This post has been updated with additional information about grading options and the assignments due next Tuesday. Remember: if you choose the “Structure and Accountability” grading option, you must come to class and do all assignments. If you choose the “Maximum Flexibility” option, you must only do the assignments in bold (and will only be graded on these), but you are WELCOME to still choose to do the other assignments and come to class for your own benefit. Whichever option you choose is only locked in for Unit 1. You can change your mind for future units.
Welcome to our course! Here’s an overview of the stuff we’re doing this week.
Goals for Our First Week
- Get to know each other!
- Get everyone set up with a CUNY Commons account
- Discuss the shape of our semester and course policies
Who I Am
First, let me introduce myself! My name is Olivia Wood. I’m studying for my PhD in English at the CUNY Graduate Center, I teach here at John Jay, and I also work part time at the NYC College of Technology (City Tech) in Brooklyn. It is totally fine for you to just call me by my first name. Really.
I live in Washington Heights, but I’m originally from North Carolina, where the rest of my family still lives. I have a double major in English and anthropology, my master’s thesis was about Trump, Twitter, and Twitter activism, and my PhD specialization is in LGBTQ+ rhetoric, writing, and history.
In the Before Time (pre-coronavirus), I used to enjoy theatre, visiting my family, and going to weekly trivia nights in my neighborhood. Now, I mostly play video games and watch movies with my partner.
What To Do Before Our First Class
Now that you know a little about me, please fill out this Getting To Know You survey so that I can start getting to know you too! Only I will be able to see your responses.
- Click on the “Syllabus” tab in the main menu. If you’re on your phone, look for the “Menu” button at the top and then tap it to expand the full menu. You can read the syllabus closely, or just skim it so you know what information is there. You can always look back at it later.
- Click on the “Course Schedule” tab and read over the calendar for our class.
- Explore the other tabs and links to get a sense of what else is on our site.
Our First Zoom Class
Our first Zoom class will be on Tuesday, February 2nd at 9:25am. Because this class is Mixed Synchronous, we will NOT have class on Thursdays during this time.
Here’s the Zoom link! For call-in info, go to Blackboard and then click on Course Information. (I’m not pasting it here in order to protect from Zoom bombers who use automated scanning programs to look for Zoom links.)
Zoom “Rules”
Totally okay to keep your audio/video off, just use the chat, etc.
Totally okay if your family members/roommates, pets, etc. are visible
Totally okay if a child you’re responsible for needs to “attend class” with us
If your environment is noisy, mute yourself when you’re not talking.
If you’re doing something you don’t want us to see/hear during class, make extra sure you are muted/video off.
Be clothed
Participating
If no one is in line to speak, go ahead and speak! You don’t need to raise your hand.
If someone is currently speaking, but you would like to get in line to say something, type “stack” in the chat. Whoever is first in the stack speaks next, then the second on the stack, and so forth.
What To Do After Class
- Take this Syllabus “Quiz.” (Feel free to “cheat” as much as you want to find the answers. The goal is just to make sure you know some key information about our class.)
- Watch this video on how to get set up on the CUNY Academic Commons and follow the instructions. IGNORE the part at the end about Hypothes.is.
- Join our course group on the CUNY Commons
- Introduce yourself to the class! Post an introduction to yourself (as a comment on this post or by making your first Post on our site)
This can include whatever information you would like to share. It can be written, or it can be photos/a video, or a combination. You can include a real picture of yourself, a Bitmoji like I have on our site, or no pictures at all. It’s up to you! - Post replies to your classmates to say hello!
What To Do on Our Asynchronous Day (Thursday)
Although I will list asynchronous readings and activities as being due on Thursday, you can do them at any time unless otherwise noted.
For this first week, please read the following:
List of Some Everyday Genres
“What is Genre Theory?”
And read my digital lecture on genre.
After you’ve done the readings, keep a genre log for a day or two. Just write down (maybe in a note in your phone) all of the different genres you have read and/or written in during that time period. This is only required for people who choose the “Structure and Accountability” grading option on this survey.
What To Do Before Our Next Class (Tuesday, February 9)
Watch these videos:
Annotating Video 1
Annotating Video 2
Close Reading Video
Write an Imaginary Resume and either post it here on the course site or turn it in on Blackboard. (I hope you will choose to post it here on the site, so your classmates can see it too!) Instructions here.
For those who pick the “do all assignments” grading option:
We will practice annotating and close reading in class. Please bring one or two examples (a poem, a couple paragraphs of prose, a short video, etc.) to class for us to do together. Then you’ll turn in your annotations after class.
