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Are you ready?  Because ready or not, next week, here it comes--online  English.

If you're taking online ENG 101, make sure you  know what you're getting into:

* An online course does not take less of your time than a live-class  course.  The time you save not going to class, you then spend by teaching yourself from written lecture material and through trial-and-error.

* Taking a course online does not mean you can do the work whenever you  want.  Yes, you can do it at 3 in the morning; and, yes, you can do it  wearing your pajamas or nothing at all.  But, no, you can't let it slide  for a week or two and expect the teacher won't notice or worry.  That's a little too much 'whenever.'

* Taking a course online is a lonely job.  If you need other people to  sit next to and chat with in order to get yourself motivated, an online  course will be tough sledding.

* Taking a course online means having to deal with the instructor...a  lot.  If you do best by sitting in the back of the room, keeping your  head down, keeping your mouth shut, and never asking questions, you may  find yourself hating life online.  It's very interactive.

* If you're planning on taking an online course and do not have easy  internet access, you're living dangerously.
 
 * If your best method of learning is NOT by reading, you might not want  an online course.

 
Okay, that's the tough stuff.  If you're still reading, here's the good news:
 
You have an instructor who's ready, willing, and able to help you.  I've taught this course for 21 years, and I've taught it on line for five or six.  The only time I'm not just an email away is if my ISP has problems.  (That occasionally happens.)
 
I know the kind of difficulties with writing and with blogs you might be having.  I'm patient, I'm (nearly) tireless: we will solve or overcome problems together!  You're going to write this semester--that's what it's all about--and I'm  going to work with you on your writing to make it even better than it is.
 
Okay, so what's next?
 
You're going to post stuff you write sometimes to a course weblog
 
(Check it out whenever you're ready.)
 
and other times to your own blog, which  you will create following instructions here:
 
 
Creating your own blog will also create a certain amount of stress and  frustration, but you only do it once.  If you run into problems, you could  email me about them at johngoldfine@gmail.  Or you could post questions (anonymously if you want) on the course forum at
 
(You can use this all semester to ask questions anonymously.  I'll get your message and respond--any time, any course problem or question, all semester.)
 
Don't forget to send me your personal blog address! Soon!

The key to opening up your online course is in the upper left hand corner of the course blog page where it says '101 Menu.'
 
That takes you to a list of course options.  If you hit 'Home' on that page, by the way, you will go to my school blog.)  One of the course options is 'Course Assignments.'  Or just slam this into your browser:

 http://sharepoint.emcc.edu/faculty/jgoldfine/eng_101_spring09_assignment.htm
 
Take a look at the material on 1/12.  Everything that's underlined is a link with lecture material and explanation just a click away.  Check it out.  Your first paragraph on hands (Graf 1) will go on your personal blog where I'll read it and comment.  Your first prompt reaction will go on the course blog (I've just put the prompts up on the course blog.)  Your first freewrite will go on the course blog.
 
There will be questions and problems, but the frustration level will decline quickly once you have your feet wet!
 
John