Professor Robert Goldberg

Spring 2012

Dear EGL1320 Online Student,

Welcome to the online section of Writing for Business (EGL1320-DL01). I hope you  find this course interesting and use this as an opportunity to acquire another skill for your portfolio. Because of the nature of this course, it is important that you respect and honor your views as well as the views of your peers.  

Read this letter carefully.

This course officially runs from January 23 - May 14, 2012.

If you have not already done so, log onto http://www.pgcconline.com/index.html, for information related to distance learning. In addition, take the "Orientation for Online Learning": click HERE.

The only required trip to campus is to purchase your  textbook(s). Even those, however, can be purchased online at the bookstore's Web site: http://www.pgccboostore.com. You may have other options, as well. For the main textbook, you could purchase just Connect Plus (with eBook) Business Communication Access Code Card. This gives you access to the McGraw-Hill Connect software, which will be integrated into Blackboard and will allow you to access assignments and quizzes, as well as the e-version of the textbook, M: Business Communication, by Flatley, Lentz, and Rentz. The ISBN for this is 978-0-077-46248-2. The benefit in doing this is that you do not have to carry a textbook with you; you will be able to access it within Blackboard, or directly from the Connect site (once you register with your access code).

But, you may prefer to have a hard copy of the textbook if it works better for your learning style. If you prefer to have a hard copy of the textbook, then purchase the book using the ISBN located on the syllabus. This will provide you with the hard copy text and Connect Plus with e-book and access code card. The ISBN for this package is 978-0-077-91004-4.

If you have any questions or  problems, please call me (301-322-0566) or, more preferable, send me an e-mail at goldberj@pgcc.edu. (E-mail is always the best way to reach me, but you MUST use your Owl Mail account!)

Next, begin by reading the "Online Survival Tips" page and the "Syllabus" page located here on my academic Web site (http://academic.pgcc.edu/~rgoldber/). The same material from the syllabus is located in Blackboard, under "Syllabus & Schedule," where you will find General Course Information, including policies relating to coursework and appropriate behavior (online, we use the term 'netiquette', or Internet etiquette. E-mails to the professor or to classmates should be related to course matter. Discussion board postings must deal only with the course, and must be civil. If you have issues with a classmate, you must resolve them in an appropriate and mature manner. More on this will be found in the Discussion Board section.

Once you have reviewed all necessary material, you should log into Blackboard and enter the course Web site. You will find the link to the course on the right side of the screen. Click on the link to begin exploring the course Web site. Once in the course Web site, you will see a menu on the left side of the screen. This 'sidebar' is your entry point to all of the sections of the course. You should thoroughly explore this Web site by clicking on each link to find out what is contained behind each link.

After you have thoroughly explored the Web site, you may begin with the "First Assignment." In Blackboard, you will find this in the section labeled "Assignments" in the sidebar, since these are not chapter-specific assignments. Assignments related to the actual chapters will be found in the appropriate "Learning Unit" folder. Here you will also find instructions on how and where to submit assignments. Failure to follow these instructions could result in you not receiving a grade on a particular assignment.

You also should read the announcements regularly, as these will give you additional instructions, including where and how to submit assignments.

Course Materials

You will be able to access course materials beginning on or about January 19.

The URL for this course is:  http://pgcconline.blackboard.com

You will need your Owl Link username and password to "Log In" to Blackboard, our Course Management System (CSM). If you would like information about Blackboard, go to: http://www.blackboard.com

Please use the following guidelines when sending e-mail to me. I will use email for all personal and confidential correspondence. I will not accept any assignments, except as specifically noted, via e-mail! All assignments, except as noted, will be submitted via the "Assignment" function within Blackboard.

1.  In the subject area, enter EGL1320-DL01, and clearly identify the topic of your message. You MUST use your Owl Mail account (issued by the college).

2. I will check my e-mail every business day (Monday through Friday).

3. I will respond as soon as possible, usually within 24-48 hours. If your e-mail is a quick question or comment, I will generally respond within one business day.

* Be sure to update your e-mail address in Blackboard, under "Personal Information," to the e-mail address you regularly use. (This should be the e-mail that you gave to the Office of Admissions and Records when you created your Owl Link account.

Let's have a great semester.

Professor Goldberg
Professor of English
Prince George's Community College