English 151L – Mid-Spring 2016English 151L – Mid-Spring 2016Runs from Feb 29Runs from Feb 29thth through May 9 through May 9thth – 10 Weeks – 10 Weeks

Highlights from the syllabusHighlights from the syllabusdetailed schedule in the main syllabus detailed schedule in the main syllabus

Hi! Welcome to the class. Hi! Welcome to the class. I am Kathryn Gordon (you may see Elizabeth I am Kathryn Gordon (you may see Elizabeth

in places – same person!)in places – same person!)

My email is kgordon@northampton.edu My email is kgordon@northampton.edu Backup e-mail is walk33@gmail.com Backup e-mail is walk33@gmail.com

Office hours (instant response): Office hours (instant response): Mon. 2-4 PM & Wed. 7-9 PM Mon. 2-4 PM & Wed. 7-9 PM

Working then? No problem. We’ll find a time Working then? No problem. We’ll find a time that works. I DO do weekends.that works. I DO do weekends.

Office hours by phone, skype, text or email.Office hours by phone, skype, text or email.I do not mind texts: 518/364-6813I do not mind texts: 518/364-6813

Clear communication is

Clear communication is

a form of respect!

a form of respect!

This is me at a surprise birthday/book This is me at a surprise birthday/book publication party my fabulous sister publication party my fabulous sister

threw for me. threw for me. At the end of the course I’ll tell you about my books and At the end of the course I’ll tell you about my books and

current writing projects. If you’re interested. (I lost that current writing projects. If you’re interested. (I lost that jacket someplace )ojacket someplace )o::

Our BookOur BookThe Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature, 10th Edition, by Michael Meyer ISBN: 978-1-4576-5050-5

There are eBooks, rentals and used There are eBooks, rentals and used books at good prices.books at good prices. There are some lower cost options here.

Get the book ASAPGet the book ASAPYou need the book from the start. This You need the book from the start. This is an intensive ten-week compressed is an intensive ten-week compressed course. There is no "Intro" week.course. There is no "Intro" week.

Find a way to have the book at the Find a way to have the book at the start. Those who don’t tend to fall start. Those who don’t tend to fall behind and often drop. Give yourself behind and often drop. Give yourself the tools you need to succeed.the tools you need to succeed.

How to earn pointsHow to earn pointsPart of the course

Points Possible 1000

Point-earning chances

Pace

Essays 400 4 essays (100 pts each).All essays earn points. No essay turned in “fails”

See next slide “Pace for Essays”

Forum discussion

200 Up to 20 points per week with many extra point & Bonus Point chances. Not your usual forum

1 forum per week with 3-5 threads. Post 3-5 times. Always post in reading-related threads. Closes Sunday 11PM

Response Journal

200 Up to 20 points per post, with extra points given for longer/better posts

1 per week. If you fall behind you can catch up, except no more than 2 in a week. Never closes

Reading Checks 100 10 points each. Test your memory of readings & lectures.

One per week. Due Friday 11 PM, then closed. Get to the reading early in the week.

Imitate & Create Blog

100 Up to 25 points each. Topic options given each week

Self-paced, except no more than 2 in a week. Never closes. Do any at any time.

Bonus point opportunities

No maximum. Worth 10-50 points each

In all above areas. Self-paced. Most Bonus Point opps can be turned in any time, no more than 2 a week.

The pace for essaysThe pace for essaysWeek 1 – Read essay #1 guidelines (so you can plan)Week 1 – Read essay #1 guidelines (so you can plan)Week 2 – Choose a reading/viewing to write aboutWeek 2 – Choose a reading/viewing to write aboutWeek 3 – Write and turn in essay #1Week 3 – Write and turn in essay #1Week 4 – Read essay #2 guidelinesWeek 4 – Read essay #2 guidelinesWeek 5 – Choose a reading/viewing & 2 elementsWeek 5 – Choose a reading/viewing & 2 elementsWeek 6 – Write and turn in essay #2Week 6 – Write and turn in essay #2Week 7 – Read essay #3 guidelines (easier essay)Week 7 – Read essay #3 guidelines (easier essay)Week 8 – Write and turn in essay #3Week 8 – Write and turn in essay #3Week 9 – Post essay #4 intro and outline for Week 9 – Post essay #4 intro and outline for feedbackfeedbackWeek 10 + finals week – Write and turn in essay #4Week 10 + finals week – Write and turn in essay #4

About those About those Bonus Point Bonus Point OpportunitiesOpportunities

Where points go Ways to earn Bonus pointsEssaysAdded to your points for that essay. No max

Essay guidelines describe ways to earn bonus points. Could be an amazing title, extra sources, or adding an extra story/poem/play.

