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Spring
2010 EGL 1320-DL01 Welcome
Online
English 1320 Writing for Business
Dear Business Writing Students:
Welcome!
I'm Professor Mary Greene, your instructor for PGCC's English 1320 online
class. Before you commit yourself 100 percent, let's make sure that the
online course format and requirements match your current needs. You're
well suited to the online course if you can answer all of the following
questions with a "yes." Otherwise, a face-to-face course will serve you
better.
Online
English 1320 Readiness Questions
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Did you complete English 1010
with a C grade or higher, the prerequisite for English
1320?
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Do you have sufficient reading skills
and patience to read detailed instructions online like this letter
and follow them precisely to earn good grades?
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Have you allotted the usual face-to-face
class time (3 hours--but no commuting time!) plus another
3-6
hours weekly to devote to reading, online discussion, researching,
writing, formatting, and revising?
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Are you patient and self-sufficient
enough to work through problems without immediate technical or writing
support? I do send reminders before assignments are due, and
I check my e-mail daily during weekdays to answer your message. However,
you won't get immediate answers online .
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Are you willing to give and receive
tactful, timely feedback from your classmates and me to
help with your thinking and writing? Are you willing to check the course
website at Blackboard at least 3-4 times a week to read/complete assignments,
answer your class e-mail, and read my feedback and grading comments? Keeping
in touch online is the equivalent of showing up for a campus class.
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Do you understand that online classes
are not self-paced. Instead, you must meet strict deadlines
to learn, communicate with classmates, and get your grades on time.
You may ask in advance for up to two brief
extensions during the semester, but otherwise late
or plagiarized work earns a zero grade. One documented
emergency is the only exception to advance notice for extensions.
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Do you have word processing software
purchased after 2000 that can produce a Rich Text Format file (.rtf
file extension) every classmate can open and read? Works, Word 2003
and 2007 along with most modern PC or Mac software can save in RTF format.
Do you have a back-up computer, printer, and Internet connection you can
use if your equipment fails?
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Do you have access at home or work
to a copy of Microsoft PowerPoint software for the PowerPoint Presentation
report? If not, are you able to drive to PGCC's campus with your
PGCC Student ID to use the computers in Bladen Hall for completing this
report?
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Do you have good basic word-processing,
email, Internet navigation, file attachment, and file downloading
skills? Are you able to cope with new technologies, reading directions
and experimenting until you're comfortable? If you are disabled and function
better with an assistant in the classroom, do you have assistance at home
as well?
If
online English 1320 still sounds right for you, I look forward to meeting
you in our BlackBoard virtual classroom. Meanwhile, continue to Step
2 for Orientation information.
Preparing
for the Class
Fast
Facts
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English 1320 runs from January 25-May
15, 2010. You will be able to access our onine course in Blackboard
January 21, 2010.
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Your required textbook is Guffey, M.
Essentials
of Busienss Communication (2010), Eighth edition,
which you'll
need starting Day 1 of class. Click on your College Bookstore link for
information about textbook purchase online or on campus.
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Aside from the introductory materials
posted at this faculty website, the entire course takes place within an
online classroom called BlackBoard. No on-campus work is required.
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A Get-Started Checklist is provided here: http://www.pgcconline.com/getStarted/getStartedChecklist.html, including information to make sure your Internet browser connects correctly with Blackboard.
I will not hold a specific on-campus orientation meeting for EGL
1320.
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To protect our PGCC computer network security, you must use your OwlLink student Owl Mail email address,
not any personal email address, to get English 1320 email messages sent
from Blackboard, our online classroom or course management system. No exceptions! Please
activate your Owl Mail now, so you don't miss any important email
messages sent from within Blackboard. To activate your Owl Mail
account, visit the Owl Mail for students website at live.pgcc.edu. You will need an Owl
Link account and your Student ID# in order to activate your PGCC Owl Mail
account. Your new student email account will be YourOwlLinkUserID@students.pgcc.edu.
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Click on the navigation menu
link to my EGL 1320 Syllabus at the left to skim the
course requirements and policies.
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If you have any questions or
problems, please send me an email at mgreene@pgcc.edu.
In
the Subject line of your message, enter EGL1320, and clearly identify
the topic. Except in emergencies, I will get back to you within 24-48 hours
on weekdays, often sooner.
Blackboard
Login and Course Routine
You will need
an Owl Link Username and Password to access Blackboard, our online classroom.
Click on the Blackboard Login link on your course navigation menu and read
the instructions to create a "MyPGCC" account.
You will
not appear in my online roster until you have an OwlMail address for
all PGCC and course communication. See the note in the Fast Facts
section above to get your assigned email account.
Once you have reviewed all necessary material, log into Blackboard and
enter the course Web site. You will find the link to the course on the
right side of the screen. Once in the course Web site, you will see a menu
on the left side of the screen. This sidebar menu leads to all of
the sections of the course. Click on each link to explore.
To begin the course, follow the instructions in BlackBoard's
Welcome Announcement. Each week, read the Announcements first.
I will email you a copy of all announcements, so check you email daily
for messages labeled "EGL1320."
Click on Syllabus to find the assignments for that week.
Print out a copy for reference. I also post reminders each week on the
class Discussion Board where you enter the weekly forum.
Find Report assignments referenced in the Syllabus by clicking on the Assignments
button.
Find Discussion Board assignments by clicking on
Discussion Board>the
Week number, and the actual assignment link. You will post Discussion
Board responses in the weekly forum of the class Discussion Board
. You will post Group Discussion board assignments
by clicking on Communication>Group Pages in the Tools menu
below your course navigation buttons. During Week 2, I will set up these
Group Discussion Boards, based on your requested partner
preferences.
Always submit your report assignments as Rich Text File formatted
attachments using through the Assignments link, (not in
old version of Blackboard's Digital Drop Box). If you cannot login to Blackboard because
of technical problems, email me your work by the deadline to get credit.
Then as soon as you can login to Blackboard again, post your assignment
in the correct place to get credit through the online gradebook.
Written work will be graded 7 days after the due date.
Email me at mgreene@pgcc.edu
with any questions or concerns. Except for weekends, holidays, sick leave,
or professional leave, I respond to emails within 48 hours during weekdays,
often sooner.
Let's have a
great semester!
All the best,
Mary Greene
Professor Mary Multer Greene
Prince George's Community College
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