Welcome to English 201A English Composition (CRN 50975) for summer 2018!
I'm Colleen Harmon. I’m looking forward to being your instructor, and I welcome you to my online course. Please review this document completely and note the day and time to sign into the course at the beginning of the summer term, which is listed at the bottom of the page.
What You Should Know
This course starts June 18th and finishes July 27th. It's a condensed, intensive, six-week online course. There are no face-to-face meetings; instead, you will complete reading, writing, and other assignments entirely online. You should expect to sign into the course four or five days a week. The times you sign into the course are flexible so long as you complete assignments by the deadline. Assignments include forum discussions where you must write a minimum of 400 words each week. Other assignments such as readings, drafts, quizzes, or essays may be due each week. As a result, you should allow at least 15 hours a week to complete this course successfully. Sometimes, you may need more time to complete longer writing assignments.
If you fail to log into the course for five days, you may be dropped from the course for excessive absence. You may also be dropped from the course for failing to participate in at least 70 per cent of the forum discussions or other assignments.
Contacting Me
The best way to contact me is to use the Canvas Inbox (on the far left), which looks like this:
In the Canvas Inbox, click the pencil icon 
to compose and send an email to me. I will generally respond to your emails within 24 hours on weekdays but up to 48 hours during busy times of the semester. On weekends, I do my best to respond quickly, but I cannot guarantee as quick a response.
Course Environment
This online course uses Canvas, a web-based Learning Management System (LMS), as the learning platform. Canvas provides the framework for the course content, including PowerPoint presentations, student and instructor data files, the tools to receive and send course materials, and a grade book, among other features. 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 Your Course
Prior to the Monday that classes start (classes start June 18th, 2018), you will receive an email at your my.Cuesta.edu address providing you with a reminder that the class will be starting along with log in procedures for Canvas. You can access Canvas by signing into MyCuestaLinks to an external site., then clicking on the Resources Tab, and then clicking on Canvas in the Online Learning Channel, or by typing the Canvas address (https://cuesta.instructure.com/) into your browser’s address bar.
If you are not familiar with logging into Canvas, please refer to the Canvas Quick Reference GuideLinks to an external site.. Once you’ve signed into Canvas, you will be directed on where to get started. Be sure to read all the directions on the course home page.
If you are having difficulty logging into Canvas after June 18th, 2018, and need assistance, please email me or technical support immediately at this email address: support@my.cuesta.edu.
Online Learning
If you have never taken an online class or this is your first experience with Canvas, please be patient with yourself and allow more time to become familiar with the online environment and to review Cuesta’s orientation to CanvasLinks to an external site. videos and Canvas student tutorialsLinks to an external site.. This course is completely online using Canvas; all coursework (discussions, assignments, quizzes) is submitted online. There are no face-to-face meetings.
Is an online class for you?
Before you decide whether this course is for you, go to the Online Readiness ResourcesLinks to an external site. to take a "self-assessment”. This site contains many resources that are 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, face-to-face classroom section.
Regular Effective Contact Policy
This course requires regular and effective contact among all students and the instructor for the full period of the course. We will achieve this level of interaction and participation in the following ways:
- weekly class discussion and homework forums
- weekly readings and written responses
- interactive writing workshops
- viewing of short video lectures and content
- writing and assessment of a series of essays
- quizzes and surveys
Course Description
English 201A provides a study of and practice in the use of language and writing of argumentative and analytical essays and research papers. It is acceptable for credit at CSU and UC. This course is four units.
In this course, you'll learn more about what makes a great argument by reading and analyzing a variety of texts, thinking critically, performing research, and developing your own argumentative essays. It’s important that you be willing to look at various issues from more than one side and that you’re willing to question your own ideas as much as those of others. This will enable you to strengthen your critical thinking skills and to articulate your ideas clearly and credibly, and such questioning and curiosity is the only way to learn.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completing this course successfully, according to the Course Outline of Record, the Student Learning Outcomes state that you should be able to:
- Write a fair and persuasive argument that takes a clear position and incorporates differing viewpoints.
- Write an essay that is effectively and clearly organized.
- Find necessary information, assess its value, and use it in a research paper.
- Integrate and document sources clearly and ethically.
- Write clear, grammatical sentences with few errors.
