Welcome Annoucement

Welcome to ENG 2233, American Lit II

I am really excited to work with you this semester and look forward to getting to know you better.

My contact information is always available on the home page, so feel free to message me anytime or call any day, anytime before 9:00 p.m. The messaging system through the course site (INBOX) is the easiest and normally quickest way to communicate with me because I have my course notifications set up to go to my cell phone; so I hear a ding whenever you message me through the site. Likewise you need to set your notification preferences to alert YOUR cell phone so you won’t miss messages I send you through the site.

 I do not mind your calling me on my cell phone if you need immediate help, but please do not text me. As stated above, if you want to send me a written communication, send it through the course INBOX.

 There are three things I want you to know today.

 First, you must read the assignments in the textbook in order to pass the course. There is a myth floating about that if you read internet summaries of the assigned works, you will get by. Sadly, many students have tried that method and ALWAYS end up failing.  Here is why: Your brain is way more powerful than somebody’s summary. Which one are you more likely to remember: details of a movie that you have watched or details of a movie somebody told you about? The same is true of stories in literature; reading them creates images and ideas in your brain, which you will remember. You may forget Calixta’s name, but you won’t forget that she entertains her old boyfriend in the most intimate way while her husband was in town with their child. Also, memorizing a summary and the names of characters from a summary is way harder than reading the story for yourself because you will find that memorization won’t be necessary.

 Second, you need to keep up. Assignments are usually due on Sunday night and are late if turned in after that. It is best to do them ahead of time and submit them before Sunday night; you never know when your computer will act up or the power or internet might go out.

 Finally, try to relax and enjoy the course. It really is not as boring as you may think, partly because I really try hard to assign stories and poems that are enjoyable to read. No, you won’t like all of them, but I am certain you will like some of them, even if “English has always been your worst subject.” Try this: when you are ready to do the assignment, turn off the television, turn off your cell phone, and go to the quietest place you can find in your house or library if you house is full of noise all the time. I know you think you will perish if you are not attentive to your phone for thirty minutes, but I promise that you won’t.

 If all else fails, you have read the story and do not understand it at all, read a summary, and then read the story again. If you still do not get it, call me. We will work on it together.

 For now, read over the information below to get your started in the course. Good luck!!