CS 5/692, Winter 2020
This class will be graded on a pass-fail basis. Attendance and participation are critical for a passing grade!
| Participation 60% |
Attendance at all sessions, participation in discussions, evidence of completing readings through forum posts. |
| Written Assignments 40% |
As described |
Attendance is required. If you need to miss a class, I will need advance notice except in cases of emergencies. If you miss a class, you will be required to submit a written summary (two pages) of that week’s reading assignments. This assignment will be due before the next class, unless other arrangements have been made.
In addition to attending each class session, I expect all students to actively participate in the discussions. This can be in the form of asking a question, responding to another student’s question (or one from the instructor!), raising an issue, etc.
We expect and require that all submissions be the student’s own, original work. Any and all text, code, etc. that you include from any other source must be properly cited, including quotation and paraphrasing. The Purdue University Online Writing Lab has an excellent set of online resources regarding citation and attribution, as well as a useful resource specifically on avoiding plagiarism. If you are unsure about whether something must be cited, the answer is probably “yes”; when in doubt, please ask.
Note that the School of Medicine has a policy regarding ethical and professional conduct for graduate students that specifically addresses plagiarism (sections 4.b and 4.c). We expect all students to be aware of and familiar with this policy. If you have any questions about this policy, please ask.
On a more personal note: in my experience, students who engage in plagiarism typically do so because they feel that they have no other choice. A deadline is looming, they are overwhelmed by some aspect of the assignment, a personal crisis comes up that keeps them from being able to finish, etc., and they feel like using somebody else’s work, or reusing some of their own work from another class, is the best option available. I can 100% guarantee that this is not the case: you have other options, and choosing plagiarism will not result in a good outcome.
When we catch you, the consequences will depend on the precise circumstances, but will at a minimum involve a score of zero points for the assignment in question, and often involve a failing grade on the course.
So: don’t wait for me to catch you: ask for help early and often.
See the syllabus page on Sakai for a full list of university policies, etc.
I would like to make an additional note regarding accessibility and accommodations. The syllabus link above will include the University’s official language about accessibility, and will list the various resources that you have available to you. While comprehensive, the official verbiage is pretty dense; in the past, some have found its “legalese” language to be off-putting or unclear. I am committed to helping each of you succeed to the best of my ability, and I fully support the University’s Office of Student Access.
If you anticipate needing any kind of accommodation, I encourage you to reach out to the Office of Student Access or to myself as early as possible in the term. I will be able to help you more effectively if we begin our discussions around your needs earlier rather than later. If you have a need that is not covered by the OHSU accessibility and accommodation policies, or if you have questions or concerns about anything along these lines, please do not hesitate to ask me for information or help.