Weekly Forum DiscussionsAdded to your Forum points for that week, which adds to your forum total for the semester

10 xtra - Go above & beyond the 3-4 required posts. Talk a lot. Write a lot & interact well with other posts

10 xtra - Scavenger hunt: Check announcements for things to look for in the past or current weekly forum. Email in answers for the bonus points.

20 xtra - What we Said - Summarize all our posts on a certain thread.

20 xtra – In some weeks I invite students to start a thread. Moderate to keep it going and get the full 2

Improve the course pointsAdded to the Bonus Pts column in the gradebook

Flag a schedule glitch, suggest a great link, or in any way improve the course for 5-10 bonus points. Let me know by well-written email. The quality of the email effects the points, and there is a mistake in this sentence. Find it for 5 bonus pts. (Hint: some nouns try to act like verbs). Thanks for alerting me to typos (two-fingers here) but no bonus points for typos in the forum. Elsewhere = 5 pts.

Journal and Blog Exceptional journal and blog entries can earn an extra 5 or even 10 points.

Once you have maxed out in points, up to 2 extra posts will be accepted up until May 15th.

Reading checks Some reading checks include an analytical question worth extra. It does not hurt your grade to skip these or to try them & get them wrong.

Q & A about Bonus PointsQ & A about Bonus PointsQ: What if I have enough points for an A before the end of the semester?Q: What if I have enough points for an A before the end of the semester?A: You can skip the last essay, or other work. You earned it. But please do stay around in the discussion A: You can skip the last essay, or other work. You earned it. But please do stay around in the discussion

forum. We need you.forum. We need you.

Q: Do I Q: Do I have have to try to earn bonus points? to try to earn bonus points? A: No. Bonus points are not in the grading scale. You can earn 0 bonus points and still get an A. Bonus A: No. Bonus points are not in the grading scale. You can earn 0 bonus points and still get an A. Bonus

points might provide a buffer if you have some crisis or a very busy time during the semester. If you can points might provide a buffer if you have some crisis or a very busy time during the semester. If you can earn them early, why not? Plus, less experienced writers who score low on essays can still do well in the earn them early, why not? Plus, less experienced writers who score low on essays can still do well in the course (and learn more) by earning bonus points. course (and learn more) by earning bonus points.

Q: Where do bonus points go?Q: Where do bonus points go?A: Most go into the Bonus Point column in the gradebook. Forum bonus points go in the forum column. A: Most go into the Bonus Point column in the gradebook. Forum bonus points go in the forum column.

Essay bonus points just add to an essay’s overall score.Essay bonus points just add to an essay’s overall score.

Q: Are bonus points included in my running total?Q: Are bonus points included in my running total?A: Yes, but they are not counted in the total. They are true bonus points. That’s why you don’t need to earn A: Yes, but they are not counted in the total. They are true bonus points. That’s why you don’t need to earn

ANY to earn an A.ANY to earn an A.

Q: What is the maximum bonus points I can earn?Q: What is the maximum bonus points I can earn?A: There is no maximum. Some students last semester earned close to 20% of their total from Bonus Points. A: There is no maximum. Some students last semester earned close to 20% of their total from Bonus Points.

Some earned none or very few yet still received a high final grade.Some earned none or very few yet still received a high final grade.

Q: How come we can turn in only 2 Bonus Point opportunities in a week?Q: How come we can turn in only 2 Bonus Point opportunities in a week?A: I don’t want people disappearing and then doing most of the course at the end. And it would be unfair to A: I don’t want people disappearing and then doing most of the course at the end. And it would be unfair to

those with very busy schedules who don’t have time to do extra work but have worked steadily all along. those with very busy schedules who don’t have time to do extra work but have worked steadily all along.

Schedule Note:Schedule Note:Our week runs Monday morning through Our week runs Monday morning through Sunday at midnight. Students have persuaded Sunday at midnight. Students have persuaded me over the years that this works the best. If me over the years that this works the best. If you prefer your week to end on Friday or you prefer your week to end on Friday or Saturday, great. You’ll always be early.Saturday, great. You’ll always be early.

Avoid weekend-only discussion posting. If you Avoid weekend-only discussion posting. If you must do most of your forum posts on the must do most of your forum posts on the weekend, post in the next week when you can weekend, post in the next week when you can (i.e, early rather than late). This way more of (i.e, early rather than late). This way more of the class get to read what you have to say. Not the class get to read what you have to say. Not all threads relate to the reading. all threads relate to the reading.

Grading ScaleGrading ScaleGrading Scale – 1000 points is the expected maximum100 % or more of the total points – Wow, ask for a letter of recommendation95 to 99 % of the total points – A 90-94 - A – 85-89 – B +80-84 – B 75-79 – B –70-74 – C +65-69 – C 60-64 – C – 55-59 – D54% or less of the total maximum failsAny needed changes to this scale will be announced. Check total points any time in the Grade Center. You never lose points once you earn them. Opting out of an assignment is fine if you are happy with your point total. .

