**(This is a copy-paste of my email, just in case you missed it)**

Hello everyone, and welcome to your shiny new virtual English 1012 class.  I hope you all are safe, healthy, and not going too stir-crazy staying at home.  

Our class structure will remain much the same–you will still have 2 major writing assignments down the line, the comparative essay (comparing the 3 literary texts we are reading [The Machine Stops, 1984, and The Circle]), and the final paper.  Beyond that, however, will be a smattering of smaller writing assignments and discussions.  

This leads us to the major change for our class:  after much deliberation, I have decided to set up an online Discord server for our English 1012 class.  I have chosen Discord because it is fairly intuitive and easy to use, and I expect that at least a few of you use it already.  Discord is essentially a chat app designed for gaming communities, but it has a lot of flexibility and use beyond that.  Our Discord server will become the main hub for our class, meaning that I will no longer be posting to or updating our old class blog.  Our server will contain all of our class readings and materials going forward.  Our main discussions on Discord will all be text-based; however, the platform also has the option to voice or video chat, so if you ever want to talk one-on-one with me that way, just let me know.  In general, our server will attempt to fill the vacuum of actually meeting in person.  Your engagements and discussions there will subsequently count as your participation grade for the class.

To get set up on Discord, please follow the steps below:
1) Your first step is simply to get into our Discord server.  If you don’t already have a Discord account, you will have to create one. Make sure your username contains at least part of your real name so I can identify who you are.  If you do already have an account with an unrecognizable username, please create a new handle with your own name for our server.  To join the server, click the following invite link: [I have removed the link here for privacy reasons, please email me to get the invite].  Please note that you can either download the Discord client to your computer, or you can use the platform right in your browser.  I highly recommend at least downloading the Discord app to your phone so you can check it on the fly.

2) The second step is to start playing around with the platform to acquaint yourself with how it works.  There are plenty of tutorials out there if you are feeling overwhelmed by the interface.  In general, you’ll notice I have set up several channels for different purposes. Explore each channel to figure out its specific use.  The #announcements channel, for instance, will contain all major class announcements–I recommend starting there.

3) Begin the first online assignment posted for next Tuesday, the 24th.  You can find it within the #assignments channel.

If you have any questions or difficulties using Discord, please don’t hesitate to let me know.  The server is still a work in progress, and this is in general new territory for a lot of us, so there will inevitably be hiccups and difficulties along the way.  Your patience throughout this whole process is much appreciated.

One important piece of advice:  because our class is now fully online, you will really have to take the initiative to see it through.  I have taken online classes before, and I know how easy it is to become distracted and disconnected.  Remember to keep putting in the effort and take your own learning seriously.  If you ever feel yourself struggling, please let me know and I’ll see what I can do to help.

Lastly, keep in mind that if you have not yet sent me your third reading response, you must do so ASAP.

Whew okay, I think that’s all for now.  Looking forward to continue speaking with you all on Discord!