Welcome Letter ENGL 201A-71340

Drag to rearrange sections
Rich Text Content

English 201A / 71340

Instructor: Dr. Sarah Miller

Welcome to English 201A—I’m Dr. Sarah Miller, and I’ll be your instructor for this online course. Please read through this Welcome Letter carefully as it provides details about this course and its technological requirements. If you should choose to enroll, you will be sent more instructions before the course starts on August 17, 2020.

Even though we won’t meet in person, we will all get to know each other through our writing and other activities. I know that writing can be a daunting for most of us, but this class is designed to break writing tasks into manageable pieces and develop skills that can be applied to a number of writing situations.

Contact information

Email Address: sarah_miller4@cuesta.edu

Office Hours: I will give you a number of options to reach me for office hours during the semester. More information will be provided closer to the start of the semester.

Expectations

Instructor Contact Expectations: 

The best and fastest way to contact me is 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. If you do not hear from me in 48 hours, please email me again to put yourself at the top of my inbox.

Course Environment:

While we won’t be meeting in person this semester, we’ll be together online where we’ll exchange ideas, discuss reading, write drafts of essays, and receive feedback. This online course will be using a Web-based Learning Management System Canvas as the method to disseminate information. Canvas provides the framework for the course including PowerPoint presentations, student data files, the tools to receive and send course materials, and a grade book. 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.

Class opens / Accessing Canvas:

Prior to the Monday classes start August 17th, 2020, you will receive an email to your my.Cuesta.edu address providing you with a reminder that class will be starting and log in procedures for Canvas, the learning management system (LMS) used to deliver course content. You can access Canvas by logging into MyCuesta, then clicking on the Resources Tab, then clicking on Canvas in the Online Learning Channel, or by typing the Canvas address (https://cuesta.instructure.com/) into your browser address bar. Do not bookmark / favorite the canvas site after your login, or you will get an error message next time you try to log in. You must access the Canvas log in directly.

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 August 17th, 2020 and need assistance please email me or technical support 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. Online classes are not inherently easier, although they may be much more convenient for many students. You should expect to spend at least as much time, if not more on this course as you would on a course that meets face to face. Since there is no lecture component, much of this time will be self-directed and there will be a substantial amount of reading, viewing, studying, and writing required. This course is completely online using Canvas; all coursework (discussions, assignments, quizzes) is submitted online. There are no face-to-face meetings.  Please be prepared to spend at least 8 hours per week on coursework for this class.

Online Meet-Ups: 

Though we won’t be meeting in person, I will offer opportunities for online meetings. These meetings will be entirely voluntary and will not be counted towards the course grade. I offer these meetings as a way to expand our discussions. We will be reading a full-length book together, and students often benefit from discussing the material with each other and me. The meetings will be scheduled at times when the most students are available and recorded for any student who may not be available.

IS an ONLINE CLASS FOR YOU? 

Though I will do my best to help you use Canvas and engage in the material, online learning can be difficult for some students. To decide if taking this course online is the right choice for you, please go to the Online Readiness ResourcesLinks to an external site. and take a "self-assessment”. There are many resources that were 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 classroom section.)

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.

In order to be successful in this course, you must be committed to working through assignments and turning them in on time. Late work will not be accepted unless we have communicated and made arrangements.  If I notice you have not logged in to Canvas in more than two weeks, I will drop you from the course unless you communicate with me about missing “class.”

Course Description

This course provides a study of and practice in the use of language and writing of argumentative/analytical essays and research papers. Prerequisite: Appropriate placement or ENGL 180 or equivalent. Transfer: CSU; UC.

The focus in this class is on research and argumentation, but overall, I would like you to come away from this class with your own individual writing process, one that can be adapted for the various writing situations and audiences you will face in the future. My aim as the instructor is to challenge you to improve your writing, provide constructive criticism and praise, act as a sounding board, and create an environment that enables you to think critically about complex issues. I will respect you as writers and trust that you will give your best efforts on each assignment.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Write a fair and persuasive argument that takes a clear position while incorporating differing viewpoints.
  2. Write an essay that is effectively and clearly organized.
  3. Find necessary information, assess its value, and use it in a research paper.
  4. Integrate and document sources correctly, clearly, and ethically.
  5. Write clear, grammatical sentences with few errors.

Text Book and Materials

  • The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, ISBN: 978-1-4000-5218-9
  • You will need a weekly, reliable internet connection where you can access Canvas. All supplemental readings and materials, available online for free, will be available in Canvas.
  • This is a writing intensive course, and therefore, it cannot be completed successfully from a smart phone. Please make sure you have access to a device with a keyboard.
  • Final drafts must be submitted in Microsoft Word: Microsoft Office for Free (including Word and PowerPointLinks to an external site.
  • Supplemental Materials:

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 on the Canvas Navigation 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.

 

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..

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 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. at 805-546-3148 or

College & Course Policies:

Academic Honesty Policy: In addition to my course policy, which will be detailed on the course syllabus once the course begins, 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 Cuesta College Student Code of conductLinks to an external site..

Add / Drop Policy: Students who do not log in to Canvas for more than 2 weeks will be dropped from the course unless the instructor is contacted by the student before or during this period. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the instructor regarding consistent course engagement. It is also the student’s responsibility to drop the course before the drop deadline. In addition to my policy, please review the Cuesta policy for drops

 

Waitlist Policy: Please review Cuesta’s waitlist procedure and instructionsLinks to an external site..

rich_text    
Drag to rearrange sections
Rich Text Content
rich_text    

Page Comments