Welcome to English 201C English Composition: Critical Thinking!
I'm Colleen Harmon.
If you're reading this, you're considering taking my class or have already enrolled. Welcome! Please take a look around to see what this class will be like.
Have you ever argued?
Okay, who hasn't?
So you're already experienced in how to argue. That means you have a head start. Isn't that cool?
Wouldn't you like to learn how to argue more effectively? "Yes," I hear you say.
Wouldn't you like to learn whether other people's arguments are legit? "Why, of course!"
Do you dislike arguments?
You're in for a treat. 201C shows you how to express your opinion using calm reason with a bit of what I call the chili spice, pathos, tossed in with ethos for good measure. That's a recipe for learning and influencing.
Would you like to fulfill your critical thinking requirement?
English 201C to the rescue!
We will examine arguments in various modes: video, text, and tweets!
Brief Overview of What to Expect
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 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 and other assignments such as readings, drafts, quizzes, or essays may be due each week. As a result, you should allow about eight hours a week to complete this course successfully. Sometimes, you may need more time to complete longer research and writing assignments.
This course focuses on critical thinking. 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 201C presents an advanced composition course beyond English 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 201A with a grade of C or better. It is acceptable for credit at CSU and UC. This course is four units.
My take on this course: Curiosity is Key
In this course, you already know that you'll build on your reading and writing skills, increasing your knowledge of what makes a great argument by reading and 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 arguments. That's a given, right?
Here's where curiosity comes in: 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:
- Demonstrate advanced critical thinking and reasoning skills.
- Write arguments using advanced rhetorical and composition skills.
- Demonstrate information fluency.
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
From Critical Thinking to Argument by Barnet, Bedau, and O'Hara, 6th edition. The eBook is $15.99.
The From Critical Thinking text is the only required text 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 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. As a general rule, you're expected to participate in the course at least twice a week. 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 researching. 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). 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 don't participate in a couple of discussions or assignments, that counts as an absence. A couple of those will mean that you're no longer interested in continuing with the course, and 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.