PST 328
GENERAL INFORMATION
All email assignments have to show the prewriting, editing, and final form. All three of these are to be sent as attachments to your emails. Since the normal proofreading marks do not lend themselves easily to the Word format, it is required that all changes to the writings are shown by a different font type in bold. I will do the same to all corrections on your papers in order to let you see easily what the problem with the paper might be.
Since this is a writing class, I urge you to submit your discussion board questions with correct syntax, vocabulary, and punctuation as much as possible. (I will point out errors, but there will be no grading penalty for making a mistake.) The board has a spell-check feature, please use that. But, also be aware that the spell-check feature is not infallible, i.e., it may not pick up all misspelled words or grammar errors. Sometimes it will also point to grammar errors that are not errors at all but simply bad typing skills. An easy way of submitting correct questions is to write your answers in Word format; highlight (if necessary), click control +A ; click control +C ; then go to the browser (discussion board) and tab to the message box. There you click control +V and it should bring your answer on the board. This is also a good method to prevent the loss of your answer. If you use the spell-check and grammar-check on the discussion board, you might lose your message altogether, since those programs are sometimes a little unreliable when you try to access them. If you work in Word format and use the grammar and spelling features, please be aware, as stated above, that the program has often errors or might not contain the information that you need. If in doubt, please refer to your textbook, Unit 7, Chapter 19, which is an overview of the most common grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling rules. Although we cover Chapter 19 at the beginning of the course, I urge you to refer to this chapter all during the course.
I am available in the chat room for conferences on Saturday mornings from 8 :00-9 :00 A.M. CST, or at any other time provided you make an appointment with me by email. It will be necessary to have some classroom sessions in the virtual classroom. Please watch the discussion board for class-times. I will advise you at least one week ahead of time when the classroom sessions in the virtual classroom will occur. Since many of you work different schedules, these classroom sessions will be arranged for mutually convenient times at least twice during the week. You will be required to attend only one of these sessions. I do not foresee this happening until later in the semester, but, again, please check the discussion board on a regular basis.
Information about email assignments and discussion board questions are posted under their own headings on the menu board. Instructor’s notes to the various chapters are an important part of the course, so please be sure to read those before reading the chapter.
Exams are divided into writing assignments and/or multiple choice, true-false questions about the principles taught in the text. The Midterm Exam will consists of a writing assignment. The due date for this assignment is posted on the « Assignment » button on the class menu. The Final Exam will consist of a research paper or a proposal (your choice !). Please check under the “Grading Policies” button on your class menu board to see how papers will be graded. Due to the university’s deadline for posting grades, I will ask that your final research papers or proposals be submitted no later than . That will enable me to read and grade your papers before the required deadline. Your paper or proposal is the only Final Exam that you will be given.
Your other quizzes and tests can be found under the “Assignments Schedule” button on the class menu board.