By Monday, January 7, at midnight

• If you have not done so already, read Welcome to English 420Y, Business Writing (Distance Learning).
• Complete Getting Started 1: Registering on the Site
• Review carefully the Course Description, paying particular attention to all requirements. It is important that you become very familiar with the course policies so you can understand what is expected of you in this class. It might be best if you read through the course description twice; ignorance of the course policies will not be an excuse for failure to properly complete an assignment. Please do not fall behind on the first day. This course will proceed at a quick pace, so don't wait a few days to get going!
• Read Learning to Navigate the Site. Then explore the class website. Make sure that you login; some class website features are not available to guests. It'll be easier as we move forward if you take the time now to explore. Get familiar with where things are located, which links take you further into the class website and which take you outside to other resources.
• Read through the rest of this page so that you know when assignments are due the rest of the week.

By Wednesday, January 9, at midnight

• Complete Getting Started 2: Logging in for the First Time and Getting Started 3: Editing Your Account for the First Time
• Review How to Post to Your Individual Weblog and then "How to Post Comments and Replies"
• Note the node under Project Posts in the left menu entitled "Introductions." Post an introduction of yourself there from your blog. In your introduction:

  describe where you are from
  give your course of study and year
  talk about your career goals
  tell what you would like to get out of this course
  share at least one thing personal about yourself (a hobby, your favorite sport, a favorite activity, etc.)

• Once you have posted your own introduction, go and read some posted by your classmates. Respond to at least 5 of them by using the comment/reply function at the bottom of each blog post.

• Reminder: As you work on assignments for this course, always read ahead a few days to give yourself time to ask questions about future assignments. You should direct these questions to the FAQ node on the navigation menu to the left.

By Friday, January 11 at midnight

• You should have purchased the course textbook by today: The Thomson Handbook (Comprehensive Edition), by David Blakesley and Jeffrey L. Hoogeveen. Boston: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2007. This book is available at local bookstores and may also be purchased online (e.g., through Amazon, here). You can buy the hardcover or paperback versions.
• Complete, grade, and submit your Week 1 Quiz.

Reading

• Familiarize yourself with the content and structure of The Thomson Handbook. Scan the frontmatter (including the the table of contents) and the backmatter (the "Glossary of Web Terms" and the "Glossary of Usage") so that you know what the book contains.
• "Rule # 1 and the Two Main Drivers of All Professional Communications".

Check out Week 2. No later than today, you should read through the course calendar for the following week. Make sure that you understand all of the assignments. If you have any questions, contact your instructor.