TW Admin: Use this form for you e-portfolio

E-portfolio: In Theme Writing this semester, you are required to maintain an electronic portfolio (e-portfolio) of all your writing in Google Docs. You should do all of your written assignments in your e-portfolio, as well as the preparation work required. Your e-portfolio is evidence of the work you have done and the progress you have made. You can write directly in your e-portfolio, GDS is like a simple online version of Microsoft Word. Moreover, it enables you to share and collaborate on your writing at the push of a button. 1. If you have not already signed up for Google Docs, you should sign up now. It takes about one (1) minute. Here again are the instructions. Please return here when you have finished. 2. Click the link at the top of this email message. Create Your Own e-Portfolio 3. On the next screen, click the on the 'File' menu, click 'Save as new copy'. You now have a copy of the TW e-portfolio form. 4. Click on the 'File' menu, click 'Rename'. In the box that opens, enter a new document name. The name of your e-portfolio should contain the title of the course, your first name, as well as your student number: e.g. 100108 Mari's Theme Writing Portfolio 5. You now have your own e-portfolio for Theme Writing. Share Your e-Portfolio With Me 6. Click the "Share' button (look top right), click 'Share with others'. Figure 1 7. On the next screen (Figure 1), type in my email address. The blue 'as collaborators' button should be 'on'. The boxes at the bottom should also be checked as shown. 8. Click the 'Invite Collaborators' button. 9. In box that appears (Figure 2 below), click the 'Send' button. Figure 2 10. As shown in Figure 1, click '« Back to editing the document.' 11. Delete all this text, Steps 1-11 above, then paste your Scratch Outline into your e-portfolio in the section below.

(Your Name Here) Theme Writing e-Portfolio 1) Scratch Outline (Please paste your work here) 2) Structured Outline (Please do or paste your work here) 3) In-class First Draft (500 words, 2+ sources) Handwritten in class. 4) Second Draft (600-800 words, 4+ sources) (Please do your work here. Leave one blank line between paragraphs. No indent necessary - not yet) 5) Third Draft (color coded) (Please do your work here. Leave one blank line between paragraphs. No indent necessary - not yet.) 6) 'Working' Title, Thesis & Formal Outline (Please do your work here) 7) Full-length Draft (1500 words, + peer review checklist) (Please do your work here. Leave one blank line between paragraphs. No indent necessary - not yet) 8) Works Cited (Please do your work here. No hanging indent necessary - not yet) 9) Final Paper (Please do your work here.)

TW Admin: Start Up Message to Students 2008

Dear Theme Writers,

Welcome to the course! I am looking forward to meeting you in class on Wednesday.

Before class I would like you to do three (3) things:

1) Think carefully about your writing topic. Please give some thought to what you would like to write about. Theme Writing is one of the most liberal and liberating courses at ICU: it is perhaps the only course that allows you to focus your reading, study, and research on a topic that is entirely chosen by you and reflects your particular interests. Please think about a topic that:

• Is strongly related to your personal interests and experiences. If you have lived most of your life in Japan, your topic should reflect that connection.

• Will let you write something new about it.

• Involves a problem or question that you can answer.

• Is "doable" in about 7 body paragraphs.

2) Sign up for Google Docs (GDS). GDS is free online software that you can use to create, store, share, publish, and collaborate on your documents. It is like a free version of Microsoft Office, but because it is online you can use GDS to access your work at any online computer, anywhere in the world. Moreover, for a course like Theme Writing, GDS makes sharing and collaborating on your paper incredibly easy. It means saying goodbye to the messy process of sending your paper to me as an email attachment. It also means you will never have to miss an opportunity to work on your paper because you left you paper at home. Once you have shared your paper with me via GDS, we can open and your check your paper at my computer. I will also share all course materials with you in GDS. GDS is easy to learn to use and can save you lots of time. GDS can make study easier. Yay! For these reasons, GDS is a requirement for Theme Writing this semester. If you already have a GDS account with Google, you do not have to do anything now. However, if you do not have GDS, please take two minutes now to sign up before class tomorrow.

1. Click GDocs & Spreadsheets, or point your browser at http://docs.google.com. If you have a Google account already, sign in with your Google username and password. You are finished!

2. If you do not have a Google account, click the 'Get Started' button.

3. Fill out the sign-up form and follow any directions that Google gives you.

4. If you have time, watch this short video which explains more about GDS. Click to watch the video.

3) Bookmark the TW Homepage. Our homepage is located at http://twicu.blogspot.com/. Please bookmark this in the browser on your home computer. Also, write down the address some where safe, so that you can access it any time you need to, e.g. your diary, keitai, etc.

Thank you & see you tomorrow,

Owen James

TW Information: Final Paper & final class

Dear TW,

After thinking more about what to do in class tomorrow, it seems that we may have covered everything on Monday, therefore, it is not really necessary to require all of you to attend tomorrow.

To check the details about final submission, please see under Submit Final Paper in Course Information. These details are the same as we covered in class on Monday.

However, if you would like a final quick tutorial and/or would like to exchange your paper with a classmate for peer review, please come to class. If your paper is finished you might like to come and hand it in, otherwise please submit it on Thursday according to Course Information.

