I
delight in learning
so that I can teach.
--Seneca 4 BC - 65 AD
Hello, hello, hello
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone home? --Pink Floyd
I was educated once, and
it took me years to get over it.
--Ashleigh
Brilliant
INTRODUCTION AND
CONTENT
This
website supplements
and enhances class lecture and discussions as well as textbook readings. And although
some class assignments will include content found on this Web site,
this site is not intended to be a substitute for or an alternative to class
attendance. This site is also designed to enhance and improve your computing and
Internet skills and experience. And you will find resources that will help you
improve your study skills and help you with other
courses and programs. You can have fun at this site, too. For site content
details, click here.
Please let me know about
links that do not work.
Suggest links
for this web site.
Send me an e-mail.
MESSAGES :
Announcements,
reminders, and messages for all students and students in specific courses.
WRITING
HELP: Resources for reviewing
punctuation, grammar, sentence structure,word choice, and
style, along with
practice exercises. Other resources cover paragraphs, essays, research
papers, documentation, and citation, including documenting and citing
sources from the Web.
You will also find business and technical writing resources.
ARGUMENT:
Help
with logic, critical
thinking skills, and developing and evaluating written arguments.
SKEPTICS:
Links to
Web sites for
Advanced Composition students to use for weekly
assignments.
However, everyone will find
these sites
fun, interesting, and informative.
INTERNET:
Resources that explain the
Internet--what it is, how it works, its history, what's on it (
EVERYTHING! ), how to use
it, how to search it, and how to evaluate its sources. You will also find
resources that help you better understand your computer, that help you solve
computer problems, and that help you keep your computer running smoothly.
REFERENCE: Resources for looking up
everything and anything, as well as an extensive list of sites for
research projects and
papers.
FINANCIAL AID: Resources for finding
out about and applying for financial aid.
EMPLOYMENT: Resources that cover
everything about job hunting, including developing and
submitting
electronic resumes, and finding out about
internships.
ks
to
interesting
articles, Windows and Internet
tips. No longer updated.
SEARCH:
Links to the best search engines,
meta-search engines, specialized search engines.
LOCAL:
Madison, Dane County, and Wisconsin sites. Find out about local events and
happenings. You'll also find local reference
resources.
CURRENT
EVENTS: News and current
event sites that help you keep up with what's going on, plus links to your
favorite magazines, as well as some you don't know about but should.
BREAK
TIME: Put the books
down. Take a break and escape for awhile.
WORD
PLAY/FUN: Fun
with words and
language. For word alcoholics and verbivores.
ASSIGNMENTS:
You'll find your Web
assignments on this page.
SCHOOL
HELP: Resources that will improve
your study, test-taking and learning skills. You will also find help with
most subjects, courses, and assignments, including resources for students
taking literature and speech/presentation courses.
WHAT YOU WILL NOT FIND HERE:
Because this Web site is not a substitute for
class attendance, you won't find
Writing assignments and their due dates
Handouts/textbook reading assignments
Class handouts
Lecture notes
I have never let my
schooling interfere with my education.
9Moody's Student Web Site( R.Moody). All Rights Reserved®.
TOON OF THE DAY
WEB SITE'S CREATOR
BIRTH PLACE: Atlanta, Georgia.
EXPERIENCE: About
30 years teaching composition, argument and
business
communication skills at MATC.
EDUCATION: BA major in History, Emory University.
MA major in English, Emory University.
Ph.D. major in 20th century British and American
Literature, with a
minor in Psychology, U.W., Madison.
INTERESTS/HOBBIES:
* Salt water/ reef aquariums.
* Golf
*
Martial arts/self-defense: First Degree Black Belt in karate (Randy Beck's KarateAmerica). I also have a
Brown Belt in Judo. My son is a Black Belt, too. Occasional
self-defense instructor.
* Firefighting: Volunteer with Fitchburg Fire Department for 25 years.
Safety Officer/Investigator
*
Audio/Video enthusiast.
* Summer time gardening: Flowers.
* Playing on the Net: Fighting addiction!
Pets: Three cats, Bubsy, Aries, and Listless, adopted from the
Humane Society.
ESSENTIAL COMPUTER MAINTENANCE
My computer has slowed to a crawl. My computer
keeps crashing, freezing up, and I keep getting error messages, including blue
screens. I have to keep restarting my computer.
These are common complaints from students,
co-workers, and friends. These problems can usually be solved by doing the
following:
But before you read any further, stop
and create a Startup Disk or Recovery Disks( for Windows XP) if you haven't already done so. If you have
trouble starting Windows, you can use a startup disk to start your computer, run
diagnostic programs, and fix many problems. Click on Start-Settings-Control
Panel-Add/Remove Programs. Select the Startup Disk tab. You'll need a floppy and
five minutes. If your computer will not start andWindows will not load, turn off
your computer, insert your startup floppy, and then turn on your computer.
