English 1A Online

 

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Contacting Mr. Osburg

Should I take an Online class? Take this assessment first before you decide.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

 

The Spring 2011 section is closed.

If you were unable to add the Spring 2011 online section of English 1A through WebReg or in-person, then that means that the section is Closed. 

I'll have a lottery on the night of the OPTIONAL orientation to determine alternates; however, if you aren't registered, there is no guarantee that you'll be added to the class.

REGISTERED STUDENTS (Spring 2011): Our in-person meeting will be an Optional but highly recommended ORIENTATION on  Thursday  Feburary  3rd, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm in the Library and Technology Center Room 203/204  to get you familiarized with the course and to get you started on a mandatory in-class diagnostic essay.

I designed my online class for students who would not otherwise be able to take the course if they had to be at a particular place and time every week. Most of my online students work full time, have family or health issues, and/or don't have time for the commute in from Salinas and surrounding areas.

 

Students who have done well in the class are people who are able to plan ahead and can manage a self-structured schedule. In addition, the successful online student is comfortable with basic computer and internet interfaces and can communicate fluently through e-mail with the instructor and fellow students. If you are that kind of student, then my online course is a great choice for you.

 

Many online students miss the socialization of a face to face class, but face to face students miss out on the practical use of electronic communication offered by the online course. Each course meets the same objectives, but each course meets those objectives in different ways.

 

So, if I were making a choice between an online class and a face to face class, I would ask myself: what kind of a student am I? Still not sure? Click here to take an assessment.

Welcome to English 1A Online

After the OPTIONAL orientation you may begin the class by:

NOTE: NEW Instructions start 1/29/09

Make sure pop-up blockers are turned off for the below site.

•         Log on to http://ilearn.mpc.edu

•         Username is 1st   letter of first name then full last name   followed by last 4 digits of your new student ID.  This is not case sensitive.

•         Your password is changeme  (all in lowercase letters)

•         Once you log in you will be prompted to change your password.  Write it down on this handout and save it in your wallet or purse.

  If your “Edit Profile” comes up, make sure you have a valid email address entered in the space called for.  You CANNOT go further unless you supply a valid email address. You are encouraged to post a picture of yourself in your profile.  When you participate in a forum a small postage stamp sized picture will be displayed next to your posting.

This helps foster a sense of community which is missing from a face-to-face class.  When you have finished your profile scroll down and click on “update  If you see the word “continue” click on it.

Click Continue.

•         Then you click on  the course link  to get inside 

•         Send me an email only if you have trouble logging on.  Also if you are unsure on how to participate in the discussion forum or assignment submission.

You can come by my office at  318 on the top floor  of the library anytime or call me at 646-3075

Bruce Wilder-email = bwilder@mpc.edu

 

Email bwilder@mpc.edu
for login instructions if you have a problem.

 

 

System Requirements:  Pentium based computer or equivalent, preferably P-4, 256 RAM and a DSL or cable modem connection.

Instructor: Mr. Osburg 

e-mail: josburg@mpc.edu  

Office: BH 103 A

English 1A  ·

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                             

Instructor Participation/Response to Email and Discussion

*     Your instructor will respond to email requests within 24 hours during the work week. Do not expect email communication from 4 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Monday.

*     Your instructor will not respond to every forum post , but will respond with helpful comments and advice as appropriate. All forum postings will be read by your instructor.

*     You as a student are also obligated to respond to fellow student and instructor e-mails within 24 hours Monday through Friday---or you will risk being dropped from the class.

 Textbooks:

Between Worlds   ISBN-10: 0-205-69302-4

Website: http://bedfordstmartins.com/seeingandwriting/

 

 

The Everyday Writer ISBN: 0312413289

Website: http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/everyday_writer/default.asp?uid=0&rau=0

Course Description:

 English 1A is a course designed to help build upon the writing, reading, and thinking abilities you acquired in English 111. We will concentrate primarily on reading and writing about images, essays, poems, and a graphic novel. We will also spend a large portion of the class discussing various aspects of the writing process, from issues in grammar and punctuation to organization, development, and revision of your essays.  We will be working most rigorously and specifically on writing processes of formal academic essays and a research paper.

 Prerequisite:  ENGL 111

Credit transferable:  CSU, UC

Goals and Objectives

To complete this course successfully and earn 3 transferable units,* a student will

1.    Acquire the tools necessary for proficiency in the technical and creative aspects of writing. 

2.   Read critically, and with fluency, text written at the college level.   

3.   Fulfill the standard writing requirement for a semester-length English composition course:  8,000 to 10,000 words.

4.   Actively engage in the writing process at all stages:  discovering a topic, invention activities, planning and drafting, multiple revisions, editing and proofreading.

5.   Complete writing assignments in accordance with the schedule provided on the course calendar.

6.   Be prepared to discuss and write about, online and in person, the currently assigned readings and topics of study.

7.   Locate, identify and make effective use of authoritative sources, using both the resources of the MPC Library (online and in person) and the Internet.

8.   Become familiar with and make effective use of MLA documentation and citation formats.

9.   If you are an online student, you must attend all required on-campus class meetings and actively participate in all assigned, weekly, online class activities.

10.   If you are an on-campus student, you must attend all scheduled class meetings and actively participate in all assigned in-class and out-of-class activities.

* NOTE:  Most four-year colleges and universities will accept English 1A for transfer only with a letter grade (see  Monterey Peninsula College 2009-2011 Catalog for an explanation of the Pass/No Pass option). 

Course Requirements and Grading

Your course grade will represent my overall evaluation of your essays, revisions, shorter assignments, participation in class, attendance, and effort in this course. The following percentages represent the official line on the significance of each aspect of the course to your grade:

1)     4  Formal Multi-Draft Essays (40%)

2)   Weekly Writing and Journal Entries  (20%)

3)   The Research Paper 7-10 pages (20%) Note: You cannot pass this class if you do not turn in the research paper.

4)  Participation (10%)

5)  Final Essay Exam (10%)

Notice that I call these the official line.  These percentages are minimums.  I reserve the right to adjust them in your favor.  For example, I will weigh much more heavily the papers written at the end of the course if your work has consistently improved over the semester.  However, I will make such adjustments only at my discretion and they are not a basis for appeal.

Course Motto:

 I can begin to see more clearly if I begin to write.