Welcome to our class!

Hello English 043!

I'd like to use this first blog entry to welcome you to my class and give you a few hints as to how the class will run.

First of all, to introduce myself:
I'm your instructor, Professor Olean. I teach writing here at Housatonic, as well as at other local colleges and universities. I've been teaching at HCC for a few semesters now and really enjoy the classes I teach here. The students I have had at Housatonic are some of the most motivated I've had the pleasure of teaching - and I know you all will continue that tradition!

I love teaching this course on Friday mornings! Okay, I may not love the Friday morning part, but I really enjoy the compact nature of the class. We get to really delve into your work deeply, without the interruption that three 50 minute, or two 75 minute, classes each week would offer. The drawback to this, though, is that a whole week goes by between class meetings!
Thank goodness for technology! This is where your own blogs come into play. In order for me to be sure that you aren't falling behind throughout the week - and to be sure that everyone stays on the same page, blog posts are essential. You'll be assigned two blog posts at the end of each class. The first is due up on your blog no later than Monday. The second is due on Wednesday. I won't check them until the evening, but please do make sure that you're posting as early as possible. I don't want you to miss out on credit for your homework! Of course, feel free to post early, but make sure you don't post late!

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Other hints for my class:

If you have to be late or leave early or miss a class, PLEASE email me ahead of time. Don't just not show up and don't interrupt class.
If you do arrive late, please enter the classroom quietly and take a seat. Do NOT interrupt class to ask where we are or to apologize for your tardiness.

If you have any questions or are unsure of anything during class, please ask! Sadly, I do not have mind reading powers - I may think your silence is indicative of understanding when it's really marking your confusion. Chances are, if you have questions, so do your classmates. Don't be afraid to speak up!

Be respectful! Respect for me, as your instructor, is expected, but that respect should extend to everyone within the college - including your classmates and yourselves.

Please keep up with your work. Be present and on time each week. There is nothing more frustrating than having a student not show up for most of the semester, hand in no work, and then ask for extra credit or "how to get an A" on the last day. The simple answer is "build a time machine, go back to the beginning of the semester, and do the work!"

We are all grown ups in this classroom. While that means that I expect grown up behavior from my students inside the classroom, it also means that as adults, we all choose our own priorities. Your priorities may be stacked differently, depending on your circumstances - family, work, school, socializing: these all have a hold over our time and attentions. It is up to you, as adults, to prioritize those demands. I would expect that this course ranks high in your list of priorities.

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Again, welcome to English 043! I look forward to working with you throughout the semester and helping you on your educational journey!