Also consult my email policy to be sure you include all the necessary information in any email you send to me.

Email addresses are as follows:

• 1101 and 1102: comp@grlucas.net
• 2111 and 2112: worldlit@grlucas.net
• 4500: lit@grlucas.net
• 4700: theory@grlucas.net
• 4460: newmedia@grlucas.net

If the class you are in is not listed above, please consult your syllabus. Looking for Dr. Lucas’ personal email? See grlucas.net.

Please be considerate when emailing your professors: always include your name, the class that you are in, and why you are emailing me. Also, please use a descriptive subject line so I can tell right away what your email concerns. Sending me the complete information will not only make my life easier, but shows consideration for your recipient and will result in a speedy response. This said: any email that does not contain all of the necessary information will be deleted. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.

I use a unique email address for each of the classes I teach. Please be sure you are using the correct one. I usually do not check email on weekends or holidays. Thank you for your understanding.

If your class uses Humanities Online, I would encourage you to not use the internal messaging system for contacting me. Always use the email address that I put on your syllabus.

Finally, do not send the same message to me twice. I.e., do not send me an email at my Macon State address and CC me at another. You only need to send it to me once.

If you sent me an email, and I did not reply, here are some reasons why that might be the case:

1. No subject line
2. Incorrect or mistyped email address
3. You did not include the necessary information; e.g. I don’t know who you are or what class you are in
4. You did not ask a question
5. The email was rude or abusive

If you do not hear back from me within 24 hours (excluding weekends), then you might wish to review your sent message for any of the above errors.

Willful plagiarism will result in automatic failure of this class and will be pursued to incite the utmost penalty for such dishonesty. Academic falsehood, in any form, will constitute class failure.

Remember two things:

• If you use the language of your source, you must quote it exactly, enclose it in quotation marks, and cite the source, using MLA citation style in all my courses. A paraphrase employs source material by restating an idea in an entirely new form that is original in both sentence structure and word choice. Taking the basic structure from a source and substituting a few words is an unacceptable paraphrase and may be construed as plagiarism. Creating a new sentence by merging the wording of two or more sources is also plagiarism.
• If you use ideas or information that are not common knowledge, you must cite a source. (from MIT’s Open Courseware)

Unsure as to what to cite, when to cite, and how to cite? Check your handbook for the best information. You might also try this tutorial or see some examples. Also see “Turn It In.”

Your course book(s) should always accompany you to class, as we will make heavy use of it in our daily discussions. Please do not come to class without it: we need the book for class activities, in-class writing, and all aspects of our study.

You should also bring an ink interface of some sort, as well as dead trees on which to take notes. Notes should not only reflect good listening skills, but individual interest in every topic discussed in class. You should not sit in class like you’re watching TV: learning requires active participation, especially in a short summer course.

If you come to class without your materials, you will marked as absent.

An I stands for an Incomplete and indicates that the student for non-academic reasons was unable to complete the requirements for a course. The instructor of the course and the student are to arrange for the course’s completion before the midterm of the next semester the student is enrolled or by the end of one calendar year if the student is not enrolled. If the I is not removed in the defined time period, a grade of F is assigned to the course.

An incomplete can only be given if a small portion of the course work is missing and if you’re doing otherwise satisfactory work. “I” grades are not assigned automatically, but only upon consultation with me. You have one semester to remove an “I” grade; otherwise it automatically becomes an “F.”

While this statement is somewhat vague — what is “competency”? what is “technology”? — this class will make certain assumptions about students’ technological abilities in the following ways:

1. Students should be familiar with the general uses of a computer (especially if they are taking an online course) — i.e., how to navigate in an operating system: launching programs, quitting programs, creating directories and files, etc.
2. Students should also be familiar with the uses of the Internet, specifically a Web browser. All course material will be delivered hypertextually, making this requirement paramount.
3. Even if students lack the abilities needed for the class, they should be willing to put forth the effort to learn what they need to in order to succeed in the course.

Computer competency is an integral skill in any discipline, and this course uses digital technology in an effort to promote technological literacy in the humanities classroom and beyond. Please see me for additional assistance when necessary. And, if you do not understand something, ask.