Do you have any tips for succeeding in this class?

My best overall suggestions are to start early and to read all of the posted material in order.
This class is only eight weeks long, which means that you will have quite a bit of reading and several assignments to complete each week. If you wait until the due dates to start assignments, then you won't have time to do the necessary reading and thinking. This often leads to students turning in work that isn't acceptable. Don't let this happen to you! I've set up each week's pages to be read and completed in order. If you start early and follow my set-up, you'll have a real advantage over students that don't.
Online classes are not easier than face-to-face classes. If you are uncomfortable using a computer or you don’t have a computer with quick and reliable internet access in your home, then you should take a face-to-face version of this class.

I don’t mind answering questions, but I expect you to understand the basics, such as saving and uploading files, attaching files to email, and navigating websites.

Also, do not rely on the computer at your friend’s house or at the local library. You will need several hours each week to read the class material and complete assignments.

Use Microsoft Word.
Microsoft Word is the standard word processing program that Hinds composition classes use, and all of my formatting instructions are geared for Word. Also, if you do not use Word, neither Canvas nor I may be able to read the file. If I can't read the file, I can't grade it. At the very least, your word processor should be able to save your file as a Word document (.doc or .docx).

If you absolutely cannot install Word, you can access Word Online (as well as other online versions of Microsoft Office programs) through your My.Hinds account. You can view the following screencast for directions:
http://screencast.com/t/C5tezBIYhIVP Links to an external site.
Please use formal English when you send an email or message to me.
It’s an English class! Even if you’re using your phone, you should use correct spelling, punctuation, and spelling.
Please address me as “Mrs. Speights."
Register for proctored exams during Week 1.
Exam spots fill up very quickly, and students that wait may not be able to schedule a full two hours for their exam or find a spot at the nearest campus.
Ask for help. If you’re having a problem that may interfere with completing your work, contact me ahead of time. Remember that I am available through email (alspeights@hindscc.edu), Canvas message, and voice mail. When students contact me ahead of time with issues, I try my best to work with them (within reason), but I have no sympathy for students who wait until after a deadline has passed to tell me that they didn’t understand an assignment or have been having trouble logging into Canvas.