Sections 50175 and 50177

June 15 - July 23, 2009

Prerequisite: ENGL 50, 56, 156, or 65 with a grade of "C" or better.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

English 201A provides a study of and practice in the use of language and writing of argumentative/analytical essays and research papers. Transfer: CSU; UC.

There are no mandatory meetings for this course. However, students are required to work in a library for the Library Research Workbook component of English 201A. Local students may use the Cuesta College SLO or Paso Robles campus libraries Monday through Thursday; other students will need to use a full-service public or academic library in their vicinity. Keep in mind that most libraries are closed on weekends and even on Mondays because of budget cutbacks. It is not possible to complete the Library Research Workbook requirement by using cyber or virtual sources alone, so please do not take this course if you are unable to go to a full-service public or academic library.

LOGGING ON TO YOUR Blackboard Account

Once you enroll in the course or register, will you please send me your name, telephone number, address, and the email address you plan to use for this course. This will confirm your place in the course. I will also send you a letter of response with very specific information about the course for you to read and consider in advance of the start of class. Once the course begins on June, 15^th, 2009, log on right away. You will not receive a notification from me; all you need to do is log onto the course on the first day of the semester. Keep in mind that you cannot access the course until the first day of instruction.

You will need to log on to Blackboard (http://blackboard.cuesta.edu/) no later than 5p.m. on the second day of the summer session. If you do not log on or contact me, you will be dropped from the course so that someone on the waitlist can have your spot.

Please note that I do not give out add codes before the second day of classes: June 16^th, 2009. If you wish to get into the course before it begins, keep trying to get a spot through Banner. When a student drops, his or her spot is available to the first person who accesses the online registration system. For this reason, it is important to keep checking Banner. If you cannot get a spot in the course before classes begin, you may send me an email on the first day of instruction, requesting a place on my waitlist. I will begin distributing add codes, according to my waitlist, after 5p.m. on the second day of instruction.

Because this is an online summer course, you must participate in the discussions at least 4 times a week to remain in the course. Assignment due dates come rapidly with only a day or two in between. So please be prepared for this more accelerated, participatory type of summer course. It is not a correspondence or self-paced course. The course will be offered again this fall (pending finalization of the course schedule), if you prefer the regular 18-week format. Students who do not access and participate in the course at least 4 times a week, will be denied access. So I urge you to consider carefully your schedule, as well as your family and work obligations, before signing up for this transfer-level online course. Many students think that distance education will somehow be easier than a face-2-face class, only to discover that the workload is different but by no means less time consuming or difficult. For success in this course, be sure you have both the time and the technology to undertake it.

In order to log on to your Blackboard account, please follow these instructions: Go to the Blackboard site at http://blackboard.cuesta.edu using your Internet browser.

When you get to http://blackboard.cuesta.edu, you will see 2 choices: "Course List" or "Login".  You should just select "Login" and never select "Course List". Your user ID is your Banner ID: typically your first name underscore last name--all lower case. The default password is STUDENT--all upper case. Please donπt forget to change your password from the default and then donπt forget your new password. If you have an existing account in Blackboard from a former or current class, then use the same password that you have already established in Blackboard to get into the system. You can change your password subsequently, should you wish to do so.

COURSE MATERIALS

Required Texts and Materials

∑ Diana Hacker, A Writerπs Reference, Sixth Edition, (Bedford/St. Martinπs)

∑ Barbara Kingsolver, Pigs in Heaven

∑ Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz, Everythingπs An Argument, Fourth Edition (Bedford/St Martinπs) (This text is blue, so be sure to get the right one. It is the version without Readings.)

∑ Library Research Workbook 2008 (do not buy a used copy)

∑ Sherman Alexie, Smoke Signals (1999) You will need to view the film at the Cuesta College Library (SLO campus) or rent or buy it, during the first week of the course. Please find out in advance where you will get a copy of the film. (eBay, Cheap Thrills on Higuera, and Netflix are often good places to try for low cost used copies and rentals.)

∑ Other articles available on line to be assigned

∑ One Scantron #882-E form

∑ Postage as needed

All books and materials are available from the Cuesta College Bookstore except for Smoke Signals. Please contact the Bookstore to arrange to shipping of course materials to your address, if you live outside the area.

Disabled Students

If you are a student with a verified disability, please discuss your needs for accommodations with me as soon as possible, but no later than the first day of the course.

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS TO RUN Blackboard (web-based course management program this course uses)

In order to participate in an online class from home, your system will need to meet the following requirements:

*Computer - Pentium-class or Macintosh PC

*Operating System - Windows 95 or Mac OS 8 or above

*Hard Drive with at least 150 megabytes of free space

*32 MB of RAM or above

*Recent Video & Sound Card

*Speakers

*Internet Service Provider - e.g. MSN, AT&T, Earthlink, AOL, etc.

*28.8 speed modem or higher (DSL or Cable Modem is best)

*Internet Browser (AOL is NOT recommended, but can be used - some functions may not work with our online courses)

For success in this course, you must have access to a reliable computer, an email account, and a functioning Internet connection. You should also have a backup plan should your system or your Internet provider fail you. Since you will email all of your assignments to your classmates and me via Blackboard internal email system, you must at least have a basic understanding of how to use email, navigate the Internet, and communicate online.

Summer 2009 – Cuesta College