Welcome potential students! My name is Roland Finger, and I look forward to working with you this semester.
Here is my 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. Links to an external site.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.
Regular Effective Contact policy
Regular and Effective Instructor Contact will be met through weekly instructor initiated threaded discussion forums; weekly announcements to students; timely and effective feedback on student assignments; email, phone or messaging to individuals; and virtual office hours as scheduled or by appointment.
This course requires regular and effective contact among all students and the instructor for the full 18 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 readings
- weekly writing assignments
- interactive online essay workshopping through Canvas forums
- viewing of short video lectures and content
- writing of complete essays
Course Description
English 201C, English Composition: Critical Thinking presents an advanced composition course beyond ENGL 201A which emphasizes critical thinking, including reasoning, rhetoric, reading, and information fluency in order to develop argumentative skills for diverse contexts and audiences.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate advanced critical thinking and reasoning skills.
- Write arguments using advanced rhetorical and composition skills.
- Demonstrate information fluency.
Text Book and Materials
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah's Chain Gang All Stars, ISBN 9780593317334
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. Links to an external site..
Accommodations
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. Links to an external site. 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. I have been unfortunate enough to discover a few students, usually intelligent and hard-working ones, who plagiarized. Nothing warrants the consequences of plagiarism. If I discover a student plagiarized or cheated on an exam, essay, or homework, I will fail that individual in the class and let the administration decide whether expulsion is necessary. Undoubtedly, Dante would have constructed a special level of Hell for such victims of laziness. If you consider plagiarizing, reach out to me instead, and I’ll help you complete the task without illegal assistance.
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
Academic Policies: https://www.cuesta.edu/student/studentservices/admrreg/arpolicies/index.htmlLinks to an external site. Links to an external site.
Student Code of Conduct: http://go.boarddocs.com/ca/cuesta/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=A2SMMY5BC350Links to an external site. Links to an external site.
Add / Drop Policy
You will be dropped from the course if you fail to log in for more than 7 days and/or if your postings-to-forum or postings-to-homework percentage falls below 50%.
Please also review the Cuesta policy for drops:
Waitlist Policy
Please review Cuesta’s waitlist procedure and instructionsLinks to an external site. Links to an external site.
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