Composition-Introduction to Literature: Introductory Letter - Guidelines for Students

Samples | Introductory Online Letters for Learning

Donna Reiss


Greetings,

By the due date and time on your Course Schedule, introduce yourself to your classmates in a letter as described below and submit to the BlackBoard Discussion Board Introduction Letter to Classmates Forum.

Compose your introduction as an informal 500-750-word letter with a greeting and a signature. I recommend composing all your Forum messages in a word processor and saving them as files on your computer. That way you can edit, check spelling, and count words as well as keep a backup copy. You can then copy-paste into the Blackboard Discussion Board message area.

Regards,
Donna Reiss

Personal Introduction

In your Introduction Letter, tell us about yourself, including the elements below, but write paragraphs rather than a list:

  • your name (and preferred nickname if you have one)
  • your academic interests and goals, including planned major
  • your career interests and goals
  • reasons you are taking this class
  • reasons you are taking an online class
  • your personal life and interests (if you wish)
  • an interesting or memorable detail about you

Reading and Writing Background
In your Introduction Letter, describe your reading and writing background, including the elements below, but write paragraphs rather than a list:
    • earliest memories of reading and writing
    • experiences with reading and writing at work and elsewhere
    • ways reading and writing have been beneficial, enjoyable, challenging, and/or interesting
    • how and where you compose: settings, methods, materials and equipment
    • how and where you read: settings, methods, materials and equipment
    • your definition of the characteristics of effective writing
    • your interest in imaginative literature: fiction, poetry, and drama

Submission Guidelines
  • Submit your letter within the message box of the BlackBoard Discussion Board Introduction Letter to Classmates Forum.
    • Copy-paste your letter with your word processor open in one window and Blackboard Discussion Board open in another window.
      • Use the message Preview feature to be sure your letter reads as you wish: go Back to edit further and Submit when you are ready.
    • Be sure to submit to the designated forum at the BlackBoard Discussion Board by the due date and time to ensure credit. You can return to your message, open it and Modify it or Remove it. If you post in the wrong forum or thread, you can copy the message and paste it in the correct forum. Submissions receive credit when posted by the due date, according to the posting criteria, in the correct forum or thread.

    Samples | Introductory Online Letters for Learning

    for educational purposes only
    developed and copyright ©1996 by
    D. Reiss
    modified and copyright ©
    24 May 2003 by D. Reiss