If you're enrolled in ENGL 420Y, Section 1, 2 or 3, with Rebecca Longster or Scott Dennis, you've come to the right place. This website will be our meeting place for the Spring 2008 semester. The site is designed to make your learning experience a valuable one. Students enrolled in this course will meet in this common space to share feedback on their writing, discuss course content, and collaborate on writing projects. As we gear up for the start of the semester, please note the following so that you're prepared and that your experience in the class is a positive one. Read more >>

1. The class starts on Monday, January 7, 2007.
2. English 420Y will never meet face-to-face. You must be comfortable working online because all communication for this class will occur electronically.
3. It will be your responsibility to check your email and the course home page three to four times per week (or more). Rebecca and I will be making constant changes to the site, particularly the calendar. As the course progresses, we will shift readings, assignments, and due dates based on the progress we're making so check back frequently to stay on top of these changes. During group projects, you will likely need to check email more than once a day.
4. You will not be taught to use the technology in the class, but you will receive some guidance as you learn to use the course website.
5. Online writing classes typically require more individual work than face-to-face classes. This class will make up for the absent face-to-face time with reading and responding on the course website. Expect to read and write at least a couple of hours a week more than you would in the equivalent face-to-face version of this class. Since we're not meeting in person, this writing time is essentially "class discussion" for us.
6. Successful students in online classes are typically self-motivated and eager to ask questions as they come up. They are good at working and accomplishing tasks on their own. They are comfortable reading and digesting textual information without the auditory feedback that regular classes provide. If you need one-on-one, face-to-face contact with an instructor, English 420Y may not be the class for you.
7. You are responsible for access to a computer and the Internet. You should also make sure that your Web browser (for example, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Opera, or Netscape) is up-to-date and functions properly. You will also need to have access to Purdue's mail system, though you may opt to forward your Purdue mail to another account. In all electronic communication, you should send and receive attachments reliably and convey a professional ethos.
8. You must have a functioning email address at the start of class.
9. By midnight CST on Monday, January 7, you should sign up for a new account and complete registration on the site. Follow the three "Getting Started" links below this message to complete these tasks. There are specific instructions available on these pages.
10. By Wednesday, January 9, purchase the required textbook for this class, The Thomson Handbook (Comprehensive Edition), by David Blakesley and Jeffrey L. Hoogeveen. This book is available at local bookstores and may also be purchased online (e.g., through Amazon, here). Thomson has also provided an option to Purdue students to purchase the textbook (hard copy or electronic) through its website at http://purdueengl.ichapterssites.com for a 10-15% discount. Either the hardcover or paperback version will be fine.Be sure, however, that you get the complete and not the "brief" version of the text.
11. All other readings for this class are either available on the course website or freely available elsewhere on the Internet. The course calendar will point you in the right direction.
12. Once you have registered on the site, please continue work on this week's assignments and readings. Begin by visiting the main Calendar page and reading the instructions there. Then follow the Week 1 link. Give yourself a few hours to complete Monday's assignment. It may take you a while to get comfortable with the course site layout and the interactive software.

If at any time you have questions about the course, please let your instructor(s) know, via the contact form on the course site or by email.