Employers report that

Employers report that

the leading cause of termination

the leading cause of termination

for 1for 1 stst year employees

year employees

is poor communication skills.

is poor communication skills.

Where & When to turn in Where & When to turn in EssaysEssays

o The four essays are due on Sundays The four essays are due on Sundays at 11PM (unless announced at 11PM (unless announced otherwise). Sunday a bad day for you? otherwise). Sunday a bad day for you? Give yourself an earlier due date. I’ll Give yourself an earlier due date. I’ll read yours first! read yours first!

o Turn in essays through the Learning Turn in essays through the Learning Content folder for that week. E-mail Content folder for that week. E-mail is the backup turn in: is the backup turn in: kgordon@northampton.edukgordon@northampton.edu

Late Essay PolicyLate Essay PolicyLate essays lose 10 points and will not be accepted more Late essays lose 10 points and will not be accepted more than one week late. Communicate if you have to turn an than one week late. Communicate if you have to turn an essay in late. Stay engaged. You could miss one whole essay in late. Stay engaged. You could miss one whole essay and still receive an A or B in the course. If you fall essay and still receive an A or B in the course. If you fall down, get up; come back to the table; communicate.down, get up; come back to the table; communicate.

Why this late policy? Why this late policy? To be fair to those who manage to make the due dateTo be fair to those who manage to make the due dateTo challenge you to have high standardsTo challenge you to have high standardsTo coach you to be a writer who makes deadlines To coach you to be a writer who makes deadlines To invite you to make your college career a high priority!To invite you to make your college career a high priority!

If you have to turn an essay If you have to turn an essay in latein late

Don’t panic! The late penalty is only 10 points, or 1% of Don’t panic! The late penalty is only 10 points, or 1% of the overall semester grade. You can make it up with a the overall semester grade. You can make it up with a Bonus Point Opportunity.Bonus Point Opportunity.

Do get moving! Essays are not accepted more than one Do get moving! Essays are not accepted more than one week late. If more than a week late, just move on to the week late. If more than a week late, just move on to the next one.next one.

If you have to quit on an essay, don’t quit on the If you have to quit on an essay, don’t quit on the course! The 4 essays are very different. One may be course! The 4 essays are very different. One may be hard for you, the next easier. They hard for you, the next easier. They do notdo not get harder as get harder as we go. The last is the easiest.we go. The last is the easiest.

You could miss a whole essay and still earn an A or B. You could miss a whole essay and still earn an A or B. There are many ways to earn points. Don’t quit.There are many ways to earn points. Don’t quit.

E-mail detailsE-mail details I’ll get to know your writing through your I’ll get to know your writing through your

essays. I’ll get to know essays. I’ll get to know youyou through your through your forum posts & e-mails. forum posts & e-mails.

This is a writing class. Take care with This is a writing class. Take care with words. Think about your tone. Revise words. Think about your tone. Revise before you send.before you send.

To help me keep track of what you send, To help me keep track of what you send, use a clear subject line such as use a clear subject line such as Question, Question, Bonus point opp Bonus point opp

I will lose a few emails. My apologies in I will lose a few emails. My apologies in advance. It’s fine to send a follow-up e-advance. It’s fine to send a follow-up e-mail or text after a few days if you have not mail or text after a few days if you have not received a response. received a response.

Forum PostingForum PostingTo earn the 20 weekly points, aim for 3-4 posts totaling about 800 words. Post early in the To earn the 20 weekly points, aim for 3-4 posts totaling about 800 words. Post early in the week and come back to read replies. Finish by Sunday 11 PM. Weekend-only posts earn week and come back to read replies. Finish by Sunday 11 PM. Weekend-only posts earn less points.less points.Good rule, if you come to the course for anything, post something.Good rule, if you come to the course for anything, post something.

Posts should be Posts should be interactiveinteractive::Comment directly on assigned reading. Quote the reading and other students’ postsConnect someone’s post to the reading, your life, world events Compare and contrast posts Point out a theme running through the posts that weekAsk questions of the other studentsAnswer questionsUse people’s names

Mine is not a post-once reply-twice type forumTake more time, get more back

Do you dislike Do you dislike discussions forums?discussions forums?

I know people with two or more on-line I know people with two or more on-line courses may end up having to do a ton courses may end up having to do a ton (hyperbole) of posting. If you have had bad (hyperbole) of posting. If you have had bad experiences or just feel forum-fatigue, give experiences or just feel forum-fatigue, give my forum a chance. It’s different. If you my forum a chance. It’s different. If you still feel it’s not useful, just busy work, call still feel it’s not useful, just busy work, call or email me. We’ll try something else, such or email me. We’ll try something else, such as more journal writing. as more journal writing.

