Important note (again): if you are registered for the class, then read and follow the instructions on this page carefully. After looking over the class, you will be required to do a simple orientation assignment on Canvas, due no later than the second day of the semester. If you do not complete the assignment then you may be dropped from the class as a no-show.
An online class is much the same as a live class. The readings are the same; you'll be writing the same sorts of essays. Still, there are some distinctive differences.
the assignment
Did you bookmark the Class Schedule page as I recommended? If not, please do. This is the page you will be referring to most often this semester. Notice that it shows that the Orientation Assignment (what you are reading now) is due the second day of the semester. Due dates are important in this class.
As mentioned above, this assignment must be completed no later than the second day of the semester, or you may be dropped as a no-show.
first, go to Canvas portal and log in (remember information on Canvas and SIS and free Microsoft Office is available on the LAHC site; I put those links up twice, so I won't drive you all crazy putting them up a third time here)
click on the tab/link (on your Dashboard or on the top) to take you to our class
click on the tab (on the left) for Assignments or Quizzes; there should be just one quiz available; it is called Orientation Assignment
answer the questions on the quiz; feel free to have our course website open as you do the quiz (you almost have to unless you have a superb memory); the questions are things you should have learned as you took the tour of the class
everyone should earn a full 100% on this first quiz for two reasons:
- you can take your time looking up the answers as you go along; the quiz is untimed
- you can re-take the quiz multiple (up to three) times, so if you miss a question, go back and find the correct answer on our course website
I would probably open the quiz, in a new tab, search for the answers (maybe write them down just in case you have to go back for a re-try), then put the answers in (remember, it is untimed).
The point of this is not to trick anyone, and it is not a difficult assignment. The point is to make sure you all know how the class works and what is expected of you so that you have a chance to do well in the course :)
And do not just take the test and forget this stuff. You are responsible for knowing all of the information on the pages you toured. Getting a few points on a quiz is not as important as knowing exactly how to do a paper in MLA format or knowing what file format to attach to your e-mails because if you don't do those things correctly, your papers will not be graded (in this class and in other college/university classes), and that would be a huge bummer :(
Once again, if you have any problems or questions not covered on our course website, please e-mail me at jrcorbally@gmail.com.
a final reflection on all of this
You are going to find that things like MLA format, MLA 8th edition Works Cited standards, my lengthy (but informative) assignment instructions are very picky (I prefer to say "meticulously detailed," but that's all just language). One of the key lessons stressed in English 101 is this:
In college (and life) you need to be able to demonstrate you are able to read carefully and follow directions explicitly. This is not about getting "close." It is being exact. So if a paper length requirement is three full pages for a "C," and if there should be pictures included, those are not optional; they are absolutely required. If you turn in a two-page paper without pictures, your e-mailing me and saying, "Oh, I didn't think we needed to do that," is not going to cut any slack. You won't pass that assignment.
On the plus side, most of this stuff is easy, but it does require you to look closely and keep track of all requirements. In a face-to-face class I would remind you sevearl times; online, you need to manage all of this. And it is true for any online class, not just mine.