• ENG 1B will meet once per week on Tuesdays from 1-3:05 pm with additional classwork and coursework online, and ENG 1A, ENG 1AH and ENG 7  will meet fully online, asynchronously, for 16 weeks during the 2024 Fall Semester at Pasadena City College which begins on August 26, 2024 with holidays on September 2, 2024, November 11, 28, 29, 30, 2024,  and completing the semester on December 15, 2024.  For all courses, your Final Work is due Tuesday, December 10, 2024 of Final Exam Week. 

• This class does not meet in Zoom at specific times, although we will have several opportunities to meet live on Zoom. These dates and zoom links will be in Canvas.  I strongly encourage you to save the dates and attend these live sessions. 

• Most of your required readings will be included in our course modules in Canvas and are from the library, reputable internet sources, and provided by me through Google Documents. Purchaseable required texts can be found on our course welcome letter and syllabi and are available in the PCC Bookstore and other reputable online and on-ground booksellers.

• You will learn in a community with your peers. This is not a self-paced course. You will interact with your peers throughout each of our Canvas modules and will be required to interact in Canvas. This course cannot be completed by doing all of your work on one day per week. This course expects 8-12 hours (for 4.0 unit courses) and 6-9 hours (for 3.0 unit courses) of allocated time.

• Regular attendance is required, and there is an online attendance assignment required by Tuesday of Week 1. Completion of this first-week positive attenance task/assignment will signal your intent to stay enrolled in the online course and you will not be dropped in the first week After week 1, it is your responsibility to drop yourself from the course if circumstances arise that inhibit your course completion. However, please remember that I am dedicated to your successful learning journey, so I hope you'll reach out to me for help and support early and often, and before you get too far behind to catch up and pass the course.

• This class is organized into Modules -- sometimes these modules cover a week or two weeks, or a full unit that is longer. These modules are filled with assignments, interactive activities and instructional materials. Each module contains readings and videos as well as activities and collaborative tasks including voice discussions and image-curation assignments in VoiceThread.

• Please know that because of the way Canvas works, assignments will have a "first due date" listed, but sometimes require you to return to complete the assignment at a later date - usually for Discussion Boards. Make sure to complete your first posts and interactions with an activity by the listed due date.

• You should always enter the course from the HOME PAGE and not from other tools in Canvas such as the "calendar" or you will miss vital lecture and learning materials and some undated activities. To be successful, please always enter the course from the home page, preview the module of activities and assignments, and schedule your weekly time in Canvas accordingly. 

• Turning in assignments on time is BEST, even if the work isn't perfect. There is always a "grace period" for submitting online assignments to accommodate individual educational plans and technology access issues. After the grace period, there may be a late penalty or late work may not be accepted, depending on the assignment. Please Inbox me in Canvas with questions.

I know that if you show up every day and write that it will change your life. I know this because writing continues to change my life every day I choose to engage with writing. I write to know myself, to learn things, to reflect on the world around me, and to engage with other people. I choose to share my writing in order to connect with other people. Connection to yourself and to others is the beauty and the magic of writing. In my courses we will read a lot, write a lot, and we will learn different ways to use various reading, thinking, and writing tools to impact different audiences and different purposes.

Reading is an important part of my life, too. I love to read everywhere -- social media, television, film, online texts and blogs, comic books and graphic novels, ebooks, plays and screenplays, magazines, audiobooks and traditional paper books (my favorite!). Reading is how we can learn about other cultures and other peoples' lives and experiences. If you want to know history, read stories. If you want to know spirits and souls, read poetry. 

Imagine if each person in the world felt safe enough to share something deep inside of them--and then imagine if other people stopped to listen, to connect, and to engage. When you feel heard by another person, your whole life changes. This is what reading and writing can do–they can heal people by connecting them with one another in heart and in spirit. Even more, these tools build a strong foundation for YOU as a thinker, a creator, and an engaged human being in the world, and you will be able to build on this foundation with more experiences and knowledge throughout your lives. I believe this, and that's what I hope to give you a little bit of practice in exploring during our learning experience together, whether you're taking Dramatic Literature with me, traditional composition courses, or Creative Writing courses. Who knows? Maybe at the end of this course you will have begun calling yourself a writer and a reader!

I believe SO DEEPLY in the power of reading and writing. I know that learning how to communicate through writing for diverse audiences and readers and for diverse goals and purposes is not just an academic skill but a life skill that will serve you forever. Everyone can be a reader and a writer. We don't want to leave our thinking and problem solving to AI-Generated baloney -- we as humans always want to be at the heart of our own messages out into the world. My goal will be to help you tap into that part of yourself that opens the floodgates for your voice, your ideas, and your reflections! 

