DR C—CAPTAIN'S LOG
ADVANCED ENGLISH COMPOSITION 102
ONBOARD AND ONLINE—WEEK TWELVE: MARCH 31-APRIL 6
ONBOARD—WEEK TWELVE
Day One
I am still in New Orleans. So, the substitute gave my trainees another assignment. This one was a Library Scavenger Hunt. There were different sources they had to find in the ship’s library and set up the works-cited format for that source. This assignment the trainees could do by themselves or in groups, whichever suited them. The substitute did not have to go with them to the library, just give them the “hunt sheet” and let them go their way. The assignment was to be placed in my office mailbox.
Day Two
I AM BACK😀!! I enjoyed the conference, but I, also, was glad to return to the ship and work with my trainees.
They had to submit to me a response to a manuscript or book that was a collection of short stories dealing with the subject of PTSD. The manuscript dealt with a character who was able to time travel. Both of these were on one of the pass-protected sites of the handbook. Also, the book, Dancer and Other Tattered Threads of PTSD Lives—After the Wars: Revisited, can be found by clicking HERE and going to the book's webpage on the MarketingNewAuthors.com website.
Both works are intriguing. The manuscript deals with moral issues. And each short story provides a close look at how PTSD can affect the soldier, the family, and friends. Their assignment was to only one well-developed paragraph.
We did discuss in class the works. The discussion about both works was a good one. This was a good assignment to discuss since my absence from two training sessions. It sparked lively discussions.
ONLINE
My online crew had to submit their research proposals. What I do miss is the opportunity to have one-on-one conferences. However, whenever I see that a trainee does not seem to understand the samples, I set up a personal podcast for him/her. In the podcast, I talk to him/her as if s/he were in a conference with me. Of course, I cannot get immediate feedback, but, upon a trainee receiving such a podcast, it is appreciated. In most cases, these personal podcasts take about 18 to 25 minutes.
Reflections: I enjoyed the conference I attended. It really had some great sessions. The breadth of topics discussed would accommodate anyone's interest.
Still, when a captain returns, there is much to do, especially a captain who teaches composition—many papers to check and comments to make. Whew! I felt a tad overwhelmed. And it has taken me until now to catch up.
I am a stickler about getting graded work back to my trainees within a day to five days I receive the work. So, when I returned I was checking work like a "crazy person!" Whew!
I found the in-class papers about the chosen survivors very interesting. Unfortunately, for the 50-year-old English instructor, no one chose her :0. Oh dear! Well, I do hope this ship does not sink because there are some of us on this ship who are not in our thirties or under.
Their choices were adequately thought out. And several wrote well-developed body paragraphs. This was very encouraging. Upon passing out the graded papers, I let them know that these papers demonstrated solid writing skills that they should be able to demonstrate fully when they submit their completed research papers: "If you can write in class under pressure on a topic that you had no preparation for and earn at least a C, then, you can write. Thus, I am expecting top-notch research papers!"
Whenever I give an assignment, I have multiple reasons. The main reason for this assignment was to see what they could do under pressure AND use it as a way to show them how much they have progressed. Furthermore, I wanted to use this assignment as a catalyst for encouragement, especially for those who may doubt their ability.
See you next week!
What do you think about DR C's Academic Online Cruise Ship? Tell us your thoughts in the comment box below this post.
To find out more about the book mentioned in this post, click on the book's title.
Whenever I give an assignment, I have multiple reasons. The main reason for this assignment was to see what they could do under pressure AND use it as a way to show them how much they have progressed. Furthermore, I wanted to use this assignment as a catalyst for encouragement, especially for those who may doubt their ability.
See you next week!
What do you think about DR C's Academic Online Cruise Ship? Tell us your thoughts in the comment box below this post.
To find out more about the book mentioned in this post, click on the book's title.
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