Just as students in generations past learned to carry spare quills, a pen knife, an extra inkhorn, and spare lamp wicks, being a student in a 21st century university requires certain common-sense strategies that are an inseparable part of the course material.

Remember to save often and leave backups on more than one machine (use a USB drive or your student network space); plan your time so you can get your online work done when you are near an internet connection.

Note: If you ever feel you want more rapid or more detailed feedback on an assignment, make an appointment with me during my office hours, and I will go over the work with you in detail, regardless of whether it was late or on time.

Getting Credit for Late Work
Most assignments will be submitted electronically -- by e-mail, on your blog, or via turnitin.com. If your assignment is not in the proper place by the deadline (usually a half hour before class starts), I will record a zero for that assignment.

In order to remove that zero, and get partial credit for your late work, follow this two-step process.

1. Submit an online copy of your assignment (or, if the assignment asked you to post it online, submit a brief note with the URL). Give your work a meaningful title, including your name and the assignment title ("Smith Ex 7a" or "Smith Term Paper Draft").
2. Send me an e-mail that tells me I should look for your work in the appropriate slot. That e-mail should include a subject line with your last name, the course name, the assignment name, and the word "Late". Example:
   

   "Smith EL150 Ex 1-2 Late"

All Late Work

For all late work, contact me to tell me what I should find in the online drop box -- otherwise I may never see it, and won't know that I should change the recorded zero. If you are asking that I waive the late penalty, send me a copy of your completed Absence Form, with a file name that follows this pattern: "Smith EL150 Ex 1-2 Absence Form".

Unless I grant you an extension in advance, all other assignments are penalized one letter grade for each day they are late (including Saturdays, but not counting Sundays or holidays when the university does not offer classes).

Special Cases

If your work is completed before midnight on the day it was due, it will only lose a third of a letter grade.

RRRR Items: These time-sensitive assignments (see the RRRR section of the FAQ page) earn no credit if they are late. (You should still complete any items you missed in order to get full credit for your class portfolio.)

Class Participation: The way to get credit for a missed in-class activity is to contribute substantially to the online discussion. Towards the end of the semester, when there will be fewer readings and more workshops, it will be harder for me to come up with alternate assignments. Still, you may demonstrate your desire to re-engage by posting thoughtful comments on the course website, your peers' websites, and/or your own blog. (To make sure that I see and record credit for this alternative work, please call it to my attention by collecting all the relevant URLs and submitting them along with your request.)