Cross-course pages: Non-native writers of English, special essay requirements

This page explains the special expectations I have for students who have concerns with the English writing and typically ask others to help them with their English.

This is a very important page, since many of my cases of academic dishonesty are the result of students not following the instructions here. I expect everyone to be aware of this page, no excuses.

Many of my students have English as a second language or otherwise are particularly weak in English academic prose. These students often turn to others to help them produce a paper that sounds and reads better. This, however, subverts a primary goal of my essay assignments: to understand how well a student, independent of others, can conceive an essay project, carrying out credible research for it, and compose it on their own.

Therefore, I ask all students to submit work that has not been edited by others. If you feel I cannot understand your English, then please submit your original draft plus the edited draft with these details, in full specifics not general statements: who helped, when they helped and in what ways they helped. If you are uncomfortable mentioning names, at least give me an accurate description of the individual (a cousin, a friend is NOT enough information). I will grade the original but will refer to the edited version if there is something I cannot understand.

 

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