English 1310 Course Syllabus Vocabulary

Vocabulary and key defined terms from the English 1310 syllabus, including academic policies, course requirements, and university resources.

English 1310

A course required for all degree programs that provides an intensive study of and practice in the fundamental principles of exposition leading to the habit of effective writing.

Ex nihilo, nihil fit

A Latin phrase meaning "From nothing, nothing is made," first articulated in classical Greek by the sixth-century BCE philosopher Parmenides of Elea.

The Paper Lottery

An optional entry on essay due dates where a student who uploaded an unplagiarized essay to Turnitin.com has their name drawn to receive an A+ (100 percent) grade in exchange for allowing their paper to be publicly evaluated with the class.

Cheating

Acts including the use of unauthorized assistance on quizzes or tests, dependence on unauthorized sources for papers, unpermitted acquisition of test materials, or submitting the same material for credit in differing courses ("self-plagiarism").

Plagiarism

The use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment, or the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in selling academic materials.

Collusion

The unauthorized collaboration with another person or persons in preparing academic assignments or collaborating to commit a violation of scholastic dishonesty policies.

Permitted AI Use

The restriction allowing AI-based tools like BoodleBox solely for identifying peer-reviewed, scholarly sources (which must be footnoted on the first page), while strictly prohibiting text generation for graded writing.

Turnitin.com

The plagiarism deterrence and detection service subscribed to by McMurry University to which all final essay drafts must be submitted.

Course Journal

An 8.5''-by-11'' notebook assignment in which students complete entries totaling 6000 words across the semester, weighted equivalent to an essay grade.

Late Work Policy

The course rule penalizing graded work at a rate of ten percent for each calendar day it is late, with Saturdays and Sundays counting as two days.

Peer-Assisted Learning Hub

A university resource on the first floor of the library offering professional and peer tutors for math, as well as peer guides in STEM, Business, and Psychology.

McMurry Writing Center

A campus resource located in Old Main 301 providing peer writing guides who assist students with one-on-one consultations at any stage of writing.

CORE

A campus program located in the Campus Center that helps students navigate college through personalized coaching, setting academic and personal goals, building resilience, and connecting with resources.

EDGE

A campus program located in the Campus Center that equips students with career resources, career exploration, internship preparation, experiential learning, and graduate school planning.

LEAD

A program that helps students build community, discover opportunities for involvement, develop leadership skills, and make an impact.

Unauthorized Absences Policy

The policy where accumulating more than two unauthorized absences lowers a student's final course grade by one letter grade for the third absence and each one thereafter, resulting in a failing grade upon accumulating six unauthorized absences.