English Composition 1
Writing and General Academic Assistance
Illinois Valley Community College provides plenty of help that can increase your likelihood for success in the course, including the resources and support services listed below.
Your Instructor
I put myself at the top of this list because I think you should contact me first if you feel you need additional assistance with your writing. I can provide some of that additional assistance, and I can also offer suggestions about other options you might consider (including those listed below). Feel free to call me or send me an e-mail message if you feel you need additional help, and I also encourage you to stop by my office on campus (A313) if convenient. The Contacting the Instructor page and my Home Page provide information concerning the different ways that you can contact me.
The Writing Center
If you live near IVCC, the college's Writing Center should be the first resource for you to consider if you feel that you need more help with your writing than what I am able to offer. The staff of the Writing Center works closely with each student to address his or her needs and offers a variety of services to help students strengthen their reading and writing abilities.
The Course Blackboard and other Web Resources
You of course should not overlook the resources that are available to you via the Internet. You will find a forum in our course Blackboard titled "Questions." Whenever you have any questions at all about writing, you should post your questions to this discussion forum. If you read a question and think you have some good advice to offer, please feel free to respond. This will be our own form of peer tutoring within the class. I will also check for questions regularly. The Writing Resources page for English Composition 1 Online also provides a lot of information about writing that should be helpful to you.
IVCC's Other Support Services
To find out the other kinds of support services IVCC provides for students, including counseling, career planning assistance, and financial assistance, go to the Services for Students page at the college's Web site. In addition, if you are a student with special needs, you should read the Special Needs Educational Support Services page to find out the ways that IVCC can help you succeed.
Assistance for Students Taking the Course from a Distance
If you are taking this course from a distance, you should be able to find additional assistance from your local college through which you registered for the course. This assistance should include counseling and tutoring. I recommend contacting your local college to find out the specific help available to you. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if you are having any difficulty finding the kind of assistance that you think could help you succeed in the course.