Course Home Page Template

Welcome to English 1302 - Composition II!  I hope you're ready for a great semester.  To help you orientate yourself to the course and Canvas, we'll begin with introductions and common questions about this class.

First:

• Need to contact your instructor? Message me via the Inbox. Or, email me at [email address here]

• How much time should you expect to spend on this course?  You should plan to spend at least 6-9 hours each week preparing, reading, and completing work.

• How much writing should you expect to produce in this course?  Keep in mind that this is a literature-based writing course; therefore, your grade in the course will be primarily based on your writing , your thoughtful participation in discussions, and your interpretation of what we read. You can expect to write approximately 1-2 pages each week, and to spend several hours per week reading. 

• How much computer knowledge should I have? You don't need to be a computer expert for this course. However, you will need to use Canvas, Microsoft Word or Google Docs for your assignments.   

• What kind of feedback can you expect from me in the course?  Your success in this course is my ultimate goal; therefore, I will give you feedback on most of your writing assignments. Sometimes writing comments on each student's assignment can take a couple of days, so please be patient. (There are 30 of you and 1 of me.) I aim to evaluate and provide feedback on your assignments within two weeks. In return, I expect you to read, reflect upon, and apply my comments to your future writing assignments. I also promise to respond to your emails promptly (within 24 hours, at the latest, during the week). 

• What Time are the Assignments Due? You will have weekly assignments that will be due on Friday night at 11:55 p.m.  You can turn them in over the weekend for full credit, except for the final. I cannot accept the final late.

• How should we respond to each other and the instructor? You are expected to communicate with your classmates and me with civility and respect when communicating via email or in discussion postings. Posts and emails that are rude, culturally insensitive, or hostile will be deleted, and students may be reported to administration. (In other words, just be nice to each other. We're all learning here.)

• Getting Behind? I understand that sometimes things come up, so send me an email letting me know when to expect your work and I'll look for it then. I don't close the drop boxes or quizzes, so if you turn in your assignments over the weekend, you won't be penalized. Try not to make it a habit and don't get too far behind. You can't proceed with the course until you complete the major assignments. I want you to be successful in this course, so keep me informed if you need an extension or just a bit more support.

My expectations of students:

• Read the syllabus and course information. 
• Check Canvas regularly. 
• Check email and announcements daily. I would recommend downloading the Canvas app to your phone and setting up notifications. 
• Ask questions as soon as they come up! Don't suffer in silence. I'm here to help. 
• Keep the course calendar in mind. Due dates can be found on the calendar, at the bottom of the syllabus, and on assignments themselves. 
• Monitor your grades and let me know if something doesn't look right.
• Be appropriate and polite in your emails. Use greetings, ask questions, and be sure to identify which course you're in. Pro tip: spell my name right!

You Can Expect Me To:

• Respond to your email daily (or by Monday over weekends). 
• Be a reasonable human person. I won't be able to say yes to everything, but I promise to relate to you as a human, and to be reasonable when things come up. 
• Post regular announcements - probably about once a week. These will include things like reminders, details on assignments, feedback on recent submissions, responses to discussions, advice for upcoming projects, guidance, answers to frequently asked questions, helpful videos, and more. 
• Grade your work as quickly as I can. I try to balance providing thorough feedback with getting you grades quickly. Sometimes, it will take a week. For major essays, that might be longer. 
• Not change deadlines! No surprises - the calendar is set.
• Give you the chance to work ahead a little. I know your schedules are crowded, so lessons will open at least two weeks before they're due.

Next:  

• How do you get started? Read the Syllabus first. Then, click Modules on the left to get started with the course. 
• While the course might seem overwhelming at first, it's helpful to use the Modules tab and proceed through the course using the "Next" button.  
• Be sure to check the Announcements every time you log in to the course.