Dear Writing 4 Students,

Welcome…

First, I wish you all a pleasant semester and I hope you

enjoy this course!

I can’t stress enough the importance of open, and more

importantly honest, communication between us. If you have any

problems, please don’t hesitate to talk to me. You can also contact me

by e-mail (dinaalsibai@yahoo.com) or you can leave your questions

and/or comments in the chatbox found on the homepage of my

website http://faculty.ksu.edu.sa/dinaalsibai which I usually check daily.

CLASSES… 

Classes will typically be either lectures explaining the lessons you have in

your booklet or an application of what we take. Regarding

our lectures, I encourage you to participate in class with your questions,

observations, difference of opinions, additions, etc.

If you are absent, you are responsible for any information given

during that lecture.

EXAMS & GRADES 

As for the exams, study each lesson thoroughly after it has been

given in class. You shouldn’t try cramming in all the information

one day before the exam as this will result, more than likely, in poor

performance. Also, the best way to improve your writing skills is

to read and write more; the more you read and pick up proper

sentence structures, the better your writing will become.

You are responsible for taking a look at the sample questions

(found on the website) a couple of days before the exam.

If you still feel that you don’t understand what you’re supposed

to do, please don’t hesitate to ask me.

Once you take the exam, you CAN NOT take it

again under ANY circumstance. There will be a make-up exam only

for those who were unable to take the exam due to verifiable

excuses (extreme medical or social circumstances only). If you also

miss the make-up exam, you will get a “zero” and not be given

another chance to take the make-up exam.

After a few days of taking the exam, you’ll be able to see your

in-term grades on-line through my website (main homepage).

Just click the link in the left-hand column titled “Writing 4

In-term Exam Grades”.  If you want to see

your exam paper, feel free to pass by during my office hours.

You can find my office hours on my on-line homepage (click the link

titled “Weekly Teaching Schedule” in the left-hand column) or you

can find them posted on the office door. My office is located on the

ground floor, to the left of the elevator (#102). If you don’t find me

in my office during my office hours, you’ll probably find me in the

photocopy/reading room (next to my office). And if you can’t find

me anywhere, just leave me a note on my table (first one on the right),

on the office door, or slip it under the door.

“I couldn’t find you,” should never be an excuse…

ATTENDANCE & WARNINGS 

Regular attendance is a MUST! Your medical excuses will not be

taken into consideration when presenting the warnings (the limit is 25%

for the warnings). Medical excuses will be investigated by Mrs.

Jawaher Al-Ghanaam only when presenting the banning lists.

Therefore, it is of utmost importance that you NEVER exceed

the 50% absence limit!

I will not hesitate to ban any student exceeding

the 50% absence limit. I will not ask any of you to present

medical excuses during the banning period. YOU, and YOU alone,

should be responsible enough to give me these excuses

RIGHT AFTER YOU ARE ABSENT EACH TIME.

If you have a medical excuse for being absent, photocopy it, write

your name and class group clearly on it, and put it in the "Medical

Excuses" file on my desk, in my office. These official excuses will be

verified later by Mrs. Jawaher at the end of this semester. Attendance

will usually be taken 10 minutes after class starts. If you arrive later,

come in and attend the rest of the lecture.

Being late 3 times will equal to being absent one time.

When the time comes, warnings will also be posted on my website.