Day 1: Course Introduction

Introduction to the Course


Writing a thesis or dissertation is more than writing a paper: it's a life experience.
In small groups, discuss the following questions:

  • What do you like about writing?
  • What scares you about writing?
  • What is the last thing you wrote in English? Your next project?
First Day Handout and Course Expectations
In this class, I hope to supplement your learning in other units and not add to your current workload. This class is meant to help you plan for and improve your writing in advanced, graduate-level academic environments. 

This semester, we will also talk a lot about your writing process. PPT


Getting Set Up:

Google Docs: We will be using Google Docs occasionally for collaboration and scheduling conferences. Please open a gmail account (if you don't have one already). Then, follow this link and request access to the document. Once I have granted access, fill out the requested information.

Dropbox: As a student in this course, you want to make your materials easily accessible on multiple computers so that you can always get the most recent version of a document in the classroom, at home, in your office or on your phone. Moreover, you want your instructor to be able to access your papers with the same ease.

Create a folder in your dropbox called ESL 502_[First Last name]--for example: ESL 502_Susan Faivre. Share that folder with me at sfaivre@illinois.edu. Put a photo (filename should be your name) of yourself in the folder.

Contract #1:
 Sign up for a conference in the GoogleDoc at this time.
  • What do you think are some possible causes of the problem that this person is having? Have you ever had a similar feeling or experience?
  • What would you recommend to this person to help them “get back on track”?

The Writing Process
Homework:



  • Read this Case Study on two people writing their dissertations and think about the questions listed on the last page. Please be prepared for class discussion on Thursday.
  • Fill out Contract #1 at least 24 hours before your individual conference with me next week and upload it to Dropbox. Name the file: NetID_contract1
  • Upload a recent short sample of your writing, no more than 5 pages, preferably that has not been edited by someone else. This is just to help me to identify some of the overall strengths and weaknesses in your writing. Upload it to the Dropbox at the same time as your Contract #1. Name the file: NetID_sample