Welcome to ENGW 3332: Writing Online. This website will function as the online headquarters for our class this semester. Each week, I will post an update to the website with details about coming week, deadline reminders, links to helpful resources, etc… I plan to use SEU’s Blackboard site to record your grades, but otherwise, everything related to this course will be posted here. And given that this class is about writing online, it seems appropriate that you should help me build this website as the semester progresses. (We’ll talk more about the particulars of that assignment soon.) There isn’t much to see now, but by the end of the semester, this site will look and feel like a collaborative venture.
A bit about me: I’m midway through my second year as an assistant professor at St. Edward’s University. I study how people use rhetoric in online environments, and most of the classes I teach have something to do with technology. I have been building websites since 1999, and I do a lot of web consulting for small businesses and nonprofit groups that need help getting (or getting up to date) online. When I’m not staring at a computer screen, I love to cook, read, and spend time with my wife, a brilliant freelance writer, and our two daughters.
After I gather your input in class on Tuesday, I will finalize the syllabus and bring it to class on Thursday. In the meantime, please complete the following tasks before you come to class on Thursday:
- Read Hour 1 in the Teach Yourself HTML and CSS book, and come to class with any questions you have about the reading.
- Sign up for a Twitter account, if you don’t have one already. (We’ll talk about using Twitter in the coming weeks, but for now, you just need to create an account, add a photo, and customize your profile.)
- Bring an electronic copy of your current résumé to class on Thursday.
Finally, a quick note about this website. Throughout the semester, I’ll be asking you to respond to posts on this website. To help you get comfortable with that process, please add a comment to this post that introduces yourself, links to your Twitter profile, and answers the following question: What is one specific thing you want to learn to do in ENGW 3332? Before you post, a couple of warnings: (1) Your classmates will see what you write, so don’t include anything intended just for me. (2) This website is public, so we will stick to using first names only. Also, please be sure to use the same email address every time you post to the class website. Once I “approve” your first comment on the site, you will be able to post comments for the rest of the semester without waiting for me to approve them.
UPDATE: We will use this file for our in-class workshop on Thursday. (You don’t need to download this until you get to class.)
January 18, 2012 at 9:53 am
Hi, I’m Nikki. I’m a junior, and this is my second semester at SEU after transferring from ACC. When I’m not at school, I work as an office assistant at a surety bond company. (It’s okay if you don’t know what a surety bond is; I hardly understand it myself.) And when I’m not at work, I am usually reading, nerding out with Battlestar Galactica or Glee, catching a movie at Alamo Drafthouse, or eating some tasty local Austin food.
I also frequently write for Hilltop Views. I usually link my stories to my Twitter, nikki_please.
One specific thing that I hope to learn to do in this class is become knowledgeable and skilled in online writing and media, especially in keeping up with the fast pace of social media and applying it to businesses’ and writers’ online personas.
January 18, 2012 at 11:40 am
My name is Kellie and I’m pursuing a degree in Creative Writing and Rhetoric. I make a living as a bartender at the Continental Club, which makes for great music and some minor hearing loss (so I wasn’t simply ignoring you, i promise).
I’ve started my twitter account – kelliesalome – though I’ve yet to tweet – stop pushing! – and don’t know why I had to “follow five” before I could complete the process.
I’m excited about this semester: I’m taking Magazine Writing as well as Writing Online and feel the two should nicely intertwine. This seems to be the way the written word is headed and I recognize the opportunities as well as the need to increase my competence navigating this new (to me) technology. And it turns out it can be fun. Who knew? (Dr. Warnick knew.)
January 18, 2012 at 10:13 pm
Twitter Username: kellya1357
Hi! I’m Kelly, and I’m a senior majoring in English Writing and Rhetoric. If I could, I’d have a minor in Japanese, as well, but St. Edward’s doesn’t offer enough language courses for it to qualify. I love the Japanese culture and hope to move there for a few years after I graduate. Some of my favorite things are Japanese: most of the video games I play (Nintendo) and anime, among a slew of other things. I also love photography, Harry Potter, and am currently obsessed with Star Wars: The Old Republic. For the empire! Also, I love cats.
I’m excited for this class because I taught myself HTML/CSS ages ago, along with a ton of bad habits that I desperately need to unlearn. Also, most of what I learned then is far outdated now, and I’d like to be caught back up with the HTML world.
January 18, 2012 at 11:35 pm
Hello everybody, my name is Sam, and I am addicted to the internet. I know a lot of things about barbecue – it is a passion of mine. I also love books and Asian stuff…right now I’m reading Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. It’s really good.
