Q. If I email you, should I include a subject line out of courtesy?
A. Yes, please. For example, if you were John Smith, enrolled in my 1045-1200 ENG 100 class on Tuesday-Thursday, your subject line might look something like this:
ENG 100 T/TR 1045-1200 John Smith
In the subject line, if all you say is "Hello," or "'Sup, Mr. K," I might become confused since I teach many students, even if the gesture is pleasant.
Q. Can I email you all of my homework and essays?
A. No. I cannot handle every assignment via email. You are allowed to email the first assignment and last major paper to me for convenience, in .doc or .txt format, or even .pages format. .wps format is not allowed.
Q. What's up with this number you have, (714) 367-4861?
A. That's my GoogleVoice message box. If you use a cellphone, you can leave a message on that number and your voice message will route to my email. If you text me a message, the message will route to my email. If I hit "Reply" and reply to your voice message or email, my email will automatically route back to your cellphone.
Q. My grammar is really problematic. What can I do?
A. When I give you back graded assignments, check out the codes that I write on your papers.
Check out the Grammar Builder and Grammar Sampler websites to help figure out what the codes mean. Practice writing out the codes and the errors on a sheet of paper or a Grammar Log. This methodology is the only tried and true methodology of improving one's grammar. There are also more grammar resources out there, HERE and HERE.
Q. My vocabulary is not as strong as it could be, not really quote-unquote College-level. What should I do?
A. Keep a record book of new words from A-Z. Use each word in a sentence. You will remember the word a lot better if you do.
Play vocab games, go to vocab sites, and just keep trying: LINK, LINK, LINK
Q. I don't know what the markings on my graded assignment mean. Help!
A. Symbol KEY:
√+ means that you've made a very effective point, one that is provocative and insightful.
√ means that you've made a decent point, one that stands on its own, but could still use some analysis.
√? means that more expansion is required, either via analysis or discussion, quoting, or visual inclusion.
??? means that your reader is very confused
?????? a squiggly line means that the grammar of the sentence needs a lot of work.
awk means that the phrasing of the written element is awkward
? or ? (arrows) mean that you should move elements from one place to another
? means that you should make a new paragraph
( ) above two different words means you should join them together...e.g. fore( )fathers.
[ ] above one word means you should split them apart...e.g. Spider[ ]man------> Spider-Man
[ x ] means you should remove an element
[ 1 A ] means you made a weak SV pairing, such as [I think], [I feel], or [I believe.]
all other numeric codes can be found on the Grammar Helper or Grammar Sampler
Q. What is your preferred method of contact?
A. It depends how stuck you are. If you are very stressed out and confused, seeing me in person is best. If you have a semi-personal problem or question, you should email me. If you have a simple, quick question, text me.
Q. What are your office hours?
A. My office hours can be found HERE. I hold them in the library so as to have a semi-comfortable and accessible place to meet, since my office is shared with another instructor and is rather cramped with papers and books.
Q. Where are your office hours?
A. Typically, my office hours are held in the library first floor, around or near the television set.
Q. What if I can't make those office hours exactly? What should I do?
A. You can make an appointment to see me at your convenience, during reasonable school business hours. Want to meet in the cafeteria? Fine. Want to meet in the library? Fine. Want to meet at Starbucks on campus? No can. There is no Starbucks on campus. (grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr......)
Q. What are the guidelines for my papers like?
A. In general, your papers should be typed and double-spaced, preferably in black ink. All other parameters can be found on my Style Sheet.
Q. Do you take off points for late papers? What are the penalties?
A. Yes, I do take off points for late papers. The penalties are 10% if the paper is relatively late (1-2 class sessions), and 20% or more for exceptionally late papers (more than 1 week). If the writing content in the paper is genius or provocative, I may choose to exercise my own judgment and thereby waive applicable late penalties. For more on Grading, click on the link, HERE.
Q. Deal with me straight up. What do I need to pass this class?
To pass this class, you MUST complete all major assignments and final exam at a C-level grade (70+). You cannot do some of the essays, then skip the last one. The department sets these major assignments as course competencies, so skipping one or more indicates a failure in completing the competencies. COME TO CLASS REGULARLY. People who skip class have a tendency to miss out on important lectures and exercises. You should also do your homework consistently. I have had students who didn't do an OUNCE of homework, and even though they did the major assignments passably well, they failed my course. All in all, DO THE WORK, and DO IT WELL. If you skip class, you will not receive any Snape Secrets (tm).
