Welcome to Composition I! I hope you're ready for a great semester. To help you orientate yourself to the course and Canvas, we'll begin with introductions and common questions about this class.

First:

Need to contact your instructor? Message me via the Inbox. Or email me at sdecapua@nctc.edu. When you email me, cc me at sarah.decapua@uconn.edu. Or call me in my office at 860-486-1524.

How much time should you expect to spend on this course? You should plan to spend at least 4-5 hours each week preparing for class in addition to the 3 hours of classroom time.

How much writing should you expect to produce in this course? Keep in mind that this is a writing course; therefore, your grade in the course will be primarily based on your writing (i.e., major writing assignments, rough drafts). You can expect to write approximately 1-2 pages each week. Sometimes, you might write a bit more; occasionally, a bit less. I also provide student models for many of the assignments. These models are merely examples of how other students successfully approached the assignment. They are not perfect, and they are not the only way to complete the assignment.

How much computer knowledge should I have? You don't need to be a computer expert for this course. However, you will need to use Microsoft Word or Google Docs--and some of the less common commands--for your assignments.

But, what if I don't know how to do something in Word or Google Docs (i.e., text wrap images or remove all formatting)? At a minimum for this course, you should understand how to navigate Canvas (which you should've gotten in your Canvas Orientation), how to find your way around word processing and presentation software like Word and PowerPoint, and how to attach a document. If you don't know how to do something (such as double-spacing the entire document or adding hanging indents), you can teach yourself. There will be times when you are uncomfortable in this course and don't know how to do something. F1 and Google will be your friend.

What kind of feedback can you expect from me in the course? Your success in this course is my ultimate goal; therefore, I will give you feedback on most of your writing assignments. Sometimes writing comments on each student's assignment can take a couple of days, so please be patient. (There are 25 of you and 1 of me. I also teach 6 classes, so that's a lot of students who need to hear from me.) I aim to evaluate and provide feedback on your assignments within two weeks, and I will post an announcement when all assignments are evaluated. In return, I expect you to read, reflect upon, and apply my comments to your future writing assignments. I also promise to respond to your emails promptly (within 24 hours, at the latest).

What Time are the Assignments Due? You will have weekly assignments that will be due on Monday night at 11:59 p.m.

How should we respond to each other and the instructor? You are expected to communicate with your classmates and me with civility and respect when communicating via email or in discussion postings. Posts and emails that are rude, culturally insensitive, or hostile will be deleted, and students may be reported to administration. (In other words, just be nice to each other. We're all learning here.)

Getting Behind? I understand that sometimes things come up which get in the way of turning in assignments on time. As a result, there will be a 48-hour grace period during which you can submit work. In other words, if an assignment is due at 11:59 p.m. on a Monday, then you will have until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday to submit the assignment without penalty. Any work submitted after the 48-hour grace period expires will receive a zero grade and I will not provide feedback or comments on it. Try not to make submitting work late a habit, however, so you don't get too far behind. You can't proceed with the course until you complete the major assignments. I want you to be successful in this course, so keep me informed if you need just a bit more support.

Next:

How do you get started? While the course might seem overwhelming at first, it's helpful to use the Modules tab and proceed through the course using the "Next" button.