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I teach two classes: Written Communication and Occupational Communication. My 9 course policies, which apply to both courses, are listed at the bottom of this page.

Written Communication 

Written Communication focuses on developing the skills needed for effective written communication, both in daily living and on the job.  You will recognize and deal with written communication strengths and weaknesses through class activities, individual assignments, and discussions. You will practice the planning, drafting, revising, and editing stages of the writing process.

Occupational Communication

Occupational Communication focuses on developing written communication skills needed for employment.  In this class, you will develop your writing ability through class activities, individual assignments, and discussions related to finding and keeping gainful employment. You will practice sentence structure and paragraph building, draft and revise a cover letter, develop a resume, and practice responses to interview questions.

Grammar, sentence structure, idea organization, and writing style will be emphasized in both courses. Click on "Resources" for links to web sites that can help you develop those skills.
   

Course Policies

Part of my job is to help prepare you for the workplace.  Employers have little to no patience with chronic or unexcused absenteeism, habitual tardiness, and constant failure to meet deadlines or quality standards.  The following expectations are based upon MSTC’s core abilities and are designed to help get you into habits that will prepare you for working in “The Real World.”  They are non-negotiable:

1.       Do your own work. I will not tolerate plagiarism. It is your responsibility to know what plagiarism is. The penalty for plagiarizing written assignments can range from a failing grade on the assignment to a failing grade in the course, depending upon the severity of the offense. Penalties are issued at my discretion.

2.   Attend class. You earn participation points for in-class activities. You also get 1 point for telling me in advance when you will be absent. If you miss class, you are responsible for getting the materials you missed from my faculty web site and Blackboard. If you miss more than 6 classes in a row without contacting me, I reserve the right to drop you from the course.

3.   Be on time. You will earn one absence for every three times you come to class late. If you need to leave class early, talk to me before class or I will mark you absent. 

4.   Read the instructions. I provide specific instructions for each assignment. If you choose not to follow them, you will receive a zero on that assignment until you revise it. If you do not understand the instructions, ask me for clarification before the assignment is due.

5.   Meet deadlines. You are responsible for all assignment deadlines whether you choose to attend class or not. If you miss a deadline, quiz, or in-class exercise without telling me ahead of time, you will receive a zero on it with no opportunity for revision.  You may receive up to two 1-week deadline extensions if you ask me the day before the assignment is due. If you are sick the day of a deadline, you must contact me before class.  

6.   Do revisions. If you earn less than an 80% on an assignment, you must make the suggested revisions to pass. Revisions must be resubmitted within a week or I will not accept them.

7.   Take responsibility for your own success. It is your responsibility to keep track of your own deadlines and grades in your MyMSTC grade book. If you think you are going to fail the course, please talk with me before dropping the class.

8.   Use your MSTC email account. To assure everyone has the same information, I often communicate with students through their MSTC email account. Be sure to use your MSTC email address to email me, and check that account at least twice a week.

9.   Be respectful during class time. Chatting, text messaging, or working on unrelated projects during class does not meet the core ability “Act with integrity.” If you exhibit these or any other behaviors that do not meet MSTC’s core abilities during class, I will ask you to leave and mark you absent for the day.