I hope to see you all at the MOO tonight. The plan for the weekly sessions is to discuss the assigned readings, so we'll be talking about the stories themselves, plot, character, theme, that sort of thing. If we read it, we can discuss it (and maybe even if we didn't).

As for the first round of journals, one thing that I found a lot of was a lack of appropriate terminology. I gave a few people examples built around plot or character, but when discussing plot, or any concept, make use of the appropriate language and terminology, usually to be found in the readings. So, when talking about plot, be sure to use the terms situation, complication, climax, denouement/unraveling and resolution. That way you show a better, and gain a better, understanding of the concept.

For week two, you should be done with the week two reading assignment and working on your posts for this week. Let me know if you have any questions.

For MOO clients, which is software to make the MOO a bit more user friendly, here is a link to some. Acadiana suggested MOO clients. Scroll down to the link to tkMOO-light which is what I use and highly reccomend for windows and mac users alike.

Configuration info:

host: acadiana.arthmoor.com

port: 7777

username: guest

Again, let me know if you have any questions about getting set up. See you online this week. There are in-depth directions for getting set up on Acadiana's MOO site.

The MOO transcript is now posted in the forums. You can get there by clicking on "forums," then "reading responses," and then you will see the transcript with the date. You can also click on this link: MOO Transcript. If you missed the MOO, then read over the transcript, post a thoughtful response that could elicit further conversation on the topic or topics, and you'll be fine. If the response is not developed or thoughtful enough to deserve the same credit as if you were there, I'll let you know.

If this is your first time here, be sure to read the message just below this one

For our chat, we are going to be meeting in a MOO, which is a text-based virtual reality. I promise that the first time it will be confusing, more than a little most likely, but once you get used to it, most of you will come to enjoy it.

Here's where to go: Acadiana MOO. This will open up a chat window for you. Once the window opens all the way, be sure to read the directions on the screen. This is what it will tell you:

• Type "Connect guest" wihtout the quote marks
• Type @name "whatever your name is" and I don't mean that literally, but type in your name following "@name" without the quotes of course.
  
• Next, type, again without the quote marks, "@join bradb"
• To talk to me, start with a double quote mark (") and what you want to say.
  
• If you want to do some action, type a colon (:) followed by the appropriate verb, such as ":waves" and everyone will see "bradb waves." If I were to see this, I would see "you wave."
• Remember, no quote marks around the commands I've provided. Use them only when you want to talk to others. I'd also like to advise that you all read the Help material before class if you can make time. Once you log in, just type "help" (without the quotes) and read what they have to say. Focus on the communication stuff by typing "help communication."

I'll be recording the session for those who can't make it. This first time is more to get acquainted and fumble around in the MOO before we meet to discuss the readings. Bear with this part of the class if you become frustrated because it can lead to some very rewarding sessions. See you there at 7:00!

The first thing you need to do is to create a blog account for yourself. The directions are below.

After that, please write an introduction of yourself, telling us about your English education up to this point, any literature you like to read, what you think of using the computer for learning and other things you think might be of interest. You'll do this by clicking on the "create content" link at the top right of the page and then choosing "blog." Type your entry into the dialogue box and then post it. You may have to preview it first. You can come back and revise it if you desire.

Once you've posted your introduction, respond to at least two others blogs posted by students, working to engage them in a discussion about something you found to be of interest in their blog.

Creating an account

1. Log on to the internet and go to http://bleckblog.org/lit
2. Look to the upper right hand corner of the screen
   at bleckblog.org and click on the “create new account” link in the User Login
   section.
3. Fill in a user name (one that will allow us all
   to readily identify you) and a password.
4. Click the “create new account” button.
5. Check
   your email and you should have an email containing your user name and password;
6. After your first login, you may want to change
   your password to something easy to remember. To do so, go to href="http://bleckblog.org/lit/user/edit">http://bleckblog.org/lit/user/edit
7. Start blogging!

Instead, we are holding conferences. If you don't have a conference time, there are openings at 10:30, 10:45 and 11:00, that's a.m.

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The draft of the second essay is due in class for response on Monday. We will use Tuesday for conferences and will not hold a regular class meeting.

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Rather than pulling complete passages or sentences from her poems for discussion, consider describing an image she creates with her words and wrting about that. As with what we have done previously, provide the passage or lines from the poem, tell us what you find of interest or importance with this image, and then explain why that image might be of concern to a reader of the poem, or just someone alive today (or then even). Provide one for each of the poems.

Rather than pulling complete passages or sentences from her poems for discussion, consider describing an image she creates with her words and wrting about that. As with what we have done previously, provide the passage or lines from the poem, tell us what you find of interest or importance with this image, and then explain why that image might be of concern to a reader of the poem, or just someone alive today (or then even). Provide one for each of the poems.

This story is often read as concerning the clash between expediency versus what is right. (Which might lead to the question of "just what is 'right'?") You may want to keep this in mind as you read and as you work on your journal. As with the previous entries, choose three passages that you find of interest or importance, type them in verbatim, provide a paraphrase, and then explain what you found to be of interest or importance in those passages. Keep in mind the broader contexts and the quote I read you from Reading Lolita in Tehran: "What we search for in fiction is not so much reality but the epiphany of truth" (Nafisi 3) as you read and write. (The more you write here, the more prepared you will be when having to explain passages in the final.)

As with the previous entries, choose three passages that you find of interest or importance, type them in verbatim, provide a paraphrase, and then explain what you found to be of interest or importance in those passages. (The more you write here, the more prepared you will be when having to explain passages in the final.) One thing to keep in mind is the story's subtitle: "A Story of Wall Street." Bartleby's story is meant to stand for something beyond himself so don't be trapped by focusing only on what seems to be his weird behavior, but keep in mind the broader contexts as you read and write.