FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
- What’s this website all about?
- What are posts, comments, categories, etc.?
- What is turnitin.com?
- What books do I need for your class?
- How do I get in touch with you?
- What is Meebo?
- What is Box.net or how do I download documents from the course website?
- What’re RSS feeds?
- I know I’m going to miss class, what should I do?
- What’s my grade so far in the class?
- Can I switch my topic for my project?
- One of my sources for my paper isn’t really scholarly, but that’s because I am writing about sports, can I still use it in my paper?
- How do I format my paper MLA style?
- How do I cite ____ in my paper? TBA
- How do I make a properly formatted Works Cited page? TBA
What’s this website all about?
This website is a blog, and the purpose of this website is two-fold. One, it’s a way for me to efficiently distribute course documents and information about class. Two, it’s a way for you to get in touch with me (via Meebo or comments). In other words, this website is like a required text for the class, and it’s a tool that you’ll use to keep in touch with me.
Watch the video below to get the basics of how a blog works.
What are posts, comments, and categories, etc.?
Peruse the slide show below by clicking on the right and left arrows.
What is turnitin.com?
See the turnitin.com page for information.
What books do I need for your class?
Double check your syllabus. Or check the required texts pages for your respective class (here or here)
How do I get in touch with you?
The best way to get in touch isvia email (AdairOlson@bhsu.edu). You are more than welcome to stop by during office hours (____). Also, during office hours I’m on Meebo. Back to list of questions.
What’s Meebo?
Meebo is a service that allows you to chat with folks without having to download special software.
Peruse the slide show below by clicking on the right and left arrows.
What’s box.net?
Box.net is a web-based tool that allows folks to share and edit documents without downloading special software. You’ll be using box.net to download all of the documents and handouts associated with a course (paper assignments, rubrics, notes, etc.). There are two ways that you will encounter box.net when you download things for this class, and you’ll learn about those by browsing the slide show below.
You mentioned “RSS Feeds” above; what’re those?
RSS feeds are a tool that you can use to keep up-to-date efficiently with website that have frequently updated content. Check out the video below.
I know I’m going to miss class, what should I do?
First, read the syllabus policies on absences.
Essentially, there are excused and unexcused absences in my course. Unexcused absences hurt your final grade by subtracting attendance points from your grade. You earn unexcused absences by coming into class after I’ve taken roll, sleeping in class, fiddling around with your phone in class, or by missing class without making up work.
Excused absences happen when you miss class but turn in your work before you miss class. If you’re going to be gone and there’s a reading assignment, complete that reading assignment and then answer the comprehension questions about that reading (or write a very detailed summary of the reading) and turn those in before you miss class. If you’re going to be gone and there’s a writing assignment, turn in that work before you miss class. If you’re going to be gone and there’s no assignment, complete one of the writing prompts here.
I understand that many of you have jobs and families that sometimes get in the way of attending school; however, it is important that you keep up with your course work, and so I ask you to submit this work before you’re gone. Now, I do understand that sometimes you might have a major emergency or a severe illness; however, this is the twenty-first century, so you can call me during office hours or send me an email so that I can help make arrangements to get you caught up.
If you’ve missed class and you would like to catch up with what you missed, check the documents and handouts page for your class. You can look over power points from the days you were gone. I’m also happy to review course work with you during office hours, so don’t hesitate to email me to set up an appointment or just drop by during office hours.
What’s my grade so far in this class?
I do not regularly figure grades throughout the semester, so it is difficult for me to give you an accurate guess of your grade in the course during the semester. A good rule of thumb, though, is that your grade is generally the average grade you’ve received on your papers (as long as you are keeping up with the homework and not accumulating unexcused absences).
Can I switch my topic?
Always. Part of the writing process entails discovery – you might start drafting and realize what you’re working with isn’t suitable or maybe you will realize that you need to approach your paper from a different angle. Whatever the case, if you feel you want to try something different, there is no reason I should limit you. You will never be penalized if your pre-writing, various drafts, and final paper all reflect different topics or ideas. In fact, a change in topic demonstrates that you’ve been doing some heavy thinking.
One of my sources for my paper isn’t really scholarly, but that’s because I am writing about sports, can I still use it in my paper?
Remember, the reason we use scholarly source materials is because we are all part of the never ending academic conversation. You use those scholarly source materials to help frame your argument, cite a different approach to a topic, provide evidence for a point, etc. You should use scholarly materials, materials from experts in a field, because those scholars’ expertise provides your paper with authority.
However, if you are writing about steroids in baseball, for example, you might have to use something like ESPN.com as a source because, well, scholars might not be too concerned with publishing articles and books about baseball. If that is the case, then use your best judgment. Consider whether or not the “non-academic” source you are using is relevant to your argument and if it is credible. Consider, too, how that source helps advance your argument or helps substantiate a point. Use it appropriately, and don’t hesitate to point out short comings about the source in your paper.
How do I format my paper MLA style?
MLA formatting rules are completely arbitary, so there’s no simple way to memorize them all really. You just have to learn by doing. Here are the basics for MLA style. (Don’t forget that you can look at some example essays on the course website as well.)
- MLA heading in the upper left hand side of the page:
- Your Name
- Professor’s Name
- Class
- Date the assignment is due/submitted
- Title centered after the heading but before the body of the paper. The title should not be put in quotation marks, and it shouldn’t be specially formatted (no bolding or italicizing).
- The paper should be double spaced only throughout; there shouldn’t be four spaces between the heading and the title or between the title and the body. The paper should just be double spaced.
- Your last name and the page numbers should be in the upper right hand corner, o.5″ from the top of the page.
You might find the following video helpful.
Adair Olson
