This document provides an orientation for an online English course. It outlines the course objectives, which focus on improving writing skills through assignments and feedback. It emphasizes that students need independence, discipline, and ability to follow directions to succeed in an online format. The document details assignment requirements, grading policies, technical requirements, instructor contact information, and important dates. It provides instructions for posting assignments, participating in discussion boards, and getting started on the first unit's work.

1. Welcome to ENG 112-63 Online
Orientation
Pam Alderman
Adjunct Instructor,
English

2. Course Information
 ENG 112-63 is an on-line course that uses
Blackboard. The primary course objective is
to help you become a better writer by
completing writing assignments, while getting
feedback from other students and the
instructor. All the information you need to
complete assignments is in Blackboard or the
required textbook.

3. IS ENG 112 FLO FOR YOU?
 Since this is an on-line Blackboard course,
you need certain attributes. You need to be
an independent learner with the motivation
and discipline required to stick to a schedule
and finish assignments on time. You also
need to be able to read and follow directions
exactly and ask questions when you need
help. Estimated time per week, regular
session = 8-10 hours; summer session =
10-15 hours.

4. Instructor Information
 Pam Alderman
 Warsaw Campus, Adjunct Room on
appointment
 804 333-5445 Attention: P.
Alderman fax
 804 761-2014 cell—use first
 palderman@rappahannock.edu

5. Instructor Availability
 Campus Office Hours: by appointment
 I check my email six days a week; I take off most of
the weekend, but I check email Sunday night. I am
rarely online after 9 p.m.
 If you email me and do not hear from me with 24
hours, then assume I did not receive the email and
send it to me again.
 Changes to my schedule will be posted on the
Announcements page in Blackboard or an email will
be sent.

6. Course Materials
 Inventing Arguments Brief 3rd
Ed.
– ISBN: 9780840027764
– Paperback Version
 If you have an older
version, it can be used.

7. Technical Requirements
 Students MUST have daily access to a computer
and Internet.
 Students MUST have skills in keyboarding, word
processing, sending and receiving email with
attachments.
 Students MUST send files in Word format or RTF.
Use of Microsoft Word is highly recommended.
 Students MUST meet the technical requirements and
minimum computer skills set by the college.

8. Dates to Remember
 Distance Learning Orientation
 Add/Drop— Last day to get a refund
 Withdrawal Deadline- Last day to withdraw
without failing
 Last Day Work Due
 Day Grades Due
 See Blackboard for specific dates

9. Things to Do Today
 Download the syllabus and the course calendar.
 Send the following information to the instructor in an
email: name, mailing address, and phone number
(cell and home).
 Make sure you can get into Blackboard.
 Get the textbook for the course.
 Go into BB and being at the “Start Here” link.

10. Things To Do Tomorrow
 Read the entire packet carefully.
 Make sure you understand:
– Course requirements,
– Grading,
– Rewrite Policies,
– Incomplete Policy,
– Withdrawal Policy.
 Take the Orientation Quiz.

11. Requirements
 Orientation Quiz
 Five Unit Writing Assignments
 One 2,000-2,500 word research paper
 Five General Discussion Boards
 Four Postings to Writing Partner Discussion
 Eight Group Forums
 Four Prewriting/planning Worksheets
 Five Unit Quizzes
 Meeting Deadlines
 Meeting the technology requirements for the course

12. Instructional Procedures
See Assignment Schedule for Dates
 Read Chapter Assignments and Handouts and View
PowerPoint Presentations; conduct necessary research.
 Post General Discussion Board Response
 Complete Unit Quiz
 Complete the Prewriting Worksheet & Group Forum
 Write First Draft of Writing Assignment
 Post First Draft in Writing Partner’s Group
 Participate in Writing Partner Group Forum
 Send Second Draft to Instructor
 Instructor returns paper with suggestions for
improvement/corrections
 Send Third draft Back to Instructor
 Instructor will respond with grade

13. Working With Your Writing Group
 Groups consist of 3-4 students.
 Purposes of Writing Groups
– To read and evaluate other papers
– To get feedback from other students
 See handout Working With Your Writing
Group

14. Grading
 Grading Rubric (in Course Documents)
 Grades are posted in Blackboard at the end
of every unit. Go to Tools and My Grades.
 For the essay, 25-23 points=A; 22-20
points=B; 19-17 points=C; 16-14 points=D;
and 13-11 points=F

15. Grading Points
 Orientation Quiz—10 pts.
 Five Text Quizzes—50 pts.
 Four Unit Writing Assignments—100 pts.
 Research Paper—100 pts.
 Five General Discussion Board Postings—70 pts.
 Four Writing Partner’s Group postings and responses—60 pts.
 Four Prewriting Worksheets—40 pts.
 Final Exam—50 pts.
 Outline (5), Works Cited (5), and heading (1) for research
paper—11 pts.
 TOTAL—491 pts.
 Extra Credit—Up to 25 pts.

