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**[[image:research.jpg width="192" height="166"]] Welcome to the Class Wiki for Composition I during the Spring Semester of 2011**
What is a wiki you might ask? Why would Dr. Martin be using it in a composition class? Why might it be helpful? These are all reasonable questions and something that will hopefully become more clear to you as the semester continues. I doubt there are any of you who have not used wikipedia as a source for your research. How does wikipedia work? Well it works by allowing anyone with access the ability to edit the content available. And so it is with our class wiki. Each Tuesday, beginning in a couple weeks you will be asked to post something to the wiki that offers something to the class and promotes discussion beyond the two times we are face-to-face during the week.
 * (aka: our virtual coffee shop~but you have to bring your own)**

BTW, as it notes above, I have given the wiki the alias of "our virtual coffeeshop". I can often be found in Starbucks and you might even convince me to spring for a cup of coffee, when you find me there. It is a place where I am looking for lively and thoughtful discussion about the issues that are raised in class, but a place where people can write about their thoughts and ideas in a safe forum. To do this, there are two requirements: first people should still consider the issue of audience and remember the importance of good rhetorical practice. Second, because this is a college level forum and an English class, I am expecting that you will use appropriate grammar, punctuation, spelling and such. This is an important issue when it comes to the credibility of your posting and influences how others and I might respond.

The reason for using it in a Composition I class is because the more you write, the more likely you are to improve in your writing. Most of us, and I include myself, can always improve in our communication. Again, thinking requires words and words are used in writing and speaking, so it is my hope that you will think carefully about what you write and post here. The more you think and ponder, and the more you read, the more informed you will become and then the more credible your papers will be. This is an important step in moving beyond the work you have done in your high school English courses. Likewise, as we read and think about what others write, we also think about our own positions and become more informed. It is an essential part of being a good citizen as well as becoming successful in what you do.

I will be posting more here and we will spend time in class about how you are to work on this next week. In the meantime, welcome to class and to the Coffee Shop!

Dr. Martin