Welcome to ENG 111-63 Online Orientation

Pam AldermanAdjunct Instructor, English

Course Information

ENG 111-63 is an on-line course that uses Blackboard. The primary course objective is to help you become a better writer by completing writing assignments, while getting feedback from other students and the instructor. All the information you need to complete assignments is in Blackboard or the required textbook.

IS ENG 111 FLO FOR YOU?

Since this is an on-line Blackboard course, you need certain attributes. You need to be an independent learner with the motivation and discipline required to stick to a schedule and finish assignments on time. You also need to be able to read and follow directions exactly and ask questions when you need help. Estimated time per week, regular session = 8-10 hours; summer session = 10-15 hours.

Instructor Information

Pam Alderman Warsaw Campus, Adjunct Room on

appointment 804 333-5445 Attention: P.

Alderman fax 804 761-2014 cell—use first palderman@rappahannock.edu

Instructor Availability

Campus Office Hours: by appointment I check my email five days a week; I take off most of

the weekend, but I check my email usually Sunday night. I am rarely online after 9 p.m.

If you email me and do not hear from me with 24 hours, then assume I did not receive the email and send it to me again.

Changes to my schedule will be posted on the Announcements page in Blackboard or an email will be sent.

Course Materials

The Norton Field Guide to Writing with Readings and Handbook

– ISBN: 97803939333826– Paperback Version

If you have an older version, it can be used.

Technical Requirements

Students MUST have daily access to a computer and Internet.

Students MUST have skills in keyboarding, word processing, sending and receiving email with attachments.

Students MUST send files in Word format or RTF. Use of Microsoft Word is highly recommended.

Students MUST meet the technical requirements and minimum computer skills set by the college.

Dates to Remember

Distance Learning Orientation Add/Drop— Last day to get a refund Withdrawal Deadline- Last day to withdraw

without failing Last Day Work Due Day Grades Due See Blackboard for specific dates

Things to Do Today

Download the syllabus and the course calendar. Send an email with your name, mailing address, and

phone number (cell and home). Make sure you can get into Blackboard. Get the textbook for the course.

Things To Do Tomorrow

Read the entire packet carefully. Make sure you understand:

– Course requirements,– Grading,– Rewrite Policies,– Incomplete Policy,– Withdrawal Policy.

Take the Orientation Quiz. Complete Orientation Discussion Board.

Requirements

Orientation Quiz Five Unit Writing Assignments Five Journal Responses Five General Discussion Boards Five Postings to Group File Exchange Five Group Forums Five Prewriting Worksheets Meeting Deadlines Meeting the technology requirements for the course

Instructional ProceduresSee Assignment Schedule for Dates

Read Chapter Assignments and Handouts and View PowerPoint Presentations; conduct necessary research.

Post General Discussion Board Response Submit Journal Response Complete the Prewriting Worksheet Write First Draft of Writing Assignment Post First Draft in Writing Partner’s Group Participate in Writing Partner’s Group Forum Post Second Draft to Instructor in BB under the Unit Instructor returns paper with suggestions for

improvement/corrections Post Third draft Back to Instructor in BB where the second draft

was placed Instructor will respond with grade

Working With Your Writing Group

Groups consist of 3-4 students. Purposes of Writing Partner’s Groups

– To read and evaluate other papers– To get feedback from other students

See handout Working With Your Writing Group

Grading

Grading Rubric (in Course Documents) Grades are posted in Blackboard at the end

of every unit. Go to Tools and My Grades. For the essay, 25-23 points=A; 22-20

points=B; 19-17 points=C; 16-14 points=D; and 13-11 points=F

Grading Points

Orientation Quiz—20 pts. Text Quizzes—50 pts. Five Unit Writing Assignments—125 pts. Five Journal Responses—100 pts. Five General Discussion Board Postings—50 pts. Five Writing Partner’s Postings—25 pts. Five Writing Partner Forums—75 pts. Five Prewriting Worksheets—75 pts. Final Exam—50 pts. TOTAL—570 pts. Extra Credit—Up to 25 pts.

