Policies and Resources

Course Policies                       

Attendance is important to the success of this class and to your development as a writer and composer. As university policy stipulates, if you miss more than 15% of the class hours in the semester, you will be assigned a grade of WU (withdrew unofficially) for the course. Fifteen percent of the class hours for this class equals 4 classes. Failure to attend any required individual conferences scheduled in lieu of class will result in a class absence. 

Tardiness is disruptive to the classroom environment and prevents you from fully participating and assimilating the information and materials discussed in class. I understand that school may not be your only responsibility; however, if you cannot be present in class for the full time the course meets, you should find another section that does fit into your schedule.  Three late arrivals or early departures will accumulate into an absence. 

Academic Integrity:

This course is designed to help you grow as a writer and an individual and prepare you for future classes at CSI. Accordingly, plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated. Not only does cheating limit your own potential, it also damages your academic reputation and reflects poorly on CSI. CSI’s Statement on Plagiarism and Cheating is as follows: “Integrity is fundamental to the academic enterprise. It is violated by such acts as borrowing or purchasing term papers, essays, reports, and other written assignments; using concealed notes or crib sheets during examinations; copying the work of others and submitting it as one’s own; and misappropriating the knowledge of others. The source from which one derives one’s ideas, statements, terms, and data must be fully and specifically acknowledged in the appropriate form; failure to do so, intentionally or unintentionally, constitutes plagiarism. Violations of academic integrity may result in failure in a course and in disciplinary actions with penalties such as suspension or dismissal from the college.”  If you have questions about what constitutes cheating or plagiarism, it is your responsibility to ask the instructor. Please remember that at no point during the writing process should the work of others be presented as your own.

The CSI Writing Program Policy on Plagiarism

Any paper containing plagiarism will receive a grade of F.  In addition, the instructor will report the incident via email to the Director of the CSI Writing Program. The instructor will complete the Plagiarism Reporting Form and leave it in the Writing Program Director’s mailbox in the English Dept. The Writing Program Director will review the documents and decide how to proceed.

Student Resources

As a student in the CSI Writing Program, you can take advantage of a wide range of services designed to help support your writing.

  • The CSI Writing Center is available to provide free writing tutoring and consultation. All members of the CSI community are invited to discuss their writing with a trained consultant at the Writing Center.  The Writing Center in located in 2S-216.  For more information, visit the website at http://www.csi.cuny.edu/oas/writingcenter.html or call 982-3635.
  • Students whose first language is not English can enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL) sections of ENG 111 and ENG 151. Instructors who have special training in supporting ESL student writers teach these sections. Though the classes are designed for ESL students, your transcript will not include the ESL designation. They will appear as ENG 111 and 151. If you are interested in ESL sections of ENG 111 and 151, contact Sloane VonWertz at Sloane.VonWertes@CSI.CUNY.edu .
  • ESL students can also practice their speaking and listening skills in English by attending the Conversation Workshops offered at the Writing Center.  If you are interested in these workshops, contact Bob Brandt at robert.brandt@csi.cuny.edu for more information.
  • Every year, the English Department sponsors a writing competition called the Inkwell Contest. This competition recognizes several outstanding pieces of student writing each year. Students can submit their Fall or Spring semester writing for consideration. If you are interested in being considered for this award, please talk with your instructor.
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe that you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Center for Student Accessibility at 718.982.2510 or CSA@csi.cuny.edu. You can also visit the Center in 1P-101. You can also check out the Website at www.csi.cuny.edu/csa/.
  • The CSI Library website: http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/.