1. Check the News and Announcements Forum 
   
2. Read the Course Syllabus
   
3. Introduce yourself to the class
4. Read the instructions for the Q & A Forum

Additionally, here are some pointers for how to succeed in the class. 

Throughout the semester, I will guide you through the process of accomplishing the student learning objectives outlined in the Welcome section. I will work with you closely on writing the required assignments, providing feedback at various stages of the writing process. Analyzing your audience, discovering your purpose for writing an essay, and experimenting with different kinds of argumentative essay writing and different media are techniques you will learn throughout the semester. I will also help you learn how to organize and develop your ideas in a clear, unified manner and to revise and edit your own work and to help others improve their writing. Since this is a reading and writing class, we will be reading about contemporary issues related to immigration, digital culture, and visual rhetoric.

 This class will involve lectures/presentations, reading quizzes, class or online discussions, reading and writing assignments, and cooperation among students. The latter means that students might share their compositions with each other and sometimes with the whole class. Making suggestions and providing constructive feedback to your peers are  important aspects of this class. Not only do these activities give you the chance to share your writing with an audience but reading others’ papers will help you hone your own writing and revising skills. 

Being a critical reader is an important aspect of becoming a good writer. It is important that you READ the assigned readings (or view if videos), do the weekly writing assignments, and participate in class discussions. The readings you do will help generate ideas for your own essays and develop critical thinking skills.  

Finally, I cannot stress this enough: If you want to improve as a writer and pass this class, you must become a full participant which means A) doing the work assigned weekly, B) being prepared to work, and C) putting in the necessary work to improve your writing. This is not a passive, listen to me lecture class! If you don’t participate, your grade will suffer!

Suggestions for how to get a good grade in the class:

• Do the readings each week and be ready to participate in class discussion. Be an active member of the class during discussion but also a good listener.
• Turn in all assignments on time in Moodle and use MLA formatting for documents when appropriate. (We will go over this early in the class).
• Be an active and conscientious group member.   

Your success in this class is important to me. If there are aspects of this course that prevent you from learning or exclude you, please let me know as soon as possible. I have tried to make my teaching materials as accessible as possible. Together we’ll develop strategies to meet both your needs and the requirements of the course. If you need official accommodations, you have a right to have these met and need to contact the Office of Disability Services (information in the Course Syllabus). There are also a range of resources on campus, including the Writing Center, Tutoring/Writing Center, and Academic Advising Center that are available to you as resources.