Instructor:                  Sharon Beynon

SLO Campus:            Office 6806

Phone:                        546-3100, ext. 2744

Email:                          sbeynon@cuesta.edu

Please put “Fall 201C online” in the subject field when you email me.

Welcome to ENGLISH 201C:

Introduction to Critical Thinking

Fall 2009 – Cuesta College

Section 72134

Prerequisite: ENGL 201A (or equivalent) with a grade of "C" or better.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

English 201C presents a composition course beyond ENGL 201A which emphasizes critical thinking and reading in order to develop further logical reasoning and analytical and argumentative writing skills.

LOGGING ON TO YOUR Blackboard ACCOUNT

Go to: http://blackboard.cuesta.edu

login: firstname_lastname
password: STUDENT

(note the capitalization)

Important:

- You must log into the class the first day of instruction.  After the second day of instruction is over, you will be dropped if you haven't logged in (or contacted me to report difficulty).
- You will not be allowed into the class before the first day of instruction.

- If you cannot log in, immediately contact me and the tech help people. (sbeynon@cuesta.edu AND lmccrea@cuesta.edu).  We will do what we can to get your problem fixed!

- Change your password once you get into the Blackboard Class.

ADDING THE CLASS

If you want to add the class, but there is no room, send me an e-mail and I'll put you on a waiting list. 

PARTICIPATION

Because this is an online course, you must participate in the discussion at least three times a week to remain in the course. Assignment and discussion due dates come rapidly with only a few days in between. So please be prepared for this participatory type of online course, and know in advance that it is not a correspondence or self-paced course. Students who do not access and participate in the course at least 3 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-to-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.

COURSE MATERIALS

Required Texts and Materials

·         COOPER (0321149807) WRITING LOGICALLY, THINKING CRITICALLY

                                                GLENN (1413010326)

·        HACKER (0312406843)/ POCKET STYLE MANUAL W/ 2004 UPDATE/ ST MARTINS SPIRAL

All books and materials are available from the Cuesta College Bookstore. Please contact the Bookstore to arrange for 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)

*Email Account

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 me and your classmates via Blackboard’s internal email system, you must at least have a basic understanding of how to use email, navigate the Internet, and communicate online.

If you have any questions prior to the first day of class, please feel free to email me, putting “Fall 201C- online” in the subject field. I look forward to working with you!