In addition to these, I’ll ask you at the beginning of the course what your own individual goals are so we can incorporate them in these outcomes.
Textbooks and Software
There are no required textbooks for this course. Except for the texts you choose for upcoming assignments, all of the required readings are provided online in Canvas. However, you couldn’t go wrong with a good college writer’s handbook, such as The Little Seagull HandbookLinks to an external site. written by Richard Bullock and published by Norton.
The software you will need on your computer includes:
And either Office Word or access to Google Docs and Slides. No Mac Pages documents will be accepted. Note that you may export your Mac Pages documents into a Word document format before submitting your assignments.
Technical Support
Cuesta students are encouraged to direct all technical support inquiries to support@my.cuesta.edu. If you are having issues with Canvas, you should contact the Canvas Support Hotline at (877) 921-7680 or click on the help button in the Canvas menu 
to report a problem.
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.
This online learning environment is best accessed from a desktop or laptop computer using Firefox or Chrome. Please review the browser requirements and minimum computer specificationsLinks to an external site. for more information.
Technical requirements
- Fairly recent Mac or PC with a current operating system.
- Current browser (Firefox or Chrome are preferable; Canvas works best in Chrome).
- Internet connection, preferably broadband (for viewing online videos).
- For Canvas-specific requirements:
Screen Size
Canvas is best viewed at a minimum resolution of 800 x 600. If you want to view Canvas on a device with a smaller screen, Canvas recommends using the Canvas mobile app. However, the mobile app isn’t as functional as the Canvas course website.
Operating Systems
Windows 7 and newer (Windows 10 computers need to install the Windows 10 Anniversary UpdateLinks to an external site. to submit Canvas assignments)
Mac OSX 10.6 and newer
Linux – Chrome OS
Mobile Operating System Native App Support
iOS 7 and newer (versions vary by device)
Android 4.2 and newer
Computer Speed and Processor
Use a computer no more than five years old when possible
1GB of RAM
2GHz processor
Internet Speed
Along with compatibility and web standards, Canvas has been carefully crafted to accommodate low bandwidth environments. However, audio-visual files may run more slowly on lower bandwidth connections.
Minimum of 512 kbps
Screen Readers
Macintosh: VoiceOverLinks to an external site. (latest version for Safari)
PC: JAWSLinks to an external site. (latest version for Internet Explorer)
PC: NVDALinks to an external site. (latest version for Firefox)
There is no screen reader support for Canvas in Chrome
Nota bene: While Canvas has a mobile app, the mobile app is not as fully functional as the Canvas online course available on a laptop or desktop browser. You must have access to an internet-connected laptop or desktop computer browser in order to complete this course successfully.
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, please contact me immediately at colleen_harmon@my.cuesta.edu and Cuesta DSPSLinks to an external site. at dspsinfo@cuesta.edu or (805) 546-3148.
Course and College Policies
Please note all students attending San Luis Obispo County Community College District at any district site, including online, 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..
Academic Honesty
Please review the Cuesta College Student Code of ConductLinks to an external site. for the policy governing academic honesty.
Add and Drop Policies
Please review the Cuesta policy for adding and dropping courses.
Attendance
You should plan on signing into the course four or five days a week. If you fail to log into the course for five days, you may be dropped from the course for excessive absence. You may also be dropped from the course for failing to participate in at least 70 per cent of the forum discussions or other assignments.
Authentication Policy
Authenticating student identity will be conducted by using the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS). Canvas requires each student to log into the program using a secure login and password to access the course.
Waitlist Policy
Please review Cuesta’s waitlist procedure and instructionsLinks to an external site..
Additional Policies
Time Commitment and Recommended Skills
As this course is formatted in an accelerated, compressed format, you should allow at least 15 hours a week to complete the course successfully. Sometimes, you may need more time to complete longer writing assignments.
Because this is an online course, it’s important that you have some basic computer skills. These include the following:
- Basic computer skills (word processing, e-mail, file management).
- Basic internet skills (use of browser, searches, uploading/downloading files, capturing images).
- Familiarity with discussion forums.
- Familiarity with Office Word or Google Docs (Mac Pages will not be accepted, though you may export your Mac Pages document into a Word document).
If you have reviewed this information and registered for this course, please log into the course no later than Monday, June 18th, 2018 at 10 p.m. (PST).
icons at the top right corner of the subsection.