Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Homework Questions Grading and Assignments
Writing Center  Technical Questions

Homework Questions

Grading & Assignments

Writing Center Questions

Technical Questions

Homework Answers


Will I be required to be online at a certain time?
Students should plan on accessing the online class site and checking e-mail at least three times a week. Students may be assigned to groups and the individual group members will be responsible for planning online meetings, talking on the phone or using the discussion board and/or e-mail to communicate. If a chat session is planned, I will announce several dates and times to meet in the chat room so that everyone will have a chance to attend a chat session.

How do I earn points for participation?
Participation points will be given for discussion board messages, for chat sessions, for group projects and for e-mail assignments. Discussion questions may earn anywhere from 1-10 points, depending on the assignment. Discussion postings, e-mail, and chat points will be evaluated on  the quality of the response, rather than on the number or length of the communication.

How do I access the class assignments?
I will post the  assignments in the Assignments Section on the homepage.
To view your assignments and deadlines for each week, follow the steps below:
  1. Log on to the course; 
  2. Click on the Assignments link on the homepage; 
  3. Click on "Unit 1 Assignments" to view all of the assignments for Unit 1; Click on "Unit 2 Assignments" to view all of the assignments for Unit 2, etc. 

How do I take tests for the class?
You will be required to take online quizzes and you are expected to write essays and submit them to me via e-mail.

When an assignment is due on a specified day, is there a certain time in which I should send the assignment?
Assignments are usually due by noon on the due dates specified in the class syllabus. As long as you respond by the posted deadline, your assignment will be on time.

I noticed that there were several journal exercises throughout the textbook. Am I required to do these exercises?  Also, there are discussion questions listed after each reading.  Am I required to answer these questions?
Journal writing is designed to help a writer get ideas from the head to the paper. The more practice you get with journal writing, the more comfortable you will become with the process of writing. So, I suggest that you journal as often as possible. Use the textbook suggestions to give you ideas to write about. Many students keep daily dream journals, daily learning journals (where they record what they learned from each class they are taking)  or personal journals throughout the semester. I will not collect these journal assignments.  Journaling is a private activity, an activity where the author should feel as if he/she can write anything. I can only suggest that you do as many as you can. Setting aside ten minutes a day for journaling should suffice. The important thing to remember is that journaling should not involve a writer's “critical eye.” In other words, a writer must leave the proofreader, the cynic, the judge in another room. Journaling should be a free, expressive activity. Usually when writers are focused on grammar, spelling, and other sentence structure concerns, they are stifled and cannot transfer their ideas to paper effectively. So set those concerns aside and begin writing freely in your journal!

Reading the essays included in each chapter is an important part of the course and the more reading you do will ultimately strengthen your writing. Students are expected to complete all of the reading in the assigned chapters and to use the questions listed at the end of the readings to aid in understanding the reading material. Students should review the questions before reading and after  reading to improve their comprehension and retention of the material presented. Several online discussions will refer to the reading in each  chapter. I may collect your responses to the reading questions at some point in the semester. The more responses you have, the more participation points you will earn!


I don't have my books yet, what do I do?
I've put all of the books on reserve in the Chaffey Library. Simply go to the reserve desk and ask to check them out. You may have the text  for one hour and it must remain in the library, but if no one else needs it you may check it out for another hour.

What is the purpose of the "Textbook Topics" link on the class homepage?
The "Textbook Topics" link is designed to supplement your reading in the textbook. If you would like to get a head start on each chapter of the text, you should read these topics. You can also browse this section for ideas for journal topics. 


Will we be using the chat rooms in the course?
We will be using the chat feature throughout the semester. I will set up times for students to meet in the chat rooms and I will also set up student groups and ask that they arrange to meet in the chat rooms to collaborate for group projects.

Grading & Assignments Answers


How long does it take for the instructor to respond to student assignments?
I do not update grades immediately after you send an assignment. I usually wait until all of the students have sent their work, and then I begin the grading process. So, the grades will not be posted until about one week after an assignment is due. I take your writing seriously and I spend about 20 minutes or more commenting on each student's draft. This process takes time, so I ask that you be patient. Just because this is an online course does not mean that the grading is automated. I must respond to each student's writing and I must enter each grade manually. Writing individual comments to students takes up much of my time. Your patience is appreciated.


