Online Orientation - English 1600

ENGL 1600-40 Critical Thinking Literature and Composition

This course focuses on critical thinking and composition through reading of essays, poetry and fiction; introduces critical evaluation; develops techniques of analytical, critical and argumentative writing; explores inference, evidence, inductive and deductive reasoning, identification of assumptions underlying conclusions and other terms of logical thinking; continues expository writing (8000 word minimum).

Prerequisite: English 1500

Course Details

Instructor: Devine

E-Mail: bdevine@taftcollege.edu
Telephone: 661-763-7883
My office is located in G-5.
Contact Hours: Monday 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. You can make arrangements to meet with the instructor at Taft College between 9 and 4 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, but the most effective means of communication for online students is the private message center built into Etudes. If you require a face to face meeting, let’s make an appointment to ensure a successful rendezvous.

Units: 3

Class Meets: August 24 to December 17, 2009

Textbook & Estimated Costs:

Textbook: A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature (Guerin, Labor, Morgan, Reesman, and Willingham) (contact book store for latest price 661-763-7731)
Purchase Textbook: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (contact book store for latest price 661-763-7731)
Purchase Textbook: Hamlet by William Shakespeare (contact book store for latest price 661-763-7731)

Estimated Time Per Week: Students can expect to devote on average at least nine hours a week to the class given the reading and writing assignments.

Special Requirements: This course is delivered through the Etudes-NG program. There is a link to the website from the TC distance learning page. Students are welcome to contact me for help; all communication is encouraged.

Assignments: In addition to the Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature, students will read Andrew Marvell’s poem To His Coy Mistress, Alice Walker’s short story Everyday Use, Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, and William Shakespeare’s tragic play Hamlet. Inspired by the in-depth discussions of these texts from the Handbook, the student will create four original essays on each of these texts, demonstrating insight well beyond a basic summary of plot or theme. Students submit a weekly reader response journal the other weeks of the semester.

Proctored Exams: None

Additional Comments: The essays represent the student’s demonstration of critical thinking, so analysis of these works that make sophisticated connections with supporting material and examples will be the most relevant and convincing. I want to see evidence of your learning with deep and complex ideas supported by rich, engaging, and pertinent details, as well as evidence of analysis, reflection and insight. This course literarily introduces the student to a whole new world of differing perspectives through deep readings on critical approaches to the four works mentioned above. It is a rare opportunity to learn a lot about a few treasured texts instead of learning a little about the many. I look forward to digging up the dead bodies by moonlight beside you. Our identity can be born or made: monster, lover, sister, and son, or not be made. That is the question, one of many to explore.

New to ETUDES: Be sure to check System Requirements before getting started with ETUDES. You need to do this on each computer you use while taking a class through ETUDES.

ETUDES Course: You will log into the Etudes classroom with log-in information provided below

New Users use the following login instructions:

Login ID

Password

First 2 letters of first name +
First 2 letters of last name +
Last 5 digits of your Student ID

(Type using all lower case letters)

Example:

Jose A. Garcia
ID: A000123456

Username = joga23456

MonthDay of birth in school records

(Type using all lower case letters)

Example:

Birthday is April 11th, 1982 (04/11/82)

Password = 0411

Previous Users use the following login instructions:

Login ID

Password

First 2 letters of first name +
First 2 letters of last name +
Last 5 digits of Student ID

(Type using all lower case letters)

Example:

Jose A. Garcia
ID: A000123456

Username = joga23456

Enter the password YOU set in a previous term

If you cannot remember your password, go to the ETUDES login screen and reset the password. Be sure to use the email address you used in on your application.

Etudes link opens in a new window

Disclaimer: The book prices are an approximation only and are subject to change.