available on either of my home pages:The answers below are the result of years of teaching this course through WebCT. If yours isn't here, email me. Remember, as always, to SCROLL DOWN. I'm amazed at how many Internet users still haven't figured out that there might be more information beneath what is currently visible on their screen. Click on a question in the box below to go directly to that the answer or just browse to your heart's content.
Some web courses have a separate list for just the assignments. In my courses, the assignments are embedded in the course content. To find them, click on the "Course Content and Syllabus" link on the home page and, if you scroll through the list, you'll see the assignments following the materials relevant to completing the assignment. I do this because it's awfully tempting to just do the assignments without bothering to study the material relevant to the assignment. My hope is that you'll read the relevant materials and/or listen to the appropriate lectures BEFORE you try the assignment(s).
The only exception to this are courses which utilize timed essays or common essays. If the syllabus for your class mentions timed or common essays, you'll receive separate directions which will allow you to complete those assignments.
The tempting answer is: "You're over 18. You don't have to do anything." However that glibness might offend someone so let me put it this way. It varies by course. In all writing courses, I will suggest you buy a grammar book. The literature, however, is embedded in the course content or is available online. Read the syllabus or send me an email (sophist@bigfoot.com) for questions about a particular course or book. Also remember, that if you don't like the prices your bookstore is charging, check out Amazon.com and other online retailers. Froogle.com will even let you compare prices with one click.
There are many possibilities for you on this matter. You may write the essay by utilizing the "Online quizzes and/or timed essays) icon on the home page. You merely click on the icon and you are taken to a page where you may select one of four "quizzes." [Don't be fooled by the word "quiz" that's what WebCT calls them.] That "guiz" will generate 4 topics and you simply choose one and write your essay. When you are done, you hit "submit," and the essay is forwarded to me.
If you don't like to type timed essays you may go to the WIN (formerly, CSC) lab in Bond 124. There you ask a staff member to give you four topics from the Regents' topic list and will time your writing. That may be placed in my mailbox or in the file in the lab.
If you are off campus, email me and we can make additional arrangements.
If you are on campus, give it to me or Ms. Sharpe in CTM 105. Please DO NOT slip work under my door as it can (and often does) get thrown away by our highly efficient cleaning staff. You may fax your work to (478)825-6000. be sure you put TO: Dr. Murphy (and your name) on the cover sheet and preferably on all pages of the document.
If you want to use snail mail, you may send work to me at Dr. Keith Murphy, The College of Arts and Sciences, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley GA 31030. If you want your graded work mailed to you, you must send me a number of self-addressed-stamped envelopes.
Until firewall problems are fixed, please do not email your work to me as it gets shredded.
Remember, you should always keep copies of your own work. Both soft and hard copies.
In and of itself, it isn't and you should use email anytime you have a question for me. However, as a means of turning in your work it is problematic for three reasons: 1) The firewall often shreds attachments. 2) If you use computers on campus (labs, libraries, or dorms) you have a 90% chance of being virused. Practice safe computing! I don't want your viruses and email is the primary way of spreading viruses. 3) On due dates, people bomb my mailbox with papers (despite this warning) which, eventually, fill my mailbox. If yours gets to my mailbox after theirs fills it...I won't get yours.
On some online courses, you get a list of when each assignment is due. I assume that you are a mature adult and that I do not have to hold your hand throughout the semester. As such, you are on your own to get all of the work in by the end of the semester. This means, simply, that the later you put off work, the less chances for revision you will have. This also means that if I don't have it by the last day of class for a semester you will receive a zero for the assignment.
Online course are designed to be asynchronous learning which means that they allow you to study on your schedule rather than requiring you to study on an arbitrary schedule that I set up. With Vista, there is the course calendar which can be synchronized so that you can be constantly reminded when assignments are due; but, frankly, you're over eighteen. You don't need mothering anymore.
The graded work box is the place where I return your work, after I have graded it, for you to revise (if neccessary) or to hold for your portfolio. It is a black plastic box in my office in CTM 105 (The office of The College of Arts and Sciences). Your work is available during business hours. If you cannot pick up your work there, contact me via email to make alternative arrangements.
A number of classes refer to "sample topics." Anytime you are referred to another page, like "sample topics," return to the course content page and SCROLL DOWN. 99% of the time when a student tells me "I can't find...." it is because they are not scrolling to the bottom of pages.
If you are unsure about how to use the internet, click on one of these two links:
Both sites have information and tutorials which will help you learn to use the Internet.
I am often frustrated by students who go running off to complain that there's no work posted for them to do. Especially since each of the courses I teach has been completely posted and available for years. Nearly all the material you need can be found by going to the course home page, clicking on "course content and syllabus," and scrolling down. You'll see a number of icons, each of which (called a lecture module) has a series of links beneath it. Keep scrolling and clicking.
Most of these courses are portfolio courses. That means that your final grade is based on the quality of the work (and the evidence of your improvement) as evidenced through your portfolio. As such, individual papers may not receive a letter or percentage grade until you have made sufficient revisions and repairs to the work.
In 1101, 1102, 1107, and Regents' Writing, essays which are returned without a grade are, in my opinion, not yet strong enough to pass the Regents' Test or the Common Essay.
Remember, you have seven days after you receive the graded work to revise and resubmit the work for consideration (Be sure to attach ALL previous drafts). Revisions may continue until you are pleased with the work or you run out of time. Also remember that the revision must do MORE than merely correcting grammatical mistakes. You are expected to address all issues raised by the comments on the paper. If you need assistance, take the paper to the WIN lab (Bond 124) and a tutor will be glad to assist you.
Nope. Since you have access to the class anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; the administration has been pretty adamant about not giving incompletes. The computer records where, when, how often you access the class and what you do inside. As such, there's a clear trail of what you chose to do, when, and what you chose to not do. Two students have completed my online courses while they were in the hospital. It will be hard to convince the dean that you didn't have access to the course or could not finish the work.
Stay up with the work and this will not be an issue.
The lack of student - teacher contact is the one
frustrating aspect of online courses. All of my contact information is
available on either of my home pages:
The best way to contact me is always through email: murphyk@fvsu.edu (campus) or sophist@bigfoot.com (non-campus). I check my email every few hours and respond promptly. My office is CTM 105 and you can always check Yahoo! Instant Messenger (my ID is "docsophist") to see if I am online.
The office fax is: 478-825-6000
For emergencies, call Ms. Sharpe at 478-825-6454