English 212A: American Literature I

Contact information

Instructor: Roland Finger

Email Address: roland_finger@cuesta.edu

Phone Number: (701) 566-2614

Office Location/ Hours: Room 6222 and Online Through Zoom: TBA

Instructor Contact Expectations: 

The best and quickest way to contact me is through email.  I will generally respond to your emails within 24 hours during weekdays only.  During busy times of the semester, the response time may increase to 48 hours.  On weekends, I will do my best to get back to you ASAP, but I cannot guarantee an expeditious response. 

Course Environment:

This is a hybrid course that combines face-to-face instruction with distance education instruction. The course will be using a Web-based Learning Management System Canvas.

Accessing the Course:

You will see your course in Canvas on the first day of class. You can access Canvas by clicking on Canvas from the top bar of the Cuesta homepage (www.cuesta.edu), or by typing the Canvas address (https://cuesta.instructure.com/) into your browser address bar.

If you are not familiar with logging into canvas, please refer to the Canvas Quick Reference Guide. Once logged into Canvas you will be directed on where to get started. Be sure to read all the direction on the course home page.  

If you are having difficulty logging into Canvas after the course start date and need assistance, please email me or technical support at this email address support@my.cuesta.edu. Also, I can assist you during our face-to-face class meetings.

Hybrid Learning: 

This course is an 18-week hybrid course, which means that it will meet once a week in-person, and the rest of the coursework is to be completed online. Each week, I will post a new module on Canvas that will include any readings, online discussion forums, or quizzes that are to be completed that week. In our face-to-face meetings, we will be discussing and doing activities that connect to writing assignments and readings.

                      
Because the course is at least half online, there are a few key tools and skills that you’ll need to successfully complete the course. You will need access to either a computer or a digital pad with a keyboard attachment. Please also make sure that you have access to Microsoft Word or Google Docs for submitting the majority of your formal assignments. If you don’t have access to a computer or a tablet with a keyboard (or if something happens to your computer during the semester), let me know and I’ll help you access a computer that you can borrow through Cuesta.  

Course Description

Presents a survey of American literature from the pre-colonial period to the Civil War era. Introduces the study of major American writers against their historical backgrounds. Writers such as Winthrop, Bradstreet, Rowlandson, Franklin, Jefferson, Douglass, Stanton, Fern, Melville, Hawthorne, Wheatley, Emerson, Whitman, and Dickinson are studied.

For the official course description and course outline of record, please go to CurricUNETLinks to an external site..

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Identify and explain the major trends in American literature from its beginnings to the mid-nineteenth century.
2. Identify and analyze the significance of race, gender, and class in early American literature, comparing minority literary discourse with dominant discourse.
3. Write clear and coherent interpretive arguments and/or analyses supported by textual evidence, employing the conventions of academic writing.

Texts and Materials

The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Shorter 10th Edition, Volume 1, ISBN 978-0393886177.

Technical Support

Cuesta students are encouraged to direct all technical support inquiries to  support@my.cuesta.edu. If you are having issues with Canvas, or email support@instructure.com.

If you are having difficulty viewing the course or logging in, it may be because you are not using the correct url: https://cuesta.instructure.com/ or you are using your phone or using an unsupported browser.  

Your learning environment is best accessed from a desktop or laptop computer, using Firefox or Chrome.  This may solve your problem!  Please review the browser requirements and minimum computer specificationsLinks to an external site..

Accommodations:

This course is designed using an accessible Learning Management System, and course materials have been created with ADA compliance in mind. If you have a disability and might need accommodations in this class such as extended time on exams or other resources. Please contact the instructor as soon as possible so that you can receive appropriate accommodations in a timely manner. You should also contact DSPS (Disabled Student Programs & Services)Links to an external site. or at 805-546-3148.

College & Course Policies:

Academic Honesty Policy: Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable--including the submission of work produced by Artificial Intelligence. All written work has to be written directly by the enrolled student. In addition to my course policy, please note all students attending San Luis Obispo County Community College District, at any district site and when representing Cuesta College in any off-campus activity, assume an obligation to conduct themselves in an acceptable manner compatible with the Student Code of conduct. Please review the Cuesta College Student Code of conductLinks to an external site..

Add / Drop Policy: In an online course, regular completion of assignments is absolutely required. If you do not complete more than half of all assignments at any point in the course, I may drop you. Also, if you do not log in for seven days, I may drop you. In addition to my policy, please review the Cuesta policy for drops.

• Add PolicyLinks to an external site.
• Drop PolicyLinks to an external site.

Waitlist Policy: I will give out add codes to those on the waitlist if there is space available. In addition to my course specific procedures, please review Cuesta’s waitlist procedure and instructions.