Unit 1 Seminar with Dr. Kristin Carter

Wednesday, Feb 1, 2012

Welcome to CM 107: Composition 1

You should be hearing music. If you don’t, please check your audio.

Feel free to chat and get acquainted until the music stops near the top of the hour. This session is held 7:00-8:00 PM (EST).

ONE:

Dr. Carter’s CM 107 Mantras:

TWO: DON’T HIDE!

THREE: JUST ASK!

FOUR: SOONER, NOT LATER

Did I mention?

Hello and Welcome to CM 107

• We are going to have an interesting and exciting journey together this term, as we lay the foundation for solid writing skills in this course.

• Have you all reviewed the course syllabus? Do you have any questions?

A Balancing Act…

I know you have a lot of responsibilities to juggle.

Balancing a job, education, and family can sometimes feel overwhelming.

Help is on the Way…

Whether you are new to the online learning environment, or a seasoned veteran, I am sure you will find some

helpful information in this presentation that will assist you in making this semester a successful

one.

The First Question Most Students Ask is, “How Can I Pass This Class?”

This is nothing to lose sleep over (remember, DON’T PANIC).

Here are some simple hints you can follow to increase your chances for

success.

First Things First…

You must have a clear understanding of what online learning involves.

Online Learning Is…

• An opportunity to obtain a degree on a flexible schedule.

• A setting where you can meet and work with students from all over the

world.

• As challenging as a traditional college course.

Online Learning Is Not…

• A way to easily earn a degree…quite the contrary. It takes motivation and

self-discipline.

• Self-learning. I am available to you through email, AIM, and will provide

feedback through the Discussion Board and projects.

Helpful Hints

On the following slides, you will learn some helpful hints to make it easier

to move through your CM 107 course.

Hint 1: Print Out the Syllabus

When is a project due? How do I contact my instructor? All this information (and a lot more!) is

contained in the course syllabus.

Hint 1: Print Out the Syllabus It is a long document, but please print it out

and highlight essentials like the

point values of major assignments, my

office hours and how papers will be graded.

Hint 2: Familiarize Yourself With the Course Layout

•Understanding the course layout will make your term run much more smoothly.

•Even if you are already familiar with the eCollege format, it doesn’t hurt to review!

Let us review the main features of eCollege.

Hint 3: Make Sure You Understand the Weight of the Discussion Board Grade…

Note that your Discussion Board grade is worth of the entire

course grade.45%

What this means…

This means that if you fail the Discussion Board portion of the course, but get 100% on EVERY other assignment, you would earn less than a passing score for the

course.

The bottom line is…you must make the Discussion Board activities a high priority.

READ, READ, READ

In order to do well on the Discussion Board activities, you must read the

assigned information in the classroom FIRST.

Read the Post: “What is a High Quality DB Post?”It is thoughtful, analytical and explores

the discussion question in great detail.

Refers to the assigned reading

Uses good grammar and punctuation

DID I MENTION? READ!

Speaking of reading: make sure you have a clear understanding of the instructions for any assignment or

task, that you’re being asked to follow…

Hint 4: Read Your Instructor’s Emails and Read the Announcements

Sometimes they can get a bit long, but it’s all stuff you need to know! So,

please be sure to read all of your emails, top to

bottom, so you don’t miss out on important points, key areas to concentrate

on for the week and additional instruction.

Hint 5: Read the Project Criteria Carefully

Read the assignment criteria carefully BEFORE you begin writing.

You will then have a clear understanding of what should be

included in your project.

Hint 6: Read Your Instructor’s Comments

I spend a GREAT DEAL OF TIME reading through your work and

making comments. You are urged to do the same: take your time and read

through everything written to you. These comments are one-on-one

conversations with you about your work.

Hint 6: Read Your Instructor’s Comments

I will place comments in one of two places – on the side of your draft

when in Print View…

Hint 6: Read Your Instructor’s Comments

And at the end of the grading table.

Hint 7: Turn Projects In On Time

Some students feel uncomfortable about turning in work that they have a hard time with. Turn your projects

in on time…even if you have difficulty.

Hint 8: Organize Your Time

With a little organization, you will do just fine.

Set Aside a Certain Time…

Plan to check the Discussion Board at the same time each day – during

morning coffee, while the kids are napping, or each evening before

going to bed. Set aside those times early in the unit, mid-way, and near the end of the unit. Don’t disappear,

and don’t lurk!

Discussion Board Netiquette…

Let’s keep the Discussion Board neat and easy to read. PLEASE DO NOT SCREAM BY USING ALL CAPS. Proofread your work before you post it.

Hint 9: Attend Seminars

Students who consistently attend all seminars have a higher degree of success in the course.

Hint 9: Attend Seminars

You instructor prepares good material to share during seminar. Please refrain

from conducting side-conversations during seminar because it prevents others from learning the material.

Hint 9: Attend Seminars

You are encouraged to schedule and participate in informal chats on AIM. You can invite everyone on your AIM

list to participate. If you would like for your instructor to join in, just send an

invite!

Hint 10: Visit Your Instructor!

See your instructor during office hours or anytime he or she may be online.

You are not a bother when you ask for assistance. Feel free to send a message when you see your instructor’s username on AIM (AOL Instant

Messenger).

I teach a number of classes, so please identify yourself the first time you chat on AIM. By giving me this

information, you can be easily assisted on a timely basis.

Let’s Get Started

It’s going to be an awesome session!

Have fun…you are only 10 short weeks away from success.

Any other questions?• Do you have any other questions?

This is the time to have them answered.

When we begin to write• Why do we write? What do we try to

accomplish by writing?

• What should we consider in writing?

Points to consider• Interplay of Factors in Writing-

• Audience– Who is our audience and what factors about audience do we consider?

• Purpose– What is our purpose in writing? What are we trying to accomplish?

• Context- External circumstances surrounding a piece of writing.

• Writer- What about the writer’s goals and ambitions?

Writer/Hero (Lessons from J. Campbell)

• “Writing is not a task: it is an adventure!”

• Taking note of the world around us is the first step for a writer/hero.

• The reading/writing/speaking/listening/thinking connection

• The writer/hero must have “faith in oneself.”• “Our lives evolve around our character; put yourself in situations that evoke your higher rather than your lower nature.”

•What type of writer/hero are you?• Have you been swept away by an unexpected adventure (e.g., Do you feel forced to take this class? Are you unsure of why a writing class is required? Etc.)?

• Have you chosen this journey (e.g., Do you feel interested or excited

about writing and what you may learn? Do you see the value in learning

about more effective written communication? Etc.)

• What is unique about you, your experiences, your perspective, your interests,

etc. that you could draw upon for writing topics?

• Work due for this week.

– Get to know the course and its icons – Complete Reading section of this unit – Introduce yourself to classmates – View the Campbell video and participate

in the Discussion 50 points

– Attend Seminar (or complete Seminar Option 2—if you’re here, you’re golden!)10 points

• Any remaining questions?