16. Grading Scale
 A = 491-451 pts. (92-100%)
 B = 450-410 pts. (91-84%)
 C = 409-369 pts. (83-72%)
 D = 368-328 pts. (70-60%)

17. Rewrite/Late Policy
 Late papers cannot be revised.
 Papers that are more than two weeks late will
not be accepted.
 If the third draft is not turned in on time, the
paper will be graded as is.
 2 late papers = grade lowered one grade
level

18. Late Policy
 All group work must be done on time.
 Prewriting Worksheets must be turned in
before the first draft is posted in BB.
 General Discussion Board Postings and
Writing Partner Forums should be posted
according to the schedule.

19. Incomplete Policy
 Students have to complete four of the units in
order to request an Incomplete.
 Incompletes are not given automatically.

20. Withdrawal Policy
 Students who do not attend Orientation, do
not contact the instructor, and/or do not
complete Unit One assignments 1-9 due by
the add/drop date will be withdrawn on the
add/drop date after student contact has been
tried.
 Students who are two or more units behind
by the withdrawal date will be withdrawn.

21. Getting Started with Assignments
 Unit One—Introduction to the Course: See Due Dates in Packet and
Blackboard
– Read the course packet and take the Orientation Quiz.
– Get into Blackboard and read the assigned handouts/PowerPoints in
Course Documents.
– Read the assignments in the text.
– Post General Discussion #1.
– Take Quiz #1.
– Submit prewriting/planning worksheet to instructor in BB.
– Complete the Argument Analysis paper; save it in Word or RTF format.
– Post the Argument Analysis in the Writing Partner’s Group Discussion #1.
– Get into your group discussion board, and participate in Forum #1:
Evaluating the Argument Analysis.
– Revise the Argument Analysis and send the second draft to the instructor
as an attachment in BB under Unit One.
– Revise the paper according to the instructor’s comments and post the third
draft where the second was posted.

22. Posting a Paper
in Writing Partner Forum
 Get into ENG 112-63 in Blackboard.
 Click Writing Partner’s button on left.
 Click Group Pages.
 Find your group and click on it.
 Click on the Discussion Forum for the Unit.
 Click to Add a thread and attach paper.

23. Posting a Paper
in the Writing Partner Forum
 In the title space, put the type of paper you
are submitting and your name.
– For example, Personal Narrative by Jane Smith.
 Browse for your file and click on it.
 Now hit Submit.

24. Using the Writing Partner Discussion
Forum
 Get into ENG 112-63 in Blackboard.
 Click the Writing Partner’s button on the left.
 Click Group Pages.
 Find your group and click it.
 Click Group Discussion Board.

25. Using the Writing Partner
Discussion Board
 Click on the Forum for that Unit.
 Click on partner’s thread.
 Click on Reply and post response questions.

26. Using the Writing Partner Discussion
Forum
 In the subject line, put a title.
– Evaluation of Joe’s paper by Jane.
 Type in the responses to the questions.
 Number the responses.
 Respond to all questions and make at least
one suggestion for improvement.
 Click submit.

27. Using the General Discussion Board
 Get into ENG 112-63.
 Click on General Discussion Board, not
Groups.

28. Using the General Discussion Board
 Click the discussion for that unit.
 Click on add new thread.
 In the subject line, put Response to General
Discussion (#) by (your name).
– For example, Response to General Discussion #1
by John Doe.
 Respond to the prompt and then click
Submit.

29. Important Notices!
 The course packet is intended to be used
only as an introduction to the course. The
official information is in Blackboard.
 The instructor will not change course
requirements to meet individual student
needs. Students who cannot meet the course
requirements, including technology
requirements, should withdraw.

30. Evaluation
 To improve the course, students must
evaluate the class. Please complete your
course evaluation when posted in
Blackboard near the end of the semester.
 Only you can make the course better by
giving the college and the instructor
constructive feedback.

31. Important Reminder
 Check the Announcements page of your
Blackboard course every week to see the
“Weekly Memo” and to see if I have posted
important information.
 Check your RCC email frequently.
 Students are responsible for information
posted on the Announcements page or sent
in an email. I send memos every week—read
them!

32. Any Questions?
 Text,
 Call,
 Or email me.

33. IMPORTANT NOTICE
 The course syllabus is just intended as a
guide, and as the instructor, I reserve the
right to make changes as needed for the
benefit of my students and meeting the
VCCS objectives.
 ALL WORK MUST BE COMPLETED AND
POSTED IN BLACKBOARD.

34. Have a great semester and get
started on your assignments!
I’m looking forward to
hearing from you.