This course will make extensive use of the World Wide Web. Most often, you'll visit my page in order to use the syllabus, which will provide a basic plan for the semester, but which will often be updated to reflect changes in the class's needs and interests. Occasionally, we'll go into the web for other kinds of information, learning a little about ways to make sense of the mass of information that's available. Finally, in some classes, we'll often use the web to publish some of the work done in the course. By the time the semester is over, you'll feel comfortable on the web.

Also, if you're in an ENGL 1301, you'll develop a simple webpage that you'll use to maintain a portfolio of the writing accomplished during the semester.  If you want to know how to do this, click here.

Access to the web at home, while helpful, is not a requirement for this course. Both the Student Technology Center (in the library) and DMC's Writing Center provide web access and both have fairly extensive hours. Finding access to the web may be inconvenient for some of you, but it won't be an insurmountable problem.

Plan on accessing the web at least every other day, sometimes more often.

Since some of you are who you are (young types weaned on computers and the internet) and I who I am (an old guy thoroughly steeped in the tradition of print and typewriters), some of you will know more about the web than I do. Don't be shy about showing me things that I don't know yet about the web or making suggestions about ways to enhance the effectiveness of my pages.

Also, remember that the internet is "messy." Things won't always go completely smoothly. But the problems we encounter will virtually always have a solution.

Finally, you'll find things for sale on the web. For this course, however, you will not need to buy or download anything; in fact, I generally advise against it, since you'll occasionally run across unregulated and unscrupulous vendors out there. Again, don't buy or download anything for this course.