Update

Here's an update. Hope things have been well and you're enjoying cooler weather. I finished the last WP#2 or two that trickled in, and I've moved on to WP#3. One class already has WP#3 submitted and the other class should within a week. Do NOT miss this deadline.

 The state of MLA on some of your WP#2s was ABYSSMAL. Folks, this is Advanced Freshman Research & Comp. We require MLA, and many of the high schools around here have also. The required texts and readings inlclude how to do MLA as well. So please remember to use it and use it well. If you aren't sure, ask a friend, ask me, or look it up. I will be most critical on that point when grading WP#3.

Tags: WP3+MLA

Gmail 2.0

You may have notices some differences to GMAIL this weekend. Google is slowly rolling out Gmail 2.0, which is faster and prettier. One big difference is a better contacts menu options (which I hope soon includes APIs!). Anyway, what it means to you is if it doesn't work for you, then:

1) Wait a few days to see if it works soon. They are updating things a little at a time.

2) If you want everything to work NOW, then click on the link in the upper left called "Older Version" and it'll resort to what you had a few days ago, and you can do everything you already know.

 Have a nice weekend.   

Tags: gmail+updates

A few important notes about WP#3

Folks,

Good evening. Here we are again. I think a few of us got behind due to illness season attacking us all. I've been finishing WP#2 now, and I had a few notes I wanted to make sure I shared with you.

 1. WP #3 has absolutely NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS. Some people have been liberal in their use of the "I" in your papers.

 2. Research is REQUIRED. This class is based on research (the reason you've been adding to your annotated bibliography, reading differnt points of views, using different systems to gather your information, etc....) So making sure you have research used correcly in MLA format in your paper is important.  Also, include your final Annotated Bibliography that correlates to ALL your parenthetically cited sources in WP#3.

 Email me anytime with questions.

Tags: WP#3

Missing submissions

Folks,

Please pay close attention to due dates. Also, pay attention to turnitin.com submissions. This week several people have not submitted papers to turnitin.com and have also not submitted papers on time. These results in zeroes. Please please be cognizant of all steps on deadline instructions and syllabi.

Tags: turnitin.com

HW Update

Hi everyone, I will see you tomorrow, but I wanted to give you an update. Today I graded all of your homework until Deadline #8. I am still having a few people not titling things correctly and I've threatened to stop grading them. Also, some people are definitely skipping some homework assignments, and that's your decision but it will affect your grade. Also, if you miss a turnitin.com deadline without good reason, you will unfortunately not get credit for that work. And I sure do hope you're reading the blogs. This is part of your assignments in this class.

Tags: homework, titles, turnitin.com

Reminders to save your lives :)

Folks,
A couple things.
Keep checking back on your gradesheets (for English 102). If there’s a discrepancy, I don’t want to wait until December 5th to deal with it.

Always submit final drafts to turnitin.com. For Eng102 people, I will no longer require drafts submitted there! Only final copies you want me to grade.

Never add all of your classmates to the Final Drafts in Google Docs, since they can then see YOUR grades and they could edit something before I grade it.

Always, make a separate blog post for each homework assignment, and please do each assignment as missing work adds up. 

Title every single blog entry correctly with Deadline # and Homework #.

Wikipedia is NOT your friend. Do not use it. You will not get any credit for it, AT ALL. 

I am now a stickler for due dates and will hold to them unless you’ve got a really good reason.

Good reasons = death, documented medical situation, birth, etc…
Bad reasons = “I took on too many responsibilities”, my computer is in the shop, I don’t have internet at home, “I forgot”, “I will get to it”

Status check: English 101 folks, I am grading Module 2 now. Module 1 is done. English 102 2513 folks, I am all caught up except WP2. English 102 7891 folks, I will have everything done before we meet again.

Yes, I am sending this blog post to all four sections. ☺

Tags: updates+grades+eng101+eng102+wikipedia+blog+turnitin.com+duedates

Conferences

According to the syllabus each student is required to converse with me regarding their performances in class. Some people are working ahead and have everything they need. Other people are MIA. So what I would suggest is that we make conferences optional and via email. This way we can meet asynchronously. Email me THIS WEEK your Strength, your WEAKNESS, and also a question  or two you need answered. 

Tags: conferences+grades