1. Put your name on your work to make sure you get
   credit for your work.
2. Use the format your teacher asks for if you’re
   sending electronic work. Your teacher may not have the
   software to open your file otherwise. Even if she has
   to convert the file, the format and layout may no
   longer appear as you want them to.
3. If you can’t turn something in using the system your
   teacher wants, email the teacher AND attach the work.
   That way, your teacher knows that you completed the
   work on time.
4. Listen to and follow the instructions for your
   assignments. If the teacher says to underline your
   thesis or include a bibliography, be sure that you do.
5. Always check the syllabus before you ask questions.
   You’re likely to find things like the late policy, the
   grade scale, and attendance policies there.
6. Don’t assume that your teacher next term will do
   things the same way I have. If you’re not sure about
   something, ask.
7. Definitely be sure that you understand the teacher’s
   policy on using your laptop, tablet, or cell phone in
   class. The details may be on the syllabus. If they are
   not, ask.
8. Realize that the teacher can see you, and don’t make
   a bad impression. I knew when you were sleeping,
   doodling, fooling around on Facebook, or generally not
   doing the work I asked you to. There’s a meme teachers
   share with one another:
   
9. Don’t say things like “Does this matter for the
   assignment?” or “Did we do anything important in
   class?” Check out this advice on things to say and
   things not to say, and follow it.
10. Remember that the Writing Center can help you next
    term too. Your teacher may not talk about it, but it
    is a resource that is available for you during your
    entire time here at Virginia Tech.

Here are 5 things not to wear: 

Your Pajama Pants

Your tutu

Your Unusual Hat

Your Bacon Costume or Hulu Skirt

Anything Lady Gaga Would Wear

Once you have a draft of your slideshow, use the Oral Presentation Tips & Checklist to review, revise, and practice your presentation. The checklist in WAVT will help you make sure that you have everything you need in your presentation, so be sure to bring the book to class and check your slideshow.

Evaluation of Oral Presentations

I have added a document to the fourth assignment: Oral Presentation Evaluation. This document explains all the things that will go into your grade for the group project as well as the assignment for a self and group assessment writing that you need to complete by the end of the last day of classes. 

Because this final assignment has many parameters and everyone's grade can be different, I didn't break the grade  out into percentages. As an example, let's say the presentation is a B, but one member of your group was absent for half the classes and only contributed the title slide. That student's grade would be different from a student who was in class every day and wrote 1/3 of the slideshow. 

Please review the document before the next class session (Wed, 12/4) and be prepared to ask any questions. Group work time is limited so I will not read the document in class. I'll just answer questions.

Logistics for the Assessment Writing
Feel free to get started on the self and group assessment writing as you have time, but you will not submit the information via Tests & Quizzes in Scholar until the last day of class (so that you will have had time to see all of the oral presentations). Just work in a word processor and copy your answers over into Scholar on that last day of class.

Here's a review of what each term means, with examples from this WWE commercial I shared in class:

Ethos: the appeal to credibility

In the commercial with WWE Superstar The Miz, the mother, father, and son are a model happy family that adds ethos to the commercial. The unspoken argument is that if this family loves these gifts, the viewer's family will too. The family provides credibility to the message that the toys will be fun for the whole family.
 

Pathos: the appeal to emotions or feelings

The surprise and excitement of the family and children at the birthday party in the KMart commercial appeal to pathos. The advertisers show viewers that the WWE gifts will bring happiness and joy to the receiver. The use of a family birthday party as the setting reminds viewers of similar celebrations they have been a part of and suggests that purchasing WWE Action Figures and other gifts will help them create such fond memories for a child they know.
 

Logos: the appeal to logic and fact

The WWE commercial includes few concrete facts, by the facts there are focus on demonstrating how shopping at Kmart is an economical, money-saving choice. The price of the Wrestlemania folding chair in the commercial appeals to logos by listing the cost of the chair in large numbers on the screen and its regular price in smaller print. The chair will cost a shopper only $79.99 with a $30 purchase of WWE merchandise. The regular price of the chair alone is $129.99. The savvy Kmart shopper can save $50 on the cost of the chair simply by spending $30 on WWE presents. Even adding in the required purchase, the viewer can still save $20 on the cost of the chair.  

1. Go to the Forums and under the Pop Culture Dictionary post, choose the Rough Draft Post for your class period.
2. Click the "Start New Conversation" button at the top. 
3. Use your name and your glossary topic as the subject. For instance, my subject might be "Traci Gardner, NCIS Glossary."
4. Add your rough draft as an attachment.
5. Add any special notes or questions that you want the person who reads your draft to consider.
6. Post your message.

After the drafts are posted, find a buddy to exchange with. Read through your partner's rough draft and add a reply to your partner's draft with your feedback. Respond with the questions that are included in the Pop Culture Dictionary Post.

Your peer review feedback in the forums will count for your in-class writing for today.

Now the bad news, I regret to admit that I still have about 10 papers to grade. I'll have them all posted later this afternoon, along with some notes about grading abbreviations I used. Watch you email later this afternoon for the indication that I'm (finally) finished.

1. Work on your draft letter in a word processor (see the details in Tests & Quizzes for today, 2013-09-20). Your job is to write me a letter that tells me anything you want me to know before I read and grade your literacy narrative.
2. Copy your draft letter into the In-Class Writing for today and submit it.
3. If you have extra time before the session is over, use your time wisely. Make sure you spellchecked your paper. Check the rubric for the assignment to make sure you have everything you need in your paper.
4. Save your literacy narrative document as a PDF, using the naming convention LastName-FirstName-Asgt1.pdf. Check the PDF file to make sure the layout is correct and any links work.
5. Go to the Assignment Tab in the left sidebar in Scholar. Scroll to the bottom of the assignment and add your PDF document as an Attachment.
6. Mark the Honor Pledge.
7. Submit your work.

If you are planning to turn in your literacy narrative later (during the grace period), you have two options:

Option 1: Go ahead and work on your draft letter now.

Option 2: Work on your literacy narrative in class and complete your draft letter later.

No matter which option you choose, when you are ready to submit your literacy narrative, be sure that you also submit your draft letter in the Tests & Quizzes section of Scholar.

Bring your computer to class on Wednesday and be prepared to log into Scholar and write at the beginning of the class session.

Most sessions will begin with writing. Next we will discuss what we have written and complete activities related to the major assignments in the course. The class will be highly collaborative, so you need to be ready to work with other class members as a team.

Course readings, activities, and all writing assignments will be published on the course’s Scholar site. I will provide feedback and send grades through Scholar as well. I endeavor to run a paper-free course, so there will be few, if any, handouts after the first day of course. You can always find the course materials online. If you like paper, feel free to print them out, but making printouts is not a requirement.

Generally, the information on this site is repeated on the course’s Scholar site. This website simply provides a backup of the information in a location that does not require a login. If you have a question about an assignment or policy, the syllabus and other materials here and on the Scholar site will almost always have the answer for you.