Week 9: English 101a

Marcia Allen, Lecturer

Welcome to Week 9!

Notices

  • IMPORTANT: Please read the newly posted lecture about focus. It's located in the Week 9 conference and in Course Content. Before you submit your final cause-effect essays, it's essential that you understand focus.
  • IMPORTANT: Please check back to Week 8 for my feedback on your cause-effect peer review drafts. I have commented on all that were posted.
  • I have finished posting all answer keys to the grammar exercises in Course Content. (To gain the most from the exercises, clearly it's to your advantage not to view the answers until you've completed each exercise.)
  • You should each have a graded classification essay. I'm working on the comparison-contrast essays now.

    Reminders

  • The final exam is less than a month away, the week of February 10th. You can now find five practice exercises under Course Content. Also, please check with your education center to ensure you are signed up for the exam.
  • Hereafter I will grade and return your essays as attached Word documents. (Please continue to copy and paste your essays into the assignment folder.) Rest assured that my Norton Antivirus is always current with the most recent definitions
  • Use the checklist included in this announcement to guide you through the week's assignments.
  • If you need to contact me through an alternate e-mail address, please use marcia_sensei@yahoo.com.

    • Looking Backward and Looking Forward

    Another week has flown by! This week you'll finalize your cause-effect essay. For many students, this is a tough essay to write well. To sharpen your critical thinking skills, I've posted two DQs in the weekly conference. Each of you should respond to these DQs, but please respond before viewing your classmates' responses. Also, please note the Smart Chart and begin to complete the columns.

    Week 9 Class Activities

    1. Prepare the final draft of your cause-effect essay and post it to the assignment folder no later than by Sunday, January 26th USA EST.
    2. Please be sure you've read the two cause-effect essays written by ENGL 101 students. I posted them during Week 8.
    3. Review Chapter 10 "Punctuation" in Writing: A Concise Handbook.
    4. Respond to the two DQ threads in the Week 9 conference.
    5. Look over the grammar table posted as an attachment and begin to fill in its columns.
    6. Continue preparing for the final exam.
    As always, if you have any problems or questions, just click my name above "Faculty Member" and send me an e-mail. My inbox is always open!

    About the Proctored Exam

    The proctored exam is the final exam, but you take it during Week 12. The exam entails answering objective questions about grammar, style, and writing terminology. You must also write an essay.

    The grammar component of this course is based on self-study. You should be reviewing Writing: A Concise Handbook on your own. Each time I return your essays, I expect you to track the types of grammar and mechanics errors you make. Please use the Smart Chart toward that end. At the same time, you should be reviewing your grammar textbook on a weekly basis to prepare for the exam.

    If you have any grammar questions while you are reviewing the book, be certain to post your questions to the weekly Q&A thread. Others will benefit from your questions, too.

    Academic Integrity

  • All UMUC students are responsible for adhering to UMUC's policies regarding academic integrity. UMUC considers obtaining or giving aid on an examination academic dishonesty. The university will not tolerate actions that violate this policy. Please read and be familiar with the Academic Policies located in the Web Tycho classroom.
  • View the information contained in the Asian Division Academic Policies page. This is available in the class menu under the Syllabus section as a separate link. The Asian Division Academic Policies page is not included in the printable version of the syllabus.

    • Important Contact Information

  • For WebTycho login or technical problems, contact tycho@ad.umuc.edu.
  • For Proctored Exam special arrangements and questions, contact exams@ad.umuc.edu.