Policies

 

Specifications for written submissions

All written submission should include the following:  the title of your text (give your work a meaningful title); name of the assignment (e.g., Critical Visual Reflection); your name and student number; the course title and number; the submission date.

Your work should be: double-spaced, in 12-point Times font; 1.5 inch margins all around; page numbers on the lower right; and include a separate reference page with full source citations. You can choose the citation style of your preference, but please use it consistently throughout your text.

Send your work by email: lucaju@gmail.com

PDF and Word file are preferable.

*** Attention: Written feedback will not be given on late assignments.

University Rights and Responsibilities

Academic Integrity: “The Academic Code of Conduct sets out for students, instructors and administrators both the process and the expectations involved when a charge of academic misconduct occurs. The regulations are presented within the context of an academic community which seeks to support student learning at Concordia University.” (From Article 1 of the Academic Code of Conduct). Full text: http://www.concordia.ca/students/academic-integrity/offences.html

Plagiarism: The most common offense under the Academic Code of Conduct is plagiarism, which the Code defines as “the presentation of the work of another person as one’s own or without proper acknowledgement.” This includes material copied word for word from books, journals, Internet sites, professor’s course notes, etc. It refers to material that is paraphrased but closely resembles the original source. It also includes for example the work of a fellow student, an answer on a quiz, data for a lab report, a paper or assignment completed by another student. It might be a paper purchased from any source. Plagiarism does not refer to words alone –it can refer to copying images, graphs, tables and ideas. “Presentation” is not limited to written work. It includes oral presentations, computer assignment and artistic works. Finally, if you translate the work of another person into any other language and do not cite the source, this is also plagiarism. In Simple Words: Do not copy, paraphrase or translate anything from anywhere without saying where you obtained it! Source: Academic Integrity Website: http://concordia.ca/students/academic-integrity

Disabilities: The University’s commitment to providing equal educational opportunities to all students includes students with disabilities. To demonstrate full respect for the academic capacities and potential of students with disabilities, the University seeks to remove attitudinal and physical barriers that may hinder or prevent qualified students with disabilities from participating fully in University life. Please see the instructor during the first class if you feel you require assistance. For more information please visit http://concordia.ca/offices/acsd

Safe Space Classroom: Concordia classrooms are considered ‘safe space classrooms’. In order to create a climate for open and honest dialogue and to encourage the broadest range of viewpoints, it is important for class participants to treat each other with respect. Name-calling, accusations, verbal attacks, sarcasm, and other negative exchanges are counter-productive to successful teaching and learning. The purpose of class discussions is to generate greater understanding about different topics. The expression of the broadest range of ideas, including dissenting views, helps to accomplish this goal. However, in expressing viewpoints, students should try to raise questions and comments in ways that will promote learning, rather than defensiveness and feelings of conflict in other students. Thus, questions and comments should be asked or stated in such a way that will promote greater insight into the awareness of topics as opposed to anger and conflict. The purpose of dialogue and discussion is not to reach a consensus, nor to convince each other of different viewpoints. Rather, the purpose of dialogue in the classroom is to reach higher levels of learning by examining different viewpoints and opinions with respect and civility.

List of Student Services and Useful Resources

1. Communication Studies Academic Advisor: Ms. Sheelah O’Neill Sheelah.ONeill@concordia.ca

2. Counselling and Psychological Services: http://concordia.ca/students/counselling-life-skills

3. Concordia Library Citation and Style Guides: http://library.concordia.ca/help/howto/citations

4. Student Success Centre: http://concordia.ca/students/success

5. Health Services: http://concordia.ca/students/health

6. Financial Aid and Awards: http://concordia.ca/offices/faao

7. HOJO (Off Campus Housing and Job Bank): http://csu.qc.ca/hojo

8. Academic Integrity: http://concordia.ca/students/academic-integrity

10. CSU Advocacy Centre: http://csu.qc.ca/advocacy

11. Dean of Students Office: http://concordia.ca/offices/dean-students

12. International Students Office: http://concordia.ca/students/international

13. Student Hub: http://concordia.ca/students

14. Department of Communication Studies: http://www.concordia.ca/artsci/coms.html

15. BA Coms announcement list: To subscribe, send an email to majordomo@lists.concordia.ca with ‘subscribe bacoms’ (no quotes) as the only text in your message. Save the reply for future reference.

16. Postings for internships and paid work for students in the Department of Communication Studies only: http://comsopps.concordia.ca (BA students cannot take internships in their first year)

Department Policies

Participation: This grade is based on overall punctuality and attendance in the classes, labs and workshops. Student preparedness, initiative and level of class engagement is evaluated (this means participating in discussions and demonstration of familiarity with required readings). Participation also includes completing all required readings and all assignments on time. Students are expected to be collegial, respectful and tolerant of peers, teaching assistants, technical instructors and professors. The best classroom experience will occur with courteous and engaged participation and interaction with each other, the work, the discussions and debates.

Attendance: Regular attendance is a requirement. Students are expected to actively participate in all classes, workshops, critiques, discussions and labs associated with courses, and to complete all required course work according to deadlines and guidelines as assigned. Failure to comply can result in loss of marks.

Electronic Devices: No electronic devices may be used once the class starts. All mobile phones, iPods, PDAs, cell phones, laptops etc. must be turned off and put away. The only exceptions are if the Access Centre for Students with Disabilities has authorized such use or the instructor specifically grants permission for use.

Communication Studies Numerical Grade, Letter Grafe and Official Grade Point Equivalence

 

Grades

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Numerical Grade, Letter Grade, Official Grade Point
94 – 100, A+, 4.33
90 – 93, A, 4.0
86 – 89, A-, 3.67
78 – 81, B, 3.0
74 – 77, B-, 2.67
70 – 73, C+, 2.33
66 – 69, C, 2.0
62 – 65, C-, 1.67
58 – 61, D+, 1.33
54 – 57, D, 1.0
50 – 53, D-, 0.67
0 – 49, F, 0.0

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Please note the individual instructors may elect to use numerical grades, letter grades or both for individual assignments, while all final marks for the course are given as letter grades at the university level.

A = Superior work in both content and presentation. This is a student who appears, even at an early stage, to be a potential honours student. The work answers all components of a question. It demonstrates clear and persuasive argument, a well-structured text that features solid introductory and concluding arguments, and examples to illustrate the argument. Few, if any presentation errors appear.

B = Better than average in both content and presentation. This student has the potential for honours, though it is less evident than for the A student. Student’s work is clear and well structured. Minor components of an answer might be missing, and there may be fewer illustrations for the argument. Some minor but noticeable errors in presentation may have interfered with the general quality of the work.

C = Student demonstrates a satisfactory understanding of the material. Ideas are presented in a style that is at least somewhat coherent and orderly. Occasional examples are provided to support arguments. Presentation errors that affect the quality of the work are more apparent than in B work. Some components of a question may have been omitted in the response.

D = Student has only a basic grasp of the material. Sense of organization and development is often not

demonstrated in the response. Few, if any, examples are provided to illustrate argument. Major components of a question might have been neglected; and major presentation errors hamper the work.

F = Shows an inadequate grasp of the material. Work has major errors of style; and provides no supporting illustration for argument. Ideas are not clear to the reader. Work lacks a sense of structure.

Additional criteria, parameters and guidelines will be handed out in class when each assignment is introduced and discussed.