ARMSTRONG ATLANTIC STATE UNIVERSITY
ENGLISH 1101: COMPOSITION
I
ARMSTRONG ATLANTIC STATE UNIVERSITY
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Week Three: "How am I doing, Doc?"
Research and experience suggest that a
student's behavior in the first few weeks of a course is a fairly good indicator of how
well (or how poorly) he or she will do by the end of that course. Indeed, in
Composition I, your overall behavior is generally a better indicator than your
first few letter grades alone. To get an idea of where you stand after week three of
Composition I (i.e., at a time when it's not too late to change your behavior and your
attitude), take the self-test below--and then review the key at the bottom of the page.
I'm here to help anyone who's willing to put
forth the effort.
(Yes/No) 1. I completed the first out-of-class assignment on time: I
sent an e-mail to fumnx@netzero.net. (ASSIGNMENTS, Aug. 17)
(Yes/No) 2. I completed the second out-of-class assignment on time: I
carefully read the course syllabus.
(ASSIGNMENTS, Aug. 18)
[If you missed the syllabus question on either quiz, answer "No."]
(Yes/No) 2. I submitted the warm-up essays on time and followed all
guidelines. (ASSIGNMENTS,
Aug. 23)
(Yes/No) 3. I check the NEWS
page of the course web site at least twice a week to keep up with site updates and
assignments. (SYLLABUS)
(Yes/No) 4. When reading assigned essays in The Essay Connection, I
try to answer the assigned questions to prepare for quizzes and class discussions. (ASSIGNMENTS)
(Yes/No) 5. I carefully read the guidelines for Project #1 (Place
Description), and so I was aware that I could receive feedback on my "draft (or even
part of a draft)" as long as I submitted it by e-mail no later than 7:00 p.m. on
August 28.
(Yes/No) 6. I started working on Project #1 early enough so that I could
receive feedback on my draft (or even part of a draft).
(Yes/No) 7. During class discussions, I take notes on main ideas--especially
when key words are written on the board (e.g., persona, point of view, identification,
sprezzatura).
(Yes/No) 8. The average of my first two quiz grades is 9 or higher.
(Yes/No) 9. I haven't missed a class yet, OR If I have
missed a class, I've gotten in touch with a classmate to catch up on missed work and make
copies of handouts. (SYLLABUS)
(Yes/No) 10. When I submitted my essay for Project #1 on September 1 (in
class, not after class was over), it was in a pocket folder (with my name on the cover):
my graded work (the warm-up essays) in the left pocket; new work (final version on top,
rough draft[s] below) in the right pocket. (See Project #1 handout.)
(Yes/No) 11. I am regularly prepared for class discussions, and I
participate in them.
KEY TO "How am I doing, Doc?"
If you answered "Yes" to 10 or 11 of these questions, you may not be a
brilliant writer (yet), but clearly you understand how the course operates and
you're making a serious effort to succeed. Go to the head of the class.
If you answered "Yes" to 8 or 9 of these questions, you're generally on track
but your wheels are a little loose. Bear down and focus: the work gets steadily more
challenging after week 3.
If you answered "Yes" to only 7 of these questions, you're heading for trouble.
Work habits and attitudes that got you through high school just won't cut it
any more. If you haven't already deduced what you need to do to get your act
together, please send me an e-mail to schedule an
appointment.
If you answered "Yes" to fewer than 7 questions, you're in trouble. Still,
at this point in the term, if you're prepared to put forth the effort to catch up, I'm
prepared to help you. Send me an e-mail to
schedule an appointment.
English 1101 is taught by Dr. Richard Nordquist.
Armstrong Atlantic State University
Savannah, Georgia 31419
e-mail: fumnx@netzero.net
02 September 2005