Listserv Instructions — Explains how to sign-up a different account for your listserv group and how to unsubscribe from the listserv.

Mason Listserv Main Page — Here is where you can go to sign-up on the listserv and manage your subscriptions.

The Listserv Group Page — if you want to know which group you are supposed to be in, who else is in your group, or if you need a classmate’s e-mail address.
 

Thesis Statement Guidelines — Rules for determining what makes a good thesis, and an explanation of open-form, closed-form, and delayed thesis structures.

Format Rules — Explanations of proper formatting for exercises and papers in this course.  Here also is a sample of the first two pages of a paper using the proper format.

Some Stylistic Conventions for Papers in the Humanities — Conventions simply means the generally accepted way of doing something.  Follow these rules for your exercises and papers (not for listserv posts).

The Inexcusable Error List — A list of errors (with explanations) I never want to see on papers written in my courses.

Advice on Cutting Words — A list of signs of wordiness; use it as a checklist to improve concision in your own writing.

Quotations and Citations Guidelines — Explanations and examples of proper quotation and citation format for papers in this course, based primarily on the MLA Handbook.

Three Sample Literary Papers — Here are sample papers from three of my courses.  One is closed-form, and analyzes the character of Ben in Death of a Salesman.  The second is open-form and discusses a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.  Each shows the proper approach, format, and style (and yes, they each earned an “A”), and both reauired some secondary research.  The third is strictly an explication of a poem, and is an excellent example of close reading and textual analysis.

The Writing Center — Where you can receive peer tutoring and advice on all aspects of the writing process.  They get extremely busy towards the end of the semester, so it is a good idea to go early and establish a working relationship with a tutor you find helpful.

 
 

Onelook.com — a useful site that gives you definitions from several different dictionaries with only one click.  It also offers a thesaurus function.

Sample Exam Questions — to give you an idea what to expect on the final examination.

The English Department Main Page — if you have questions about the department, including major and minor requirements.

ITU Support Center — Where to find information about technology at Mason; also offers downloads for common programs such as Norton Antivirus, Netscape, and Internet Explorer.

My Home Page — For more information about me, including courses I am scheduled to teach next semester.