Check out these links to books I used for my ENG 580 "Composing Hypertext" class:

Creating a Web Page & Blog book

Hypertext 3.0

Here is the link for the Dr. DeGise Professional Writing Award:

Dr. DeGise Professional Writing Award

My Feelings Journey during Spring Semester 2010

January 18, 2010

ENG 508 - Composing Hypertext. Okay, so why did I decide to sign up for this class? Oh yea, it was because I thought it would be a very practical class that I could use one day. I was contemplating either taking this class or a literature class this semester. I emailed Dr. Katz some questions about the class before the semester began and he stopped in my office to answer them. One of the things he said was that this class will teach me how to write on the web - something that is becoming more important these days with all the changes happening with writing. Not only that, I will learn how to write HTML code. Heavens, I wasn’t even sure what that was! But I always wanted to have my own website and now this class will give me that opportunity. But I just received the 11 page syllabus for the class. What did I get myself into???

January 20

First day of class. From going over the syllabus, the class doesn’t seem like it will be that much work, compared to my other classes so far in the English program. I hope I don’t come back to “eat” my words and regret taking this class. I debated a long time which class would be the best fit for me this semester. I hope I made the right choice.

For the third semester in a row, I am sitting again in the same classroom, at the same table, with the same two friends, Jessamyn and Kaylyn. I ran into Abby earlier and she told me she is also registered for the class, so I told her we had a spot for her at our cozy little table in the back. I have a feeling that these three friends will help me keep my sanity in the class.

Oh, and I also got in trouble in class tonight – for talking!! Yes, me, the oldest person in the class, got in trouble for talking. The class had not begun and I was chatting with Abby and our names were called out loud by Dr. Katz. Embarrassing!

Tonight in class we started writing HTML code that will be the the beginning of our web page. I used one of the very slow computers in the classroom. I will definitely bring my lap top next week. It was fun to start writing this code. I don’t feel like I know what I am doing but I am ready to learn. This seems like it will be pretty cool.

January 27

Missing a Bradley basketball game tonight because of class – bummer! Kevin will be taking a friend with the extra ticket. During the class break, I texted Brandon for the score and Bradley was winning! Yea! Began writing more HTML code and my home page is starting to take shape. I still feel lost but Dr. Katz is very helpful in helping me understand this HTML code.

Another part of the class’s requirements is to participate in a forum. Every week we need to post a reply to Dr. Katz’s question, as well as post at least three other comments to other's posts. Doesn’t sound too difficult. I always have a few things to say.

February 8

Reading the Creating a Web Page & Blog book has been helpful. The author is a bit comical in how he writes, but he is also helpful in explaining how to write HTML code. But now, we need to start reading in Hypertext 3.0, and I have to say, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS GUY IS TALKING ABOUT!!! I am highlighting in the book which is actually funny because I have no clue what he is saying!!! Who would think reading 37 pages would take so long! This is one of the densest books I have ever read! And who would think there is THEORY about hypertext??? I have come to realize in this English Masters Program that there is THEORY about EVERYTHING!!!! How am I supposed to comment about this material when I have NO IDEA what it means??!!!

My first draft of my expressive hypertext is due this Wednesday. It has taken a lot of work but I do have one of the pages complete. I am amazed I can actually do this! Woo hoo!

February 20

My back has been killing me because I sit for long periods of time working on my laptop for my class. So I am treating myself to a massage today. Hopefully this will work out the kinks in my back because I foresee more long hours coming up to complete this course – and to complete it well.

March 8

The first Rhetorical Analysis is due in two days! Politics is not my forte and writing about these two political candidates has been challenging. I like how the web pages have turned out – the color, pictures, and links. I am actually a bit proud of myself, if I say so myself! I am trying to answer the questions in the syllabus for this RA, but again, I don’t know if I am doing it right.

March 13

I have an idea for a proposal that I am thinking of submitting for the Dr. DeGise Professional Writing Award. I emailed Dr. Baker about the idea and she really liked it. I see so many freshmen come to Bradley academically unprepared, especially in the areas of writing and study skills. These students seem like they need some extra help at the beginning of their college career so it will help them BEFORE they get in trouble academically. The DeGise award asks for a proposal of an idea that could be implemented at Bradley as a solution to a problem that you can identify. My mind is spinning with lots of ideas of solutions to this problem. I began writing today and can’t stop. I could be on to something….

March 16

Decide to take the day off of work so I could devote more time to writing this proposal. All the research I am coming up with totally supports this problem I see on Bradley’s campus (as well as other campuses too.) The more I write, the more passionate I become about the idea. I am proposing that freshmen take Refresher Workshops during their first week of school to give them some writing and study skills. I am getting very excited about this proposal and am aware of the deadline – April 9th. I know I should be working on my hypertext homework, but I can’t stop working on this.

March 18

Emailed some Bradley students I know (ones I know who did not go anywhere for Spring break) and surveyed them about this proposal idea. They all wrote back and said that YES - they would have taken these refresher workshops during their freshmen year if they were offered because they felt like they were not as prepared academically as they thought they were. Wow, their comments wholeheartedly support my research and ideas of this proposal! Woo!

March 21

Oh my goodness, I think I am going to lose my mind! This argumentative hypertext is TAKING SO MUCH TIME!!!!!!!!! All I have done this whole weekend is sit on my bottom, researching and trying to write this assignment. And I am not even sure I know what I am doing!!! I hope I am doing it correctly. I have never done anything like this. I keep writing and writing, and I don’t think I am close to being done. After I write it, then I need to put it in the correct HTML code on my web page. I plan to ask Barbara tomorrow if I can use part of my personal days to stay home Tuesday morning to work on this.

