ENG 1A - Critical Reading & Composition
Instructor: Dale Ireland
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Course Description
Integrated approach to reading, writing, and critical thinking intended to develop ability to read and write complex, college-level prose. Examination of ideas in relation to individual's world view and contexts from which these ideas arise. Some research required. Prerequisite: English 100B or 104 or equivalent or an appropriate skill level demonstrated through the English assessment process.
To take this class, you must have daily access to a computer with an Internet connection, an email account, and experience using a web browser. You will also need to update your email address in CLASS-Web when you register.
Check the college catalog for CSU/UC transferability and to see if this course meets AA/AS degree requirements.
This class begins Jan 22 and ends May 30.
On-Campus Meetings
There are no on-campus meetings. You must visit the course home page and complete the first week's assignments by their due dates or you will be dropped from the course. Please email the instructor at direland@laspositascollege.edu with any questions.
How This Class Operates
Our class is in an online format (driven by your participation), which means that each of us will be actively contributing to the success of our class. Our class will center on your thoughts about, understandings of and questions about our course material in English 1A. We will share the responsibility for facilitating the class and for supporting one another's efforts. I have found in my 15 years of teaching that a discussion driven class offers the most relevant learning for the most students.
Class Activities
You will read, think, analyze, grapple, discuss, write and hopefully find some enjoyment as we work together on our individual and collective critical thinking, reading and writing skills. We will develop our skills as critical thinkers, readers and writers with class discussions, by responding to one another's thoughts and work, by writing papers and by going on online field trips!
Class Project(s)
You and your classmates will work as a class, in small groups and individually on projects (e.g., papers).
How Students are Graded
Class participation is a large portion of your grade. Without your participation, we have no class! You will also be graded on your individual and group work. There will be revision opportunities, meaning that you may revise some of your work (e.g., several papers) in order to learn more and earn a higher grade.
Succeeding in an Online Course
Students who succeed in online courses tend to be independent, self-motivated learners with good computer skills. If you are a procrastinator who relies heavily on the instructor for motivation, can't use a computer too well, have taken less than 21 units of college credit in your lifetime, and/or have a grade-point-average under 2.0, you should probably consider enrolling in a face-to-face course instead.
Also, don't enroll in this class if you believe the myth that learning online requires less effort than learning face-to-face. This course covers the same content and has similar activities as the face-to-face version of the course; only the method of delivery changes.
LPC offers a tutorial called "Succeeding in an online course" that will not only tell you if you are a good fit for online learning, but it also offers many strategies -- among other pertinent information -- that will help you succeed online. Please complete the tutorial.
Blackboard
This course will use the Blackboard course management system as its virtual classroom. To learn how to log in to Blackboard, go to the Blackboard Login Procedures page. Once you enroll, you will not be able to log in until the first day of class.