Contact information:

Professor: Matthew Fleming

Email Address: mfleming@cuesta.edu

Phone Number: 805 546 3176  (I will provide my cell phone number within the course)

Office Location/ Hours: TBA (See hours posted within our course)

Instructor Contact Expectations: 

The best and fastest way to contact me is by email or text.  I will generally respond to your emails within 12 hours, 7 days a week, usually must faster.  

Course Environment:

This online course will be using the Web-based Learning Management System Canvas as the method to disseminate information. Canvas provides the framework for the course including lecture material, student data files, the tools to receive and send course materials, and a grade book. Using the communication tools, you can communicate using e-mail, and you can share materials and ideas with other course participants via the discussion forums and groups.

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 class starts and need assistance please email me or technical support at this email address support@my.cuesta.edu.   

Technology Tools:

• Regular access to a personal desktop or laptop computer with the ability to save and edit word-processed writing, such as Word docs or downloaded files from Google Docs.  Our Canvas course is designed for optimal viewing on a computer, not a mobile device or cellphone, so if you do not have regular access to a computer of your own, please visit our library and request checking out a Chromebook for the semester.

Online Learning: 

If you have never taken an online class or this is your first experience with Canvas, please be patient with yourself. Online classes are not inherently easier, although they may be much more convenient for many students. You should expect to spend at least as much time, if not more on this course as you would on a course that meets face-to-face. Since there is no lecture component, much of this time will be self-directed and there will be a substantial amount of reading, viewing, studying, and writing required. This course is completely online using Canvas; all coursework (discussions, assignments, quizzes) is submitted online. There are no face-to-face meetings.  Please be prepared to spend 8 - 12 hours per week on coursework for this class

Is an Online Class for You?:

Go to the Cuesta College Canvas Tutorial (self-paced).  There are many resources that were designed to help you understand the basis for an online class and the skills necessary for success. (If the tutorials do NOT describe you, then taking this class online is NOT for you and I strongly suggest that you drop the online class and enroll in a traditional classroom section.)

Course Description:

ENGL C1001 (formerly ENGL. 201C) is an advanced composition course beyond ENGL C1000 (formerly ENGL 201A), which emphasizes critical thinking, including reasoning, rhetoric, reading, and information literacy in order to develop argumentative skills for diverse contexts and audiences. Prerequisite: ENGL C1000 (formerly ENGL 201A) with a grade of C or better. Transfer: CSU; UC.

Important Notes about Workload and this Course:

I have designed this course in as flexible, yet structured a manner as possible in hopes of making it a productive, interesting, and valuable class. I must be aware of overloading you with too much material to complete and comprehend. You must be aware of overloading yourself by taking a class that will demand many hours from you and your consistent participation. You must be realistic about the time commitment necessary to succeed in this course.

Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI):

Regular and Substantive Interaction will be met through weekly instructor initiated threaded discussion forums; weekly announcements to students; timely and substantive feedback on student assignments; email, phone or messaging to individuals; and virtual office hours as scheduled and by appointment.

This course requires regular and substantive interaction among all students and the instructor for the full 6 weeks of the course. We will achieve this in a variety of ways:

• throughout the week postings in discussion and homework forums in Canvas
• weekly book homework readings and submissions,
• interactive online essay work-shopping through Canvas forums
• viewing of short video lectures and content
• writing of a series of essays using turnitin.com

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate advanced critical thinking and reasoning skills.
2. Write arguments using advanced rhetorical and composition skills.
3. Demonstrate information fluency.

Text Book and Materials:

• All textual resources for this course are provided within the Canvas Shell. No purchases necessary.

