To register for this class, first register as a student with CCSF. Search the class schedule for my name or for the name of the course, and then scroll to the section you would like.

If the class you are interested in is full, please use the waitlist feature on Banner to be placed on the waitlist for the course. If someone drops and space becomes available, the system will email you and offer the opportunity to add the class during the pre-registration period. After registration closes, if you are still on the waitlist, I will contact you via email with further instructions if there is space available in the class. Please do not submit a Class Add Request unless you have confirmed with me that space is available. All other requests will be denied.

What Students Say About This Course

Students who are taking this course may not be well adjusted to the college workload or have doubts about their abilities. I really value the fact that all of the reading material reinforces the idea that you can improve yourself and overcome obstacles. The brain is malleable and you can always improve your intelligence.     -Alejandro

I have never been great at writing papers nor a fan of reading books, but this class has made me rethink about reading books. ..I feel like reading books like the ones we did in class will help me figure out who I am as a person and who I want to be.                  -Charlie

When I read I want to be able to find things that are relatable. You found that in every single one of these books.                                                                        - Nicole

 I enjoyed the sequence of the reading material.  They effectively reached back to one another.      -Ann

I am very thankful for this semester, especially for this English class because it’s made me discover things about myself that I was either blind to or just didn’t want to admit. Now, after learning all these [reading] tools, I feel like I am more self-aware, knowledgeable, and confident of who I am.                        -Mercedes

In the process of writing this [final] paper, I learned that I need to view study stress in a positive mindset. I totally feel like taking a positive approach to stress has given me positive outcome. I don’t feel stress anymore. At work, I also try to use a positive and optimistic work attitude to deal with problem encountered at work. I have received positive outcome and I am happier and stronger now than before. This is the surprise these books brought to me. At the seam time, I am also very grateful to my teacher for bringing us into a different world and allowing us to realize the meaningful life.

-Jun

Support

Office hours are for one hour on Tuesdays. Check your particular course for the time of your class' Zoom hours. Any clarifying questions or week's overview will be recorded for later viewing.  

For basic needs, visit the SparkPoint homepage at ccsf.edu.

Building Community

The heart of this class is the discussion forum. Some of the discussions with be audio/visual in the FlipGrid tool. In other words, each of you is the heart of the class. Each week you and classmates will analyze and discuss issues that come up in the reading or writing assignments. We learn from each other, from our varied experiences, from our different world views. I look forward to reading and participating in discussions and hope you will too! For on-line students, when attending homework sessions, please either have your video feed on or have a picture uploaded. For remote students, attendance, with either video feed or uploaded picture, is required.

What determines good participation in discussions?  

I respect your minds and your futures.  Great school habits translate directly into the workplace – which often means jobs kept and raises given.  To maintain your seat in class, it’s important to do assigned homework. Because this is a process course, missing work has an impact on essay performance. I don't like busywork, and you don't, either. All of your work is actually prewriting for your paper. When we start drafting, you will have a wealth of summarizing, connecting, and reflecting that is ready to be used for essay drafting.

I know you can succeed and that you want the best future possible, so I expect a lot of you.  But maybe your work schedule changed or your computer is down or…?  Let's talk to see if we can find solutions. Conferencing is one of my favorite parts of the job.

Participation in discussion assignments

Participate in discussions and other homework as if you were going to work at a rewarding job. Taking an active role in your learning and in class – stretching your leadership skills – makes the environment more energetic and teamwork based. 

You should consider scheduling at least three days a week to make Canvas posts to participate with others.  In order to earn full credit for discussions, you will make thoughtful and well-developed contributions that follow assignment directions, and make a minimum of one reply to a classmate per discussion assignment. You can do your homework outside of Canvas in Google or Word, and then designate a few days a week to copy and paste your work into Canvas if you'd like. I do highly encourage you to draft work outside of Canvas because occasionally things get lost. Be sure to check back to make replies. You can do this on the second and third days you post.  

Posts that come in as assigned, on Tuesdays and Fridays by 11:59PM, are eligible to earn full points.

Replies that come in by Sunday at 11:59PM are eligible to earn full points.

Original posts that come in on Saturdays and Sundays will have late deductions of one point per day (most original posts are w:59PM Sundays. The next week's module opens on Saturdays at 10AM for those of you who like to do homework on weekends or get ahead.

This is a process course—the purpose of homework is to rehearse reading, discussion, critical thinking, and writing skills so that you will be well thought out and prepared to write essays. Please stay in touch with me if you are struggling to keep up. I love conferencing and supporting students!

Dropping the Class

If you know you have a high level of commitment, you can probably speed read the below.  But if you’re not sure, and for those who like to know the details, here's my drop policy, just so you won't accidentally get into problems.

• • If you don't participate for the first week of school by making any posts or doing other assignments, you may be dropped if there is a wait list. 

  • If you don't participate by the end of the second week, you'll definitely be dropped.

  • During the semester, if you don't participate for a week, I will probably reach out to you.

  • If you remain unresponsive, I will probably drop you. So for your own peace of mind, let me know if something is up -- if you move or get sick or have some other issue arise that keeps you from participating. 

• A missed midterm may be made up with a doctor’s excuse. A missed final exam cannot be made up.

• An incomplete can be granted when a student provides a doctor’s excuse for a medical emergency during the last two weeks of school.

If you decide to discontinue this course, please drop it to avoid getting no refund (after 10% of course length), a W symbol (after 20%), or a grade (after 60%). If you are interested, check out the following articles for more information. 

• Is Dropping a Class in College Bad?

• Should I Drop a Class?

In college, responsibilities that may have financial or record consequences, such as adding and dropping a course, are part of your job as a student. If you don't participate and an instructor drops you, you may end up having to repay financial aid, for instance.  

Required Software

Make sure you have access to a desktop computer. Composing, submitting essays, participating in peer reviews, and doing on-line activities do not work well on a cell phone. If you need a loaner laptop, the campus should be able to provide one.

• Adobe Reader

• Update your browser

Important Dates

Adding, dropping, scholarship application, and all other important dates are on the CCSF.edu website. 

There will be a midterm and exam that you will take in a timed format. The midterm is in the middle of the semester, and the final exam is during final exam week, after classes have ended.

Course Syllabus