Hey folks! So, here’s where you can ask questions and find answers. If you have a question for me directly, just use this form (also at the bottom of this page).
You’ll also find a ton of resources on this page to help you through this experience. I will do my best to provide as much help as possible directly, but know that there is also a lot of really valuable and useful information on this page as well. I will be updating this throughout the quarter whenever it’s helpful.
General Course Questions
- Will the course be conducted during the scheduled time?
- Will there be office hours? How will they work?
- How will class participation be factored in?
- What technologies will we be using for the course and why?
- Course Website
- Google Drive/Docs
- Zoom
- What should I do if I have other questions?
Resources for Technology
Resources for Studenting
Resources for Humaning
- UCSB Student Wellbeing
- Basic Needs Resources
- Resource Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity
- Student Health
- Counseling and Psychological Services
Getting Going on Google
Everyone who is enrolled in the course will or should have received an invitation to be added to our respective Shared Class Folders on Google Drive.
Once you accept the invitation, you should then create a new folder in our shared class folder. If you aren’t familiar with this already… once you are in the Shared Class Folder, do the following:
This folder is where you’ll be doing the majority of your work and writing for this course.
Once you have the folder created, open it and create a new document. This is a similar process to adding the folder, but here are the more detailed directions:
An important note I want to emphasize, though, is to do what you can to ensure your documents and folders are clearly titled/labeled. This will make it so much easier in the long run, for you, your classmates, and me.
Using Zoom
Fortunately (or unfortunately?), I think everyone should already be well-versed in Zoom, and it is extremely easy and user friendly. However, as we all know, sometimes internets can be difficult and unpredictable, so as long as we are all patient with one another and have a sense of humor about things, we should all be fine here. (And trust me, I will not judge and I will exercise all the patience! I’ve been there… multiple times.)
If you do have any questions or concerns, you can check out this super helpful resource directly from UCSB with regard to Zoom tips and strategies. We will primarily be using Zoom just to have conversations, so there’s no real need to learn all of the features, but you should definitely be familiar with how to join a Zoom meeting, how to have others join your meeting, and how to record the session… if you aren’t already As an additional note, if Zoom is simply not an option for you, please email me. We can work something out.
Will the course be conducted during the scheduled time?
Yes – on Mondays and Wednesdays. Per University guidelines, I cannot offer an online alternative to this course. -Back to Top-
Will there be office hours? How will they work?
Yes, I will be holding office hours on Thursday every week throughout the quarter. See the syllabus for more details.
I cannot tell you how much I value conversations about writing. I find them extremely productive and engaging. I will do my best to make these happen in ways comfortable for everyone. -Back to Top-
How will class participation be factored in?
As you’ll see once the syllabus and schedule are posted on the course website, we’ll be using Google Drive and Google Docs for the majority of the work you’ll be doing in this course. You will also be completing Participation Notebook entries on a weekly basis. This, in addition to regular small group sessions and weekly activities you’ll be doing will all factor into your class participation. -Back to Top-
What technologies will we be using for the course and why?
Taking everything into account, here’s how I plan to approach this class and why:
- Course Website
- I’m setting up our course website for a few reasons, actually. The main reason is that this is how I’ve been teaching for many, many years now. I find that having all of the course assignments, syllabus, readings, and schedule so readily available makes the whole process easier for everyone involved. You do not need to purchase a textbook, as all of the readings are linked online, and obviously there is no need to print anything either. Additionally, you will not need to worry about logging in to anything via Canvas in order to access any of the course materials. (And… if the website goes down for any extended period of time, we have bigger problems to worry about.)
- Google Drive/Google Docs
- I find that the collaborative options that it offers are extremely helpful when it comes to writing, especially with regard to group work and peer response, but it also has additional benefits: you don’t need to worry about saving anything, you won’t need to worry about submitting anything (that will be explained at a later point), and it is extremely user friendly. Similar to how I have approached courses in the past (for several years now, actually), I will be setting up a class “Shared Drive” (in which each of you have an individual folder to complete your work) and inviting you to join (keep an eye out for that in the near future).
- Zoom
- So, this is definitely a new addition to my typical pedagogy – one that emerged out of the pandemic. While I much prefer meeting with folks in person, I don’t think we’re quite there yet, and I do appreciate the convenience that Zoom offers. I want to ensure everyone has access to both the course materials and opportunities to engage regardless of their ability to physically make it to class. So, while our Monday and Wednesday sessions will be in-person, I am open to group sessions being held via Zoom, and I will be holding all of my office hours and conferences via Zoom.
- I believe that what can be gained from talking about our writing is invaluable. I also think that collaborating can open up new ideas and having a conversation about those ideas can be generative, engaging, and fun. So, with all of this in mind, I do want to incorporate a way for me to actually have a conversation with all of you while also giving you the opportunity to chat with one another.
What should I do if I have questions?
Please know that you are welcome to email me (esaur@writing.ucsb.edu) at any point throughout the quarter, regardless of the time or day.
You can also used the form below to reach out to me directly.
Typically, I will get back to you within 24 hours (if not sooner). If you don’t hear back from me within 24 hours, please follow up. (I mean this.) This is my standard policy, and I think it applies even more so now, given how many emails we will all be getting over the next few months.