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Liberty University| Training Champions for Christ since 1971
Department of Community Care and Counseling
School of Behavioral Sciences
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Greetings, everyone! Welcome to COUN506: Integration of Spirituality and Counseling
Instructor: Dr. Brian Campbell
The policies presented below supplement the “Welcome Announcement” that you already received. I realize there are some redundancies; these were intentional. It might be wise for you to print this document. Please read carefully, and let me know if you have any questions.
Begin by visiting the Course Content, found on the left-hand menu on our course’s homepage in Blackboard. There you will find the Syllabus, Assignment Instructions, and many helpful documents.
Time Management.
Remember, the whole idea of distance learning is to allow busy students to take advantage of quality education, while managing their own schedule.
For folks with predictable military commitments, I trust you’ve already gauged your ability to successfully accomplish the course. This means securing internet access, computer resources, and time.
We’re together for a “short” 8 weeks, and we move along at a fast pace! Please manage your time wisely.
Due date extensions are very rare and are only appropriate for unique circumstances (debilitating illness, ER, death in the immediate family, catastrophic event, etc.). Due date extensions must be requested in advance. Requests for due date extensions after the original due date are almost never granted.
In this respect, treat your role as a student like you treat your role as an employee. For instance, if illness is precluding your course progress, make sure you email me so we can discuss the situation.
An important note: Please don’t assume that justinforming me of a circumstance is the same as requesting a due date extension. You and I must agree on specific due date for extensions.
Liberty University Honor Code.
Please be sure to read theStudent Expectations, and theLU Online Honor Code for Undergraduate and Graduate Students. You can find this on Blackboard under “Module/Week 1” “Course Requirements Checklist.”
Pay particular attention to pages 1-2 of the Honor Code. I will likely document infractions—intentional or unintentional—on LU Code of Honor Incident Report. I realize the mere title of the report seems accusatory, but the report is really just the vehicle for reporting demonstrable infractions.
The best way to avoid problems in this area is to make sure you print out and carefully read the following document: “How to Avoid Plagiarism.” It can be downloaded from my website. I also suggest you take the tutorial I have produced (located on the same webpage)and watch the video on plagiarism that I have made.
Important: Most students erroneously think that plagiarism only refers to copying material from another source and putting it into your assignments “word-for-word” without citing the original source. This is what is termed as intentional plagiarism. However, there are other forms of plagiarism, such as unintentional plagiarism where, for example, students make errors in paraphrasing the original source, or students commit self-plagiarism, by using material submitted for other classes they have taken. Although intentional plagiarism is the most serious offense, unintentional plagiarism is still plagiarism and this type of plagiarism may also have serious academic consequences.
Paraphrasing: Most students have never been taught how to paraphrase information from an original source. Therefore, I strongly suggest that you carefully study the information on paraphrasing that is located in the above-mentioned document: “How to Avoid Plagiarism.”
Please Note: According to the “The Liberty Way,” Liberty University’s Code of Conduct, part of the definition of “plagiarism” is, “Paraphrasing a specific passage from a specific source without properly referencing the source.” You will receive additional information on the topic of “Plagiarism” in future communications.
Back Up Your Work.
Did you know that Liberty students have access to 25 gigabytes of free storage space on Microsoft’s cloud, called OneDrive? What is a “cloud?” It’s basically storage space for your computer files on someone else’s server; in this case, Microsoft’s. Then, your files can be accessed anywhere there is internet capability, on virtually any computer. That means, if your computer completely crashes, all of your data files are perfectly safe!
I encourage you to avail yourself of this great benefit. Here’s the link:
It’s very easy. I use it as a backup for my Liberty files, too. I also use external hard drives, and I encourage you to use these media, too.
I can’t overemphasize the importance of continually backing up your work! Always have a Plan B…and a Plan C. Unforeseeable events occur. In this day and age, there is absolutely no reason that you should lose your data and the hard work you put into it.
Late Assignment Policy.
Please review the Late Assignment Policies in the Syllabus!
Because of Liberty’s generous two-week penalized grace period, if you submit an assignment late, it may be five days from the time of submission until it is graded. This can have serious ramifications in terms of your receiving valuable feedback for subsequent course assignments. It would be best for you to submit assignments on time to avoid penalties or delays.
Assignment Format.
All assignments (except Discussion Board posts) must be submitted as attachments in Microsoft Word format. Pasting the text of your assignment into the assignment submission box is not adequate. The assignment will be considered late until it’s submitted in a properly-formatted Word document. If you have any questions about how to do this, please contact me!
