1. Why does WCJC (not the instructor) require writing in U.S. History Courses? What’s the difference between a Gateway Course and what’s a Gatekeeper?

2. But I’m so good at multiple choice and I have a great average so why is the instructor making such a big deal about factual accuracy?

3. What are the possible “deals” for different students?

4. For my “deal,” I have to use the instructor’s feedback and what I wrote for my History Changes Essays. Where do I find that?

5. For my “deal,” I have to use the instructor’s feedback and what I wrote for my Unit 1 essays. Where do I find that?

6. What do the letters in the feedback about the History Changes Essay and the Unit 1 essays mean?

7. What if I think my instructor is incorrect on the errors that she says I made?

8. What if I think my instructor is correct on the errors that she says I made? Is there some way to do OK work and save time?

9. How do I see what I wrote for Unit 1’s essays,?

10. If I have to talk to my instructor to qualify for the “deal,” what do I have to have ready? If I want to call during office hours, how can I make things go faster?

11. How do I know my instructor’s office hours?

12. What if the regular office hours do NOT match my schedule and I need my instructor to call me?

 

Note these things with care:

  • Dates are changed to reflect the days I lost over being sick. I show the original date with a strike through and the new date following. For example, 4/05 became 4/12 so you see:
    4/05 4/12.
  • You have more time to meet the condition, but you will not see the essay part of the exam until you meet the condition for your deal. – I am glad to help you, but you must act.
  • I changed the end date as well. The last day and hour to write the essay part of the Unit 2 exam is 4/15 at 11:59 PM.

 

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1. Why does WCJC (not the instructor) require writing in U.S. History Courses? What’s the difference between a Gateway Course and what’s a Gatekeeper?

Gateway course? – a WCJC plan to help students not only get through the gate, but also be able to succeed on the other side.

Gatekeeper?  - Upper level professors are appropriately gatekeepers.

 

If you’d like a voice explanation of this, click here.

 

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2. But I’m so good at multiple choice and I have a great average so why is the instructor making such a big deal about factual accuracy?

If you’d like a voice explanation of this,” click here.

 

One reason: History teaches how things work. It’s the best poor person’s education for survival. I come from very ordinary people and have found that knowing history saved me again and again—in industry and in life. You aren’t going to get that from typing fantasies. Instead, you want evidence that is “verifiable” and “usable.”

 

A second reason from your future: Will any job pay you money to open a book and change some words and misread it?

Why do I need to practice reading accurately and writing accurately and with evidence?  To talk country about your future, no boss will want you—no one will pay money for passive copying. If a business would not (and could not) pay money for passive copying, passive copying is not a skill you want to learn. It is better to practice HOW to work better with an instructor who wants you to be OK.

 

Third reason: you need to know the reality of your work. Some of you will be shocked when you compare your words with the source. For examples,

·         You wrote on a question about Calvin but the person who held those beliefs was Martin Luther.

·         You wrote on a question about the Middle Colonies, but the examples of colonies you used were in New England.

 

 

3. What are the possible “deals” for different students?

I made a mistake in removing the blocks on students seeing the next assignment before they understood what they did on the first assignment. It’s a mistake I had not made in 6 or more years and seeing this situation for you guys, I will never make this mistake again. What I’m trying to do with these “deals” is:

·         Protect your grades while forewarning SOME of you HOW you are currently working is going to get you in trouble

·         Get all of you with the best chance possible for your grade and your skills no matter where you are

 

If you would like a voice explanation of the “deals,” click here.

 

Scan down the left column and until you find the situation that matches you. Then read across to see the “deal” available to you and what you have to do to get that “deal.”

 

 

What You Did

The ”Deal” Available to You

What You Have to Do to Get the “Deal”

You made a C (35 or more points out of 50) or higher on Unit 1’s two essays –and that’s wonderful!

Make a C or better (an easy grade to make if you make no violations of the Evidence Rubric) on Unit 2.

Your instructor will:

1.       Average the grades for the essays for Unit 1 and Unit 2.

2.       If the average is a C (35 points out of 50) or higher, she will enter that average for Unit 3’s essays.

 

Immediately after you see your grade for Unit 2’s essay, email your instructor that you think you have met the requirements for the “deal” by making C or above on Unit 2.

