 |
Policies and Procedures Placement Most university students will take English 1101 and 1102/1102M during their first year at UGA. However, some students will receive credit for these courses based on the following tests: 1. The Advanced Placement Test. Students who earn a score of 3 or 4 on the National Advanced Placement Test in Literature or Composition receive three hours of credit for English 1101; those who earn a score of 5 receive six hours of credit for English 1101 and 1102. 2. The College Level Examination Program. Students who earn a score of 610 plus a sub-score of 50 on the Subject Examination (English) receive three hours of credit for English 1101. 3. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Test. Students who earn a score of 4, 5, or 6 on the International Baccalaureate Test at the Higher Level (HL) in English receive three hours of credit for English 1101; those who earn a score of 7 on the International Baccalaureate Test at the Higher Level (HL) receive six hours of credit for English 1101 and 1102. For students who complete the entire International Baccalaureate diploma only, students who earn a score of 5, 6, or 7 on the Standard Level (SL) test receive three hours of credit for English 1101. 4. The Departmental Placement Test. Beginning in Fall 2003, students not placed by a national placement test will fall into two groups. Students with an SATV score of 590 and above or an ACT score of 26 or above will place automatically in ENGL 1101 and may register for that class without any further testing; if these students choose to do so, they may take the Departmental Placement Test voluntarily with an eye to exempting NGL 1101 with three hours of credit. Students with an SATV score of 580 or below are required to take the Departmental Placement Test before registering for a First-year Composition class. The Departmental English Placement Test consists of two parts, mechanics and rhetoric. A score of 22 (part 1) and 20 (part 2) will place students in English 1102 and give them three hours of credit for English 1101. Students whose test scores indicate that they might have trouble in English 1101 will write an essay to determine whether they will be advised to take English 1101 or an Academic Enhancement class. Students should take the test at a First-year Orientation Session. Those who miss the test at Orientation may take it later at University Testing Services in Clark Howell Hall. However, the test is not open to students who have taken or are currently enrolled in First-year Composition here or elsewhere. For more information, please call (706) 542-TEST or visit the website: Students with AP3, IBHL4 or IBSL5 should consider taking the Departmental English Placement Test and should discuss the results with their Academic Advisors to analyze further their strengths in English mechanics and rhetoric and their preparedness for ENGL 1102.
Absences Because writing skills develop slowly over time and because in-class activities are crucial to the final Portfolio, students’ regular attendance is essential in First-year Composition. Consequently, on the fifth absence (MWF classes) or the fourth absence (TTh classes), no matter what the reason, students can expect to be dropped either with a WP or a WF before the midpoint of the semester and with a WF after midpoint. For summer session, on the fourth absence, no matter what the reason, students can expect to be dropped either with a WP or a WF before the midpoint of the semester and with a WF after midpoint.
Grade Appeals It is the instructor’s responsibility to judge work and assign grades. Consequently, students with questions about final grades should first discuss those questions with their instructors. If the problem cannot be resolved in discussion, students may prepare a grade appeal in writing according to the new guidelines established by the Franklin College Bylaws, Article V. The bylaws are available at: http://www.franklin.uga.edu/fac_staff/govern/bylaws.htm In First-year Composition appeals, the Director of First-year Composition replaces the Department Head of English in the appeals procedure, in accordance with the English Department bylaws. Once a ruling on the grade appeal has been made, if either the student or instructor wants to take the appeal further, the appeal will be conducted according to the guidelines set out in Section III, “Appeals at the College Level.” Before appealing a grade, students should be aware of the following conditions established by the Franklin College Bylaws: 1. A student may appeal a grade if, and only if, he or she is able to demonstrate that the grade was based on factors other than a fair assessment of the student’s academic performance in the course. 2. The standards by which grades are assigned, the number and relative weight of assignments on which grades are based, and decisions to allow students to make up or retake missed examinations or assignments, are not grounds for appeal.
Incompletes The University assigns certain grades that are not computed in the grade point average. The Incomplete (“I”) is one of these. It indicates that students have completed almost all of the course work satisfactorily but were unable to meet the full requirements of the course for reasons beyond their control. When assigning Incompletes, instructors will explain in writing what students must do to finish the course. Students who receive Incompletes may have no longer than three semesters to complete all remaining work satisfactorily. Instructors can require that students complete work in a shorter period of time. If an “I” is not removed after three terms (including Summer), it changes to an “F.” Incompletes are assigned sparingly and at the discretion of the instructor and the Director of the First-year Composition Program when a small amount of essential work remains. An “I” is never assigned prior to mid-semester or for the purpose of allowing students to repeat courses. General Grading Weights The meaning of grades is defined generally in the undergraduate version of the University of Georgia Bulletin:
The meaning of grades according to the First-year Composition Program and grading rubric is defined as follows:
See the discussion of the FYC Grading Rubric below for more information about grading procedures.
Plus/Minus Grading Plus and minus grades are assigned only to a student’s final average for the course. For the final course grade, the numerical range for each plus/minus grade is as follows:
|