Welcome to the Class Blog!

Dear Students,

Welcome to the course blog for US Ethnic Literatures at VCU! I'm very excited to work with you this semester and hope you will find this blog useful, engaging, and--sometimes--entertaining! The blogger format is developing fast, so feel free to suggest any changes for additional features, resources etc. You may need to use Google Chrome instead of your Firefox browser or Internet explorer. Email me if you run into problems.

LOGISTICS: We'll use this blog to post our daily responses to assigned reading materials and to formulate at least 1 discussion question every day. Here you will post what your syllabus calls "daily blog posts and discussion questions" and your Opener (see the syllabus for details on the Opener.) This is a private blog solely for our class--be considerate, be creative, stay on top of the readings. I strive to create a comfortable class environment where students can feel welcome and encouraged to express themselves. However, slurs, epithets based on race, ethnicity, gender, class, sexual orientation and preference, religious practice etc. will not be tolerated.

So we will use this blog mainly for:

* The Daily blog post & question (and your responses to your peers' posts);

* The Opener

* Links to media of interest to class (from photography to feature films, documentaries, newscasts, lectures etc.). There is no limit to these links and comments; remember, however, that they will not substitute your daily blog post (1 paragraph) and question.

As we all have busy lives, this blog is not meant to be busy work. I see it more as a forum for all of us to ask questions, brainstorm, and share ideas and resources (in formats from texts, to website links, or videos and podcasts etc.) Occasionally I will use the blog in my mini-lectures to share resources or visual materials. If I present slides or ppts during class, you will find them in Blackboard at the end of the week.

So have fun, use this forum as much or as little as you want to (or are comfortable to)--but please do the minimum work at least--and I look forward to a great semester together! Remember, all blog posts are due by 11 p.m. the night before class. No exceptions.

Best,
Cristina Stanciu,
Your Instructor