How can I check to see if my assignment has been received?
Students should refrain from e-mailing me to inquire whether I have received an assignment. I reserve e-mail correspondence for one-on-one instruction rather than for administrative tasks.

I have set up an automated confirmation system. If you remember to include a # sign on the subject line of your e-mail, you will receive an automated confirmation from my e-mail account, indicating that I have received your message. Furthermore, if you e-mail an assignment to me, you should use the appropriate format--your section # on the subject line of the email, a brief title, and your last name, like this:

#05263 Assignment 2, Smith
To check your grade, simply click on the grade link on the Course Menu.

Writing Center Answers


Will the Writing Center help in editing and proofreading my writing assignment? Will tutors let me know what needs to be corrected?
The tutors are not proofreaders or editors, but rather teachers who will help you become stronger, more effective writers. When you contact the Writing Center, you should ask the tutor a question about your writing so that they know what to focus on.

To get points for the Writing Center do you have to go to the Writing Center or can you contact a tutor online?
You can either visit the Writing Center in persons or use the Online Writing Center (COW). For more information on the COW, visit: http://courses3.webct.com/public/cow/index.html



If I elect to contact a tutor online or face-to-face, how much time will be credited towards the required 8 hours of Writing Center time?
Each assignment that you send to a tutor via the Internet will count for one hour of writing center time. You are required to complete a total of 8 hours of Writing Center assignments for the semester. Your Writing Center hours may be completed online or face-to-face, however you prefer. But, I suggest that you try the face-to-face tutoring, which can tremendously enhance and compliment your online experience.


How do I get credit for the Writing Center hour if I choose to use the Chaffey Online Writing Center?
Whenever you post a message, make certain that you answer the following questions and include the following information in your message so that the tutor can effectively help you:
  1. Are you enrolled n English 1A or English 450?
  2. Who is your instructor?
  3. Describe your assignment for the tutor (or include a URL to your assignment sheet, if your instructor has the assignment posted online.)
  4. Briefly give other relevant details included on your assignment sheet for this assignment, such as length,  format required, and the due date.
  5. Ask the tutor a specific question about the assignment you are working on. Ideally the question should indicate what area you would like help with on your writing assignment. Questions like: "Is my thesis/topic sentence clear?" or "Are my topic sentences related to my thesis?" are a few examples of appropriate questions to ask.

How long will it take for the Writing Center to respond to my posting?
The WC's response will not be instantaneous.  The tutors will usually respond within 1-4 days, but if they are extremely overwhelmed with postings, you may have to wait longer. As long as you send your assignment to them by the due date listed in your syllabus, you will get credit for the assignment. Please note that the COW deletes all messages on a bi-monthly basis,  so you must check the site frequently for a tutor's response to your message. 

Technical Answers


How do you copy and paste text from a chat session into a word processing program or from a word processing program to an e-mail or into  into a discussion board posting?
  1. Type your paper in your word processing program;
  2. Click on Select All (this command is usually under the Edit Menu) or highlight the text with your mouse;
  3. Copy the text to your clip board; (The copy command is also usually under the Edit Menu.)
  4. Open your e-mail program or access the discussion board for the class;
  5. Address the e-mail & type a subject or click on Compose on the discussion board & type a subject.
  6. Paste the text in the message window of the e-mail or the discussion board; (The paste command is usually under the Edit Menu.)
  7. Click on send or post.
If the steps above to not work (which occurs mainly when using AOL), try using the keyboard short cuts (these will work for Macs or PCs):
  1. select the content (Ctrl A);
  2. copy the content (Ctrl C);
  3. then close the word processor,
  4. log on to your class,
  5. open the Bulletin Board,
  6. open a new message window;
  7. click your cursor into the message box;
  8. paste the text into the message window (Ctrl V).