Follow the instructions. Be sure to store your startup disk in a jewel case in a
safe place.
To create Recovery Disks, click
on Start-Programs-PC Help and Tools-PC Recovery CD/DVD Creator. Follow the
instructions.
Leave your computer on!!
You
should restart it or shut it down (then turn it back on) once or twice a day to regain lost/leaked memory ( RAM
) and resources, but
don't turn it off for long periods. Here's why. If your operating system is Windows
98or ME, your computer's default settings for running Disk Defragmenter, Scan
Disk, and Disk Clean Up schedule these essential maintenance and repair tasks to
automatically run after midnight. So if you turn off your computer at night
before going to bed, these tasks never run unless you manually run them. If you
have Windows XP, you have to manually run or schedule these tasks. In addition, other
automatic tasks, such as your virus update,virus/malware scan or Windows updates/patches, can't
run if your computer is turned off.. If you don't know what
your Operating System is, open Windows Explorer, and click on Help-About
Windows. Warning: Always " Shut Down" your computer. Don't
just turn off the power unless you have no other choice. Click Start, and
then select " Restart " or " Shut Down."
These tasks are scheduled to run once a week Windows 98 and ME, but you can configure them to run
more often as well as see how they are configured--and you should-- by going to
START-PROGRAMS-ACCESSORIES-SYSTEM TOOLS-MAINTENANCE WIZARD. Make sure Scan
Disk's Thorough and Automatically Fix Errors boxes are checked.
You can also have Maintenance Wizard run all three tasks whenever you want.
Click on Maintenance Wizard and check the box Perform Maintenance Now. Warning:
Never interrupt Disk Defragmenter once it has started. This can result in
the loss of hard drive data and further fragment your hard drive.
To run these tasks in Windows
XP, right click on your C: drive and select Properties and then select Disk
Clean-Up. To defragment or check your hard disk for errors, click on the Tools
tab.
With any Windows operating system, you can schedule any tasks to run
automatically when you want them to. Click on Start-Programs-Accessories-System
Tools-Schedule.
SAFEGUARDS
Power Surges: During a thunder/lightening
storm, unplug your computer and modem from wall outlets/connection, and if your
power goes off during a storm, don't plug them back in until power is restored.
If you have a sudden, unexpected power outage, unplug your computer and modem.
Power surges, when power is restored, can damage your computer and modem. Always
have your computer and other hardware plugged into a surge protector that costs
at least $40.00. Many power strips have built-in surge protectors.
If you have a cable broadband connection, unplug your computer and your cable
outlet connection.
PC Security: It is essential that you have
an updated anti-virus program running all the time. The three
most popular are Norton,
McAfee, Trend Micro's PC-Cillin. All three can be updated from the Net, and you should update them
daily. I configured PC-Cillin to automatically check for and install
updates every three hours. You also need a firewall to protect your PC from
outside intrusions. Trend Micro's
Internet Security includes a firewall with its anti-virus program
as well as real-time spyware protection.
Windows XP has a built-in firewall, but you have to enable it. It's easy do this. Open
Windows Explorer and open up the Help window from the toolbar. Search for enable
Internet firewall, and follow the steps. Never have two
firewalls installed. To see how easily someone can get into your PC, go to the
Gibson
Research site and click on Shields Up. Then
head for PC
Pitstop for a free diagnostics.
It
is also essential that you install all of Microsoft's
critical updates.
You can download critical updates
and other Microsoft updates at Windows
Update.
Not
sure how to download and install applications from the
Net?
Click
here.
Get a free online
virus scan at
Trend
Micro.
In addition to anti-virus and
firewall protection, you also need to be protected from malware, adware,
spyware, trojans and key loggers. I recommend Ad-awareSE
and Spybot
Search AndDestroy. Both are free.I
also recommend NoAdware, which costs $30; You should
check for updates and
run these twice a week to look for nasties on your hard drive. Many security
experts also add two more to this counter-espionage arsenal: Pest Patrol
and
Spy Sweeper. Both are available in trial versions.
. I use Trend Micro's Internet Security . Once a week, I scan with Ad-Adware, Spybot's
Search and Destroy, and NoAdware. The best pop-up blocker I've found comes with Google's
Desktop ( Google Tools),
which you can quickly install at Google's website. After installation,
Google will always be at the top below your toolbar.
Finally, read your PC's user manual!
Duh. . . . . !
