Note: This post is a version of the original Blackboard Announcement from 8/25.
I’m Tim Dalton, your instructor for this section of City College’s FIQWS focused on the topic of narrative medicine. This note introduces you to the basics our course: its content, its procedures, its policies, its key documents. We’ll discuss all of this in detail in the coming days and weeks. The first day will involve some getting-to-know-you writing activities and an overview of major assignments, their stages, and their deadlines.
Content: This is a writing class. We’ll do a lot of writing, starting in Class 1. By the end of the semester, you’ll complete four staged writing assignments. The due dates and basic description of these assignments can be found on the handout from our first day of class. (See our “Chalkboard” Doc in key documents below). You’ll do this while demonstrating academic integrity. More on this work (and this way of working) as we go along.
Procedures: We meet on Tuesday & Thursday in Harris 013. This is an in-person class. I will hold student hours (office hours) in NAC 6/332-D after class, from 3:30-4:30 on Tuesday, and from 3:30-4 on Thursday. Students can also contact me through Blackboard or by email at [email protected]. I return most messages within 24 hours, often sooner.
Policies: These are detailed on our syllabus, a document that we’ll look at in great detail on our second class, August 30. [It’s linked to on our “Chalkboard” Doc and posted on this site, under “Syllabus”.]
Key Documents:
1) Syllabus: This contains class policies, my contact information, due dates for major assignments, a grading breakdown, and college resources. I’ll introduce some of this to you on August 25, and we’ll go over it in detail on August 30, when a final version goes up on Blackboard. I want to read your writing and get to know you before finalizing this important document. Generally, it doesn’t change but I will let you know of any major editions after that date.
2) “Chalkboard” Doc: This companion to our syllabus contains more day-to-day and practical information. Goals for specific class meetings, links to working documents, handouts, and in-class readings–if you’re not sure where it is, check here first. There’s an easy to remember url: tinyurl.com/ccnychalkboard .
3) Blackboard: I’ll use this for four things. One is communication: you can send me a message through Blackboard, for instance, and I’ll make occasional Announcements here. Another is storing readings and policy documents, like the syllabus. The third one is to turn in your formal work. Each formal assignment will have its instructions posted here under the assignments page the relevant module, and you’ll turn it in and receive feedback and grades. That’s the fourth thing I’ll use Blackboard for–charting the points you’ve earned so far toward the “A” that I know you’re capable of achieving.
4) CUNY Academic Commons: We have a course site and a course group in the CUNY Academic Commons. The Commons is a WordPress-based academic social network. Your homework after our first class is to make an account. I’ll connect you to the course site and group on August 30. Because it is academic, social, digital, and sometimes even fun, it’s a good tool for our class to use. More on this in the second week.
5) Hypothes.is: This is a social annotation tool that we’ll make occasional use of throughout the semester. It’s a fun way to develop an essential skill. There’s a little bit of set-up. Please take care of that by our third class meeting (September 1). [The details of this are on our “Chalkboard” Doc.]
Let me know if you have any questions about this. I am looking forward to our work together, and to getting to know you all!
