Welcome to Introduction to Academic Writing!
Writing 111x, Fall Semester, 2017
Section UX1
You are here (most likely) because you’ve enrolled in Writing 111x through the UA eCampus at the University of Alaska. Technically, the course CRN info looks like this: WRTG F111x UX1, taught by Megan Bush Moody (My name just changed, so the university still lists me as Megan Bush). This site is your classroom. Here you will find the entire course (assignments, lectures, discussion boards, etc.). We will be using other platforms as well, but you will find links to those through this webpage. Your papers will be submitted through Blackboard and your grades can be found there as well.
This course is designed to help you learn how to analyze the ideas of other writers and write properly formatted and documented essays for an academic audience. The “academic essay” is one that you will have to write throughout your college career, so doing well in this course will pay off in the long run.
111 is a (W)riting intensive course, which means that you will be doing a significant amount of reading and writing. This is not an easy course. As a matter of fact, it might be one of the most work-intensive courses you take from UAF, so be prepared to work!
Now let’s get started!
Step 1:
Read the course syllabus and the course calendar in their entirety. This is EXTREMELY important. You are responsible for all of this information. I will not excuse any late or missing assignments simply because you “didn’t understand’ what was required of you. Make sure you understand the details regarding grades of “Incomplete’ as well as what is needed to pass this course. Once you feel you understand how this class operates, you can begin.
So… What About that First Assignment?
Step 2:
Set up a slack account and join our team. To do so, check our blackboard website, and follow the instructions in the first announcement, titled “Welcome to Writing 111x.” You should also have received the same announcement via your UA email account.
Step 3:
Your first assignments are to begin lesson one, and write your first discussion post. Both assignments are due Friday, September 1st, 2017 no later than 11:59pm Alaska Standard Time. Write your first post both as a way to answer the discussion prompt, but also to introduce yourself. Tell us why you’re enrolled in the course, and what you hope to learn.
Step 3:
Send me an email from your UA Gmail account (it should be something like “xlastname@alaska.edu’). My email address is mbush11@alaska.edu. The subject line should say “English 111 Student Introduction.’ In the body of the email please identify yourself by your full name. Here you can inquire about any questions you have regarding the syllabus or the class as a whole. If you feel confident in your understanding of what’s expected of you a simple hello is fine. The email is just a simple way to introduce yourself. I will confirm that I’ve received it. Try to email me within the first 72 hours of the class beginning so I know you’re alive, near a computer and finding your way around the site.
If you have any trouble, please don’t hesitate to email. If I’ve not heard a peep from you by Sunday night, the delightful folk at eCampus will track you down to remind you that the semester has begun.
Best,
Megan