Q. Do you have a strict attendance policy? Do I flunk after three absences? What does attendance have to do with those feedback cards or sign in sheets?
My attendance policy is not such that I flunk you for not attending, but I can tell you that attendance plays a crucial role in your success in this class. I do not flunk you after you miss three classes or if you have eight tardies, etc., but participation in class and writing in-class exercises amounts to 10 to 15 percent of your overall course grade. If you skip class routinely, you are probably impairing your chances at getting a higher grade in my class. If 50-60 percent of your grade is locked up in the essays and you neglect the other 40 percent of the class (homework, participation, final assignment, etc.), then it's logical that you attend to the other 40 percent as well. Infrequent attendance usually indicates that a student will not PASS the class. My feedback cards or in-class assignments are not designed to keep watch over who is tardy or absent--they are meant to give you a voice and means of communicating with me, especially for those of you who might not want to ask certain questions in front of other students.
Q. What happens if my essay or homework is late? Should I even bother turning it in?
You should turn it in. You might still get credit for it. Late work is penalized 10 % every legal class day that it is late (excluding weekends). If a grade is deserving of an A+ gets turned in three days late, then it usually becomes a B+ grade. There are exceptions to this, especially when the assignment is exceptionally well-written. If your piece is very strongly-written, a borderline masterpiece, then I may waive the late penalty. If the work is sloppy, looks like it was written hastily, or simply reflects little effort, then the late penalty applies. Late homework cannot be revised. Missing a draft is not a good idea, because you will potentially lose valuable peer or instructor feedback. You will receive a permanent (-6) of your final grade for the assignment for missing a draft/conference day.
Q. You have this weird revision policy. What is it, and how does it relate to late essays?
You can REWRITE every essay for this class, ONE TIME provided that you meet the following criteria: 1) the paper is turned in ON-TIME, 2) you TRY to meet with me at least ONCE to discuss how to improve your essay, 3) you make significant changes to the paper (not just simple grammar and style errors). You get the higher of the two grades (they are not averaged together). In other words, if your revised essay deserves a 99 instead of a 65, I will give you what you deserve--you'll get the 99. If your essay is late, say, if you procrastinate and turn it in a month late, your grade may stand, or will receive a permanent late penalty.
Q. Why make this revision policy? Most teachers don't allow us to revise and if they do, they give us the averaged grade. Why such a liberal revision policy?
Life is about REVISION. Revision means that we look again at ourselves and our efforts, checking and double-checking if we 1) worked hard on something, 2) if we could do better on that something. I think we can ALWAYS improve, and I am willing to reward you for such efforts.
Q. Do you give extra credit?
Yes. You can earn extra credit (around 50-80 HW points) by writing up Summary and Opinions of scholastic events such as lectures, plays, poetry readings, or other performances of an educational nature. You probably won't earn the equivalent of a full homework assignment (I usually give 10 Homework points for extra credit), but it's still worth something in terms of your homework grade for this class. Your summary and opinion should be interesting. You should tell us what you saw or experienced, and provide us with a deep analysis with what you got out of the performance. Here's an example of a poor extra-credit assignment: "Yeah, I went to this poetry reading. It was lame. I drank coffee and fell asleep, then I went home. The end." You probably won't receive any extra credit for such a Summary and Opinion.
Q. If I plagiarize, do I flunk?
A. If you 1) buy a paper, 2) rip off a quote from Wikipedia or the 'Net, 3) have someone write the paper for you, 4) reuse an old paper without altering the content significantly, 5) copy from another student, 6) do not significantly paraphrase the quoted material well in your own words, you have two chances in the course. During the first occurrence of plagiarism, you receive an "F" for the assignment and you discuss the infraction with me. During the second occurrence of plagiarism, you fail the course.
Q. I am a shy student. I'm not used to asking for help from my teachers. What should I do?
No big deal. It might take you some time to become less shy. However, one of the greatest indicators of college success is a willingness on the part of students to actively solicit help when they need it. Word of mouth via students is often flawed: "Hey, did you do that reading response? I think it's supposed to be 8 pages in length!?" If you are really frightened of having individual conference hours with me, you can set up a blog account and leave me messages, or email me on a confidential basis. The blog is the preferable method, because I don't enjoy having my email inbox filled to an extreme degree.
