Welcome to ENG 112-63 Online Orientation

Pam AldermanAdjunct Instructor, English

Course Information

ENG 112-63 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 112 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 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 six days a week; I take off most of

the weekend, but I check my email 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

Book Title: Inventing Arguments, Brief 2nd ed.

Author: Mauk and Metz ISBN: 1439081808

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. Send an email containing your name, mailing

address, phone number (cell and home), student ID #, personal email address other than RCC, RCC login.

Make sure you can get into Blackboard. Get the textbook for the course. Make a copy of the course calendar.

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.

Requirements

Orientation Quiz Four Unit Writing Assignments One 2,000-2,500 word research paper Five General Discussion Boards Four Postings to Writing Partner’s Discussion Forum Four Writing Partner Forum Responses Four Prewriting/planning Worksheets Five Unit Quizzes 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 Complete Unit Quiz Complete the Prewriting Worksheet & Group Forum Write First Draft of Writing Assignment Post First Draft in Writing Partner’s Discussion Forum Participate in Writing Partner Forum Send Second Draft to Instructor Instructor returns paper with suggestions for

improvement/corrections Send Third draft Back to Instructor Instructor will respond with grade

Working With Your Writing Group

Groups consist of 3-4 students. Purposes of Writing Partners

– 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

Four Papers -100 pointsResearch Paper - 100 points

Final Exam Paper - 50 points Five Unit quizzes-50 points Orientation Quiz - 10 points Whole Class Discussion Forums – 70 points

Four Prewriting Sheets--40 points Four Writing Partner Discussion Forums—60 points Outline (5), Works Cited/References (5), and heading/title page

(1) – 11 points TOTAL – 491 points

Grading Scale

Grading Scale:92-100 = A (491-451 points)84-91.9 = B (450-410 points)72-83.9 = C (409-369 points)60-71.9 = D (368-328 points)

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 GFE. General Discussion Board Postings and

Writing Group Forums 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.

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/PowerPoints in Course

Documents.– Read the assignments in the text.– Post General Discussion #1.– Take Quiz #1.– Submit prewriting/planning worksheet to the assignment link in BB under the

unit one.– Complete response to group members’ planning sheets– Complete the Argument Analysis paper; save it in Word or RTF format.– Post the Argument Analysis in the Writing Partner forum.– Get into your Writing Partner discussion forum and participate in Forum #1:

Evaluating the Argument Analysis.– Revise the Argument Analysis and send the second draft to the instructor as an

attachment in Blackboard under the Unit One folder.– Revise the paper according to the instructor’s comments and post third where

you posted the second draft.

Posting a Paper in Group File Exchange

Get into ENG 112-63 in Blackboard. Click Writing Partners button on left. Click Writing Partner Pages. Find your group and click on it. Click Discussion Forum.

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.” Message will say, “Receipt: Success.” Click OK.

Using the Group Discussion Forum

Get into ENG 112-63 in Blackboard. Click the Writing Partners button on the left. Click Group Pages. Find your group and click it. Click Discussion Board.

Using the Group Discussion Board

Click on the Forum for that Unit. Click on CreateThread.

Using the Group 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 112-63. 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.

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 and Homepage of your Blackboard course as well as the Tasks frequently 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?

Ask now. Or email me.

Before You Leave

Turn in the note card or email me the information requested.

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.