Return to main online courses list
English 18---Online
Spring 2008
Section 0720
Instructor
Riba Taylor
Email
taylor@siskiyous.edu
Office hours, plus
I'm always happy to make arrangements to speak with you.
We'll be interacting regularly inside the online course site via
private messages, classroom discussions and assignment feedback. We can
make plans to speak on the phone or online.
About this course
This section of focuses on specific elements of creative writing
with an emphasis on creative nonfiction, but writers (and beginners!)
are welcome to write in all genres. This class requires a good amount
of reading, regular writing assignments and peer feedback.
Textbooks
There is one required text and three recommended for this class. You
will need the required one right away, and will need to select one of
the recommended texts. (But for your second book you can wait until you
see some examples of the texts in the online classroom. All the texts
are available through the college bookstore:
Required
Let the Crazy Child Write, by Clive Matson
Recommended
Wild Mind, by Natalie Goldberg
Zen and the Art of Writing, by Ray Bradbury
If You Want to Write, by Brenda Euland
Course information
This link takes you to the Course Info page of this semester's
online classroom. You are welcome to preview the information here about
getting started in the course site. This page has links to the course
syllabus and a calendar of the work students need to complete
throughout the term (Tasks List), as well as some other tips and
information to help pave the way for a good experience in the course.
Course info page
Getting started
I will be sending out a "Getting Started" message on or before the
first day of class to the email addresses you have listed with the
college. (If you don't receive this, no worries. All the information
you'll need for getting started will be on the home page of our course
site and in the Getting Started module.)
There is no need to begin this work before the first day of class,
but if you'd like to get a bit of a head start, I recommend visiting
the Etudes portal and doing the following:
1) Click on System Requirements at the far left of the page.
2) Confirm you have all the necessary computer hardware and software outlined there.
3) Follow the instructions for reconfiguring your browser with care.
Almost all the technical difficulties people have using Etudes come
from incorrect browser settings. Follow each of the steps outlined for
you on this page, and then walk through them again to be sure you've
set everything exactly as specified.
Logging in
You should be able to log in at the Etudes portal after 8:00am
on the weekday following the day you become officially registered in
the course. However, this course won't be "live" until 8:00am on the
first day of class. When it goes live, you will see the course tab at
the top of your screen once you log in. Clicking on that tab will take
you to the home page of the course site.
Be sure to read the announcements on the home page with care before proceeding in the course site. :)
Login instructions
This COS page gives you step-by-step instructions for a successful login (including your User ID and Password).
Instructions for logging in
There are also several helpful videos on this page to help you get acquainted with this software. Check them out!
Etudes portal
Once you've learned how to log in, go to the Etudes portal and
try it out! (Remember, you won't be able to login until the day after
you register for the course, and you won't actually have access to this
course until the first day of class.)
Etudes portal
More you can do to prepare
If you haven't already checked these two links out from the main online
courses page, I recommend taking a bit of time to do so. The first link
can help you confirm if you're a good candidate for online learning,
and the second offers helpful tips for your online learning success.
Online readiness
Online survival guide
Return to main online courses list