Start Here Welcome to the Course

This Orientation module will guide you through reading the syllabus, course expectations, netiquette, and course overview, introducing yourself to your peers, and posing questions you might have about the course and its attendant policies. This should take approximately a little over an hour to complete. The posted due date for these is Jan 31 - but I will accept these assignments through the first week of class to accommodate late-comers.

There is a mix of graded and ungraded assignments, but take your time working through all of them as it is important that you familiarize yourself with these policies and concepts now, at the beginning of the semester, so that you are sure you're in the right place and that you're prepared for a successful semester.

Let me point out: there are a lot of resources and different types of support in this Orientation Module. You may want to make a note of what you find here to return to during the semester. Don't get overwhelmed by all these links, but do carefully evaluate what is here, familiarize yourself with this content, and I strongly recommend that you take a few notes about what is here so you can consult them in the future if you have any technological, Canvas-specific, or other course related difficulties or struggles!

Welcome! I am excited to meet you all and work on college composition in our fully online course. I am a full time faculty member here at HCC, and I've been teaching rhetoric and composition courses since 2007. Personally, I love to help students learn to identify their unique strengths and to confront their reading and writing insecurities - I believe this helps them develop as intentional, strategic communicators. I so look forward to meeting you all and working with you.

Sarah Johnson
Associate Professor | English/World Languages
sjohnson2@howardcc.edu
443-518-3152
Duncan Hall 342 | Office hours - see syllabus

Now, please follow the steps below to continue your orientation to this course.

Step 1: Read the course syllabus and course schedule

The course syllabus provides you with the course schedule, course objectives, explanations of assignments and assessments, grading policies, and instructor contact information. Please read it carefully. You should be familiar with the schedule and process of the course.

Step 2: Confirm access to the course text

Click here to make sure you can access the course text, Critical Reading, Critical Writing: A Handbook to Understanding College Composition.
If you would like to purchase a printed copy of the course text, click the "Buy Book" button on the CRCW homepage (and see syllabus for more purchasing options and information).

Step 3: Library information and student support

Watch the HCC orientation presentations (Links to an external site.) (at the bottom of the page) to learn what resources are available to you as an HCC student.

Visit the HCC Online Learning website to read about common questions and policies as well as access the student handbook. You are encouraged to complete the following self-assessment:

Are You Ready to be an Online Learner?

Username: student
Password: student

Step 4: Read the technical requirements page

The Technical Requirements page identifies the browsers, operating systems, and plugins that work best with Canvas. If you are new to Canvas proceed through the following self-paced course:

Canvas Student Training Guide

If needed, click for help with Google Apps for Education, Microsoft Office 365, and accessing Canvas through your Android or iPhone.

If needed, click for Technical Support.

Step 5: Read about academic integrity

Academic honesty, as defined in the Student Handbook, is expected of all students. HCC Academic Honesty Procedure - 10.02.01

Next Steps: Become familiar with Expectations