Week the First: ENGL 344 policies/syllabus-awareness assignment.

TORDA'S SPRING 2023 TEACHING SITE

Week the First: ENGL 344 policies/syllabus-awareness assignment.

1/22/2020

Because this is an online class, I am not able to insure that you will read and understand the syllabus and policies for this class. The first part is an email, described in this week's class update (check your email), that you need to send me.

The second part requires that you post a response to this prompt:
6. POST ON THE CLASS DISCUSSION BOARD.Ask me two questions about any thing on my website for our class: policies, due dates, classroom expectations, assignments. You can't tell me you have no questions. You have to ask me two. BUT, they shouldn’t be questions that could be answered if you read the syllabus and policies for the class.

7. POST ON THE CLASS DISCUSSION BOARD. Include with your questions a meme of your choosing or design that sums up how you are feeling about your semester so far.

HOW TO POST
TO POST: when you are ready to post your two questions, simply click on the "comments" button in the top right or bottom left of this screen. A dialogue box will pop up. Enter the identification information (your name, email) and then enter your 300 words in comment section. Click "submit" and you are done.

TO REPLY: Simply click the "reply" button at the bottom of any post or scroll all the way down to the last post to the "Leave a Reply" section. Fill out the dialogue boxes like you did for posting and click "submit."

53 Comments

Jailyn Tavares

1/22/2020 02:57:18 pm

Question #1: How quickly do you respond to emails? I have had some online professors who never even replied to my emails with questions or concerns.

Question #2: About how much time will we have to read each novel assigned? Sometimes I can fall behind on reading due to the workloads in other classes I am taking so I like to stay on top of the reading as much as I can.

http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3rt6lu

(I couldn't figure out how to copy the meme into the comments so this is the link to the meme. Parking in Spring Street Lot is the worst struggle ever!)

1/27/2020 11:11:58 am

Hi Jailyn--

I have a note about this in the syllabus. If it's a general question about class, I would prefer for folks to post it to the Q&A discussion board that I will post pretty much every week. The discussion board, sort of like this one, will focus on whatever we've got going on this week in class. I check the website pretty frequently. If it's a personal question that pertains only to you, certainly email me--particularly during the "online" office hours for the class. I'll get back to you immediately then. If it's not during an office hour, it can take me up to 24 hours to respond. I check my email every AM.

Second question: There is a novel due about every two weeks. All of them are YA so they take a few hours to read. I intersperse those novels with lighter reading loads or other assignments. You'll notice I dropped a book off the list--I didn't want to just squeeze another text in for the sake of doing so. I would, however, suggest that you read ahead as much as you can. It will help not just in this class but in other classes where the load is heavier and/or harder.

LT

Caroline Keenan link

1/23/2020 05:51:17 am

1. How much time do you believe your average student will spend on assignments and studying during the week?

2. Will there be extra credit opportunities throughout the semester?

http://www.quickmeme.com/img/cd/cd568a63c00e6cef507bfd76e624a82a315b407b6070c72206ff1541205b50e1.jpg

1/27/2020 11:16:39 am

1. The standard for that sort of thing is that for every hour you spend in class you should expect to spend 2-3 hours outside of class. We don't meet face to face so much depends on how long it takes you to complete the work. I'm asking for roughly 750 words a week of informal writing. You are all advanced English majors. I think you can do that work in roughly 2-3 hours. There will be a few weeks where you probably need to spend more time on the writing because of an additional small assignment. Much depends on how long it takes you to read a text. See my reply to Jailyn for more on that.

I'm not really a big extra credit person. I'm a get the work done that you are supposed to get done person. Also, my grading is contract and spec. If you do the work, the chances of you getting an A in the class is very, very high. This isn't a writing intensive course, so my focus is not on teaching writing but using writing to give evidence that you read and to help you develop an understanding of YA. So, again, if you just do the posts with some measure of quality, I don't think that extra credit will be necessary.

Megan Shaughnessy link

1/23/2020 08:13:30 am

1. What will the use of the novels be in the course? (discussion, essays, etc.)

2. What is your goal for us students?/ What knowledge/content/skill should we master by the end of the semester?

(my meme is provide in the link)

1/27/2020 11:19:27 am

Hi Megan--

If you check out the syllabus and the links to the assignments for this class, you will have a good idea of how we will work with the novels/reading/texts for this semester. It's not really that different from how you'd work in any other 300 level English class. There is more thought about how you might teach these texts since all of you are also ed majors (or most). But, other than that, we'll treat these texts as literature to be discussed and analyzed.

If you check out the policies for the page, you'll see the course objectives. That's pretty much what I hope for you to leave the course with.