Star Signal:

At Cuesta College, we are here to support you and your unique journey. That’s why we use STAR Signal—a tool designed to provide tailored and individualized support. We know that everyone’s path is different, and sometimes obstacles may appear. The STAR Signal is a proactive approach to help you get back on track when life’s obstacles derail you from your path. Whether you’ve missed classes, had challenges with quizzes or exams, have fallen behind on assignments, or there’s a dip in your grades, with a STAR Signal, we can connect you with resources. At different points during the semester, I may activate the STAR Signal to connect you with a Student Completion Coordinator. This individual will reach out to you, offer encouragement, and suggest resources that align with your needs. We’re here to support you, and the STAR Signal is just one of the many ways we worktogether to help you stay on the path toward reaching your goals.

Areas of Assessment:

Homework Assignments (worth 5 points each).

Quizzes (worth 10 points each).

Homework Discussion Forums (worth 10 points each).

Essay Q & A Forums (worth 10 points each)

Essay Group Workshop Forums worth (10 points each).

Critical & Creative Analysis Discussion Forums (worth 20 points each).

2, 4-page Essays (worth 200 points each).

Homework Assignments:

Each week you will complete Homework Assignments that come from our course readings and handouts:

• Homework Assignments are worth 5 points each.
• Homework Assignments are due on Mondays by 10:00 a.m.
• Full credit for homework assignments is achieved by following directions, referring to the homework forum posts for support, and providing honest and original attempts at providing answers.

Tip: Completing all these assignments is critical to doing well in this course. I give full credit when I see honest attempts at getting the “right” answer. I give no credit or less credit to homework that does not get turned in by the deadline, includes plagiarized/A.I. content, is partially completed, or only repeats what we discussed in the Homework Forums.

Quizzes:

To gain maximum knowledge, you should take the quizzes after completing the readings, videos, forums, and assignments for the respective week and asking questions in the "Ask Questions Here" forum or in the Homework Forums or contacting me via email or phone. These quizzes are not timed.

• Quizzes are worth 10 points each
• Quizzes are due by Mondays at 10:00 a.m.

Essay Q & A Forums:

The Essay Q & A forums are a great opportunity to understand the Essay prompts, present your initial ideas on choosing a subject and a position, and providing insight to your peers on their choices.

• Essay Q & A forums are worth 10 points each

Essay Q & A Forum Posting Guidelines:

• You must post a minimum of 3 posts as per the directions. These posts do not have to be on separate days, but try not to post all of them too late in the week or you are less likely to receive peer feedback and be able to offer your own feedback to others.

Homework Discussion Forums:

Each week as you work on the homework assignments, you must participate in the Homework Discussion Forum. This forum gives us a chance to work out concepts related to the homework, review sample problems, and engage in lecture/discussion on the topic:

• Homework Forums are worth 10 points

Homework Discussion Forum Posting Guidelines:

• You must post a minimum of 3 discussion posts per week, over a minimum of 3 days to be eligible for full credit
• Your posts are not given a required word count but write more than 1 sentence and truly use this forum as a virtual study group
• If you consistently ask questions that are being answered by other posts in the forum above your posts, I'm going to think you aren't reading all the posts.  Make sure you are! :).

Tip: Completing all these assignments is critical to doing well in this course. I give full credit when I see honest attempts at getting the “right” answer. I give no credit or less credit to homework that does not get turned in by the deadline, includes plagiarized/A.I. content, is partially completed, or only repeats what we discussed in the Homework Forums.

Essay Workshop Forums:

We will use these forums to workshop your essays. You will cut and paste your intro, body paragraphs, etc. into the reply field for the discussion as well as attach documents to retain formatting and work with me and other students to improve all the essays. These forums cannot function effectively without full participation from each member:

• Workshop Forums are worth 10 points each.

Essay Workshop Forums Posting Guidelines:

• You do not have the same posting guidelines on the workshop forums as the other forums, but you do want to avoid posting all your post on the last few days of the week because other students will not learn from your feedback.

Tip: I strongly encourage you to post your essay drafts early and often, and when reading and commenting on your peers’ drafts to do so constructively and respectfully.

