English 080: The Loft Link

1. English 080:The Loft Link Orientation Spring 2009

2. Welcome to Eng. 080 • Welcome to the English 080 Orientation. • I’m your instructor, Dan Tarker • This presentation will outline the requirements of this course for you. • Please fill out the orientation worksheet as we proceed through this presentation

3. What Is The Purpose of This Class? • English 080 is a two credit reading & writing lab class designed to: • Promote the benefits of tutoring • Provide Individualized instruction • Strengthen gaps in your English skill set • Prepare you for future academic coursework • Support your personal educational goals • Introduce you to the Loft Writing Center Plus

4. Eng. 080 Outcomes • You will: • Develop a greater appreciation for tutoring • Learn what resources the Loft provides • Improve your writing and grammar skills • Become a more self directed learner • Acquaint yourself with computer based learning

5. How Do I Get Credit? • 4.0 (A) = 20 hours of study in the Loft • 10 thirty minute sessions with a tutor plus 15 hours of self study on the computer • 3.0 (B) = 18 hours of study in the Loft • 8 thirty minute sessions with a tutor plus 14 hours of self study on the computer • 2.0 (C) = 16 hours of study in the Loft • 6 thirty minute sessions with a tutor plus 13 hours of self study on the computer

6. Are There Any Other Requirements? • Yes!!! You must also: • Meet with the Loft director at the beginning, middle and end of the quarter • Make sure to document your work and scores on your Tutorial Record Sheet. • Complete a class evaluation at the end of the quarter

7. Does Eng. 080 Affect My Grade in Eng. 95/96 or Eng. 97/98? • No. Eng. 080 is a separate class for which you earn a separate grade from the one you earn in Eng. 95/96 or 97/98.

8. Can I Start the Class Anytime During the Quarter • No! Students who wait until after the middle of the quarter to begin completing their hours in the Loft will not be eligible to earn a 4.0. • We advise students to begin completing their Loft hours at the beginning of the quarter. • Coming in to complete your hours at the end of the quarter is unacceptable.

9. What Can I Study in Eng. 080? • Anything that supports you in your academic coursework including: • Reading • Writing • Grammar • Spelling • Pronunciation • Study Skills • Critical Thinking • Listening • And more!

10. How Do I Track My Time? • You clock in and out of the Time Keeper as you enter and exit the Loft • Warning: Make sure to clock out when you leave otherwise the Time Keeper will automatically log you off and you will lose credit for those hours • Also, make sure to write down how many hours you have spent in the Loft on your Tutorial Record sheet at the end of every week

11. How Do I Log Myself In? • Click “Log In” • Type in your Student ID • Choose your class: Eng. 080 • Choose your resource: “Tutor”, “Computer” or “Self Study” • Click “Go” • You must follow all these steps to completely clock in.

12. Why is it Important to Choose a Resource? • This helps us determine how often different resources are being used in the Loft. • This in turn helps us argue for more funding to pay tutors our purchase new computers etc.

13. What is Tutoring? Tutoring is the process of working one-on-one or in a small group with someone possessing expertise in the subject you are studying.

14. How Do I Use Tutoring? • Bring in an assignment from your class • Sign up for a tutor at the greeter station at the entrance to the Loft • Tell the tutor exactly what kind of assistance or feedback you need

15. What Kind of Assignments Can I Bring to the Loft? • Homework • Essays • Seminar papers • Reports • Research papers • Special projects • Creative writing

16. What If I Don’t Need a Tutor? • If you think you do not need a tutor, you probably misunderstand how to work with one. • Tutoring is not just for students who are struggling. • Tutors can also help you notice things you may have overlooked. • Plus – You need a minimum of 8 tutor sessions just to pass!! Saying “I don’t need a tutor” is no excuse not to use one if enrolled in this class.

17. Can I Do Homework as Part of Eng. 080? • No. Eng. 080 is separate from your other classes. You will not get Eng. 080 credit for working on homework from other classes while in the Loft. • You do not get credit for typing essays on Word. This does not count as self-study!! • However, if you need help in an English class, you can work with a Loft tutor, which will count toward your Eng. 080 hours.

18. What Is Computer Self Study? • This is independent study on one of the Loft’s many computer programs. • At the beginning of the quarter, the Loft director will assign you to work on one or more computer programs throughout the quarter. • These programs will have lessons that supplement what you are learning in your English class.

19. What Kinds of Programs Do You Have for Computer Self Study? • Focus on Grammar • Basic Skills Interactive • Writer’s Resources • Skills Bank • Inspiration • Writer’s Reference • Live Action English • AZAR Grammar • Writer’s Reference • And much, much more

20. Documenting Computer Work • You must document the work you do on the computer to get credit. • Use the Computer Record Sheets at the Eng. 080 Resource Station to document the programs and lessons you work on in the Loft. • You must do this to get credit for computer self study.

21. What Is The Purpose of the Tutorial Record Sheet? • To Track Your Work, Hours, and Progress • Ultimately it is your responsibility to make sure all assignments, scores, and hours are recorded on your assignment sheet. • The assignment sheet will be the heaviest factor in determining your grade. • Document everything you do in the Loft on the assignment record sheet

22. What Will I Leave This Class With? • Hopefully, you’ll leave with: • A stronger skill set in English. • An appreciation for Loft services • The ability to be a self-directed, independent learner

23. ADA Stateement In our commitment to student learning, the Loft wants to support all students. If you have a disability that will affect your performance in this class please let the Loft director know. Students with disabilities are encouraged to use Disability Services for support in implementing reasonable accommodations for their disabilities. You may make an appointment with Disability Services by calling 527-3697 or stopping by the DS office on the 2nd floor of the College Center.

24. What is Next? • Now that you have finished the orientation worksheet, please see either a writing consultant or the Loft director to review your answers.