Welcome

If you're enrolled in ENGL 420Y, Section 2 or 4, with Jeremy Tirrell or Ryan Weber, you've come to the right place. This website will be our meeting place for the Summer 2007 semester (Mods 2 and 3). 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.

  1. The class starts on Monday, June 11, 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). 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 your email, through Purdue's system or another that allows you to send and receive attachments reliably and conveys a professional ethos.
  8. You must have a functioning email address at the start of class.
  9. By midnight CST on Monday, June 11, 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, June 13, you must have 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). You can buy the hardcover or paperback versions. Reading from the text will begin on Thursday, June 14.
  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.

Getting Started 1: Registering on the Site

To get started with ENGL 420Y, you'll need to complete a few steps, which include

  • Registering for the course website (here).
  • Logging in for the first time.
  • Editing your account for the first time.

Registering for the course website

  1. Go to the course website.
  2. Click on "create new account" under "User Login" in the navigation menu on the left.

  3. Create a username that will identify you in the system and that you will use for logging in. Because this site is public on the Internet, your username should not include your last name. You are welcome to use any username (e.g., your IM screenname) that would not be offensive to others or otherwise inappropriate for a course website. Capitalize your username as you intend to use it; usernames are case sensitive.

  4. Enter your email address. You may use your Purdue email address. If you have an alternate one, use the one that you check most regularly.
  5. Provide your real name and home page URL (web address, if you have one). Note that your real name will not be visible publicly but only to students registered at the site.
  6. Click on "Create new account." Registration information will be sent to the email address you listed, so check your email soon after you register. You will need the password that it sends you.

Getting Started 2: Logging in for the First Time

To get started with ENGL 420Y, you'll also need to complete this second step:

Logging in for the first time

  1. You should have received an email from the system that includes your new password. With that email handy, return to the course website.
  2. Enter your username and password in the "User login" box. Your initial password can be retyped or cut-and-pasted into the password box. If you cut-and-paste it, make sure you don't include any extra spaces before or after the password characters. The password and user name are case sensitive.

  3. Click on Log in. When you've successfully logged in, you will see a block of links in the left sidebar with your username above it as a title. This is a navigation menu that provides you with links to many services and content on the site. If you are unable to log in successfully, try re-entering your password. Remember that usernames and passwords are case-sensitve, so make sure you don't have Caps Lock turned on by accident and that (if pasting in your password) that you don't include extra spaces. You may also request a new password if you ever forget yours.

Getting Started 3: Editing Your Account for the First Time

To get started with ENGL 420Y, you'll also need to complete this third step, which will take a bit more time than the previous two.

Editing your account for the first time

Once you've logged in successfully, you need to edit your account and provide some additional information about yourself.

  1. Click on my account link in the navigation menu on the left.

  2. On the next screen, click on the edit tab.

  3. On the account settings screen, scroll to the Account information area.
  4. Change your password by entering a new one into the password boxes. Choose a password that you can remember but that is secure. Remember that passwords are case sensitive.
  5. Scroll to the Picture area.
  6. Upload a picture of yourself or avatar (an image that represents you well) that you would use in a public context. You may have to find one and edit in an image editor, so you just try to have this step completed by the end of Week 2. If you need help editing an image, send a copy to your instructor for help. See Creating Avatars and Images for Your Profile for more information.
  7. Scroll to Contact settings.
  8. Check the Personal contact form box.
  9. When you have made your changes, click on the Submit button at the bottom of the page.

The following steps ask you to complete information for your profile. This will enable the instructor and fellow students to learn a little more about you and help the instructor tailor this class to your background and goals, as well as arrange collaborative projects.

  1. Click on the edit tab again, then on the Personal Information link at the top of the next page.
  2. Enter the required information in the boxes. If you don't have a home page, leave that box blank.
  3. Click on Submit to save.

That's it! You have completed all the steps of the Getting Started process. If you ever need to change any of the information, you can always edit these pages again.

If you have any trouble along the way, please be sure to let your instructor know.