If you still have more writing to do, you might like to do that in the Library or at home.

In summary, please make a decision about class based on what your current needs are and how you can use the time to achieve the best outcomes for yourself.

Thank you, Owen.

TW Information: Full Draft pick up

Hello Yuta,

Please pick up your paper from the envelope outside my office when you can. As we discussed yesterday, the predicted problem does exist.

Thank you, Owen.

TW Information: Tutorial offer

Hello Noriaki,

On Saturday you submitted your Works Cited and Final Draft, very good. Now, tutorials did finish officially last Friday, but I may have some time Period 5 tomorrow, Tuesday, 2/19. If this time is suitable for you please let me know as soon as you can - I will need to plan time to read your paper before your tutorial.

Your Works Cited can be picked up from the envelope outside my office.

Also, following the timetable in Course Information there was class today and final class will be Wednesday. We may have covered a few questions you have, so I recommend first contacting a class mate, perhaps your peer review buddy, to catch up on what we did.

Bye for now, Owen.

TW Information: Full Draft pick up

Dear Minako,

Your paper can be picked up from the envelope outside my office. I do apologise that getting back to you has taken as long as it has, other papers had also come in about the same time from ARW and Winter Projects, as well as PWT (tomorrow).

Also, following the timetable in Course Information there was class today and final class will be Wednesday. We may have covered a few questions you have, so I recommend first contacting a class mate, perhaps your peer review buddy, to catch up on what we did.

Bye for now, Owen.

TW information: Your Full Draft tutorial request

Hello Shunsuke,

Your paper can be picked up now from the envelope outside my ILC door. A tutorial can be arranged for P2 or P5 tomorrow, but I will be grading PWT essays from P3, through lunch, until the end of P4. Please let me know if either of these times may be suitable.

Also, as per. the course timetable in Course Information, there was class today and final class will be Wednesday.

Bye for now, Owen.

TW Information: Full Draft feedback

Hello Mari, Minako, & Izumi,

 

I just wanted to let you know that I have not forgotten you and I will get to your papers as soon as I can. I will email you when it can be picked up. If your current draft is different from the version on your portfolio, it would be useful if you could post an update, so that I could then check your most recent work.

 

I am sorry for the delay, I have been swamped with work this week, similar I am sure to your situation as well.

 

Best,

 

Owen.

TW Request: Pick up Minor 7

Hello Ikumi,

Your Works Cited has been checked and can be picked up from the envelope outside ILC 275.

Best,

Owen.

TW Full Draft & tutorial

Hello Marie,

If you can pick up your paper from the envelope outside my office and read and think about my comments before your tutorial tomorrow, that would be helpful for you, I think.

Best,

Owen.

TW Full Draft & tutorial

Hello Marina,

If you can pick up your paper from the envelope outside my office and read and think about my comments before your tutorial tomorrow, that would be helpful for you, I think.

Best,

Owen.

TW Information: Minor 7 (Works Cited) & Minor 8 (Full Draft) & extra tutorials

Dear Theme Writing class,

A few important notices as we approach the end:

Minor 7: Works Cited
10 assignments were submitted on time. I printed a copy from your e-portfolio. Please pick up this copy with my comments from outside ILC 275. My comments also appear on your Record of Work. Try to show me your corrected version before you submit your Final Paper if at possible.

Minor 8: Full Draft
Mari, Rina, Minako, Marina, Izumi, Marie, & Hanako have submitted papers so far, good. Thank you. You may submit until 2/16 according to the TW timeliness rule, but you should be aiming to submit as early as you can.

Tutorials
I will do my best to offer a tutorial to anyone who submits their full paper by Saturday 2/16. Currently Mari, Izumi, Minako have submitted a Full Draft, but tutorials are full. So at this stage, I would like to propose setting aside Thursday from 13.30 to 16.30 for extra tutorials. This time will only be useful though if you are available or are willing to make this the most important thing. Please understand that my time is limited too - you and I are very busy. My time next week will be very limited and extra tutorials next week are unlikely, so please make the best use of this extra opportunity this week.

Please send me an email if you would like a tutorial Thursday afternoon. If there is sufficient interest, I will add new times to the sign-up page on the DIY and then ask you to book a time.

Thank you, bye for now, Owen.

TW Information: Notes on your tutorial 2/4

Dear Ikumi, Marie, & Shunsuke,

To see my notes on your tutorial, please go to TW: My Record of Work. If you have any additional questions please do not hesitate to ask.

Thank you, Owen

TW Information: Notes on your tutorial 2/1

Dear Rina,

To see my notes on our discussion on Friday, please go to TW: My Record of Work. I am sorry these are a day later than I try to aim for. If you have additional questions please do not hesitate to ask.

Thank you, Owen

TW Information: First Draft pick up

Hello Shunsuke,

I have checked and commented on your First Draft. Please collect it from the envelope outside my office from Monday morning.

Thank you, Owen.

TW Information: Update Minor Assignment 6

Dear TW Class,

This is just a reminder that the final day for Minor 6 to be posted on time to your e-portfolio is tomorrow, Saturday, February 2.