Critical & Creative Analysis Discussion Forums:

This forum is one of the most important components of the course because it allows us to critically think as individuals and as a class on a new subject each week. I have created prompts to which we will respond. I encourage you to post, read, and respond consistently and often:

• Critical & Creative Analysis Discussion Forums (worth 20 points each).

Critical & Creative Analysis Forum Posting Guidelines:

This forum is one of the most important components of the course because it allows us to critically think as individuals and as a class on a new subject each week. I have created prompts to which we will respond. I encourage you to read and post consistently and often. These rules will encourage you:

• Minimum of 3 meaningful posts, on 3 separate days, preferably with days in between, the first with a word count of 150 and the 2 subsequent posts with a word count of 60, starting and ending every Monday at 10:00 a.m.
• In your first post, respond to the prompt. In your subsequent posts respond to another student in agreement, disagreement, and/or add to the person's perspective or give an alternative one (unless directions state otherwise)
• Address the person or people you are responding to by first name
• Embed images and videos in at least one of your 3 posts that enhance your responses and break up the monotony of textual info
• Show us that you have been reading everyone's posts by incorporating references into your own and including original, creative, and non-redundant content.

Essays:

You will be asked to write 3 essays, which must be handed in on time and in the proper MLA 9 format. The first two papers must be a minimum of 3, full pages in length. The third essay will be 4 full pages in length (the works cited pages do not count). You must submit all essays through Canvas to turnitin.com as an upload (don’t cut and paste) before the due date. All papers must meet the minimum page requirement to receive credit and be in the proper MLA format. Please review the A.I. and Plagiarism Policies

Late Work:

I have designed assignment deadlines to be as clear as possible to make submission and my grading efficient and effective.  Part of showing your critical thinking skills is having the care for and attention to due dates and assignment directions.  Please make a healthy habit of learning to prioritize.  The sooner you can become good at this type of detail work, the sooner you will begin working more efficiently and effectively at everything you do. If you struggle with deadlines, please reach out to me, our embedded tutor, and the Writing Center to allow others to share some of their techniques.  If something ultimately gets in the way of you submitting work on time and/or understanding directions to assignments correctly, reach out to me and we can discuss.

Grading Scale:

A 90-100

B+ 87-89

B 83-86

B- 80-82

C+ 77-79

C 70-76

D+ 67-69

D 63-66

D- 60-62

F Below 60

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 specifications.

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) or at 805-546-3148.

College & Course Policies:

Academic Honesty Policy:

Plagiarism is defined as “the use of someone’s ideas or writings without giving proper credit to that person.” I do not want to see old papers of yours or anyone else’s, undocumented paraphrasing, or contraband Web info. If you didn’t think up an idea, you had better quote/paraphrase and document your sources.

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..

Artificial Intelligence Policy:

For all the work in this course, please do not use Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) to generate any of your content or ideas or to revise your sentences.  This policy includes all discussion forum assignments, homework assignments, essays, and projects.

A.I. tools such as ChatGPT, CopyAI, QuillBot, Gemini, Grammarly, and any embedded similar tools in such programs as Microsoft Word and Google Docs will corrupt your original content and Turnitin will reject it as plagiarized work. While we know that in many areas of life such tools can be valuable, in this class, we are eager to read your words about your ideas, using your style.  Therefore, you should also disable settings in Google Docs or MS Word that offer suggested, predictive text about how to complete phrases or sentences. Using these predictive structures will likely lead your writing to sound (and be detected as) A.I. generated. It’s fine, however, to use basic spelling and grammar tools that highlight errors. Please let us know if you have any questions about what tools are acceptable.

Losing ownership of your original vocabulary, sentence structure, and thought content greatly reduces the possibility for improving your thinking and writing in this course and in receiving a passing grade.  The long-term effect of using these A.I. tools for your writing is that you begin to erase your character and thoughts from your own writing.

The process of learning how to write effectively without artificial intelligence changes the way we think and puts us in control of our own perceptions and other people's perceptions of us.

