P1 complete: What have we learned?

Congratulations! Today, before 11:59pm, you will upload your first major project to Canvas. Before you upload, make sure:

• It is a Word document? All Canvas uploads must be Word Documents. If you have not downloaded the free copy of Microsoft Word onto your computer, then you should do that IMMEDIATELY. Our system will not read pages or Pdfs and neither do I.

• Does it meet the word count of 1,500 words?

• Is your name on it? Here is an example of what a paper should look like for this class. You can also find one in the Bedford Book of Genres. Always, always put your name on your work.

• Do your hyperlinks work, or do you have a Works Cited? If you are concerned your hyperlinks are not working, email the paper to a friend and ask them to test it for you before you upload it.

• Did you make changes to your draft after reviewing the comments from your classmates?

Great. You should all be very pleased with what all you have learned and accomplished already this semester.

• You know how to upload files to Canvas.

• You know how to edit someone's paper through track changes.

• You know how to provide constructive feedback.

• You know how to put together an outline.

• You know how to analyze something rhetorically. You can look at the choices a composer makes and analyze it to understand why they made those choices. Your favorite Pop Culture icons are not winging it. They have a specific reason for all the composition choices they make to keep their brand on message.

So what's next:

This week you have a MANDATORY Twitter assignment this week. It will count for a Twitter Grade and a Wix Grade.

When you get to Project #3, you will be asked to promote your compositions in public spaces. Celebrities consistently promote themselves on Twitter in order to ensure they are reaching their fans and making new ones. I want you to look at how they are doing it, so you can see how Twitter promotion is done. You will decide if they are doing it well. Pick people you like.

Your next Major Project is a research paper based on a question which you develop which ties in something from Pop Culture with the real world.

• Your Research Question will be used for Project #2 AND Project #3. Let me state that again, whatever you select to research for Project #2 will be your topic for Project #3. So pick carefully what you want to work on for the remainder of the semester.

• You are expected to use the FSU databases to find Peer Reviewed Research on your topic. I will not accept sources from Google. No dictionary entries, no "How Stuff Works" articles, no blogs or Buzzfeed articles. In fact, most news sources are also suspect because the news changes everyday.

• This project is also broken into several parts and each part requires a considerable amount of time. You must write a research proposal. You have to put together an annotated bibliography on your sources. You have to locate an expert on the topic which you are researching and interview them either in person or via video conference or email. [Your parent, guardian, significant other, roommate or neighbor do not count. Everyone has to interview a stranger].

• This project is 2,000 words.

So let's check in:

• How is your Wix blog looking? As soon as your upload your draft to Canvas, go ahead and start building your Wix page for Project #1. You should have your page designed by Tuesday (10/3) at 11:59pm. See the Project #1 page for layout and design ideas.

• How is Twitter going? Many of you are doing a great job communication with each other, with me, and completing the Twitter assignments. Remember, only 3 retweets a week count toward your total of 10 for the week. Also, you have to hit all 10 to get the credit for the week, so count carefully.

• Canvas is a new program for EVERYONE at FSU. I am learning new things about Canvas every day. This means I have to allow myself time and space to course correct when things get glitchy. You have to allow this time for yourself as well. Don't wait until the last minute and then get upset when the system gets glitchy.

• How do you ask for help? This is an online class, and online communication is how we get things done. Many of you are very comfortable emailing me, Tweeting me and video conferencing with me when you have questions. Make sure you are utilizing proper email format, using respectful language and being reasonable with appropriate turnaround for responses.

That being said, I am not a 24-hour tech or IT service. I'm a human being who also enjoys sleeping, watching Netflix and texting my friends. I have office hours when I am available for video conferences. I will meet with students outside those hours with proper notice if it is before 5pm. If it is dark, it is too late to ask me to video conference.

Keep this in mind:

• I will respond to your email within 24 hours, so don't expect a response from your 11pm email before the 11:59pm deadline.

• I will not double-check your submissions to make sure you "did it right". Your submission is your responsibility.

• I stop responding to student Tweets and emails at 9pm during the week. On weekends I will not be available. There is no reason why you cannot ask your question during the week before 9pm.

• Google your question before you contact me, especially if it is tech related. Google is a fine resource for technological questions, especially if it relates to Canvas, Microsoft, Google Hangout, Twitter, etc.

• Ask your classmates. You have been broken into groups, so you have Twitter addresses and email accounts of your classmates. Use them as a resource.

The beginning of a semester is always bumpy. I feel like we are smoothing these bumps out and are set for a great rest of the semester.

Are you interested in getting more help with Wix?

Please complete this survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7253KPW