 

If I think you are incorrect, I will tell you. If you are correct, I will enter the points.

 

Note well: Guys, this means you do NOT have to do the essays for Unit 3.

You made LESS than a C (LESS than 35 points out of 50) on Unit 1’s two essays (You did not do the History Changes Essay.)

Make a C (an easy grade to make if you make no violations of the Evidence Rubric) on Unit 2 and Unit 3.

Your instructor will:

1.       Average the grades for the essays for Unit 2 and Unit 3.

2.       If the average is a C (35 points out of 50) or higher, she will replace the current low grade for Unit 1 with that average.

Last time to qualify for this: 4/05 4/12 at 2:00 PM. (If you have to compare and you need more time, call me to plan a mutually feasible date.)

 

Go look at the comments for Unit 1’s essays from your instructor in My Grades.

 

Because you made one or more of the errors listed in the Evidence Rubric/Checklist (such as N.T. for Not True), you will not be able to see the essay part of Unit 2 (and Unit 3), until:
1) you compare SIDE BY SIDE your book and what you wrote in the context of the errors I identified. Also be looking at the table I provided on servitude. 
2) we talk by phone

 

Note: You will get 20 points extra credit (recorded in the grade History Changes Essay_ec).

You made LESS than a C (LESS than 35 points out of 50) on Unit 1’s two essays (You did the History Changes Essay.)

Make a C (an easy grade to make if you make no violations of the Evidence Rubric) on Unit 2 and Unit 3.

Your instructor will:

1.       Average the grades for the essays for Unit 2 and Unit 3.

2.       If the average is a C (35 points out of 50) or higher, she will replace the current low grade for Unit 1 with that average.

Last time to qualify for this:4/05 4/12 at 2:00 PM. (If you have to compare and you need more time, call me to plan a mutually feasible date.)

 

What you have to do depends on whether you did or did not do what your instructor asked you to do in the email of feedback on the History Changes Essay sent to you

·         If you did do what your instructor asked
You must email—or better call briefly—to say you understand that you have not replaced that habit. If you want some other tips that might help you, just ask. If you don’t, I will block you from Unit 2’s essays.

·         If you did NOT do what your instructor asked
To get the deal, you need to do what was required with your History Changes Essay. Instead of sending the file back, however, just follow the instructions and call me when you are ready. If you can’t find your errors, call me for help.
Note: You can STILL earn the 20 points extra credit (recorded in the grade History Changes Essay_ec).

 

You did no writing work (not Unit 1’s essays and not the History Changes Essay).

Make a C (an easy grade to make if you make no violations of the Evidence Rubric) on Unit 2 and Unit 3.

Your instructor will:

1.       Average the grades for the essays for Unit 2 and Unit 3.

2.       If the average is a C (35 points out of 50) or higher, she will replace the 0 for Unit 1 with that average.

Last time to qualify for this: Before 4/10 at 2:00 PM  4/15 at noon, email that you understand how I will grade and what you have to read and that you want a chance to start fresh.

ADDITION: Give me a reliable contact number and be there until 2:00 PM I need to tell you we have a misunderstanding.

 

Before you email, do look with care at the Evidence Rubric/Checklist and the link to all possible essay questions so you know what to read and analyze. Ask questions if you do not understand.

 

Note: whether you can see Unit 3’s essays is totally depending on what you do with Unit 2’s essays.

 

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4. For my “deal,” I have to use the instructor’s feedback and what I wrote for my History Changes Essays. Where do I find that?

If you did the History Changes Essay, you will find a link of instructions in a Blackboard email message AND an file attached that contains:

·         Your instructor’s feedback

·         A copy of what you wrote

 

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5. For my “deal,” I have to use the instructor’s feedback and what I wrote for my Unit 1 essays. Where do I find that?

If you did the essays for the exam that ends Unit 1, you will find:

·         Your instructor’s feedback in the comments about Unit 1’s essays at My Grades

·         What you wrote in the test itself (If you don’t know how to find that test and see what you wrote, click here for the FAQ.