The point of this course is to improve your abilities to write and think independently and continue to build your brain to work with language.  Having an A.I. program do that for you defeats the purpose of the course and makes us replaceable in future work situations.  If you ignore these warnings and submit A.I. content, you are officially cheating and will be deducted 10% off the grade on your assignment for the first infraction, 50% off the grade on the assignment for your second infraction, and you will fail the assignment on the third infraction.  This approach assumes that resubmitted work will be free of A.I. content.  This rule is cumulative across all course assignments, including homework, discussion forums, projects, and essays.  This type of plagiarism may lead to even more serious and long-standing issues that could impact your college career.

Every minute I spend policing such issues is time taken away from helping other students with their original work.  If you are struggling with an issue so much that you ignore the above information and consider resorting to A.I., reach out to me instead and I will help you.

Add / Drop Policy:

Please review the Cuesta policy for drops

• Add Policy
• Drop Policy 

Waitlist Policy:

Please review Cuesta’s waitlist procedure and instructions.

Everyone is Welcome:

It is my intent that students from all backgrounds and perspectives be well-served by this course, that students' learning needs be addressed both in and out of the virtual class, and that the differences of perspective and cultural and social background that students bring to this class be viewed as a resource, strength, and benefit. It is my intent to present materials and activities that are respectful of human beings as well as the natural world. Your suggestions are encouraged and appreciated. Please let me know ways to improve the effectiveness of the course for you personally, or for other students or student groups.

Important note:

Given the sensitive and challenging nature of the material discussed in class, it is imperative that there be an atmosphere of trust and safety in the classroom. I will attempt to foster a virtual class environment in which each class member is able to hear and respect each other. It is critical that each class member show respect for all worldviews expressed in this class. It is expected that some of the material in this course may evoke strong emotions. Please be respectful of others' emotions and be mindful of your own. Please let me know if something said or done in the classroom, by either myself or other students, is particularly troubling or causes discomfort or offense. While our intention may not be to cause discomfort or offense, the impact of what happens throughout the course is not to be ignored and is something that I consider to be very important and deserving of attention. If and when this occurs, there are several ways to alleviate some of the discomfort or hurt you may experience:

1. Discuss the situation privately with me. I am always open to listening to students' experiences and want to work with students to find acceptable ways to process and address the issue.
2. Discuss the situation with the class. Chances are there is at least one other student in the class who had a similar response to the material. Discussion enhances the ability for all class participants to have a fuller understanding of context and impact of course material and class discussions.
3. Notify me of the issue through another source such as your academic advisor, a trusted faculty member, or a peer. If for any reason you do not feel comfortable discussing the issue directly with me, I encourage you to seek out another, more comfortable avenue to address the issue.

Online Help from Cuesta:

Send an email to support@my.cuesta.edu and include your name, class, section number (CRN), and instructor's name, and describe the problem you are experiencing.This information will be sent to a technical support individual at Cuesta who will get back to you within 48 hours (usually a response will be much sooner). Please call 805-546-3100 ext. 2802 during the hours of 7:30 am-6:00 pm, Mon.-Thu.

• To understand the browser requirements/minimum computer specifications click here: Browser Requirements.
• To understand the Cuesta Add/Drop Policies click here: Cuesta Add/Drop Policy
• To understand the Cuesta Academic Honesty Policy and Student Code of Conduct click here: Cuesta Academic Honesty and Student Conduct Policies.
• To understand the Waitlist Procedure and Instructionsclick here: Cuesta Waitlist Procedure and Instructions.
  
• For Tech Support for Canvas, click here: Canvas Tech Support.
• For some Online Class Readiness Tools, click here: Online Readiness.
• For Cuesta's Disabled Student Services Program, click here: Disabled Student Services Program.  If you have a difference of abilities and might need accommodations (support services) in this class, please contact Disabled Student Program & Services in Building 3300 as soon as possible to ensure that you receive the accommodations in a timely manner.