518/364-6813, kgordon@northampton.edu

Forum posting continuedForum posting continuedPosts should be Posts should be respectful:respectful: Be respectful in Be respectful in whatwhat you write and how you react to you write and how you react to

others. I read/skim all posts. Personal attacks will lose the others. I read/skim all posts. Personal attacks will lose the attacker the points. Continued disrespect will lead to attacker the points. Continued disrespect will lead to withdrawal. withdrawal.

Be respectful in Be respectful in howhow you write. That is, be clear and you write. That is, be clear and readable. Casual is fine, some texting-type shortcuts are readable. Casual is fine, some texting-type shortcuts are ok, but the forum ok, but the forum isis our classroom. our classroom.

Are you a weak typist/speller? Try writing in your word Are you a weak typist/speller? Try writing in your word processing software first, then post. If you are an ESL processing software first, then post. If you are an ESL student, put in the time to be clear.student, put in the time to be clear.

Note that in my forum you Note that in my forum you cancan edit or delete your own edit or delete your own posts. posts.

E-mail me if you feel attacked, insulted or undermined. Our E-mail me if you feel attacked, insulted or undermined. Our readings will generate lively discussions. Disagreement is readings will generate lively discussions. Disagreement is fine; disrespect is not. fine; disrespect is not.

Response JournalsResponse Journals Up to 20 points each post for a max of 200Up to 20 points each post for a max of 200 Do one post per week on the assigned Do one post per week on the assigned

reading. 2 “catch-up” posts accepted in reading. 2 “catch-up” posts accepted in any weekany week

Learn and hone skills needed in the essaysLearn and hone skills needed in the essays Other students cannot see journal postsOther students cannot see journal posts We rotate through 3 types of responses We rotate through 3 types of responses

React & Reflect Quote & Interpret the Quote Compare and contrast (two pieces or two

elements)

Imitate & Create Blogs Imitate & Create Blogs – a self-paced – a self-paced part of the coursepart of the course

Up to 25 points each for a total max of 100 pointsUp to 25 points each for a total max of 100 points Do about 5 posts in the semester – self paced. Up Do about 5 posts in the semester – self paced. Up

to 2 “catch-up” posts can be done any weekto 2 “catch-up” posts can be done any week Try out creative writing. Creative options to Try out creative writing. Creative options to

choose from each weekchoose from each week Other students can see blog posts (commenting Other students can see blog posts (commenting

optional and not expected/required)optional and not expected/required)

More creative type? Move up to 100 points from another area of the course to the blog. E-mail for details.

Mid-term and finalMid-term and final there is no mid-term there is no mid-term & no final& no final((00::

My teaching approachMy teaching approach

I revise the course regularly based on student I revise the course regularly based on student feedback, to make it: feedback, to make it: Interesting & EnrichingInteresting & EnrichingFair & Bias-freeFair & Bias-freeChallenging but SupportiveChallenging but SupportiveLow-stressLow-stressUseful to you in your career and life goalsUseful to you in your career and life goals

I respect my students. You work hard, often I respect my students. You work hard, often working one or two jobs while raising families working one or two jobs while raising families and taking heavy course loads. I’m here for and taking heavy course loads. I’m here for you not you for me. I take pride in my work. you not you for me. I take pride in my work.

Quotes from past course Quotes from past course evaluationsevaluations

Quite frankly, I yawned when I selected this course. I thought for sure it would be boring and the material would be redundant. As it turned out, of all the courses I took this semester, I enjoyed this one the most.

Great course, very organized. Prof does an excellent job at making it productive and fun!

I loved the variety of different writing assignments. Great feedback through all stages of the learning process.

What I most appreciate is that Prof. Gordon selected a variety of literary types which made the course very interesting. She also helped us engage in thought provocating [sic] discussions.

Loved this course. You can tell [Prof Gordon] really loves what she does and cares about her students!

Professor Gordon is very timely and committed to her course and did an outstanding job guiding me throughout. She participated in discussion numerous times. I have not had such a wonderful experience in an online course.

Bonus point opportunity: Why did I use brackets twice on this slide? Up to 10 pts for thorough answers with well-written email

These are highlights from the syllabus These are highlights from the syllabus presented in a way that I hope ispresented in a way that I hope is

ClearClear EncouragingEncouraging InvitingInviting Low stressLow stress

Send questions and comments any time Send questions and comments any time to kgordon@northampton.edu or to kgordon@northampton.edu or 518/364-6813. 518/364-6813.

I do not mind texts