Pre-Orientation

CAUTION! BEFORE you go through the orientation, let’s be

sure of some basics.

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Before moving into this online community, you need to know:• How to follow directions

• How to read the syllabus

• How to send and receive e-mail

• How to attach, send, and receive files

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MUST HAVES:

• A computer in your place of residence

• The software program Microsoft Word on your computer’s operating system

• The will and attitude not to give up and do your best!

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ORIENTATION for Dr. Fairy’s Online English Classes

The first thing that is needed for taking any online course, especially, an English composition online course, is the need for self-discipline. You cannot get behind. You need to devote a MINIMUM of six (6) hours per week this course. Can you do this this? If not, do not continue reading this orientation :(.

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A Digital Community

Dr. Fairy is very aware that you are taking this course because it fits into your busy schedule. In many cases, you have no desire to meet anyone or develop any kind of relationship with anyone. Many of you want to get the info, do the work, pass, and get “out of Dodge City.” Well, that attitude won’t work this community.

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Neighbors

Dr. Fairy approaches her online courses like communities/neighborhoods. And your classmates are your neighbors. And she functions as the Academic Community Council Representative. She will serve you and your neighbors. However, she needs for you to do your part to be a good neighbor.

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What Makes A Good Neighbor

• Do every task, reading assignment, and writing assignment on time! No late work!

• Be open to providing support to other neighbors, sometimes, by providing constructive questions that help your neighbors improve their writing

• Be willing to consider these questions

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Continuation of Criteria for a Good Neighbor

• A thorough demonstration of your ability to research on topics assigned and chosen

• Follows directions• When unclear, ask your Academic Council

Rep., Dr. Fairy• Treat everyone in this community as you wish

to be treated—with respect & courtesy

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Syllabus for the Community

The set up for the syllabus is the following:Contact information for Dr. FairyOffice hours, on-campus and onlineBooks for the courseOther general informationDeadline for when all tasks, reading

assignments, and writing assignments are due—11:59-1/2 PM of the due date

Directions for the course/online community

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Con’t of Syllabus

Course Description

Course Objectives or Competencies

Relevance of Objectives/Competencies

Methods of Evaluation

Evaluation sheet and scale

Dr. Fairy does not use straight math; expectations are higher :)

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Con’t of Syllabus

Overview of All Due Assignments

Tasks, Reading Assignments, and Writing Assignments

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DVD

This DVD, CASES OF CONCERN: SCENARIOS OF CONFLICT, is in the back of your main text, BARE ESSENTIALS, 13th edition. If you do not have this DVD in the back of your handbook, take back to the bookstore pronto! You will need it for this community

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Questionnaire on the RDP web site

Dr. Fairy would hope that everyone, English 101 and English 102 neighbors, will fill out the questionnaires. The folder is noted on the starburst page of the Robbie Dean Press web site. It is directly under the folder, “Orientation for Mott Students.”

All responses are kept confidential.

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Con’t about Questionnaires

Your answers will help Dr. Fairy in her effort to lessen the drop out rate in online English composition courses.

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Class Policies

The Class Policies are in the folder, “Orientation for Mott Students.” This is the folder you are currently in while perusing this orientation. As soon as possible, read these policies. If you agree, mail in ONLY the last page with your printed full name and signature and date. Then, mail to Dr. Fairy.

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Con’t Class Policies

The address is stated in the Class Policies sheet.

Now, you will see on this sheet that you are allowed ONE assignment that you can miss. This cannot be the midterm or final. You should use this ONLY if there is a dire emergency since you have only one allowed missed writing assignment.

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Con’t Class Policies

Keep in mind that even if you do poorly on an assignment, you will earn at least 50%. However, if you do not even do the assignment, you earn 0%. So, do your best to submit all work. And so, at the end of the semester, if you have submitted all work, Dr. Fairy drops the lowest grade after midterm.

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A Little About Grades

Despite what you may have heard, it is very hard to fail in Dr. Fairy’s community. No, it is not easy to earn an “A.” But it is quite hard to earn an “E” or “D.” However, if you do not do work, you will be the cause of “doing yourself in.” Dr. Fairy grades on improvement. She does not do straight math.

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Con’t About Grades

So, do not despair. For example, suppose you are earning low grades initially. Just follow the Dr. Fairy’s suggestions and those by neighbors, guidelines in the handbook, and the guidelines on the evaluation sheet. Just do not give up! Even if you begin with Es or Ds, you can, still, earn a B or A for the course.

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Con’t about Grades

If anyone ever tells you that s/he did not pass Dr. Fairy’s class, it is because that person did not try. S/he probably missed assignment, especially the midterm and final and did not try to improve his/her work. Furthermore, s/he probably ignored my comments for improvement. So, bad results occur :(.

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Con’t about Grades

Since Dr. Fairy provides an evaluation sheet with just about most assignments, there is no guessing as to what you need to improve. Now, if you do not agree, email Dr. Fairy for questions, commentaries, etc. OK?

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Grading of Final Exam

This is not the assignment you even want to think of missing. If you do, you will earn no higher grade than a “D”—1.5—for the course grade.

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Who is Dr. Fairy?

She is a woman who:

loves teaching and learning with a passion;

has high expectations of herself and others;

is extremely responsible;

is quite organized;

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Con’t of Who is Dr. Fairy

is loyal to her students, friends, and family;is very punctual and expects others to be, also;is a very straightforward, “cut to the chase” kind of person;does not respect anyone who talks behind her back & does not do such;

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Con’t of Who Dr. Fairy is…

is quite dependable and very consistent;

does not do anything if she does not have a thorough love and commitment to the task;

has a crazy sense of humor;

finally, loves sharing ideas with others!

;

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Little Toleration for…

Dr. Fairy has little toleration for slackereds. Also, she has no toleration for persons who try to intimidate or insult anyone in the community.

Dr. Fairy suggests no time be spent in comparing her to another teacher. This would be a waste of time. There is no one like her. She is her own person.

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QuickTime & Adobe Reader

In order to hear the audio that goes with this orientation, you need Quicktime 3.0 or higher. Also, to be able to read any of the pdf files in the pass-protected site, you need to download this file. You can download both files for Free! You get QuickTime from www.Apple.com.

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Con’t Downloads

You can download for free Adobe Reader:

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

.

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Pass-Protected Site

Information as to how to enter the pass-protected site that is a part of the BARE ESSENTIALS, 13th edition handbook is on the Announcements page of Blackboard. Be sure to look at the very first posting.

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Whew!

Yes, Dr. Fairy has provided a lot of information in this orientation. It would be to your advantage to take some notes. Also, you should review this orientation, with or without audio, more than one time.

If you are unsure of anything, ask! There is no such thing as a “stupid question.”

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The End of the Beginning :)!

Yes, this is the end of the orientation. However, it is the beginning of your life in this academic community. Again, Welcome to the English Online Community of Dr. Fairy!

Sunrises And Sunsets,Dr. Fairy