My Policies

Course Objectives

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This course is an introduction to, and an exploration of, XHTML^* and related technologies. The largest portion of the course will be devoted to the structure of XHTML itself, but we will also explore the following elements of Web Publishing:

• Audience and Purpose
• Visual Media & First Impressions
• Page Layout
• Web Design (vs. Page Design)
• Graphics and Multimedia
• Forms, Tables
• Scripting
• Dynamic HTML
• XML

Grading Policy

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Online:

Online students are required to keep up with—and contribute weekly to—the WebCT Message Board. Some weeks, I will ask pointed questions, or direct you in some activity that requires a followup answer. Timely answers to these questions/directions will fulfill the weekly "attendance" obligation and add to your attendance grade (up to 6 points out of 16). I will also grade your presence on the message board on two other criteria. All three criteria are listed here:

        Timely answers to "This Week's Discussion"         : 6 points 
        The number of messages you READ (Yes, I can tell.) : 4 points 
        The number of messages you POST (more is better)   : 6 points 
        

Onsite:

I expect regular and timely attendance in the classroom. Students will lose two points each time they are absent from class. (Five absences can result in the loss of an entire letter grade.) Each time a student is tardy (s)he will lose one point.

The attendance grade will be handed out twice: 8 points at midterm and 8 points at the end of the term.

There is no curve. All extra credit points are extra. If you get 80 points in this class, you get a B—even if someone else in the class gets 190 points. (S)he gets an A, and you still get the B.

It is college policy that with proper documentation, makeup exams are given for jury duty and military service. Otherwise, I don't see much need for makeup exams.

Assignments CANNOT be made up. However, assignments can be turned in late (within one week of the original due date) for less than full credit. See "Late Assignments Policy" below.

1. Almost all assignments will have two due dates: a "first draft" date and, one week later, a "published" date.
2. First drafts tend to be due on MondaySunday nights at 11:55 (five minutes before midnight). Assignments that are not submitted by that time will lose 4 points. (-4)
3. On the WebCT Message board, we will discuss assignments that have been turned in. Among other things, we will discuss deficiencies in the assignments—reasons why I will probably take off points.
4. Students will have one week to correct or improve their assignments. You can raise your grade during this time.
5. One week after the due date, I will review your assignment for changes/improvements. If you have not turned in the original assignment by one week after the due date, you will receive a zero for that assignment. If you have not turned in the revised assignment, you will lose four points on that assignment. (-4)

If you foresee trouble with a particular due date, and you alert me well in advance, we can try to make alternate arrangements. (Often, "alternate arrangements" will mean an alternate assignment.)

If you experience difficulty uploading an assignment, email me. If I can confirm problems with Valencia's network, I'll let the due date slide a bit for the people who sent the email.

Don't stop trying to upload, however. Many network problems are repaired after 30 minutes or so.

Though I reserve the right to remove any person from the class for lack of participation, I don't intend to invoke that right this semester. If you need to drop this class, then do so. It's your grade: it's your responsibility.

• you must perform all your own work, and
• you will remain responsible for any repercussions of your work.