I think that folks are generally getting the hang of it for now when it comes to discussing the readings for the class, which is really the bulk of the work of the class. This is basically the pattern that will continue for the rest of the term: I’ll post a few introductory remarks about a reading, and then you want to post comments responding to that introductory post and also to the comments of your classmates. It’s important to do this in a timely fashion because if everyone starts discussing a reading on Monday (more or less), then we can actually have an exchange of ideas for a couple of days. But if people wait until the last minute to post comments, then we can’t really have a dialog about the readings and those comments, right?
And, as I have said in a couple of different places already, the only way you can demonstrate “presence” and engagement in this course is bu actually participating. So don’t be shy!
A couple of other miscellaneous announcements:
- I just posted Kenneth Burke’s introduction to A Grammar of Motives, so you should be able to get that from eReserves. Also, I already emailed everyone the password to the eReserves site, but if you need it again, just let me know.
- I suspect that someone in this class requested the copy of Crowley and Hawhee’s textbook from the U of Michigan library that I checked out the other week. If that’s true, it’s back at the library now so go get it!
- Some time in the near future (probably not next week, but perhaps the week after), I’ll try to schedule an informal face to face gathering of everyone at The Corner Brewery. I find The Corner a really good place to meet because it’s a big space, it’s informal, they have decent wifi, it’s kid-friendly (at least until 10 PM), they have good food and Ann Arbor Brewing Company beer (it’s where they make it), and they also have a variety of soft drinks and what-not. Anyway, stay tuned for more details on that.
- Finally, I hope new grad students will attend the orientation meeting today, and I hope everyone has a chance to stop by the grad student mixer/party at Professor Neufeld’s house! You all should have received some information on this; if you don’t know what I’m getting at, drop me an email.
Quick question: maybe I have read this somewhere and I’m just blanking on it at the moment. But is there any length requirement for our responses? I don’t want to make it too short/long than needed. Also, I’m assuming once we get into discussing/communicating more you’ll want us to respond to others comments too. Do you have a certain number or responses you’d like?
I don’t have a particular word count in mind Nicole, and lord knows I’m not going to be doing the counting. The most important part of all this for me is that everyone participates and participates regularly, and that the comments are conversational and interactive. In other words, I’m not particularly interested in little mini-reviews that summarize the readings; rather, I’m interested in hearing what questions folks have, what it makes them thing, etc.
I thought that what we had last week with the Cormier reading was pretty good, so if people keep up like that, we’ll be in great shape for this term. It’s also worth mentioning that since this is indeed out on the real world wide web, it’s entirely possible people like Dave will stop back to the site. Which, IMO, is a very cool thing.