As a member of our English 200 course it is your responsibility to join this e-journal blog and, crucially, to participate throughout the semester. You will do this in three ways: (a) by submitting your journal entries as comments to posts of at least 200 words, (b) by following the prompt's directions, and (c) by turning-in these assignments before the class meeting when they are due.
Importantly, this site will also serve as a message board from me to you and you to me. I will most likely have to pass on important information regarding class meeting times, assignment deadlines, changes in the syllabus, etc. throughout the term. Therefore, be sure to check this site frequently, especially on days before and after we meet for class, to be sure you are current with the goings-on of the course.
Okay, so what's next?
Below I am going to detail how to join this blog and how to contribute. If you are unfamiliar with using blogs have no fear, Blogger is quite user-friendly and you should catch on quick. Remember, you can always email me with questions. What you should do is email me immediately if you are having trouble with the site, for journal entries may be submitted via email and handed in hard copy the day they are due if such internet hiccups arise.
How to Join
Via email you will receive a link allowing you to gain authorial access to this blog. Follow the link and you will have the opportunity to create a new Google username and password and officially join Blogger and the course e-journal. If you already use Gmail, you can use your existing account log-in information without having to create anything new. Please use your first initial and last name as your username! So, for example, my username would be something like sdamato.
From now on you will need your username and password to log into this blog before you add a comment or a post. I highly encourage you to record this important information some place accessible (but safe) or email it to yourself so you do not forget this information!
How to Comment and Post
First, you must log in. Second, to comment to any post click on the post's title or on the "## comment" link at the bottom of the post. You can also click on the post's title found under the archived posts on the right side of the site. At the bottom of the post you will find an editable text box. Remember to write at least 200 words! You can offer something in response to the posted journal prompt, or you can reply to a comment written by another student.
If the debate gets intense or interesting enough then I may decide to move the discussion into a new thread (i.e., post) all its own. If you wish to post a new topic/thread once logged in, go to the top of the site and at the right of your email address/username on the navbar you will see a link titled "new post". This is your ticket. Once you've arrived at the post-editing screen you'll notice it's a bit more complicated than the comment box; yet, think of it like a word document screen and you will catch on quickly.
More Editing and an Important Disclaimer
If you happen to know html and/or java scripts you can use these to edit your posts to a greater degree---adding images, video, links, and more.
If a you should choose to add media to a post, keep in mind that inappropriate content, material, and language will be subject to immediate removal. Depending on the level and degree of inappropriateness, the student-author faces disciplinary action such as receiving a zero on the assignment (minimum) or being reported to the Dean of Student Affairs (maximum). Please see the CUNY Computer User Responsibilities webpage for information concerning such disciplinary processes.
In Closing...
Be sure to bookmark this site on your personal computer so that you can check the blog frequently. As I recommended above, nearly once a day you should be visiting our e-journal. While you are required to only submit one writing per journal assignment, you may write as much at you wish on this blog. Contributing more and showing extra effort certainly weighs positively on your overall class participation!
Remember, the point of this blog is not only for me to impart important class announcements nor for you to just submit a weekly journal entry; rather, it should serve as a birthplace for written ideas. The things discussed and argued here will undoubtedly come up in class, and should, so feel free to verbally reference the blog's content while we are in the classroom. Paper topics and sites of argumentation will also present themselves here. This is a vital component and goal of this site: for as we test and share ideas with one another, we further understanding of specific subject matter, thereby developing and deepening our ability to discuss the course's texts and topics to a greater degree.
I hope you join as soon as possible so that you can begin adding to your classroom e-community by contributing commentary and content to what is now our new English 200 course blog!
