Hello, Everyone.

Welcome to the Speech 101NR class and welcome to week #1!
I’ll post a new weekly announcement each Wednesday. Our Speech 101NR weeks begin with Wednesday because that’s the day our class occasionally meets on campus. The week #2 announcement will be posted at 6:30pm on Wednesday, January 28. Occasionally, other announcements will be posted as the need arises.

Remember, we’ll meet on-campus on for the second time on Wednesday, March 3, from 6:30-9:30pm in 201C. We’ll present our Persuasive Speeches.

Week #1’s activities focus on preparation. First, preparing people for an online course and second, preparing people to be better note-takers. The week #1 goal is getting people ready to succeed in Speech 101NR.

You’ll see from the Week #1 Activities Page, (You’ll find it by clicking on “week 1” on the Using Your Speech Power! Calendar Page.) only some of the homework assignments are graded. It’s important, however, that you do the ungraded homework assignments since they’ll give you the skills you need to succeed at the graded homework assignments, your quizzes, tests and speeches.

There are 4 graded homework assignments for week #1. Each assignment has a different due date.

• First, email your answers for the Using Your Speech Power! Website Treasure Hunt to me. (Just email your answers. I know the questions. This rule applies to all speech email assignments.) The Treasure Hunt questions, which follow, will help to guide you through the class website and find the golden nuggets of information buried deep in the Using Your Speech Power! website.
• Second, visit the Speech 101NR Discussion Forum. The Discussion Forum can only be accessed by entering the course through the Morton College website. Answer the questions you find their in the “week #1 topic” section.
• Third, email your answers for the Post Course Syllabus Review Questions to me. The questions may be found by clicking on the appropriate “Link to Additional Resources” on the Week 1 Activities page.
• Finally, complete the YOTKBN (You Ought to Know by Now) Review Questions. Don’t email your answers to me. I’ll check them in class on April 7.

Using Your Speech Power! Website Treasure Hunt

Use the links listed below to move through the Using Your Speech Power! website. All course navigational links are located at the bottom of the page, the top of the page or both.

1. Go to the Introduction to Online Learning to find the answer to this question. (The Intro to Online Learning link is on the left hand side of the top row of links on the Course Updates page and in the middle of the second row of links at the bottom of most screens.) Scroll down to the page bottom.
Question #1: How many links at the bottom of the page?

2. Go to the Course Overview using the link at the bottom of the page.
Question #2: According to the information listed in the Course Overview, in addition to mass and interpersonal communication, what is the third communication type in which people engage?

3. Go to Meet the Instructor. I made two promises in the Meet the Instructor section. The first promise is I’ll never waste your time.
Question #3: What is the second promise I made in the Meet the Instructor section?

4. Go to Syllabus. When you arrive click on the SPE 101 Syllabus link. (If you’re asked for a password just click o.k. and it will let you in. Even the web mistress doesn’t know why it asks for a password. We didn’t tell it to and we can’t get it to stop.) While you’re here print a paper copy of the syllabus.
Question #4: What information is found on page 4 of the syllabus?

5. Click on your “back” button and return to the Syllabus page. Then, go to Grading Scale and find the answer to question #5.
Question #5: Which of the following items is worth the most points?
a. Final Exam
b. Informative Speech Presentation and Written Work
c. Personal Experience Speech
d. Best Impromptu Speaker

6. Go to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and find the answer to question #6.
Question #6: How often should I check my email while the online course is meeting?

7. Go to the Calendar page.
Question #7: According to the Notes for April on the Calendar page, why is there a red square around Thursday, April 1?

8. Use the Calendar page to go to Week 2 Activities. When you get to Week 2 Activities click on the You Ought to Know by Now Sample Review Quiz #1 link.
Question #8: What letter is the correct answer for You Ought to Know by Now Sample Review Quiz #1 question #1? (The quiz will tell you the correct answer.)

9. Click on the You Ought to Know by Now link on the top or bottom of the page. Scroll down when you get to the You Ought to Know by Now page and click on the “here” link to see the answers to the YOTKBN Review Questions in the back of your workbook. You can use this feature to make sure your answers are correct.
Question #9: What is the correct answer for YOTKBN Review Question #22?

10. Use your back button to leave the YOTKBN Review Question answers. Go to Search. The Search link may be found at the top or bottom of the page. The Search feature allows you to locate any website feature you can’t remember how to get to. Conduct a search for "Practice Test.”
Question #10: How many items are listed in your search results? (If you want to you can click on the link and view the answers.)

That concludes the website tour. Feel free to make a SPE 101NR Discussion Forum posting in the “Ask Steven Ginley” section or email me if you have any trouble navigating the website or finding the answers.

Finally, keep in touch. Let me know if you need anything. Never hesitate to email me a question, concern or comment.

Take care,
Steven