Starting off on the right foot

11 January 08
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Here are a few helpful hints for those who would like to be successful in my courses:

Read the syllabus
Have questions about the course, required texts, grading policies, or due dates for assignments? It’s all in there! Don’t lose it, and make certain to record important dates on the course calendar in your academic planner, an indispensable item which is usually available free through Student Activities.

Pay attention to the comments I make on your papers
The smart student doesn’t consider instructor feedback a personal attack; instead, he/she sees every error as an opportunity to learn and grow as a writer.

Ask questions
If you don’t understand what is expected of you on an assignment, if you are confused by your grades, or if you just don’t know how to fix errors you make in your papers, then come see me. That’s why I have office hours.

Learn what MLA-style manuscript format is
I do take points off for papers that are not correctly formatted. This may seem like a minor detail to you, but trust me, after reading a few dozen essays, it’s a major help to me to be able to tell at a glance which assignment I’m reading, who turned it in, and what class that student is in. It also helps your papers look more professional. Keep in mind that first impressions go a long way, and if your paper looks like it deserves an A, it’s a lot more likely to get one. You can look in your composition handbook to learn more about manuscript formatting, or you can download this .pdf file to see a sample MLA-style manuscript.

Don’t sell back your composition handbook
Sure, you could get a little (very little) cash for it at the end of the semester, but it’s an incredibly valuable tool that will guide you through the writing of essays and research papers in all of your classes, not just mine. Keep it; I promise you won’t be sorry.

Learn your way around WebCT and MS Word
My courses rely heavily upon web-based content delivered via WebCT. Learn to use the tools we utilize in our courses: the assignment dropboxes, mail, the discussion forum, and the content folders. I’m happy to help you figure our these tools, or you can also learn via web-based tutorials.

Also, if you can’t type, now would be a great time to acquire that skill. Knowing some basic computer literacy skills is critical, too. At the very least, you should be able to save or search for files, change file formats, print, and edit your text for font, spacing, and margins. Free computer literacy and word processing courses may be offered at your local branch of the Baltimore County Public Library.

Take personal responsibility for your own success or failure
Keep track of your grades. In my courses, you have access to your grades every time you log in to WebCT. Click on “my grades” and check your progress regularly. If a grade is missing or is inaccurate, let me know immediately. If your grade is suffering because you aren’t turning your work in on time, make sure you are aware of all future due dates and get that work in!

Each semester, be aware of the deadline to withdraw from courses with a “W.” This date may save your GPA if you that you cannot be successful in a course and decide to drop it. Never just stop attending classes; always withdraw formally through the Registrar. It is a courteous and wise course of action to let your instructor know that you plan to drop the class. Maybe there’s a way you can be successful in the course, and a brief conversation with the instructor may clear things up dramatically.

Read for pleasure
Want to improve your vocabulary, your grammar, your reading speed, and your general knowledge base? Then read for fun. That’s right, for fun! Find something you enjoy reading (it doesn’t have to be “good” for you), and then read every chance you get — in the bathroom, before bed, while waiting in line at the bank. You’ll soon find that your required course readings are less of a chore than they were before, and you’ll start to see your writing improve, too.

Get organized
When I sit down in a writing conference with a student, I can often tell before I ever look at that student’s writing whether he/she is struggling. How do I know? If it takes the student several minutes of digging through a messy book bag or notebook just to find a rough draft, if the student has no idea where the assignment sheet is, or if that student can’t find the textbook, there’s a problem—a big problem. Simplify your life by learning a few easy tricks.

Get color-coordinated folders and spiral notebooks for each class and then label them clearly on the front covers. Keep all your loose papers in their appropriate folders and take notes in the spirals. If you can, get a separate book bag for each day of class. Keep all your MWF materials in one bag and all your TR materials in another. Make sure the bags are distinctly different. That way, you never walk out the door with the wrong books or notes. File away graded papers and handouts as soon as you are done reading them. Use divider tabs in your folders or notebooks to help you keep track of homework, handouts, notes, and graded papers. You’ll be amazed how much less time you spend looking for your work and how much more time you spend actually doing your work!