Author: admin

admin

1) Because of the continued failure to use course “checklists” despite their posting on the front page and under “Instructions,” they have been moved to their own “Checklists” page. USE them.

2) If you use the EXACT article or video cited in a section or question, do not worry about a bibliography; however, if you use a particular song, program, collection, etc., YOU MUST PROVIDE FULL BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFO SO THAT READERS CAN FOLLOW-UP OR CHECK YOUR SOURCE. (When there are numerous options, there is no way that an essay’s analysis and evidence can be checked–thus meaning a weak essay and a reduced grade.)

3)  Be careful with WORD COUNTS. Do not include your heading or your footnotes (which are not necessary; use parentheticals) or your bibliography. AND ADHERE TO THE 350-600 WORD RANGE. THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS FOR THE NUMBERS, INCLUDING CRITICAL THINKING AND PLANNING.

4) Everyone should read–and gets something out of my substantive responses on posted projects and comments–but do not respond to them.

The best use of your time is posting and reading substantive contributions that add information and analysis or that challenge your interpretations and make you think. (The weekly list is only for supportive and substantive work that adds to class thinking and knowledge.)

Response Checklist

Challenging the ideas of others is part of critical thinking and of learning; however, do so with civility and consideration.

http://hist380.ferrellhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Responses-Checklist.pdf

 

“Project Checklist”

The following list should include all essentials. Use it along with the Grading Rubric posted under “Instructions,” as well as with the Announcement Summary also posted on this front page.

http://hist380.ferrellhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Writing-and-Posting-CHECKLIST.pdf

Announcement Summary

As the class (in general) appears not to be reading the posted announcements–as everyone is strongly encouraged in the course syllabus to do DAILY–the announcements have been collected into this one pdf list.  Please PRINT it, TAPE it above your computer, and USE it.

Requirements listed in the course syllabus and calendars (and repeated or clarified below) must be met. (A separate “project checklist” has also been posted. Print and use one for each project you work on.)

http://hist380.ferrellhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/summary-of-front-page-announcements.pdf

Viewing Comments on Returned Projects

If you are having problems viewing comments on your returned papers, there are many Youtube videos and on-line sites that provide instructions, tips, and alternatives.

Here is one provided by Prof. Hannah Weiser, who is in the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland:

Important reminders and notes

NOTE: I DELETE ANYTHING POSTED AS “UNCATEGORIZED.” IT IS NOT VISIBLE AND SHOULD BE POSTED ONLY IN ITS CORRECT CATEGORY.

YET AGAIN:  post your project in ONE (and ONLY ONE) category: the week/section that matches your project, e.g., “Week 2-1” and “Week 2-2.” In other words, check off only one box. (I will penalize projects that are posted in additional categories contrary to instructions.)

Weekly List: As indicated in course materials (and last e-mail in this list [posted at start of session]), weekly lists of (accepted) projects/responses are due by e-mail. As indicated at the end of weekly calendars, they are due by 11:59 p.m. Sundays (i.e., to allow time to respond to Saturday-deadline projects). [Do not include projects that were incorrectly posted and thus not accepted.]

A sample list has been posted under “Instructions” and then “Related to Writing/Projects.”

GRADING RUBRIC: A general guide has been posted under “Instructions.” Be aware that project options are quite broad (including, for example, poetry and power point), so no rubric will cover all possible angles.

NEW: Include your NAME on each project.

NEW:

Do not respond only to the first projects posted for a week/section. Spread out your responses to ensure that everyone receives some sort of feedback from a classmate. (**This will be an important factor in determining grades for responses/comments.)

**** Please note that–to avoid turning this course into a 24/7 job–I will respond to e-mails in evenings only, i.e., I will not respond in mornings or afternoons.

From course syllabus

** IMPORTANT: ALL projects must be completed in order to pass the course; at least eight of ten required responses must be completed in order to meet course requirements and pass the course. 

** IMPORTANT: Pay close attention to deadlines. There are no make-up or extra-credit projects or comments.

Reminder: you MUST post your project in the correct place. 

If you are doing a project for week 1/section 1, for example, it must be posted on the Week 1-1 page (in the Student Projects page). If it is not, it will go into “Uncategorized” and will not be seen by either me or your classmates. (See original message on website’s front page. [Posting of pdf’s has been clarified too.])

I will look only in the week/section where projects are supposed to be.

If your project is not there, it is not there. If it is not there and then appears later, it will be late and will be penalized.  {If I ever contact you about a mis-posting, you must take action and place the post where it belongs.}

**However, please be aware that projects submitted more than two days late (i.e., by the next section deadline) will not be accepted. (As each week of a summer session equals three weeks of a fall/spring semester, two days late is, in an important sense, a week late.)

** NOTE that all requirements must be completed in order to pass the course.

 

Reminders and Clarifications (see #3 AND #5)

1)  Projects must be posted as pdf’s.

2)  To clarify: All submissions (projects and comments) must include the word count in parentheses.

3)  Be sure to include “I pledge” with all projects and with all comments/responses. SUBMISSIONS THAT ARE NOT PLEDGED WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

4)  All submissions should be grammatically correct, so proofread carefully (including comments/responses). (Based on first posts, be on the lookout for commas splices and run-on sentences.)

5) All projects and comments must be submitted in order to pass the course. (A late project must be submitted no later than 48 hours after its section’s 11:59 deadline.)