Please compose your Discussion Board posts in Microsoft Word. Make sure you turn on Microsoft Word’s “Proofing” function (you will receive instructions on how to do this). Please use Times New Roman Font, 12 point. Copy and paste your document into Blackboard. Please double-space your discussion board posts before submitting them.
Course Management.
It is your responsibility to…
-Have continuous access to a reliable Internet provider, even when traveling.
-Check your Liberty emailoften (I recommend daily).
-Be proficient on Blackboard.
Discussion Boards.
The intent of our Discussion Board (DB) assignments is to replicate class discussion. Another intent is to spread these discussions over time.
Generally, our DBs have 2 due dates. Your “original thread” is due by Thursday night, and the follow-up replies to your fellow students (and to the professor’s questions) are due by Sunday night. It is expected that you will post on or before the respective due dates and that your required inputs fall on at least 2 separate days. In other words, students should spread their posts throughout the week and not “dump” all required posts at one time.
Some expectations for full credit:
-Carry on the discussion in the thread you create.
-Respond to at least two other students in the thread he or she creates.
-Respond to any general questions the professor asks in the forum, or any specific questions the professor may direct to you, personally.
Remember, there are penalties for submitting your posts late.
Writing.
If your message gets lost in the mechanics, it’s still lost.
Even the best authors in the world have editors. Consider having someone else proofread your work before you submit it. Avoid the run-it-up-the-flagpole gamble. This happens when students turn in work they know is substandard, just to see how benevolent the prof will be.
Avoid using contractions (I’ll, don’t, couldn’t, etc.) in formal writing.
Avoid writing in first person unless the assignment specifically asks for your perspective.
Avoid writing in 2nd person. This is an easy trap to fall into, but experienced counselors will encourage clients to “own their statements.” Instead of owning our statements (“When I jumped out of the plane, I felt my heart pounding before the chute opened.”) we often like to speak in the 2nd person (When you jump out, you feel your heart pounding until your chute opens.”) Do you see? Sometimes, when we’re describing our own experiences, we speak in the second person and thereby ascribe our experiences to others.
Most prepositions need not be at the end of a sentence. The test phrase for a preposition is “______the box.” In the box; over the box; from the box; at the box; etc. Asking, “Where is he?” is correct. Asking, “Where is he at?” is incorrect. Sometimes, it’s okay to use a preposition at the end of a sentence (Where are you from?). Mostly, however, it should be avoided. “Who do you want to speak to?” may be technically correct, but it is MUCH better said, “To whom do you wish to speak?”
Even when the assignment solicits your perspective, your assertions must be documented (and remember, Wikipedia is NEVER a valid source for academic research).
Avoid slang, jargon, clichés, colloquialisms, hyperbole, and metaphors.
- Slang: Words, expressions, and usages that are casual, vivid, racy, or playful replacements for standard ones, are often short-lived, and are usually considered unsuitable for formal contexts.
- Jargon: Language that is used by a group, profession, or culture, especially when the words and phrases are not understood or used by other people.
- Clichés: A phrase or word that has lost its original effectiveness or power from overuse. Examples:
- Don't mind if I do.
- Far be it from me.
- Leave no stone unturned.
- Back to square one.
- Colloquialisms: An informal word or phrase that is more common in conversation than in formal speech or writing. Examples:
- Kid (for child).
- Grub (for food).
- Raining cats and dogs.
- Worn to a frazzle.
- Hyperbole: exaggeration. Examples
- I nearly died laughing.
- I tried a thousand times.
- Metaphors: A direct comparison or relabeling. Examples:
- Fido’s a feather; even then kids can carry him.
- Jimmy’s a ball of fire.
- He’s a hard-boiled detective.
Avoid all-inclusive language; terms like any, all, every, no one, everyone, always, none, etc. This is another easy trap for many writers. Even if you believe wholeheartedly that something applies to “every” unit or person, it’s often best to leave room for exception. Examples:
- All psychologists are now recognizing the importance of prayer. Better stated, “Many psychologists…”
- Holidays are depressing for those who recently lost loved ones. Better stated, “Holidays can be depressing…”
Do not write as if you are texting your friend about a good movie.
Do not write as if you are emailing a pal.
Finally, write EVERTHING as if your product were to appear in a national publication like USA Today or Newsweek. Would you be proud of it? Could Liberty University put your work on the LU website as an example?
Looking forward to the journey! Feel free to contact me,
Dr. Brian Campbell