Molly Drain

1/23/2020 08:40:44 am

1. What, if any, is the best time to contact you if we have an urgent question? (I.e. are weekends not a good time for you to respond)

2. Will we have ample notice for longer assignments? if so on average how long will we know in advance?

https://www.meme-arsenal.com/en/create/template/25412
(meme in link)

Molly Drain

1/25/2020 07:54:26 pm

New 2nd question! Where will we be able to access our grades?

1/27/2020 11:26:09 am

Molly if you read through the evaluation section of the class, you'll see that you are essentially responsible for keeping track of your grades for the teaching discussion assignment and the book club reading journals. The evaluation for each major assignment is explained on the assignment page for each assignmnent--see, for instance, the flash mentor text memoir: YA Edit assignment.

As an aside to a future teacher, I have real concerns that online learning systems make students very passive about their grades. They stop paying attention to how much an assignment is worth and just wait to see how things work out. I explain exactly how you will be evaluated and it is up to you to keep track of that. And I explain how much each assignment is worth in total towards your final grade (10% or 20% or 5%) and, again, it's up to the student to keep track of that. At midterm and at the end of the semester you'll get a personal email from me to give you a grade so far.

1/27/2020 11:22:34 am

Molly--

Check out both the policies for our class about the weekly Q&A discussion board for general questions about class. For urgent personal questions, please see my response to Jailyn's question above.

If by ample notice you mean do I tell you when things are due on the syllabus, then, you have lots of ample notice because the syllabus is pretty complete. It lists all the due dates for readings and the due dates for major assignments--though this is not a writing intensive class so the "major assignments" (which are described briefly in the policies and in more detail on separate pages on the site, some are already live and some are not), are not really that major. The "major" work of the class is the weekly discussion boards and small group book clubs.

Chelsey Daly

1/23/2020 10:36:43 am

1. Will we be writing essays throughout this course? If so, how many?

2. Would you say the average pace of the class will be completing one book per week?

http://www.relatably.com/m/img/english-major-memes/frabz-English-Major-What-my-friends-think-Ill-do-What-my-mom-thinks-I--568013.jpg

Gabby Sleeper

1/24/2020 10:30:55 am

1. Do you have a grading breakdown? (ie, how much discussion posts, final project, etc. are worth)

2. I noticed that late assignments cannot be revised. Does that mean we can revise things that we turn in on time? Does apply to essays (if we are assigned essays)?

My meme: https://pics.me.me/Twitter-Hows-college-going-493128.png

Gabby Sleeper

1/24/2020 11:33:23 am

Because I just found the answer to my first question, I have a new one. What made you decide to assign a graphic novel? Are there any tips you have in breaking down/analyzing this format (as opposed to prose)?

1/27/2020 11:34:43 am

Graphic Novels are powerful texts. One was nominated for the very prestigious Booker prize last year (I taught it in my ENGL 489 class). You can read about it here: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/23/books/booker-prize-graphic-novel-ondaatje.html

Further, YA readers respond powerfully to graphic novels--and, what is more, they are surrounded by visuals they need to analyze and interpret. It makes sense to bring them into the classroom.

We'll take some time to talk about how you read and respond to a graphic novel. Our classmate Shaun Ramsay might have some insight since he is an avid reader of the genre.

1/27/2020 11:28:51 am

Hi Gabby--

If you check out the policies for the course, you'll see the breakdown for how much each assignment is worth towards your final grade. How each assignment will be evaluated is explained on each assignment page--that's true for the discussion posts, reading journal/book club/ and the mentor text flash memoir: YA edit assignment--all of which are live on our class website.

You can read about how revision figures into the discussion board posts and the book club/reading journal, also, on the policies for the class and on the individual assignment pages for this class.

Nicole Zaccardi

1/24/2020 10:31:25 am

DO we have any projects in which we have to work with other members of the class, besides responding to each other's discussions?
Do you find it's easier to have your own website rather than use blackboard?
My meme is more of a vibe than my feelings about the semester so enjoy
https://meme.xyz/m/meme/28523/egg-one-of-the-most-popular-forms-of-child-to-eat.html

1/27/2020 11:36:09 am

The only "group" project is the online reading journal/book club assignment.

I most definitely find it easier to use my own website rather than blackboard. I think you'll see why over the course of the semester.

Ethan Child

1/24/2020 01:56:18 pm

1. When will we have access to our reading journal book club groups?
2. When will the class discussion boards be posted? Would it ever be possible to complete these assignments a week in advance if we know we will be busy the following week?