My poor house – when will I attend to it again???

March 23

Just reread my second post. Did I actually say that this class would NOT take as much time as the others I have taken??? WRONG!!! It takes MORE TIME!!! And my back is proof of that …. (Oh my aching back from sitting so long.)

Kevin says, “Is that all you are ever going to do?” in reference to me sitting at the table and typing on my lap top. I said, no, I still have to read from the lovely Landow book about the Theory of Hypertext!!!! At least I can do that in a more comfortable chair!!!

March 24

Got in trouble AGAIN for talking in class! Embarrassing again! A couple of us at my table were talking about this major assignment due today and how difficult and time consuming it was and BOOM! My name was mentioned again for talking. I never thought of myself as a "rebel", as someone called me when I told them how I got in trouble AGAIN. Not fun. I guess I just enjoy my friends at my table a bit too much. Ha. Actually I get a kick out of us - we are really the only ones in our class with lap tops and have them all set up on our small table. It’s quite the sight!

March 26

Got my grade on my first Rhetorical Analysis assignment. Not bad, but I do see that the emphasis is not so much on the hypertext and how it looks, but more on the writing. I guess I was focusing more on the design of the site and putting in lots of links, etc. Oh well, now I know. Guess I also need to work on my writing - and write more!

April 7

Landow’s book was very hard to read at first but now I feel like I know what he is talking about. Finally! The class discussions are good and definitely challenge my thoughts about hypertext and print text. These are concepts you really never think about when you are on the web. Reading hypertext and searching on the internet all comes naturally. But when you stop and think about what you are doing and how it is different from codex, it does make for some interesting discussion.

April 8

I feel like I have been taking two classes this semester, with working so hard on that proposal. But I have it complete and ready to turn in tomorrow! So we will see!

April 9

Big day. I turned in the proposal, had lunch with some great friends from work, and participated in the Student Expo at the Markin Center. I shared my project from last semester called A Change Needs to Happen – Changing Students’ Attitudes about Writing. I talked non-stop for 2-1/2 hours to seven judges about my project. Loved it. It is a project I am very passionate about. One of the judges suggested that I could share my research project at the Faculty Workshop this fall. How cool is that? I would love that. Dr. Baker, my faculty mentor, plans to contact Anika, the Director of OTEPD, to tell her the suggestion. This was such a great experience and opportunity. So glad I took the time to do this.

April 16

Presented the same project at the English Colloquium. What another great experience. I got to talk to a lot of the English faculty that I had never met – just heard their names. I also met and had a great conversation with Dr. DeGise, the one who is sponsoring the writing contest I submitted the proposal to. Lots of good conversation. After the Colloquium, I went over to the Alumni Dining Room for the Sigma Tau Delta Honor Society for English students. Yes, I am now a member! Woo! What an honor!

April 20

When will the work for this class end??? I am losing my mind. If I am not at work, I am home on my bottom working on my lap top. I think I am ready for another massage – my back is killing me!!!

April 24

Ahhhhh, relief for my back. Massage this morning. Interesting enough – my masseur asked me if I used a computer mouse. I answered yes. She said she could tell. I said, “So that is why my arm is painful right now?” Who would think a little mouse could cause such pain?? But all is well. My back is aligned. Good thing. BIG project due this Wednesday. I anticipate MANY hours of sitting this weekend.

A friend told me that massages should be a requirement of graduate school! She said to tell my husband that it is an additional tuition fee I just learned about – ha. I like that!

April 26

These forums are getting harder to respond to because they are posted within 1 or 2 days of class. It takes a long time to do - reading all the posts and thinking of something half-way intelligent to post. Actually the discussions are quite good on this forum. But it is a very time consuming requirement of the class.

April 27

Received my grade on my second rhetorical analysis. I'm a little relieved; I didn't do too bad. I wrote A LOT and it looks like that helped. I can still make a few changes to improve the grade, which I plan to do.

April 28

Received a phone call from Dr. Prescott. I WON the Dr. DeGise Award!!! WOO HOO!!! I am so happy! He told me that it was very well written and an excellent proposal. And to top it off, I also win $1,000!!! Shopping, here I come!!! Ha! Wow, all that hard work really did pay off. I am very happy.

April 30

After work was the English Annual Awards Ceremony. I was awarded a certificate for winning the DeGise award. I am really humbled, honored and amazed. Brandon was able to join me at the ceremony.

Wow, I have really come a long way this semester. Not only with learning how to formulate my own web page, but the opportunities I had to present my research and even write a proposal that was picked as “the best.” It has been a great semester, but also a tough semester. Lots of work (understatement) but it seems to have paid off. I am glad. The other wonderful thing about my proposal are plans are in the works for the idea to come to fruition this August at Bradley. It will be a collaboration between my office, Student Support Services, and the English department. The two departments hope to meet in a couple weeks to begin the discussion of this new program. I am thrilled about this.

May 2

Hoping to finish my Expressive Hypertext assignment by today or tomorrow and let Dr. Katz know it can be graded now. Wow, I can't believe I have put together my own website! Who would have thought?! I have worked long and hard on this assignment, and put a lot of "me" into it. I am pretty happy with the finished product. I hope Dr. Katz is too.

11:58 p.m. - Halleluiah, it's done!