Hi Olivia,
I figured out how to reply after all. An interesting fact to know about me is that I was born in Alaska and my major is International Criminal Justice.
Hey Fabian. I’m also majoring in International Criminal Justice.
Nice to meet you Luke! That is really cool that we have the same major
Hi! I am a forensic science major and a fun fact about me is that I was born in Hungary and I am fluent in both Hungarian and English. My favorite topics in school are biology and chemistry but I also love to write and I find it fun to write essays on topics I find interesting; however, I hope to improve my writing because you can always improve on anything.
Hey, My name is Marko Martinez and I’m currently majoring in criminology. A fact about me is I own a dog, two birds, and a turtle.
That’s cool that you have two birds and a turtle.
Hi Marko,
What kind of dog?
Hey! He’s a beagle/ Jack Russel terrier mix
hey Marko, I also own two birds. What kind do you have ? I have two cockatoo parrots.
Hi Franchesca, you have some pretty large birds, I have two small budgies.
Hello my name is Valentina Tagilova and I am majoring in Criminology. I was born in New York but both of my parents immigrated from Russia, so I speak both English and Russian.
That’s awesome! I’m also bilingual, I speak English and Albanian.
That’s cool. I speak English, Hindi and Urdu.
Hi, my name is Lindita Demirovic! I’m from Queens, New York. An interesting fact about me is that I love to travel. I’m going to Los Angeles, California in May, I’m super excited 🙂
Hi Lindita,
Exciting, I am going to San Juan, PR for spring break!
Hi Lindita! My name is Fabian and I also like to travel. I will be heading to Vegas in March and Dominican Republic in a few months
Hi,
My name is Elizabeth but you can call me liz. I love to travel, play soccer, and also photography.
Photography is really cool, what do you focus on?
I would say more landscaping
that’s awesome, I been wanting to get into photography for a while I just haven’t had the chance.
Hey, my name is Michelle and I am majoring in criminal justice. I was born in Colombia and came to New York at a young age. I like to draw and play guitar.
Hey Michelle! That’s cool, I also came to NY at a young age. How do you like it here?
Hey everyone. My name is Luke, and I’m a freshman at John Jay majoring in International Criminal Justice. One fact about me is I really like watching and playing baseball.Reference
Hey Luke! I also like to play baseball as well. I was thinking of joining the John Jay Baseball team
Hi, my name is Selma. My major is Criminology, and two interesting facts about me are that I was born in Chicago and I have a small pet rabbit!
Hii, my name is Nadiyah and I’m majoring in Forensic Science!! A fun fact about myself is that I love drawing. I also love being on Pinterest…honestly I could stay on that app for hours.
Hello, my name is Jorge and my major is in Fire Science. I enjoyed playing sports with friends, when I did, and enjoy playing video games.
Hi guys! My name is Lucía and I am a freshman majoring in Forensic Psychology! I love hanging out with friends and eating 🙂
Hey everyone! My name is Franchesca but a lot of people call me Fran. Im 18 years old and live in Staten Island NY. I am a freshman and I am majoring in law and society.
Hey everyone, my name is Joseph (call me joe) and I am a freshman majoring in criminology, I hope to be an FBI Agent one day. Fun fact about me is I love fashion and sneakers.
hey everyone, my name is Edison Reyes and I’m majoring in criminal justice (CJBS). I love listening to music and playing video games. Fun fact I was born in Dominican Republic.
Hey, my name is Raquel and I am majoring in forensic psychology. I enjoy spending time with friends and listening to music.
Hi
My Name is Nafiul. I am from Bangladesh. I live in Queens. I’m majoring in CJBA at john jay. I am athletic and I play cricket and currently, I’m playing for US under 19 cricket.
My name is Mohammad Hussain. I live in queens. I’m majoring in Criminal justice. I love to do workout and would never give up until I get those muscles up. I am very passionate about my heath and fitness. I am hard working, loyal and try to be as nice as I can.
Hi my name is Sandra Gonzalez, my major is criminal justice and i enjoy taking walks and listening to music.
Hey everyone, I am so sorry that this is late but I’m Samantha Vega and I’m majoring in Criminology. I love listening to music, watching movies, like horror/action and romance movies, I love playing video games, hanging out with friends, journaling and going out.
Hello, my name is Amanda Marte. I’m from Dominican Republic and I am majoring in Forensic Science. I am in the women’s volleyball team in jjay and I’m 18 years old.Reference
Hello! My name is Hillary Montano Francisca. I am a political science major, with intentions of becoming a lawyer. I was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and my family is from the Dominican Republic. One of my hobbies is doing makeup. This is a real stress reliever for me!