My meme: https://i.imgur.com/oZ4d25F.png

1/27/2020 11:38:45 am

New assignments for the week will always be posted on Mondays. I will not be able to post things ahead of time. Mostly it just organizationally that will be confusing for me and, I suspect, other members of the class. It's also not in the spirit of a "class" experience, even if it is online. The best way to prepare for the class is to read ahead if you want to get a head start on things. The writing you are expected to do is roughly 750 words a week--which, for an advanced English major being asked to do informal writing, should take you roughly 2 to 3 hours per week.

Jessica Rinker

1/24/2020 03:57:43 pm

1. When do you expect us to be finished reading a book. For example, Week Three says "read also Little Women," and reading journal and discussion board are aslo due. Does this mean we should have completed Little Women by the beginning of Week 3, and the reading journal and discussion board are due the Sunday (the last day of Week 3?)
2. When it's our turn to be a respondent, are we summarizing the take-away from all the discussion posts, just the teaching discussion posts, or the reading discussion posts?

Thanks!

Meme: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b6/54/5a/b6545a9653960a79e694bf788b1f4fa0.jpg

1/27/2020 11:41:26 am

I expect the work to be done by Sunday at noon. If you read the book from 3:00 AM until 9:00 AM on Sunday and then post from 9:00 AM until noon, you've completed the assignment. So I don't care when you have the book finished, but you will want to have the book finished so you can complete the posting requirements by the Sunday at noon following the Monday date on the syllabus. You may have read the materials before I posted a clearer explanation of this on the class website (I added it after Friday). Take a look at it and see if you still have questions.

Justin Carpender

1/24/2020 04:25:17 pm

Hello! Here are my two questions:

1.) How do online office hours work? Is it a chat discussion or a face cam kind of deal?

2.) Will you be using Blackboard to upload grades?

Here is my meme of this semester, every semester.

https://twitter.com/Brittany_broski/status/1216460864494039040?s=20

1/27/2020 11:45:17 am

Hello Justin--

See my extended explanation about how you'll understand your grades in my response to Molly Drain. You can also read the "evaluation" section of the policies for an overall understanding of how grades work and the individual assignments to explain how you'll know what grade you got for each assignment. So, no, I won't be using blackboard at all the semester.

Online office hours means that I'm checking my email and that if you email me I will respond immediately during that time period. Also, check out what I say about the Q&A discussion board to Molly Drain (and I think I said it in an email I sent on Friday last). Hope this helps.

Hannah Brodeur

1/24/2020 05:57:47 pm

1.Do you suggest a pace we should be reading the texts throughout the week?
2.Will our grades be uploaded to google docs? For instance, if we write a reading journal that is not “acceptable” will we see it right on the google doc or will be on blackboard?

Here is the link for my meme:

https://me.me/i/funny-twitter-so-hows-your-semester-going-me-348690

1/27/2020 11:49:10 am

Hi Hannah--

Check out what I said to Jailyn Tavares and Caroline Keenan and Jessica Rinker about what to do about reading. At the end of the policies in a note I say that my best advice if you are worried about workload is to read ahead.

You should assume you've got an "A" for acceptable unless I privately email you one-on-one and tell you that something you wrote is a "U" for unacceptable. I will never broadcast that to everyone on the google doc. Same goes for the discussion board.

And the same policy that stood in 301 stands in this class--as long as you post something--anything--by the deadline, you can revise it later on. This will be a bit awkward in book club/reading journal, but it should be OK.

Maddie Butkus

1/24/2020 06:56:29 pm

1. What do you mean when you say “respond the way you would for any other 300-level lit class”? Are there certain characteristics you are looking for?
2. Will each of the respondent take-aways be posted for the whole class to see or is it just for those people who wrote them?

Meme: https://me.me/i/stress-stress-everywhere-memegeneratornet-school-got-me-like-1106187

1/27/2020 11:52:18 am

1. I'm really not sure what to say about this one. What I'm saying is, when you read Shakespeare you analyze it. When you read Poe you analyze it. When you read Joyce you analyze it. When you read Morrison you analyze it. What I don't want is people just reviewing the YA novels we read (I liked it or I didn't like it). And I don't want folks saying things like, well, it's for kids so what is there to analyze, it's too simplistic. I want you to analyze it like you've been asked to do in other classes--as a piece of literature.

2. I will make the respondents take-aways and make it available to everyone in the class. That's going to be true for the Teaching Discussion and the Individual Reading Journal/Book Club responses.

Colby Nilsen

1/24/2020 07:22:04 pm

1.) Would you consider giving one "late day" pass for an assignment?

2.) What will our final project look like?

