New Online English 132 Student:
Welcome to English 132! I am very excited to welcome you to the second course in the college writing and research curriculum. To this point, you've completed English 131 and probably think, "Here we go again, more writing/busy work." While we will be writing a lot this semester, we will be writing about interesting topics and investigating intriguing questions. We will be writing interpretive essays and research papers about literature. This will allow us to explore human nature and what makes us who we are.
Being that this class is online, you not have the same responsibilities as you would in a face-to-face class...YOU WILL HAVE MORE! You need to read all postings and be aware of due dates, reading assignments, essays and examinations. I will announce these, but will not remind you about every little project. We are all adults and online education requires strict self-discipline and focused attention. I trust you are this type of student since you signed up for an online course. If you are lacking in computing skills and/or self-discipline, this may not be the proper instructional method for you.
Please note that this course is 95% online and does require two face-to-face meetings with me during the semester.
If you're not sure you're ready for the commitment of an online course take the self-test on the HFCC UCompass login page http://henryford.ucompass.com. Click the Student Resources link and then click "Is online for you?" to learn if your learning style and self-discipline is suited for online learning.
There are certain technical requirements for success in this course. You are responsible for the necessary hardware and software, as well as the ability to competently use both. You must have access to a computer with a CD-ROM drive. You must be able to access the Internet. To ensure that your computer is ready for online learning click "PC Requirements" in the Student Resources section of the UCompass login page - http://henryford.ucompass.com. The Technology Analysis at the bottom of the page will evaluate your computer to make sure you have the necessary software applications to access the course content. If you do not have the correct version of an application there is a link to a free upgrade page.
Should you need Technical Support with your UCompass course click the Tech Support link on the UCompass login page. Call the support numbers listed or submit your issue via e-mail and you will receive a timely response.
The web address for our English 132 online course is: http://henryford.ucompass.com.
You will not have access to your online course until the first day of regular classes for the semester.
Log into UCompass using your WebAdvisor username and the four-digit mmdd of your birth as your password (if your birthday is July 4, your password would be 0704). If you do not know your WebAdvisor username find it through the HFCC website, http://www.hfcc.edu. Click the blue WebAdvisor box, then click the link for Students and follow the prompts to display your username.
The title of our class is "Identity and Community: Faith, Tradition and Family in Rural Literature." Identity and the communities to which we belong are an important part of making us who we are. This is what makes this study so very interesting...there is no limit to the depths into which you can delve in relations to the human condition. To study this further, we will be reading two full works of literature...
Rule of the Bone, River of Earth and Winesburg, Ohio.
You need to be sure to get the Norton Critical Edition of Winesburg, Ohio (pictured above). This particular text is considered a "critical edition" because it has various contemporary discussions about the work and researched interpretations about the work included in the latter half of the text. These types of resources are invaluable for beginning literature/writing students. You will learn how to locate such resources on your own this semester. In addition to that, we will be completing various research projects and essays about these works. This will all culminate in a final researched essay that explores a literary analysis of multiple works.
I am very excited about this semester as we will be reading these fabulous novels and learning a lot about research, writing and literature. To those ends, you will also need Lunsford's Everyday Writer.
There are many features available on UCompass that will assist your learning this semester. On the left-hand taskbar you will find links for important class information like "Announcements," "Examinations," "Discussion Board" and "Assignments." The wheelbarrow icon at the bottom of your page will show you your workload throughout the semester. Please always check the above mentioned sections of the text when you log in every other day.
Beyond the UCompass resources, there is a text-specific website for Lunsford's text that is full of exercises and various resources to assist with your understanding of some of the big "sticky points" of writing. I highly suggest registering on this site and utilizing the exercises as needed. Throughout the semester I will be indicating your personal writing "sticky points" and will suggest various exercises to complete or resources on the website to review. Click http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/everyday_writer3e to access this site, or follow the "External Links" link on the left-hand taskbar.
Please take some time to familiarize yourself with the links and websites mentioned in this letter. Online education is difficult, but not impossible. It takes perseverance, diligence and discipline. However, it also takes communication. Should you have questions or concerns during the semester you should contact me immediately via email or the discussion boards. I make great efforts to provide speedy and thorough communication with all of my online students and hope that you provide the same to me. I look forward to working with you this semester. I do wish you all the best of luck and look forward to a great semester.
Sincerely,
Adam R. Hazlett
English and Foreign Languages Division
Reuther Liberal Arts Building – L-206
313-845-6406
ahazlett@hfcc.edu