As at 4.46 p.m. today (Friday 2/1), Hanako, Rina, Minako, Izumi, Noriaki, Marie, and Miki have submitted Minor Assignment 6 - thank you.

Do you best if you have not submitted yet.

Owen.

TW Information: Notes on your tutorial 1/30

Dear Minako, Rina, Hanako, & Miki,

To see my notes on our discussion yesterday, please go to TW: My Record of Work. If you have additional questions please do not hesitate to ask.

Thank you, Owen

TW Information: Notes on your tutorial 1/28

Dear Yasutake,

To see my notes on our discussion yesterday, please go to TW: My Record of Work. If you have additional questions do not hesitate to ask.

Thank you, Owen

TW Request: Tutorial & Thesis

Hello Minako,

If you are planning to come to tutorial tomorrow, there is only one appointment time that is currently open. I recommend you book quickly.

My concluding notes on our discussion yesterday have been added to your Record of Work.

Bye for now,

Owen.

TW Information: First Draft pick up

Dear Mari & Yohei,

I have checked over and written comments on a paper copy of your first draft printed from your TW e-portfolio. Please collect your paper from the envelope outside my office (ILC 275). If you have additional questions please do not hesitate to make a tutorial.

Owen

TW Information: Final call for First Draft

Dear Mari, Yohei, Marina, Shunsuke, & Yasutake,

This is just a reminder that the final day for your first draft to be posted on time to your e-portfolio is tomorrow, Saturday 26th. I know many of you are working hard and I look forward to reading your ideas. I will return a paper copy printed from your eportfolio along with my comments to the folder outside my office. I will let you know by email when you can pick your paper up. You should come soon to a tutorial.

Thank you, Owen.

TW: First Draft pick up

Dear Hanako, Yuta, Rina, Kanako, Miki, and Ikumi,

Your paper has been available for collection since I emailed you on Tuesday.

At this stage of writing and at this stage of the semester you should be deep into your TW work, 4~5 hours minimum per week, roughly the same or more than you would have committed to ARW.

As well, Minor Assignment 6 is due tomorrow, which should only be completed after examining your First Draft and reading and considering my comments. And if possible, it is always recommended to have a tutorial or attend OH.

Please think carefully on this message, I want to encourage to do much more than simply finish TW, but to also enjoy learning from the experience and to achieve your best.

Thank you, Owen.

TW Information: Final call for First Draft

Dear Mari, Yohei, Marina, Shunsuke, & Yasutake,

This is just a reminder that the final day for your first draft to be posted on time to your e-portfolio is tomorrow, Saturday 26th. I know many of you are working hard and I look forward to reading your ideas. I will return a paper copy printed from your eportfolio along with my comments to the folder outside my office. I will let you know by email when you can pick your paper up. You should come soon to a tutorial.

Thank you, Owen.

TW Information: Notes on your tutorial 1/23

Dear Izumi, Nozomi, and Shunsuke,

To see my notes on our discussion today, please go to TW: My Record of Work. If you have additional questions do not hesitate to ask.

Thank you, Owen

TW Information: Minor Assignment 5 - First Draft

Dear TWers,

Thank you for your submitting your first drafts. I have checked over and written comments on a paper copy printed from your TW e-portfolio. The ten (10) papers so far submitted can be collected from an envelope outside my office (ILC 275).

I highly recommend that everyone takes a tutorial to follow up on their first draft as soon as possible. A well structured answer now can make the further development of your paper much easier and more effective. It is not a good idea to continue without taking a tutorial.

If you have not submitted yet, the statement on timeliness of assignments states that your First Draft needs to be submitted by this Saturday, January  26.

Rushing. Thank you.

Owen

TW Information: Notes on your tutorial 1/21

Dear Mari,

To see my notes on our discussion today, please go to TW: My Record of Work .

Owen.

Fwd: TW Information: Notes on your tutorial 1/16 or 1/18

Dear Miki, Mari, Marina, Minako, Nozomi, Shunsuke, and Yohei,

To see my notes on our discussion, please go to TW: My Record of Work .

I am sorry these are late to follow up Wednesday's tutorials, marking PWT also fell at the same time this week.

Regards to everyone, Owen.

TW Information: Notes from your tutorial 1/9

Dear Izumi, Noriaki, and Yuta,

To see my notes on our discussion, please go to TW: My Record of Work.

Owen

TW Information: My notes on your tutorial 1/7

Hello Ikumi, Hanako, and Marie,

To review my notes on your tutorials today, please go to TW: My Record of Work.

If you have questions or ideas please feel free to add your own notes or to correct any mistakes I may have made.

Best,

Owen.

TW Information: Tutorials Sign Up

Dear Class, To sign up for a tutorial for any week of the semester, please go to DIY: Tutorials Sign Up.

TW Homework Update: Minor Assignment 4

Dear Class,

There is a lot of very careful thought reflected in your outlines. I compared your thesis statements to earlier versions in your research proposals and also looked back at my earlier comments. I hope that this update helps you structure and write your first drafts as you return to work after the holidays. To see this homework update, please go to the TW: My Record of Work page.

And, of course, happy New Year, Owen.