3.) Pizza party?

meme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz3PbpPR6DY

1/27/2020 11:54:51 am

1. The same policy stands for all assignments--as long as you contribute something by the post deadline, you can always go back and revise a less than good post.

2 I'll give complete details on the final project in a while--too much to write here. I briefly explain what you are options are in the overview of formal writing projects in the policies for the course.

3. There is no rule that says you can't meet face to face. I'd like to have an outing to see Little Women and have folks to dinner after. We might brainstorm other field trips as well--all optional of course.

Tony Fraioli

1/25/2020 07:25:04 am

1. My first question is, I know that all assignments are due on Sunday following the Monday’s updates but are they due at 11:59? noon? 1?

2. I noticed some assignments need to be put on google docs while others should just be submitted on our class website discussion page. Is there a reason for this? And what type of assignments are on the google docs?

Meme: https://images.app.goo.gl/WqY3Fchr8kuc1nfQ6

Shaun Ramsay

1/25/2020 09:45:32 am

1. I noticed for April 6th the reading is Monday’s Not Coming or Darius the Great is Not OK; do we pick which book to read or will it be assigned?

2. Will our grades be posted to Blackboard?

3. What influenced you to use your own website rather than Blackboard?

Meme: https://imgflip.com/i/3n6x4s

1/27/2020 11:58:15 am

1. Half the class will read Monday's Not and Half the class will read Darius. I did this to cut down on the number of novels anyone has to read for the class.

2. Please see my responses to Molly Drain, Justin Carpender, Gabby Sleeper, and Hannah Brodeur above. I'm not using blackboard at all.

3. My website is prettier, more flexible, more reliable, and easier to access for me and for students.

Natasha Cardin

1/25/2020 11:40:47 am

1. Are grades kept up to date and visible to use?
2. What is your favorite book that we are reading this semester?

https://makeameme.org/meme/i-am-not-5acfc2

1/27/2020 12:00:27 pm

1. Please see my response to Molly Drain, Justin Carpender, Hannah Brodeur, Gabby Sleeper and about three other people on this website. And, also, read the evaluation section of the policies and the individual assignment pages where I detail exactly how you earn your grade.

1/27/2020 12:28:28 pm

For nostalgia reasons, Little Women is probably the most important book on this list for me. But I haven't read the other books--except for LIttle and Lion, which I think is quite good. I'm reading them with you. I made my selections based on some research. I use the YALSA site a lot or my classes (Young Adult Library Services Association--http://www.ala.org/yalsa/). It regularly reviews high quality YA fiction. I also read about new publications in YA--mostly in the New York Times. They have an editor dedicated to Children's Lit and YA Lit that I like to follow. I'm most excited to read Dread Nation. I haven't read a lot of YA fantasy, but this writer gets raves. I

Also, I've challenged myself as a teacher of teachers to "decolonize" my syllabi. So I try to move away from "traditional" texts--both those the students read and those the students write. Which means a move away from the canon. You might notice that nearly all the writers included in our class are black and brown writers, indigenous writers, women, and LGBTQ writers. It's really powerful to me that in this particular genre you can read diverse voices and diverse experiences in ways that you sometimes don't find in literary fiction (written ostensibly for adults). I'm really proud of this syllabus for this reason, and look forward to reading and discovering these authors with you this semester. Thanks for asking.

Olivia Sweeney

1/25/2020 12:50:55 pm

1. When will we receive our grades/feedback on assignments?
2. Will there be any opportunities for extra credit this semester?

https://twitter.com/uabgradschool/status/552168306250358784

1/27/2020 12:01:50 pm

Please check out my responses to numerous colleagues about grading, as well as the policies for this class under evaluation and under "How I will Grade This Assignment" on all of the assignment pages for this class.

See my response to Caroline Keenan about extra credit.

Samantha Colon

1/25/2020 02:11:24 pm

1. Are there any extra credit opportunities for this class?
2. Are we able to revise assignments that are already graded?

https://starecat.com/college-in-4-pictures-spongebob/

1/27/2020 12:03:06 pm

See my response to Caroline Keenan regarding extra credit.

The policy that was in place for our 301 class is the same for this class. If you read the assignment page for each assignment it outlines how revision fits in to it.

Megan Shaughnessy

1/25/2020 03:08:14 pm

1. Where will we be able to access our grades?

2. What is your goal for us students?/ What knowledge/content/skill should we master by the end of the semester?

https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1419869-hey-there-demons

1/27/2020 12:04:34 pm

Please see my responses to various classmates (Justin Carpender, Gabby Sleeper, Hannah Brodeur, etc) about grades.

I think you asked this already. Check out the course objectives located on the policies page for our class.