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6. What do the letters in the feedback about the History Changes Essay and the Unit 1 essays mean?

Your instructor listed your major errors by these letters. N.S., Q.P., Q.C., N.T., and W?

 

Click here for the explanation of those letters in the syllabus: http://www.cjbibus.com/1301_1302_HistoryChangesFeedback_SyllabusSections_DL.htm

 

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7. What if I think my instructor is incorrect on the errors that she says I made?

Your instructor could be wrong on those errors—and she knows that.

If you think she is wrong, then do these things:
1. Compare the required pages side-by-side with your paper. If you are comparing the servitude essay, also have the chart on servitude where you can see it.
2. Check when you can talk with me and have the things above side by side for comparison.
3. Once we talk, we both will know if you made the errors or not.

 

A quick note from your instructor:

·         If I am wrong about your making an error, I’ll be glad to change the grade.

·         If I am right, knowing the truth will help you win and get through the gateway that WCJC is concerned about.

·         If I am right, I still have high regard for you. I have been doing this long enough that I consider the problems a sign of HOW students work—not their honor or good intentions or their brains.
HOW you work is fixable. HOW you work matters and will undo both good intentions and a good brain. Being smart is NEVER enough.

 

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8. What if I think my instructor is correct on the errors that she says I made? Is there some way to do OK work and save time?

You can find a link to ways to prevent the errors at http://www.cjbibus.com/1301_1302_Preventions_WhatToDo.htm

 

One of those prevention is a method that has worked for your instructor for decades—and for students who have tried it. It helps you read and understand well enough that you can write simply and accurately. Click here to go to that method: http://www.cjbibus.com/1301_1302_Method_to_Read_Understand_Write_Fast.htm 

 

I have added to the method several Tips—especially for those who repeated prior errors. They are brain tricks I was taught a long ago, but they work.

 

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9. How do I see what I wrote for Unit 1’s essays,?

To display the essays you wrote for Unit 1, do this:

1. Click on Lockdown Browser

2. Log into Blackboard

3. Click on the Unit 1 module (on the left menu)

4. Click on the folder at the bottom of the module that contains the Unit 1 essay test.

5. Click on the Unit 1 essay test.

6. When Blackboard displays a prompt saying that you took it, click OK.

 

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10. If I have to talk to my instructor to qualify for the “deal,” what do I have to have ready? If I want to call during office hours, how can I make things go faster?

Whenever we talk, you must have these items where you can see them all side by side:

1.       The textbook opened to the pages you should have read for the question

2.       What you wrote as the essay or essays

3.       What feedback your instructor gave you on that work.

4.       If the question was on servitude, the table on servitude that I provided in the History Changes module.

 

If you want to talk during my regular office hours, email me 24 hours before so I can have all of your things spread out so we can be fast.

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11. How do I know my instructor’s office hours?

To see my office hours, click here: http://www.cjbibus.com/B_Schedule_block_form.htm .
Reminder: if you need to talk on Tuesday-Thursday during my hours, you have to tell ME the number for me to call you. WHY? I don’t have a direct line on the Sugar Land campus.)

 

For this week only, I will also stay in my office from 12:00 PM to 2:00 on Friday 4/05 4/12.

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12. What if the regular office hours do NOT match my schedule and I need my instructor to call me?

Your instructor will also try to call people during these hours this coming week (4/02-4/05  4/10-4/15):

·         Thursday 5PM to 6 PM

·         or MWF 7AM to 8:15 AM or MWF 4PM to 5 PM.

 

For a call to you to work, you:

·         Must have the 4 items listed with the FAQ for If you have to talk to your instructor to qualify for the “deal,” how do you make things go faster?

·         Must specify the day and the time (a 2 hour period of time) and a number where you can be reliably reached.

·         Must be there at that time

 

If my hours STILL do NOT match when you can talk, then propose a time. I CANNOT talk on any day BEFORE 7:00 AM or AFTER 6:00 PM.

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright C. J. Bibus, Ed.D. 2003-2013

 

WCJC Department:

History – Dr. Bibus

Contact Information:

281.239.1577 or bibusc@wcjc.edu

Last Updated:

2013

WCJC Home:

http://www.wcjc.edu/