Frequently Asked Questions

For information on technical requirements, click here.

1. What are the basic policies for the class?
2. Where can I find help with my writing?
3. How do I submit an essay?
4. How should I format the text of an essay?
5. How are assignments marked?
6. How do I get a question answered?
7. How can I use the Forum and manage email efficiently?
8. How can I copy text from a web page (when I don't want to print the entire page)?

What are the basic policies for the class?

All class business will be conducted electronically, requiring regular, reliable email and Internet access. Occasional problems with Internet access are normal; however, your inability to make the necessary Internet connections to participate in the class is not an excuse for failing to meet required deadlines or to respond to online assignments.
All essays will follow a modified version of the Modern Language Association (MLA) style. (See below.)
Determination of the final grade will be made in part on the average of all work attempted. In addition, each grade will also be affected by participation in online discussion, proper handling of written exercises, adequate preparation for and participation in scheduled online workshops, and the completion of all self-tests.
No late essays will be accepted, and there will be no make-up or extra-credit work.
The first major examination and the final will be completed on campus. (If you are taking this class from a location where an on-campus visit is not possible, please contact me about finding a local proctor who can administer these assignments.)
Your work should be a product of your own thought and reflection. If it is not, then you are guilty of plagiarism--a guilt which will cause automatic failure for the assignment.

Feel free to contact me about any difficulties. Whether you need help understanding course content or are experiencing technical difficulties, it will benefit both of us if you will point out your problems as soon as they arise. Hindsight at the end of the term will be of little use.

Amarillo College students requiring special assistance because of a disabling condition should contact 371-5436.

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Where can I find help with my writing?

The essays required for this class follow the same format as the literature-based essays you wrote in the second half of the Freshman English sequence.

If you need some help with the basics of argumentative or thesis-support essays, check out Paradigm Online Writing Assistant.
If you need a review of basic grammar, refer to BigDog's Grammar.
For a review of basic Modern Language Association (MLA) documentation, see BigDog's MLA Quick Guide.

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How do I submit an essay?

You will submit your essays via email. There are two ways to do this: sending the information as an attached file or simply copying and pasting it into the body of your email message. Both are fairly simple. Sending an attachment requires a minimal amount of technical know-how; the copy and paste method even less.

Regardless of the method you use, always address your email to:
en_mail@swbell.net. Also, always save your work to a file either on your hard drive, a floppy, or both before submitting. (Printing a hard copy is probably a good idea as well.)

As a point of reference, look at this screen shot of Outlook Express.

As an attachment
Create the information in your word processor and save it.
Open your email program and address the message to: en_mail@swbell.net

Put an identifying title in the "Subject" field (e.g., Essay 1 or Essay 2).
Include any necessary instructions, comments, or explanations in the body of the message.
Using your email program's "attach file" function, choose the file you created. The program should encode it (e.g., using MIME or uuencode) so that it is ready for transfer.
Send the message with the attached file.

File formats for attachments:
I use Microsoft Word™. However, Word will both convert and save in WordPerfect and most major word-processing formats. Should there be a problem with file compatibility for attachments, simply use the copy and paste method of submission outlined below.

Copy and paste
Create the information in your word processor and save it. With the text still on your word processor's screen, block the entire document and copy it to the clipboard.

Close your word processor, open the email program, and paste the information into body of the message.
Address the message to: en_mail@swbell.net

Put an identifying title in the "Subject" field (e.g., Essay 1 or Essay 2).
Send the message as you normally would.
Should you have any necessary instructions, comments, or explanations, simply send another email.

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How should I format the text of an essay?

Because of the limitations of electronic submission, you will use a modified version of the Modern Language Association (MLA) format. Look at the example below:

header

You will use quotations marks and parentheses as usual. However, if you need to indicate that something is underlined, put an underscore before and after it. For example, the novel Hard Times would be indicated as _Hard Times_.

Works Cited:
Double space at the end of your essay, and type "Works Cited" (without the quotation marks), following the model for the essay title and body of the paper shown above. Again, because of the limitations of electronic submission, you will use a modified MLA format, single spacing the information for each entry and double spacing between each entry. Do not indent.

For a sample essay, click here.

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How are assignments marked?

I will return a critique sheet with comments and the grade. You can use this information to review the essay. (Use your own saved copy of the assignment for reference.)

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How do I get a question answered?

First, review the information that is available on this web site. All reading assignments, explanations of essays, quizzes, and exams, and due dates are listed.

Second, check the various message threads on the class Forum for your answer. If you cannot find an answer there, post your question in the appropriate thread. (Many times, others will have the same question you do, and the response given there will help everyone.)

Finally, if you cannot find the answer, or have a question that requires immediate attention, simply email me at en_mail@swbell.net. Place "Message" in the "Subject" field. You may also wish to leave a message on my office "voice mail": (806) 371-5179 or send me a fax at (806) 371-5399. However, email is your most reliable method of getting a quick response.

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How can I use the Forum and manage email efficiently?

General

Use the "Subject" line carefully when creating a new thread so that others can tell if your message is of interest to them. Also, make your "Subject" entry as specific as possible when sending an email.
Use the "Reply to" or "Respond" button to add to an existing discussion. This will make it easy to keep related material in the appropriate threads.
Reply to an existing message at the top of the response. In that way, readers won't have to scroll through the original message to see what you have posted.
Keep your comments/reponses brief and to the point.
Use text formatted email and avoid posting attachments (unless prompted to do so).
Delete any part of the original message which is not relevant to your response. This cuts down on time and wasted bandwidth, and it helps to keep your points clearly focused.
Don't use lengthy signatures. Two or three short lines (40-75 characters) should be enough.
Don't feel obligated to respond to every email or Forum posting. However, if you have something useful to contribute, by all means do so. (I will clearly indicate any discussion topic/question which requires a response.)

Using the Norton Discussion Forum

Thanks to W.W. Norton, the publisher of our texts, we will be using Ceilidh as our online discussion forum. It is a simple, intuitive program that will allow you to ask questions, offer suggestions/answers, and discuss problems related to the class with me and with your fellow students. I will also be using it regularly as a way to supplement the online learning experience. For a complete explanation of how the forum works, click on the Ceilidh icon. Note: This site is for information only. (Your username will not work here.) Use your browser's back button to return to this page.

You will find a link to our class Discussion Forum at the bottom of each lesson page. When the site opens, select "Discussion Forum" from the menu at the left of the page.

At the beginning of the semester, I will create a username for you and register you for the forum. (Only registered members may participate--and participation is required.) I will email your username as soon as the registration is complete. Keep a record of your username.

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How can I copy text from a web page (when I don't want to print the entire page)?

It's easy to print an entire web page, but many times you will only want to print (or copy and save to disk) a part of the page. Here's how you do it if you're using Windows 95 or 98. With your browser window open:

Hit your Windows key (or select Start), then go to Programs/Accessories/Notepad.
When Notepad opens, you'll need to resize and drag its window so that you can see the information in the browser window.

resize

Select the part of the page you want to copy by highlighting/blocking it with the mouse just as you would in any word processor.
Select "Edit" and then "Copy" from the menu. Then click the Notepad window and select "Edit" and "Paste." Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcuts indicated in the graphic below. (If the Notepad window disappears, click on Notepad in the icon tray at the bottom of the screen.)

Once the text is in the Notepad window, you can print or save as you would with any document.

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