Spring 2013 Opening

The Spring 2013 term at TCI began last Wednesday.  I am only now beginning to get caught up with what I need to do to get the semester started; the time I usually do so (the week or so before the semester begins) was taken up with personal matters that could not be set aside.  I have been more or less ready to go with my classes, although I have not been able to get quite so far ahead as I should have liked to.

Still, even though the beginning of the term has been a bit rough, I am hopeful for it.  Today and tomorrow, I finish the first rounds of meetings with my classes, and I look forward to moving through the semester with new groups of students.

More, of course, will follow here as it becomes available.  Until then...

Fall 2012 Feedback

I gave the students in my ENG 202.210 class a chance to offer some direct feedback to me today.  We had a nice conversation, and there are some things that I hope to take away from the talk for application in later terms.

Written feedback (I had students fill out brief forms) let me know that I need to do two things, particularly.  The first is to clarify the explanations I give of assignments, particularly as they appear on the website and as they pertain to the first assignment: the standard email with attached memorandum.  As I noted during the class meeting, I am sketchy on the website so as to encourage class attendance, but, as I look back over what was submitted, perhaps I do need to tighten up what I offer there.  One or two students commented that doing so during the classroom explanation of the assignment is also likely to help.

The second is to secure more student assignments as examples.  I did note to the students the ethical (and sometimes legal) concerns involved in doing so, but I did accept their reasoning; they find it easier to understand the work of their peers than the examples I create and post.  The students did note that they wanted mine to remain up, but that having the divergent perspective was illuminating.  I can understand the position, and I will work in future terms to secure more student examples.  I may also do a small bit in the few remaining days of this term, so as to get things going.

Oral feedback (I did say we had a nice conversation) more or less reflected what was in the written feedback.  There were more complaints about other faculty in the spoken work than the written, though; I entertain it because students do have a right to air their grievances (particularly when I ask about what has gone poorly), although I do insist that they not use my colleagues' names.  Professional courtesy requires it.

I expect that I will have more to say regarding feedback and my reflections on the term's work in the coming days and weeks.  And I am going to be revising my syllabi extensively to reflect what I find in that feedback and what I continue to learn from my own ongoing reading and research.

Announcement

Students in ENG 099, be advised that the dates of the end-of-term exam have changed.  They have moved to the week of 10-14 December, and the assignments normally scheduled for that week are switched to the week previously assigned to the exam.  Due dates for the portfolio and library assignment are unchanged.

Please email me at geoffrey.b.elliott@gmail.com if there are any questions.  Please include your course and section in the subject line of the email.

Another Announcement Regarding Calendars

Students, please be advised that course calendars have changed once again in response to directives from school administration.  Please go the appropriate page for your affected course and print out the most current version of your course's calendar.  Courses affected appear below:

ENG 099.125
ENG 099.130
ENG 101.117
ENG 202.210
HUM 110.122

Other course calendars are not affected; no further changes have taken place as of this time, 1247pm on 19 November 2012.

Announcement: Calendar Updates

Students, in keeping with stated TCI policy and directives from the administration, course schedules have changed; course calendars have updated to suit.  Please check to see if your section has been affected.  More information will follow as it becomes available.

Announcement: Course Calendars

Students, be advised that the course calendars posted to the course website (here) have been updated to reflect information current as of approximately 10:30am on Tuesday, 6 November 2012.  The ad hoc updates posted to this blog yesterday have been incorporated into them.  Please discard old copies and provide yourselves with new ones from the website.

Be well, and I will see you in class.

Announcement: More Course Calendar Updates

Students, please be advised that more updates on course calendar adjustments are forthcoming.  In the meantime, however, note the following by class.  Only the changes listed will be in effect; no other changes are in place at this time, approximately 1:10pm on Monday, 5 November 2012.

ENG 099.125
~Midterm Exam is moved to 6 November 2012.
~Journal Entries and Essay Draft assigned for 6 November 2012 are canceled.
~Readings assigned for 6 November 2012 are due 13 November 2012.  Please be diligent.

ENG 099.130
~Midterm Exam is moved to 7 November 2012.
~Essay Reading Exercise scheduled for 7 November 2012 is canceled.
~Readings assigned for 7 November 2012 are due 14 November 2012.  Please be diligent.
~Essay Draft assigned for 14 November 2012 is canceled.

ENG 099.150
~Midterm Exam is moved to 9 November 2012.The exam will be proctored by another TCI faculty member; attendance and grades will count as normal, so do not fail to attend.
~Essay Reading Exercise scheduled for 9 November 2012 is canceled.
~Readings assigned for 9 November 2012 are due 16 November 2012.  Please be diligent.

ENG 101.117
Information is as per the memorandum issued in class on 5 November 2012.
~Descriptive Definition is due via email before the beginning of class 12 November 2012.  Please go to the Learning Center for additional review, as I will still be going out of town for a conference this week and meeting times will be restricted.
~Exit Exam Practice on 12 November is deferred to 19 November.
~Contrast Argument peer review scheduled for 19 November is cancelled.

ENG 202.210
Information is as per the memorandum issued in class on 5 November 2012.
~Process Analysis and Evaluation is due via email before class begins on 12 November 2012.  Please go to the Learning Center for additional assistance, as I will still be going out of town for a conference this week, and meeting times are therefore restricted.

HUM 110.122
~Written Exam is moved to 6 November 2012.
~Memorized Speech is moved to 13 November 2012.  Grades will be assessed with the extra practice time in mind.
~Readings due 13 November 2012 may be discussed on 20 November 2012.
~All Manuscript Speeches will be delivered on 27 November 2012.
~All Extemporaneous Speeches will be delivered on 18 December 2012.

HUM 110.157
~Written Exam is moved to 9 November 2012.  The exam will be proctored by another TCI faculty member; attendance and grades will count as normal, so do not fail to attend.
~All Manuscript Speeches will be delivered on 7 December 2012.
~All Extemporaneous Speeches will be delivered on 21 December 2012.

Announcement

Students, as you are doubtless aware, the school has been closed all week as a result of the storm and cleanup efforts.  This will require rescheduling and adjustment of classroom activities; I am trying to get information about institutional plans from my superiors, but communication is still spotty at the moment.

Pending additional information, students in the classses listed below, please proceed with coursework as though next week (5-9 November) has the activities listed for the week that was missed (29 October-2 November); that is to say, for the classes listed below, next week should be regarded as midterm exam week:

• ENG 099: Basic Communications
• ENG 101: Freshman Composition 1
• HUM 110: Speech

For ENG 202: Technical Writing and Presentation, the missed week was one which had neither reading nor assignment listed.  At present, follow the course calendar as written, with the exception that the Process Analysis and Evaluation that was due Monday has been extended to Wednesday, 7 November 2012; take the time to get to the Learning Center if you have not done so.

Students who had appointments to meet with me, please email to reschedule.  Time will be tight, since I am still obliged to fly out for a conference on Wednesday afternoon, but when I can meet with you, I will.

Please watch for additional updates.

Announcement

Students, please be advised that school has been cancelled for Monday and Tuesday, 29 and 30 October 2012.  We will reschedule classroom activities later.  Check www.tcicollege.edu or call 212-594-4000 for more information.

Stay safe, and I look forward to seeing you next week.

Announcement

Students, please be advised that the course calendar for the Fall 2012 ENG 101.117 class has changed.  Please review the amended document here, and come prepared for the new assignment.