Nicole Costa

1/25/2020 08:04:49 pm

Hello,
Question # 1 (well, maybe more than one)
In regards to the Flash Memoir assignment, can we write about poetry and books or would you prefer us to strictly discuss YA novels? On that note, should we approach the extra credit voice recording like something similar to a TED talk? What program should we use to send the voice recording?

Question 2:
In the Pecha Kucha assignment link it states we have to pick an article from the Reserve desk at the library and write our name on the sticky note. Will we make a copy of the article? should we email you which article we pick? When reading the assignment instructions I noticed it was still for the summer course, so maybe my question will be answered when the assignment is updated.

I look forward to talking with you soon.

Nicole Costa

1/25/2020 08:30:20 pm

Meme:
https://www.yourtango.com/sites/default/files/styles/header_slider/public/image_blog/collegelife.jpg?itok=fbYxVpHZ

1/27/2020 12:10:02 pm

1. You can talk about any text that influenced you when you were the YA reading age--so essentially 13 to 18, roughly. I was thinking you would read what you wrote if you want to voice-record your memoir. I would not suggest anything fancy. I would literally make a voice recording on your phone and email it to me. That's what I was thinking. It's just extra credit, so I'm not going to do any huge thing like find software etc.

2. that pecha kucha assignment has not been updated since the summer. I'll update it in the coming weeks. This time around, I will make the articles available to you online so you won't need to go to the reserve desk. This is complicated to explain here but, essentially, I'm picking five articles. In your book club reading journal group, you can decide among yourselves who reads which article--each person in the group will read and make a pecha kucha for one article. And you'll watch the pecha kucha's for each person in your group. I'm not sure that makes sense to you yet, but I think it will once we get further into the semester.

Becky Tynan

1/26/2020 04:30:45 pm

My first question would be if you have special hours reserved to not be active in your replying via email?

My next question is if there is a way to keep track of our grades on the site similar to how you can keep track of them via blackboard?

https://memestatic.fjcdn.com/pictures/English_3acf71_6596155.jpg

1/27/2020 12:11:58 pm

See my response to Jailyn Tavares and Molly Drain about responding to students.

See my responses to Gabby Sleeper, Molly Drain, Hannah Brodeur, Justin Carpender, Colby Nilsen, Sam Colon and I think like seven other people about this one.

Gabrielle Boutin

1/26/2020 04:48:22 pm

1. When we collaborate with our peers (in the book club discussions for example), will you require that we meet in person?

2. Is there a place to access our grades on your website?

https://teachingexcellenceatefsc.com/2018/01/08/5-memes-that-perfectly-sum-up-starting-the-new-semester/ (the meme I like is #3)

1/27/2020 12:12:41 pm

You don't need to meet in person; that's why I'm setting up the google docs for each group.

See my responses to Gabby Sleeper, Molly Drain, Hannah Brodeur, Justin Carpender, Colby Nilsen, Sam Colon and I think like seven other people about this one.

Savannah Resendes

1/26/2020 05:30:38 pm

Question 1: Where will we be able to access our grades for the semester and will they be up to date with each assignment or posted at the end of the semester?

Question 2: What influenced you to make your own website for the class versus just using blackboard?

Meme: https://me.me/i/on-a-scale-of-1-10-how-stressed-out-are-you-2282722

1/27/2020 12:13:40 pm

See my responses to Gabby Sleeper, Molly Drain, Hannah Brodeur, Justin Carpender, Colby Nilsen, Sam Colon and I think like seven other people about this one.

Check out my response to Shaun Ramsay about my website.

Lauren Melchionda link

1/28/2020 08:30:08 am

I am sure these questions were answered already but I have not looked at them yet because I was not sure what to use for questions if they were taken :

1) On Easter, will we still be responsible for posting on the day of Easter?
2) Is there a chance we would be able to set up a meeting in person if needed throughout the semester or will you be too busy with other classes?

1/29/2020 05:46:32 pm

1. If you want to post on the Monday, that's fine. Or you could post that Saturday. I guess I don't see why you'd need a one day extension for the holiday.

2. I am on sabbatical semester, which is why I'm teaching the course online. I don't want to commit to saying that I will arrange face to face meetings. There would have to be a very particular reason why a face-to-face conference would be required.

Kelcy Cruz

1/31/2020 07:34:14 pm

1. My question is for the select few who have also recently added the class. I understand that you do not accept late work but I was curious about the dates we've missed due to not having the class yet?
2. Are majority of the assignments due given a live link so that we will be able to access them quicker?
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/cf/f9/5a/cff95aa934f94d2bc4d14147accec5e2.jpg

Week the First: ENGL 344 policies/syllabus-awareness assignment.

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