Introduction to the Course

Welcome to English 1006G. I'll already have said some of what's in this document orally, but here, and for the rest of the year, I'll try to make a practice of making everything we do available in text form, printed and handed out in class, or on the course Web site, or both.

I want to make sure that everyone has a real opportunity to understand what I'm trying to do and how I'm trying to do it in this section of English 1006. I'll pass out copies of the course introduction before you leave, but we'll wait to discuss it until after you've had a chance to read it carefully, and then we'll take some time -- as much as we need -- to talk about it on Tuesday afternoon.

Between now and Monday night you should read it through (reading "suspiciously," as my colleague Thom Parkhill says), making notes on it as you go. Write questions in the margin, mark it up; keep track of your own reactions. I've left space in the margin; use it. It will probably be useful to have a look at the online version, as well, because there are links in it to other documents you might want to have a look at -- but I'm handing out printed copies because for most of us, reading carefully means reading with a writing implement in hand, and commenting, underlining and questioning as we go.

Moodle and the online component

I'll explain how to find the course online materials (right now, that's the Web page and the Moodle page), but the process isn't difficult and instructions are available on line. You log in to Moodle using the same ID and password you use to log on to a computer on campus: if you don't have that information, the staff in the Help Desk in Dunn Hall can give it to you.

An assignment

By Monday night (in any case before Tuesday morning at 8:00), go to the Moodle page for the course. Enrol yourself in the Moodle course. Click on the "Clarifying the course description" forum, which is, as of now, the only item on that page. Instructions for participating in the Forum are there. Post a response to at least three of the items. Bear in mind as you post things that what you say should be a question you think others might want a response to as well, or a comment you think others might find interesting. They'll be available to everybody.

As soon as you've posted, you're invited to read what others have said. By Tuesday everyone should have posted. If, when you read other people's responses (you'll be able to do this after you've responded), you think you know the answer to a question someone's asked, go ahead and answer it; if someone else's question suggests one to you that you didn't think of, ask it. We'll talk about all of them -- and whatever else comes up -- on Tuesday afternoon, when we'll begin the work of English 1006G.