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Welcome Message from Mrs. Speights
Welcome to English Composition I
Sections: ENG 1113 H12B and H12C
Instructor: Amy Leah Speights
"People on the outside think there's something magical about writing, that you go up in the attic at midnight and cast the bones and come down in the morning with a story, but it isn't like that. You sit in back of the typewriter and you work, and that's all there is to it."
-Harlan Ellison, science fiction writer
Harlan Ellison was thinking of fiction writing when he wrote the sentence above, but he might as well have been thinking of non-fiction too. Many people believe that writing ability is a simply a gift, "something magical" that can't be learned. What I'd like to do in this class is dispel that myth. Writing is a skill, and it can be learned if you're willing to read, think, and practice.
As your Composition I instructor, I aim to teach you some practical techniques for developing thoughtful and well-written essays. Hopefully, you can bring these writing techniques with you into other classes and into your future jobs.
If you need help, please remember that you can always contact me by emailing me at alspeights@hindscc.edu or by sending me a message in the Canvas messaging system.
To get started:
- Go to Modules.
- Read through the Introduction module.
- Continue on to the Week 1 module.
- Read through the Frequently Asked Questions
Please note: This course is only eight weeks long, so there is a lot of material scheduled for each week. I recommend that you do a little each day so that you aren't overwhelmed. Also, unlike some other courses, the due dates for this class usually fall on Saturdays, including for Week 1!
Immediate Task: It's very important that you read my announcements and comments as soon as they're posted, so please go to the following page and follow the directions to change your settings: How do I change my settings so that I receive your announcements and assignment comments as soon as they're posted?