at Florida State University

ABOUT ONLINE FIRST-YEAR COMPOSITION (FYC) COURSES

This page is designed to help you decide whether you want to take an online section of an FYC course instead of a section that meets in a conventional classroom. Please read the following information carefully. After you have, if you want to register for an online section, fill out the FYC Online Registration Request.

FSU's First-Year Composition Program offers only a small number of online sections of ENC 1102. No other online FYC courses are offered. You should not assume that because you apply for an online section, you will be placed in one. It's quite possible you will need to register for a face-to-face section instead.

Completed forms are sent to the FYC office. When it reaches the office, you will receive an email message confirming that it has been submitted successfully. If your request is approved, you will receive a second email confirming that you have been added to the section, and you should see the course on your schedule within 48 hours. At the end of that time if you do not receive see the the second email or find course on your schedule, please call 644-0438.

Basic Conditions for Online Sections of FYC:

1) The classes will never meet face-to-face. You must be comfortable working online as all communication for this class will occur electronically. It will be your responsibility to check your e-mail and your class's website daily.

2) You will not be taught to use the technology in the class: you will need to know how to navigate the Blackboard site, how to post on the threaded discussion board and how to attach a file to a word document.

3) Because online classes require much more individual work than face-to-face classes, successful students in online classes are typically self-motivated individuals. They are good at working and accomplishing tasks on their own. They are comfortable reading and digesting textual information without the auditory feedback that regular classes provide. If you are not such a person, these classes may not be for you.

4) You are responsible for access to a computer and the Internet. If your class happens to use Blackboard, you cannot use AOL's Internet browser; it won't work with Blackboard. (You'll need to use Firefox, Mozilla, Netscape or Internet Explorer.) FSU students can receive free Internet access through UCS. You will also need Microsoft Word software on your computer as the Bb server reads this software more accurately.

5) You must have your FSU ID and an FSU e-mail address (through UCS) by the first week of class.

6) By the first day of class, you should go to your class's Blackboard page at https://campus.fsu.edu/ or the other online course environment your section uses. This online course adheres to the same “first day attendance policy as the face to face sections.To learn about the environment for your section please read the information that's provided in the link on this page for the section.

If you'd like additional information about online first-year composition courses, please call the FYC office at (850) 644-0438.

Revised: May 9, 2008