Blurb Cemetary

This page captures some of the standardized wording previously used in OL courses.

“Blurbs” are standardized paragraphs/tables/charts of information developed to ensure consistency, accuracy, and clarity. The Course Guide has several, and there are a few found in the Assignments component of courses. Some blurbs are meant for print versions of courses, while alternate wording has been developed for web or online versions.

Social Sciences Study Guide

[print only] The Social Sciences Style Guide explains the way in which you should organize an essay and sets out guidelines for an academically acceptable format. Use it as a reference when you are writing your assignments. [web only] The Social Sciences Style Guide explains the way in which you should organize an essay and sets out guidelines for an academically acceptable format. Use it as a reference when you are writing your assignments. To access this information, please click “Web Links” in the left-hand navigation bar. [end web]

Library Resources

“Referring to Library Online Articles” for Course Readings

Option 1

Read the following article, available online via the TRU Library at: http://www.tru.ca/library/distance.html:

FULL CITATION

HINT: When you know the exact article that you are looking for, always use TRU Library’s catalogue to locate the publication and then the article. Check out the TRU Library’s “Following a citation trail” guide (available via the Research at a Distance Guide at: [Link: www.tru.ca/library/distance/research_guide.html] for step-by-step instructions on how to locate articles in TRU Library from a citation, using TRU Library’s catalogue. Remember that you will need to complete the library’s “Login” screen once you have found the publication (i.e., journal, magazine, or newspaper title) that you are looking for. You will need your student number and your Library PIN to do this.

Option 2

Read the following article:

FULL CITATION

This article is available online via TRU Library at: http://www.tru.ca/library/distance.html. For step-by-step instructions on how to locate articles at the TRU Library from a citation, please use TRU Library’s “Following a citation trail” guide, which is available via “Research at Distance Guide” at: [LINK: www.tru.ca/library/distance/research_guide.html] page. Remember that you will need to complete the “Login to licensed databases” screen, using your student number and Library PIN once you have found the journal that you are looking for.

Option 3

FULL CITATION

You can access this article through TRU Library at: http://tru.ca/library/distance.html. When you know the exact article that you are looking for, use TRU Library’s catalogue to locate the publication. See the “Following a citation trail” guide, available via TRU Library’s “Research at a Distance Guide” at: [LINK: www.tru.ca/library/distance/research_guide.html] for step-by-step instructions on how to locate specific articles from a citation at TRU Library using the Library catalogue. Remember that you will need to complete the “Login to licensed databases” screen once you have found the publication (i.e., journal, magazine, or newspaper title) that you are looking for. You will need your student number and your Library PIN.

Journalling

You may support your arguments with other articles and literature from the TRU Library. To locate articles on a specific topic, use an article database. To locate electronic books (e-books), use the Library catalogue. See the Library’s guide on E-Books [LINK: www.tru.ca/library/guides/e_books.html] to learn how to limit your results to e-books. You can access the TRU Library’s article databases and the Library catalogue via the Library’s website at http://tru.ca/library/distance.html. Remember that you will need to complete the “Login to licensed databases” to access the Library’s article databases. You will need your student number and your library PIN to do this. For suggestions on which article databases to use, check out the library’s “XXXX Research Guide.” Research guides are available via the “Research at a Distance Guide” under “Article Databases and Indexes” on the DROL page, and via the main “How Do I...?” page (on the Library’s website, click the tab at the top of the screen, and then click “Research guides by subject/discipline”).

Assessment Weightings

[This may still be useful for print courses.]

Note that “per cent” is spelled out in the text, but “%” in the table. The four bulleted statements below the table are also in accordance with TRU-OL policy and should not be changed.

In order to successfully complete this course, you must obtain at least 50 per cent on the final examination and 50 per cent overall. The following chart shows how the final grade is determined for this course.

XXXX####	Weight
Assignment 1	XX%
Assignment 2	XX%
Assignment 3	XX%
Assignment 4	XX%
Final Exam*	XX%
Minimum of 50% overall is requires for successful course completion
* Mandatory course component

In addition, note the following:

• It is recommended that students complete all assignments to achieve the learning outcomes of the course and to prepare for the final examination.
• Students who do not complete any coursework (assignments and final examination) by the course completion date are considered not to have started the course and are assigned a “W” (Withdrawal) grade.
• Students who complete some coursework by the course completion date are assigned a “DNC” (Did Not Complete) grade.
• Students who complete all mandatory coursework by the course completion date are assigned an overall grade calculated with a zero (0) grade assessed

Assessment: Letter Grade Table

[Check to see if this information is still accurate.]

This table was used in the Course Guide of every TRU-OL print course. In the web version of a course, a link to this table is provided.

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Vocational Trades/Non-Trades Programs are subject to a separate grading system, unique from the Academic/Career/Development Program Grading System listed below. For more information about grading systems, please refer to OL Policies or contact Student Services.

Letter Grade	Numerical Grade	Grade Points	Letter Grade Definitions
A+ A A-	90-100 85-89 80-84	4.33 4.00 3.67	Excellent. First Class Standing. Superior Performance showing comprehensive, in‐depth understanding of subject matter. Demonstrates initiative and fluency of expression.
B+ B B‐	77–79 73–76 70–72	3.33 3.00 2.67	Very Good. Second Class Standing. Clearly above average performance with knowledge of principles and facts generally complete and with no serious deficiencies.
C+ C	65–69 60–64	2.33 2.00	Satisfactory. Basic understanding with knowledge of principles and facts at least adequate to communicate intelligently in the discipline.
C-	55–59	1.67	Pass. Some understanding of principles and facts but with definite deficiencies.
D	55–54	1.00	Minimal Pass. A passing grade indicating marginal performance. Student not likely to succeed in subsequent courses in the subject.
F	0–49	0.00	Unsatisfactory. Fail. Knowledge of principles and facts is fragmentary; or student has failed to complete substantive course requirements.
DNC		0.00	} Assignment Submission, Print [print only] As you complete each assignment, submit it to your Open Learning Faculty Member. F Keep a copy of each assignment you submit, in case you want to discuss it with your Open Learning Faculty Member. Contact your Open Learning Faculty Member if you have difficulty with an assignment or have questions concerning the Open Learning Faculty Member's comments made on an assignment. Submitting Your Assignments [print only] Submit all your assignments directly to your Open Learning Faculty Member. If you are mailing your assignment to your Open Learning Faculty Member, include a completed Marked Assignment (MA) form in the envelope with your assignment. Be sure to write your address on the back of the form. If you are emailing your assignment to your Open Learning Faculty Member, submit your word-processed assignment as an attachment. Put the course number, your name, and the word “assignment” along with the assignment number in the subject line of your email (e.g., "PSYC 1111 Jane Smith, Assignment 1”) so that your Open Learning Faculty Member can easily identify your assignment. Include a cover page that lists your name, the course, your Open Learning Faculty Member’s name. [end print only]