English 201B Literature & Critical Thinking

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.  Literature is a mirror of life (thanks, Shakespeare!). And it can be just as engaging and passionate. Like life, literature takes many forms, and we’ll take a look at a few of those in this class. To get a brief glimpse into what the course is like, please watch the two-minute video below. Let me know if you have any questions about the course.  Just email me at colleen_harmon@cuesta.edu. I look forward to hearing from you!

Brief overview: What’s English 201B Literature like?

In this course, you’ll look at texts from fiction, poetry, and drama, examining how they and the images they use work to stir emotion and tell a story. Good stuff!

If you’d like a brief video overview, please watch the video linked below. When you click the video link, your device must be connected to the internet in order to view the video. The video is about two minutes in duration and gives you a taste of what this course is like. Enjoy! Here’s the video: Brief overview of English 201BLinks to an external site..

Course description

English 201B (CRN 34251) is a semester-length course, and it’s entirely online; there are no in-person classes. You’ll access the course using Canvas, and all your assignments are available and submitted through Canvas. You can access your online courses through MyCuesta or by navigating directly to Cuesta Canvas courses. If you have difficulty logging into Canvas after the first day of the term and need assistance, please email technical support immediately at this email address: support@instructure.com. 

If you haven’t used Canvas before, I suggest you check out Cuesta’s Canvas Student OrientationLinks to an external site. to familiarize yourself with various features in your online course.

Official course description 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. Transfer: CSU; UC.

My take: curiosity is key 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. Build on your writing skills 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.  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!

 

Start and end dates

The course starts 19 January 2021 and finishes 21 May 2021.

Contacting me

The best way to contact me is to use the Canvas Inbox, which looks like a document being inserted into a mailbox:
 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.  I'm usually online a lot during term time, which means I'm available to answer any questions you have fairly quickly.

Of course, you can contact me using my email address, colleen_harmon@cuesta.edu, too, but Canvas Inbox is preferred because I’m likely to receive your message sooner in Canvas.

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:

1. Demonstrate advanced critical thinking and reasoning skills in a literary context.
2. Write interpretive literary arguments using advanced rhetorical and composition skills.
3. 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.

Regular effective contact policy                                        

This course requires regular and effective contact among all students and the instructor for the duration of the course. We will achieve this level of interaction 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

 

Textbooks and Software

The novel you’ll need to purchase or borrow is Philip Roth’s The Plot Against America (published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2004). Currently, it costs $11 for the Kindle version, $17 for the hardback. There is a copy of the book at the main campus library, and two copies are on reserve: one at the main campus library and the other at the North County Campus. Additionally, local county libraries often have the book.

 

 All other texts will be provided in the course or are freely accessible online. 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:

• Adobe readerLinks to an external site.
• PPT free VersionLinks to an external site.(optional)

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.

Inclusivity

I’ve designed this course to be a welcoming environment where you can exchange ideas freely with your peers and me, where each person is respected and their perspective is valued. The strength of the course lies in the diversity of you, the students. You are a member of a learning community where everyone can participate and gain support from each other no matter their background or skillset. It’s important that communication be given and taken with the best intentions of upholding this sense of community.

If you find a part of the course that can be improved to make it more inclusive and welcoming, please let me know. And if you ever feel like communication between you and your peers isn’t respectful, let me know about that, too, using the Canvas Inbox or my email colleen_harmon@cuesta.edu.

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.

Student Services and Resources

Cuesta provides a wide array of services, including tutoring, food and shelter assistance, and financial aid, CaFE, and Veterans Services. Be sure to check out Student Success and Support ProgramsLinks to an external site. for more information.

For research or to chat with a librarian and get help for research, see the Cuesta LibraryLinks to an external site..

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

For adding and dropping courses, see PoliciesLinks to an external site..

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 Sunday (peer reply or revised response or maybe an essay) where two responses are needed. 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.

Additional Policies

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.

For waitlist information, please review Cuesta’s waitlist procedure and instructionsLinks to an external site..  

For general policies, see General Campus PoliciesLinks to an external site..

To learn more about Cuesta’s academic honesty policy, see College Plagiarism and Academic Honesty PolicyLinks to an external site..

Acknowledgements

Lighthouse image by Steven UnderhillLinks to an external site. from Pixabay.

Image of people by StockSnapLinks to an external site. at Pixabay.