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Writing & Rhetoric II

English 308J

Instructor: David Sharpe
Ohio University, Athens OH

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LAB ONE-A

Announcements

Labs will be identified by the week number and "A" for Monday or Tuesday, "B" for Wednesday or Thursday

This Week

 

Labwork

Welcome to Writing & Rhetoric

This first lab meeting gives us a chance to introduce ourselves and to learn about the course. Don’t be alarmed if you don’t know how to do some of the following activities. Now is the chance to learn. Just be patient and methodical, and solve one difficulty at a time with the help of those around you and myself, your instructor. Remember that the computing skills are not graded, and are only a means to a greater end (communicating well by writing).

If you see someone beside you having trouble, and you know what to do, give some help. But do it by putting the steps into words – and don’t use the other person’s mouse or keyboard. The person needing the help will learn much better by keeping in control and in contact.

  1. Take a look at the course website and syllabus
      1. You are viewing www.ohio.edu/sharpe/eng308
        • write this address down so you are able to get to the website from outside the lab
           
      2. Browse the syllabus and website, ask questions, get a preview of the writing assignments by clicking on "Projects" on the course homepage

 

  1. Desktop Methods
    1. Always keep the course website open
      1. Begin every lab by opening the course website for lab instructions
      1. Minimize the browser, which will keep your instructions always as the first icon on the left at the bottom of your screen
         
      2. Try following the instructions without printing them out
  • This gives you practice in comprehending a collage of information directly from the screen – a skill that will become more essential as offices turn paperless
  • If following the instructions without a printout is too difficult, don’t hesitate to print! However, whenever you can, make new attempts to do without the printing.
    1. Use more than one program at a time
      1. Start another copy of the browser (you can press Control-N – this opens a ‘New’ window)
      2. Start Word
      3. Share the screen by resizing the windows
      1. Practice sharing the desktop
        1. Maximize each window
        2. Restore each window (use the middle button at the upper right of the window)
        3. Drag the borders of each window to change its size
        4. Drag the title bar to move each window
        5. Minimize each window

 

  1. Email an introduction
    1. Using whatever email you normally use, start a message to me with "308 intro1" in the Subject Line and enter the introduction you read out to the class (if you were absent from the first class meeting, give yourself ten minutes to write an introduction of yourself addressed to the whole class -- not just to me).
  • do your writing directly in the email message (not in Word)
  • my address is
  • if you wrote only a list of points or notes, turn them into a paragraph
  1. Send this first introduction
     

 

  1. Write a second intro in Word
    1. Start a new document in Word named intro2_yourlastname, saved on a flashdrive or on the Desktop (but realize it will be deleted at the end of the lab).  Read the rest of this project (Steps B and C) before you start -- an overview is always a good idea.
  • You are saving the document before you even start writing in order to encourage an important habit -- saving everything you do from start to finish, to prevent losing your work.  Always begin by naming a document, then save every ten minutes as you write.
     
  • Note that a Subject Line and a Filename are entirely different -- a Subject Line appears in an email listing and doesn't need a lastname (the email is already identified), while a filename appears in computer file listings without an identification, so a lastname should be added
    • always watch for the required Subject Line and Filename for each project, since any typos or variations may cause your work to get lost!
       
  • When you finish, you will be emailing this to me as an attachment
    1. Write a second introduction for the class to read, about 300 words long, using none of the information given in the first
  • Include anything that helps make you individual and, possibly, memorable.  Think about the introductions you just heard.  Did any details or type of information or approaches catch your attention?  Can you add the equivalent to your own intro?
     
  • Word 07 shows the ongoing word count at the bottom left corner.  If you are using an older version, you can measure how many words you have written by copy/pasting your text into a blank Word document, and using Tools / Word Count.
     
  • If you're stuck for material, return to some points from the first intro and expand them
    1. When you have finished, save again and close the document
  • If you aren‘t able to finish during the lab, or don’t have time to do the next step, save your document on a flashdrive, or email it to yourself, and finish it by the deadline in the announcements above
     
    • NOTE: you may need to know about "Saving your Work" to continue working elsewhere. Check the link on the course homepage.

 

  1. Email an attachment
    1. Send your second introduction as an attachment to me, with "308 intro2" in the Subject Line
  • If you aren‘t able to complete this during the lab, and you don't know how to do an attachment using your own email program, bring your intro with you on a flashdrive to the next lab

 

  1. Add both introductions to our classlist

Our classlist will be built by adding your introductions to a Discussion Board in Blackboard.  To do this, follow the steps below:

    1. Open "classlist" on our course homepage (using your second browser)
       
    2. Click on the button at upper left marked "Create Thread"
       
      • if the Thread button is not showing, click on Forum: CLASSLIST at the top of the window
         
    3. In the Subject box, type your last name only (not capitalized), then your OU email address (for example, johnson aj123456@ohio.edu)
       
      • please don't enter a non-University address (like yahoo, hotmail, or gmail)
         
    4. copy/paste your intro1 into the message box
       
    5. at the end of your intro1, type a divider line (such as ********************)
       
    6. below the divider line, copy/paste the intro2 you wrote in Word
       
      • note: don't attach the file -- just paste the text
         
    7. Click on Submit (not Save) and confirm that your post is showing

 

  1. Sign up for the Lunsford eBook

The eBook version of Lunsford's Everyday Writer will require a credit card number (the charge is around $30).  If you would be more comfortable doing this from your own computer in private, wait until after the lab.  You can revisit this page from any internet-connected computer and follow the link then.  Please have this done by the start of the next class.  Note that the payment is non-refundable, so if you are uncertain whether you will remain in this section, contact me first.

    1. Purchase access
      2.
  • Go to Everyday Writer (4th edition)

  • Click on PURCHASE access online
     
    • ignore the button that asks about an Access Card

  • Choose e-Book: 1 year access $28.95 (not "Re:Writing Plus")

  • Choose CHECK OUT NOW, then provide your OU email address and password
     
    • you do not need an "access code" or an "activation code" -- your OU email address and password are enough
    • you will not receive, and do not need, a confirmation email

  • After you've signed up, use only the link provided in this lesson to access your e-Book (bookmark it for future use).  Any other link may not take you to the right place.  Begin by clicking on the tab for "e-Book"

  • If you are having any difficulty signing up, contact the publisher directly, using the contact info given on their site (the phone number is usually the best, and is copied below). The many variations in computer settings prevent me from effectively helping you myself.  If necessary, a copy of the text is on reserve at Alden Library for use until you are able to arrange access.
     
    • Technical Support 1-800-936-6899. Tech support representatives are available Monday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 a.m., EST; Friday, 9:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m. EST; Saturday, 11:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., EST; Sunday, 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m., EST
  1. Find our first reading
  • Return to Home if you are not already there (Everyday Writer, 4th edition)
     
  • Click on the tab for "e-Book", then "LOG IN NOW", and enter the email address and password you entered when you purchased the access
     
  • Click on "e-Book: GO" > "Language / Glossary" > "22: Word Choice and Spelling"
  • Browse through the subsections of Chapter 22 (a to f).  We will be paying special attention to 22b: Denotation and Connotation.
     
  • For all the Lunsford selections, you will be responsible for carefully reading the explanatory text.  However, doing the exercises is optional.  Depending on your commitment to improving your writing, doing them is excellent preparation for the class and beneficial for your skills, but the exercises are not required (unless specifically mentioned).
     
  • This first reading is due for the next class.

 

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