I took an Introductory Unix class last term. I was in the SAME boat as you. I thought it was introductory, i.e., no background needed whatsoever, which I certainly met. I get in the class, and we just start busting out code and all sorts of stuff and just about everybody but me knew exactly what was going on. Needless to say, it took alot of meeting with the instructor and f'ing up and learning from many, many mistakes to finally get it. By the time the class was over, I didn't want to go anywhere near emacs! I didn't mind the actually system and method of organization, I just wish the "introductory" course was a little more "introductory".
Good luck with it either way, I never really found too much out online, but I'm sure it's out there. I have a text leftover if you want it, but I didn't use it too much even though I had it. The instructor said it was too basic. Imagine that!
