LIS 415: Information Organization

This course may include any of the following approaches to pedagogy: lecture, homework assignments, presentations, discussion (in-class and online), in-class exercises, readings, participation, leading group activities or discussions, papers, group projects, quizzes (planned or unnanounced), and/or midterm/final exams.

The final determination of the course structure will be set by the first night of class. No assignments will be added after that time. This means, however, that until the day of the class, the configuration of the assignments might change (and do change from semester to semester).

Expectations and Requirements

Students are expected and required to:

• attend each class session.
• be prepared for class.
• read the assigned textbooks and any other required readings for each unit.
• complete in-class exercises and homework assignments on time.
• attend scheduled lab sessions.
• participate fully in group projects and be present for group presentations.
• check your e-mail daily.
• learn to use the Simmons Libraries Online Catalog, OCLC Connexion, LIS indexes, WebCT's Vista, and Microsoft PowerPoint.

Each unit in the course syllabus contains a list of required readings. Required readings are available via WebCT, course reserves, in the GSLIS collection, or on the Web. Only the required readings from monographs will be placed on reserve.

The lists also include recommended or related readings that may be of interest to you. These will not be put on reserve. Readings not in the list may be put on reserve during the semester if a new resource is published or discovered.

• Due dates for the assignments are included in the syllabus. Most assignments will be distributed two weeks prior to the due date. Group projects will be assigned at least one month in advance.

• You are encouraged to ask for assistance with the assignments when needed.

• Group work or paired assignments are to be done only with your partner(s). Only one version of the paper should be submitted from each group or pair.The assignments you turn in should be the result of your pair's or group's work.

• Please review your work before turning it in, because points may be taken off for excessive errors in grammar, syntax, spelling, usage, and/or punctuation. Some assignments will require single words or short phrases as answers; others will require you to express your thoughts and opinions. For the latter, all assignments must be written in complete, grammatically correct sentences. If students appear to have difficulty turning in well-written, graduate-school-appropriate assignments, they may be referred to the Burns Writing and Peer Tutoring Center for assistance.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is expected; cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Cases of plagiarism/academic dishonesty will result in zero points for that assignment for all parties involved. There will be no exceptions. For more information, review the honor code at: http://my.simmons.edu/gslis/resources/student-info/honor-code.shtml

Course Evaluation

• Assignments (65 %)
• Discussion Board (10 %)
• Group Projects/Presentations (20 %)
• Participation and Attendance (5 %)

Grading Scale

For some assignments, letter grades may be used and for other you will receive grades based on percentages. The following table provides the breakdown of letter grades and percentages.

All assignments are to be completed and turned in on time. Late assignments are strongly discouraged and the grade will be reduced by 2% for each day that the assignment is late. There will be no exceptions.

If the assignment has not been received within six days of the original due date (by noon on the day before the next class session), you will receive a 0 (zero) for that assignment. 

If late work appears to be unavoidable, one should advise the instructor as to the circumstances as soon as possible. The circumstances should reflect a serious nature/situation and will be taken into consideration. (Other school responsibilities or having guests over the weekend do not constitute good reasons for late schoolwork.)

There are no make-up assignments in this class. If you do not complete/turn in an assignment, you should expect to get a 0 (zero) for that assignment.

Students who become ill, have a medical emergency, a death in the immediate family, extreme hardship, or unusual circumstances may request an incomplete from the instructor. Students must be performing at a passing level to be considered. Forms must be filled out in consultation with the instructor, and the Assistant Dean for Student Administrative Services must review it. If approval is granted, the incomplete must be finished by the end of the following semester.

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory. Roll will be taken each week. Missing more than one class will negatively affect your participation grade.

Students who must miss a class due to religious observance, illness, or other emergency should notify the instructor by e-mail before class time.

Students are responsible for obtaining the class materials distributed during his/her absence.

Special Needs

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for students with documented physical, sensory, systemic, cognitive, learning, and psychiatric disabilities. If you have a disability and anticipate that you will need a reasonable accommodation in this class, it is important that you contact Disability Services at 617-521-2474 early in the semester. They will determine the accommodations needed and create a letter to be given to the instructor.

Updated June 16, 2008.