Welcome to English 201B English Composition: Literature!
I'm Colleen Harmon.
If you're reading this, you're considering taking my class or have already enrolled. So you'd probably like to learn a bit more about it.
Do you love music?
Poetry? Stories? Plays? Movies?
"Yes," I hear you say.
Great! Then join me in class and learn more about sussing out what makes these works of art work. Judge them yourself and see what others have to say about them. Learn how you can write about these works in terms of how they reveal important aspects of human nature.
Do you dislike writing?
Or struggle writing essays? No worries. In this class, you'll start with smaller exercises to build up your writing muscles before tackling longer assignments. And you'll be able to build on what you've already written as you learn new concepts.
Brief Overview of What to Expect
Books "are engines of change (as the poet said), windows on the world and lighthouses erected in the sea of time. They are companions, teachers, magicians, bankers of the treasures of the mind. Books are humanity in print" (Barbara Tuchman).
This course starts August 17 and finishes December 18, 2020. It's a semester-length, completely 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 three or more days a week. The times you sign into the course are flexible so long as you complete assignments by the deadline. As a general rule, you should allow about eight hours a week to complete the week's coursework; of course, some weeks may vary depending on what's assigned. Assignments include forum discussions and other assignments such as readings, practice writing, quizzes, or essays may be due each week.
This course focuses on applying critical thinking to literature. Critical thinking is adventurous, like setting out on a trek for buried treasure and discovering something you didn't expect. Plus, it can be a lot of fun!
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. The truth is, I'm usually online a lot during term time, which means I'm available to answer any questions you have fairly quickly.
Of course, if you're not enrolled in the class, you won't be able to use Canvas to email me. In that case, please use my email address, colleen_harmon@cuesta.edu, to email me.
Accessing Your Course
Prior to the day the course starts, 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 the first day of the term and need assistance, please email me or technical support immediately at this email address: support@instructure.com.
Online Learning
If you have never taken an online class or this is your first experience with Canvas, it's a good idea to review Cuesta’s orientation to CanvasLinks to an external site. videos and Canvas student tutorialsLinks to an external site..
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
- regular assignment feedback
- interactive writing workshops
- viewing of short video lectures and content
- writing and assessment of a series of essays
- quizzes and surveys
Course Description
The official course description reads: English 201B provides an introduction to the study of literature with an emphasis in both literary composition and critical thinking. This course develops critical thinking and writing skills through the close study of major genres of literature: poetry, fiction, and drama. Students receive instruction in analytical and argumentative writing by studying literature and criticism and by identifying sound and fallacious methods of reasoning in assessments of literature. Prerequisite: English 201A with a grade of C or better. This course is four units.
My take on this course: Curiosity is Key
In this course, you'll build on your reading and writing skills by analyzing a variety of texts in different modes, thinking critically, performing research and sussing out sources, practicing a variety of writing approaches, and developing your own essays. That's a given, right?
Here's where curiosity comes in: It’s important that you be willing to lift the lid and look beneath the surface, whether you're watching a movie, critiquing song lyrics, or re-writing a passage from Shakespeare. This will enable you to strengthen your critical thinking skills and to articulate your ideas clearly and credibly, and such 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:
- Demonstrate advanced critical thinking and reasoning skills in a literary context.
- Write interpretive literary arguments using advanced rhetorical and composition skills.
- Demonstrate information fluency in a literary context.
In this class, you'll start by learning one key concept, practicing it, and then learning the next new concept. In this way, you'll build your skills as the course progresses.
Textbooks and Software
Required Text
The text you will use in class will be provided without cost in the course, and you can download it for use offline, too. 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 may 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@instructure.com. 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).
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
It's important for this course to be accessible to you. If there's some part of the course that is confusing or inaccessible, please let me know as soon as possible.
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 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
Attendance in an online course is achieved by participating in the course, contributing to discussions, asking questions, proposing answers, submitting assignments, and collaborating with your peers. You'll have many opportunities to participate in the coming weeks. Sometimes, you'll be posting a reply to a discussion topic; other times, you'll be uploading an essay, audio file, or maybe even a video. In-between, you'll be reading and writing. The time of day you participate in the course is open, but there are due dates for most assignments.
Generally, your assignment submissions are due on Wednesday (initial response) and Saturday (peer reply or revised response or maybe an essay). As much as possible, I'll try to keep to that schedule. This gives you a good idea of when your submissions are required.
If I see a lack of participation for a few days, I'll send out the search team (not really). I'll email you. If you go AWOL and stop participating in the course for a few days, I may drop you. But do not rely on me to drop you; it's your responsibility to drop the course. If something comes up that keeps you from participating, please contact me right away and let me know. If we can find a way to keep you progressing in the course, it's worth exploring.
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
If you have reviewed this information and registered for this course, please log into the course no later than Monday, August 17, 2020 at 10 p.m. (PST) to keep your place in the course.
icons at the top right corner of the subsection.