Connections: MU* and IRC Resources from Connections

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MU* and IRC Resources from Connections
For many, MU*s and IRCs are the least familiar of all the Internet media. However, MU*s can provide a number of opportunities for students to interact with each other and to explore facets of electronic composition. Think of MU*s and IRCs as offering two levels of engagement to writing students.
In Chapter Eleven, we discuss using MU*s and IRCs to facilitate real-time interactions. Students can hold conversations in which little or no time elapses between the exchanges of messages. Additionally, MU* and IRC participants can supplement their conversations by performing virtual actions. These real-time exchanges provide an opportunity for students to practice writing while broadening their understandings of many topics. For more information, see
An Excerpt on The Benefits and Challenges of Real-Time Discussion
Exercise 11.1: Describing a MU* Character
Exercise 11.2: Role Playing
In Chapter Sixteen we look at building textual spaces in MU*s. Be aware that building MU* spaces requires a considerable investment of time and energy. However, if you do undertake a MU* building project, you will have an opportunity to create a descriptive on-line project that adds interactive and hypertextual dimensions to what we usually think of as a text. For more, see
Exercise 16.1: Constructing an "Academic" MU* Space
We also encourage you to familiarize yourself with general issues relating to MU*s and IRCs by exploring some of the many resources on the net.