Here’s my Twitter link:
https://twitter.com/#!/TheParagraphist
I don’t know if there’s anything specific I want to learn from Writing Online, besides everything there is to know and more. Specifically, when it comes to the exciting culture of building and expanding the internet, I want to be an “insider” rather than an “outsider.”
January 18, 2012 at 11:41 pm
Twitter: bhunter724
I’m a sophomore and an English Writing Major. One thing I hope to learn to learn or gain is skills for writing online. I want to be able to state on a resume that I have some computer skills.
January 19, 2012 at 8:53 am
Twitter: jrcoker
I’m a sophomore English Writing major minoring in Public Relations. I like to music, writing, sarcasm, trashy tv and literature. One thing I hope to accomplish from Writing Online is to gain a better understanding of HTML/ CSS.
January 19, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Hello, I’m Heather. I’m a Writing and Rhetoric major like most of you, and I’m also minoring in Spanish. I’m excited for this class this semester because my mom works as a travel agent from home, and she bought a website over a year ago but has yet to do anything with it. I hope I can get her started in creating and designing it by the time the semester is over!
My twitter account for this class is heatherf2013.
January 23, 2012 at 3:09 pm
PS- I could only find the twitter accounts for those who included links in their posts, so here is my link so you can find me:
https://twitter.com/#!/heatherf2013
January 19, 2012 at 2:37 pm
My name is Ryan Mitchell. I’m currently a junior ENGW major. I’ve had classes with most of you before, so obviously I’m excited about seeing all familiar faces. You all can follow me on Twitter by following this link,
https://twitter.com/#!/ryrymitchy
I’ve never used Twitter before, and I have to admit that it makes me nervous. With that being said, please don’t judge my tweets too harshly. Hopefully my wit and ability to comment on the ridiculousness of life will become more advanced as the semester progresses.
January 19, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Hey y’all. My name’s Brian Disbot and I’m a junior studying English writing and communications. My twitter name is bdisbot (my profile picture is of my beloved beagle Miles). I am a PR rep and writer for Webii, an Austin based web design and developing company. With this course, I hope to better understand the complexities of designing, developing, and maintaining a web page all my own.
My favorite movie is “The Shining” and my favorite book is “Moby Dick.”
I’m a Taurus but I never let my stubborn ways get in between me and a good time.
January 19, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Hi everyone! My name is Micaela, and I’m a sophomore majoring in English Writing & Rhetoric. When I’m not internet-ing my life away, I like to draw (people, patterns, places), read (my recent favorite is “The Essential Rumi”), write music (piano and the occasional beat), and a host of other hobbies that seem to have mass appeal for the average, somewhat introverted writer type. My twitter account for the class is micaelabarri. What does one tweet about? I hope the answer comes to me over the course of the semester; and also, I would love to walk away from this class with enough HTML-savvy to make the website I’ve been theorizing in my head all of last semester a reality.
January 20, 2012 at 11:24 am
My name is Gretchen and I’m a senior English Writing major in the Creative Writing track. I’m an avid gamer (less than I used to be now that school’s back in session) and I’m hoping that this class will improve my coding/online writing skills that have gotten a little out of date since I first learned HTML, CSS, and Java.
My Twitter account is http://twitter.com/siderib
January 22, 2012 at 12:40 pm
My name’s Erica (clearly) and I’m a junior English Writing major with a minor in Music. I’m not entirely sure where I want to take my writing but I guess that’s the reason I’m here. I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to the Internet and at times I really have no shame when it comes to my love of BuzzFeed or StumbleUpon. I’ve had a brief history with HTML/CSS, but I’m not nearly as experienced as I’d like to be. There are literally websites for everything and I’m interested in being a part of that. I’m really hoping this class can lead me in the right direction.
I’ve just started using twitter again, but I went ahead and made another name for this class since I really don’t think our lovely teacher feels like hearing about my run-ins with idiot drivers or my cousins and their relationship woes.
You can find me here: https://twitter.com/#!/eporfavor
^Note the intentional misspelling of my name.
I’m hoping I can finally understand the conundrum that is social media and the extreme fascination with twitter/tumblr.
Wish me luck, folks!
January 23, 2012 at 10:14 pm
Heeeeey everybody. I’m Whitney and I’m a junior Writing & Rhetoric major with a minor in Graphic Design. My Twitter name is whitney3795 (is that supposed to include a preceding “@”? Oh geez). I’m overcoming my confusion and and borderline fear with this whole Twitterage, soo…hello modern technology! Anyways, I’m extremely excited for this semester and in regards to ENGW 3332, I hope I can master CSS creation and learn a whole lot more about the behind the scenes of HTML and the web.