What’s the difference?

Many people are confused about when they should use the words “affect” and “effect.”

Affect is a verb.  It means to influence.   Because affect is a verb, the ending can change, depending on the tense.  For example, affect can change to affected, affecting, and will affect.

Examples: The weather probably won’t affect our plans today because rain is not in the forecast.

The weather affected our plans yesterday. It rained after we arrived to the beach.

The weather is affecting people’s plans everyday across the world.

The weather will affect many people’s plans tomorrow.

Effect is a noun.  It means a “result.”  It can be plural, but other than that, the ending won’t change.

Example:  The medicine is known to have many side effects.

A great website for you to use

I highly recommend this website to all writers, whether you are just starting off or getting ready to publish a novel.  This site has a lot of helpful tips and examples.  Give it a try! You won’t regret your time spent at this site!

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

Fun Quotes

You don’t have to memorize these.  I have posted these “just for fun.”

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!”– Maya Angelou

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”–Maya Angelou

“Nothing will work unless you do.”–Maya Angelou

In the spring, the carpet flowered among the green, and as wind blew, it looked like music on the ground.”– Timothy Egan

“If you disagree with everything I’ve said then I’ve done my job.” –Glenn Altschuler

“Cats are dangerous companions for writers because cat watching is a near-perfect method of writing avoidance.”– Dan Greenburg

“Stop beating around the bush.”–unknown

“It is the lives we encounter that make life worth living.” — Guy de Maupassant.

Welcome to my blog for students!

I am a wife, and I am a mom of three.  When I am not teaching, you can bet that I am probably doing something with them, other family, and/or friends!

I love people, and I like to make a difference in this world. I am not one of those  people who you hear about on the news who have rescued a drowning swimmer or stopped an airplane from crashing, but I try to reach out to others in simple ways (a gentle word, an encouraging card, a visit at the hospital, etc). I disagree that people are commodities that are easily replaced, as our industrious world often comments. I believe people are the reason the world exists; therefore, we need to help each other, encourage each other, and sometimes we even need to correct each other in love.

Now that you know a little about my philosophy, let me tell you about my credentials so that you will know more of me than Susan Smith, the philosopher, but rather, I would like you to mostly know me as Susan, the English major, instructor, and professor.

I earned my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English Education at East Carolina University. I have also studied at Mount Olive College and Villa Julie College of Maryland. I have experience as a second and third grade teacher, a high school English teacher, an editor, a grant writer, a county parent educator, a community college instructor, and a four year college professor.  To sum it in simple terms, I have what it takes to help you become a better writer and interpreter of good literature!

I love teaching!  I have been teaching at the college level since 2001.  My best students are the ones who WANT to EARN their grades and will do all they can to follow directions, complete assignments on time, and share a spirit of cooperation!

Let’s succeed together!

How To Succeed in Class

Most students who register for classes want to succeed.  No student wants to see an F on his or her semester grade report.  That is logical!  There is a problem that I see happening with some students, and that is that they slack off.  Slacking off hurts!  Students must work as hard on the last week of class as they did on the first week.  Success can only occur when students are willing to make it happen!

You need to know that I do not GIVE grades!  I expect ALL students to earn grades.  There are no “free rides’ in college.  College is a privileged choice; unlike elementary, middle, and high school, college is not mandatory.  Sure, it’s great to have so that you have higher earning potentials and careers that may bring more fulfillment, but it’s not a requirement for life!  It’s not a “give away.”  You must earn it. You’ll earn your grades in my class, and my previous successful students will tell you that it’s really not that hard to do!

Biweekly participation is a MUST!   Train yourself to be in a routine.  First, sketch out at least two days each course week that you can log on to the Blackboard, participate on the discussion board, and complete your other weekly reading and writing assignments.  I have made the load “manageable.”  In fact, most of my student evaluations praise me for making the course work “manageable” and “not overloaded.”   Put yourself into the following routine!  On the first day of the course week (and definitely no later than the second day), read the class announcement(s) for the week.  I will post a new announcement each week that repeats the information in the “course schedule” folder of the “course information” link.  I may also add helpful advice and other information pertinent to the week’s assignments on the announcement page. I will highlight essay/project deadlines on the announcement page, too, to help keep you on track.  Start working on the weekly assignment immediately.  (Some successful students even begin their work the week before.)  Read the assigned chapters and essays well.  If you have an essay due for grading, start on it early. Do not wait until the last day or next to the last day of the week to complete it.  Winners never win by showing up late for a game; they are there on time and ready to participate!

Fpr classes that have a weekly discussion board set up: Plan two days of each course week to open the assigned week’s discussion board and participate well! Participate according the week’s agenda.  Don’t just post “fluff” on the discussion board.  Since your class participation counts for a lot of overall class points and is required twice a week, work diligently! Discussion board posting is a big requirement for your course.  The discussion board is where we all “meet” and discuss the information pertaining to the week’s assignments.  It’s the online classroom where you interact with your classmates about the topics.  It’s where you show you are interested!  Get into the habit early of checking the discussion board often and posting at least twice a week, on two separate days!

You will also be required to write essays for other grades.  Links are provided in the “assignments” link on the BB where you will post your work for me to grade.  If you don’t post it, I can’t grade it!  If you post it late, I won’t grade it (unless there is a real emergency documented reason–see the attendance/class participation policy in the the course information link on the BB).  Keep up with your deadlines. Go ahead now and write them on a calendar that you refer to often so that you don’t let the dates pass by without your class requirements fulfilled!

Follow directions well!  Read directions.  If you don’t understand them, email me immediately so that I can assist you!  I don’t “live” on the computer; therefore, you need to email me early in the week so that I can answer your questions and point you in the right direction quickly!  I check email at least once a day on week days and at least every forty-eight hours on weekends.  My pet peeve is encountering a question about directions on the last day of the course week!  Ask early and ask as often as you need to!  I am here to help you succeed!

Finally, have a good attitude about succeeding, and you will!  When you are sour, you tend to find class work and requirements bitter!  Having a good attitude about earning your grades will help you go far in a sweet life!