academic Communication for Graduate Students

Nav 504 Mon, Wed. 10 11:50 a.m. Fall 2012 Wannalancit 115 Prof. Bernadette Stockwell Email: Bernadette_stockwell@uml.edu Course Description and Goals: This course offers students a broad introduction to the skills needed in undertaking graduate study here at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Some of these skills that we will work on are finding and reading academic texts, critically accessing them, using these sources to build upon and display knowledge in a variety of spoken and written forms. In order to achieve these goals, students will write a variety of papers that will include researching a topic and giving a power point presentation to the class. Students will also be given a workshop (presented by the librarians here at the University) on the resources available to students for research. Textbook: The Short Prose Reader- 13th edition- Gilbert H. Muller and Harvey S. Wiener, McGraw Hill Participation: This class is a combination of discussion and workshop. A portion of each class will model a Toastmasters Meeting. Each student will take on a different role and strive toward various goals in public speaking and leadership. In addition, various types of expository essays and a research paper will help students develop written verbal skills. When presenting ideas, mutual respect is expected. People can disagree without being disagreeable. Attendance Policy: It counts. Regular attendance is essential in a course such as this. You can fail the course for not attending class, even if you do all the work. Since much of the work is developmental and classroom based, missing class means missing helpful learning experiences. You are, however, given two unexcused absences, no questions asked: save these for any emergencies that may arise. The third absence may result in failure for the course. You should be aware that any absence, for any reason, does not excuse you from being prepared for the next class. You are required to show up prepared for every class. Get in touch with a fellow classmate or the professor. Classroom Behavior: Behavior that disrupts the class or interferes with the other students ability to learn will not be tolerated. This includes excessive talking, eating, texting, and any other interruptions. Please be courteous to the others in this classroom. Anyone who is asked to leave will have to meet with the Dean or me before they are allowed back in class. Papers: All assignments are due at the beginning of class. That means a printed, stapled copy will be turned in. For each assignment, I will hand out a detailed prompt with a scoring rubric. All assignments will be typed, double spaced. Your name, the date, and the assignment title will be typed in the upper left-hand corner of the first page. Extra-help: I am here to help you succeed and am available during my office hours. I also check email daily, and will be able to answer questions that way. However, do not email me the day something is due and expect an answer. You may seek help from the writing tutors at the Write Place located in the centers for Learning Southwick 321 (x2942) and the third floor of the OLeary Library (x2942) at any time during your writing process. However, you must not expect the tutors to serve as your proofreaders and editors; they are trained to function as guides to your writing process. Your work is meant to be your own. The Centers for Learning and Academic Support Services provide many resources, including tutoring in writing: http://class.uml.edu/. In accordance with University policy and the ADA, I will provide accommodation for students with documented disabilities. If you have a disability, please contact the Office of Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that their office has moved to NORTH campus, Cumnock Hall C6, phone: 978-934-4574, e-mail:Disability@uml.edu. This documentation is confidential. Behavior policy: In this class, and in all classes at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, students are expected to exhibit professional and respectful behavior that is conducive to a mutually beneficial learning environment in the classroom. Examples of inappropriate behavior include: text messaging, listening to music, cell phone use (other than the campus alert system), late arrivals, early departures, use of laptops for other than class purposes, disrespectful comments or behavior, intentional disruptions, failure to follow faculty directives. Students in violation of these standards may be asked to leave class and/or be referred to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action. Plagiarism policy: Academic dishonesty is prohibited in all programs of the University. Sanctions may be imposed on any student who has committed an act of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and facilitating dishonesty. Plagiarism includes directly copying a source without acknowledging that source, summarizing or paraphrasing someones ideas without acknowledging the source, or submitting a paper that has been written by someone else. We will work this semester on recognizing and avoiding plagiarism, and how to research and write responsibly. Students who accidentally lift wording or ideas from texts will work with me extensively to avoid such unintentional plagiarism. For a first instance of intentional academic dishonesty, the student will receive a zero on the assignment with no chance to make it up. For any subsequent instances, the student will be given a course grade of FX (non-deletable failure). Grading System: This class is a Pass/No Grade grading scale. You must maintain an average of 80% to pass the class.

MBA students must attain a score of 59 on the Pearson Test

Breakdown of Final Grade: Participation, attendance and discussion Narrative Paper Argumentative essay Informative speech Compare and Contrast