How do I post a message on the discussion board?
  1. Click on the "Discussion Board" link on the Course Menu;
  2. Click on the "All" link to view all of the posted messages or click on a specific Topic to view specific messages organized under a specific topic.
  3. Click on the first message in a “thread” (also known as a discussion group) to read the first message in a thread or click on the bold-faced message to open a window of all of the messages in a thread.
  4. Read the message and click on the reply button to reply to the message.
  5. You may also click on a student's name to view a message and you may reply to a student message as well.
  6. You will usually use the "Reply" button to post a message in response to a question that I pose; if you use the "Compose" button, your message will be separated from the others and you will start a new "thread" (or separate discussion) whereas the "Reply" button allows you to post your message in the same thread as everyone else. You should only use the "Compose" button if you wish to start your own thread.
  7. To copy the original  message into your response, you should click on the "Quote" button. The "Quote" Button will copy the original message into your reply. This sometimes makes it easier to respond to messages, especially during a peer review.
  8. After you post a message, click on "Update the Listing" link to see the message you just typed.
  9. The preferred settings are to view a "Threaded" list, which makes the discussion easier to read. A threaded list indents each reply so you can view the hierarchy of the list. To view only the new messages, click on the "Show Unread" link.
  10. The best way to learn new software is to press buttons, and discover what they do, so explore the discussion area, click buttons, and see what happens!
If you want to compose a message off-line, simply compose your messages in your word processor and then paste into the message window. 

Why does my computer tell me that I have Java Script Errors, especially when I try to take a quiz or use the chat feature?
Most problems stem from compatibility issues with AOL and other browsers, which have not been updated to the latest version, or your problem may be that java script is not enabled on your computer. To download a free copy of an up-to-date browser and necessary plugins, or to get instructions on how to enable java script on your computer, visit: http://wyw.webct.com/webct_tune_up.html.
 
If you subscribe to AOL, you should use Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator, instead of the AOL browser. To switch browsers, start AOL as you normally would when connecting to the Internet; minimize the window, and open Internet Explorer or Netscape.

What do I do if my browser crashes or if my screen freezes in the middle of a chat session?
Sometimes, your Internet connection may be interrupted somehow. If this happens, simply connect back to the Internet and go back to the chat room. Unfortunately, when your chat session is interrupted, the chat box is erased and you will not be able to see the previous discussion. But you can always read the chat logs later by clicking on the "Chat Logs" link on the Course Menu.

If you get error messages or have other difficulties that prevent the chat feature from functioning properly, you should follow the steps below to attempt to get back to the discussion:

  1. Exit your browser and restart it. Then get back to the class site and enter the chat room again.
  2. If step one fails, or if your computer freezes up, you should re-boot (manually restart) your computer. On a PC you can press the Ctrl key, the Alt key and the Delete key at the same time and your computer will restart (You may have to do this twice). Then, get back to the class site and enter the Chat room. 
As long as you manage to get to the room, check in at some point during the hour, and offer a few comments in the discussion, I will give you credit for participating. You will not be penalized for technical difficulties but you should attend a second chat session if your first session was continually interrupted due to technical difficulties. If you continuously have problems with the chat feature on your computer, you should  contact support@webct.com for help. Alternatively, you may use a differentent computer for the chat sessions. The library on campus offers computers for student use. 


How do I view the results of a quiz?
After you click on “finished” click on the "View Results" button and you will be able to review every question and answer explanation, in addition to your score. To check the scores of all of the quizzes previously taken, click on "Quizzes" on the Course Menu; click on the link in the Number Column.


What do I do if my e-mail program shows the incorrect time or date?
The only verification I have that students submit e-mail assignments on time is the e-mail date/time stamp;  I must keep records according to the date published on the e-mail that students send. If you notice or if you are informed that your e-mail date/time stamp is set incorrectly, you should send assignments at least a day early. You should also check with your Internet Service Provider for advice on how to resolve the problem. If the problem persists, you may have to switch to a new, free e-mail service like Hotmail or Netscape Mail. 
Thanks to my students from the Fall 2000 online class for contributing to this FAQ page!