Q. I need extra help with my paper but I want a tutor to look at it or something like that. What should I do?
A. You should probably go to SmartThinking, which your tuition paid for. You can have 4 different essays looked at. I will give you extra-credit for taking this step.
Also, you can get your paper looked at at the Kahikoluamea Center, the room above Subway. There, writing tutors can assist you.
To connect with an ONLINE, SMARTHINKING tutor, follow these steps:
1. Login to the MyUH Portal: http://myuh.hawaii.edu.
2. Click the MyTools tab.
3. Click the Connect Now button in the Smarthinking channel.
Need help with your writing assignments?
If you need help in the early phases of your writing assignment (generating ideas, brainstorming, outlining, or just some help getting started), then choose Writing (All Subjects) under the Connect with an e-structor now! icon.
If you have a completed draft of your paper ready to submit for review, submit it to the SMARTHINKING Essay Center by selecting the Essay Center choice under Submit your Writing. A professional writing tutor will give you the help that you need to improve your paper and your overall writing skills.
Q. My work schedule sucks. I have to prioritize my work over my schoolwork. What am I going to do?
The best you can do is at least to LET ME KNOW what's going on. If you disappear and don't say a word to me about things that are happening in my life, I cannot be FLEXIBLE. I like being FLEXIBLE. I may not be able to give you extensions on your work in an effort to be FAIR to the other students, but at least I'll be aware of what's going on with you and your life. I would prefer it if you CAME TO CLASS RATHER THAN SKIPPING because skipping the content sections of the class will make you feel more lost.
Q. I can't finish the class. Someone got sick / died / Work is just too demanding. Should I stick it out?
You should do your best, but need to make that decision by yourself and for yourself. I do not negotiate in this manner: "If I do this ..... can I pass with a ___grade____?" I do not possess psychic powers to predict if and when you have or will complete work.
If you DO NOT withdraw from the course by (the final day to withdraw from full semester classes) and you REMAIN in my roster at the end of the semester without doing the work, I have to give you a failing grade. No-shows at KCC (people who NEVER attended class or people who steadily disappear from class) are given F's. My bottom line is this: If you can't complete the work to a level that is satisfactory to me or to you, then you should withdraw before the deadline. A W grade does not negatively impact your G.P.A.. An "F" certainly does. If you are getting "D's" on all your late work and essays, then you should probably withdraw. If, on the other hand, you are earning "A's" on everything and still managing to balance the demands of work and family with school, stay in the class. I'm sorry I can't give you a more definitive answer...but that's how it is. Your decision to attend this class and withdraw from this class if need be is your kuleanaand it is completely your decision, not mine.
Q. Mr. K, so what's your bottom line? It's hard to figure teachers out, how they think, how they see the world? What is your bottom line when it comes to my education?
This is my bottom line: I try to be flexible while demanding excellence from you. I know it's hard to be a college student, and I know it's hard to be a college student eating ramen, making ends meet, feeding crying kids, getting called in at short notice to work overtime, dealing with personal and familial drama, just doing one's best to get through a hard day's work. At the same time, if I gave you an A for shoddy work, an A that you didn't deserve, even an A you know you didn't work hard enough for, then I wouldn't be able to look myself in the mirror and say, "Kubota, you helped somebody today." I feel I help people when I can be HONEST and PROUD of you when you've earned that A, not when I gave you an A out of pity or charity. Your education is a privilege and a responsibility--the HEART of... kuleana,...and as such, I give good grades as a mark of your TRUE efforts as a scholar and individual. In the rather blunt words of poet Taylor Mali, "How dare you waste my time with anything LESS than your best.".
Q. This Frequently Asked Questions site was so-so, but I still didn't get my question answered. What's up with that, Kubotz?
A. See me in person, email me, text me, just ask. It's better than sitting at home, becoming increasingly more frustrated and irate.
Q. You wear a lot of black clothing. Is that because you think you're a goth or something?
A. Nope. I am a messy eater and I like Italian food, especially pizza. Black allows me to hide the tomato sauce stains a bit more. I like EBM music and techno, which is a wayward cousin of goth/emo, so possibly.
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