Grading Scale

A = 570-530 pts. (92-100%) B = 529-489 pts. (91-84%) C = 488-448 pts. (83-72%) D = 447-407 pts. (71-60%)

Rewrite/Late Policy

Late papers cannot be revised. Papers that are more than two weeks late will

not be accepted. If the third draft is not turned in on time, the

paper will be graded as is. 2 late papers = grade lowered one grade

level

Late Policy

All group work must be done on time. Prewriting Worksheets must be turned in

before the first draft is posted in BB. General Discussion Board Postings and

Journal Responses should be posted according to the schedule.

Incomplete Policy

Students have to complete four of the units in order to request an Incomplete.

Incompletes are not given automatically.

Withdrawal Policy

Students who do not attend Orientation, do not contact the instructor, and/or do not complete Unit One assignments 1-9 due by the add/drop date will be withdrawn on the add/drop date after student contact has been attempted.

Students who are two or more units behind by the withdrawal date will be withdrawn.

Getting Started with Assignments

Unit One—Introduction to the Course: See Due Dates in Packet and Blackboard

– Read the course packet and take the Orientation Quiz.– Get into Blackboard and read the assigned handouts/Power Points in

Course Documents.– Read the assignments in the text.– Post General Discussion #1.– Post Journal Response #1.– Submit prewriting worksheet.– Complete the Observation/Memory paper; save it in Word or RTF format.– Post the Observation/Memory in the Writing Partners.– Get into your Writing Partners, and participate in Forum #1: Evaluating the

Observation/Memory.– Revise the Observation/Memory and post the second draft to the instructor

as an attachment in BB under the unit assignment link.– Revise the paper according to the instructor’s comments and post third

draft where you posted the second one.

Posting a Paper in Writing Partners

Get into ENG 111-63 in Blackboard. Click Writing Partners button on left. Click Group Pages. Find your group and click on it. Click discussion for the unit. Click to Add a thread.

Posting a Paper in the Group File Exchange

In the title space, put the type of paper you are submitting and your name.– For example, Personal Narrative by Jane Smith.

Browse for your file and click on it. Now hit Submit. Click OK.

Using the Writing Partner Discussion Forum

Get into ENG 111-63 in Blackboard. Click the Writing Partner button on the left. Click Group Pages. Find your group and click it. Click Group Discussion Board.

Using the Writing Partner Discussion Board

Click on the Forum for that Unit. Click on your partners’ links one at a time. Click “Reply” after opening their papers.

Using the Writing Partner Discussion Forum

In the subject line, put a title.– Evaluation of Joe’s paper by Jane.

Type in the responses to the questions. Number the responses. Respond to all questions and make at least

one suggestion for improvement. Click submit.

Using the General Discussion Board

Get into ENG 111-63. Click on General Discussion Board, not

Groups.

Using the General Discussion Board

Click the discussion for that unit. Click on add new thread. In the subject line, put Response to General

Discussion (#) by (your name).– For example, Response to General Discussion #1

by John Doe.

Respond to the prompt and then click Submit.

For More Information, Read:

Journal Responses How to Post Papers in the Group File

Exchange How to Participate in the General and Group

Discussion Boards Working With Your Writing Group These handouts are in Course Documents.

Important Notices!

The course packet is intended to be used only as an introduction to the course. The official information is in Blackboard.

The instructor will not change course requirements to meet individual student needs. Students who cannot meet the course requirements, including technology requirements, should withdraw.

Evaluation

To improve the course, students must evaluate the class. Please complete your course evaluation when posted in Blackboard near the end of the semester.

Only you can make the course better by giving the college and the instructor constructive feedback.

Important Reminder

Check the Announcements page of your Blackboard course every week for “Weekly Memo” and to see if I have posted important information.

Check your RCC email frequently. Students are responsible for information posted

on the Announcements page or sent in an email. I send memos every week—read them!

Any Questions?

Call, Text, Or email me.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

The course syllabus is just intended as a guide and as the instructor I reserve the right to make changes as needed for the benefit of my students and meeting the VCCS objectives.

ALL WORK MUST BE COMPLETED AND POSTED IN BLACKBOARD.

Have a great semester and get started on your assignments!

I’m looking forward to hearing from you.