Watch the inspirational videos below to hear more about the power of writing and why it is so important in today's world. 

"The Power of Writing" and "Write Well. Start Writing now." Two Ted Talks by community members.

The four brief essays below are widely available for free on the internet and through various interlibrary ebook loan, so I've included links to them here for you from my personal electronic library. To get a picture of what I think about writing, reading and thinking, and our responsibility as writers and content-creators, please review these texts for Week 1 in all of my writing, theater, and literature classes.

First Year Composition writing courses at PCC are housed in the English Department in the English & Language Studies division and focus on helping students to learn and practice strategies and processes of personal and academic writing as a way to explore and communicate about issues that are important to us and to the communities in which we live. In our writing courses we will write compositions (essays) in various genres (rhetorical modes), including the personal essay, literary analysis, multi-modalities (like this syllabus, which uses technology, images, video and text), and research-based arguments. We will also hone our skills with several shorter responses to readings and materials. We will read a variety of texts and genres as well to use as the basis of our discussion board sharing. Additionally, we will focus on critical reading and writing strategies, employ a writing process, connect with peers for writing community feedback, and develop our critical thinking, critical reading, and analysis and synthesis skills with lots of reading, writing, and response. 

What is Rhetoric?

The ancient Greek philosopher Plato describes rhetoric as the art of moving souls through speech -- in other words, persuasion. Plato believed that more often than not, unethical people used their language skills to motivate people to do things against their best interests. This view has come to dominate how we think about communication, so that most people understand rhetoric to mean manipulative language that is based less on reasoning and more on emotion -- hence the term "empty rhetoric." The Greeks didn’t corner the market on methods of argumentation, however. In our first year composition writing classes we will investigate argumentation methods rooted in diverse, non-western approaches to text response as well, reading and examining key ideas from a diverse range of texts that represent a multitude of voices and opinions across the spectrum. We will study strategies for critical reading and writing and for learning to use writing as a social act for inquiry and action.

I recognize that this is an especially stressful time to be a student. The post-COVID-19 world, more visible political, racial, cultural and economic injustices, mass shootings, war, and political climate shifts have added significant stress and trauma to our lives, for some more than others. Our lives may feel heavier and, in turn, you are likely coping with a lot more than you might even realize. These stressors affect your ability to process information and manage your learning -- that's a fact! The way you feel informs your ability to learn. I encourage you to give yourself grace as you try your best. I am committed to being flexible throughout this course to support you towards your academic success, and I will also hold you to high academic standards because I know you want the best education possible. This Fall 2024 semester course is a 16-week course; however, time will go by faster than you realize, week course, so I'm counting on you to complete your work and activities on time before they pile up. I am your partner on this journey. I will support you, guide you, believe in you, and challenge you. Remember YOUR big picture educational dreams - this course is one step on that journey, so let's lean in together and do this!

I suggest visiting our Canvas course every day in the first week or two of classes, even for just a 10-20 minute check in. Each of my courses online and hybrid will have Week 1 orientation activities and materials for review that are developed to acclimate you to our course and desined to give you an opportunity to feel welcomed and to welcome others. The orientation modules will also have important content related to our student learning outcomes as well.  Please take extra time in the orientation week to focus in on the course information and materials, take good notes, map out information in your planner, and create a time management plan for success for the semester. 

Look for optional zoom sessions in Week 1 and Week 2. You can choose one of the 15-30 minute ZOOM meetings during week one and week two that will be listed in our Canvas course. These will be painless, brief, and helpful, I promise! It will be me and a handful of students, and your Video view is warmly welcomed, but not required. You'll be able to log in from your computer, smart device, or phone. These will not be recorded, so I hope you can make time to attend one so that you can feel welcomed, address any fears and questions, and get excited about our learning journey this semester!

Review Canvas and Technology Basics: 

• Canvas Videos for Students

• How to set up a Gmail Account

• How to use Google Drive

• Basic Tasks in Microsoft Word

You'll have more opportunities to be successful if you follow these tips:

1. Be proactive. 

   • Make it a goal to log into our course no later than Tuesdays to preview the new module. Carefully read the Overview, which includes the learning objectives and a list of your assignments and activities. Assess the workload and put the due dates onto your calendar. Having a mental picture of what's ahead and a plan to achieve it is the best thing you can do to prepare each week. Remember to allocate enough time for each of your courses -- a 3-unit course requires 6-9 hours each week, and a 4-unit course requires 8-12 hours each week.  Plan to use this time wisely and know that there may be additional hours based on your reading speed and technology skills. 

2. Each time you log in, start on our course content HOME page to refresh your memory, and then head to the current module. DO NOT count on the Canvas "Calendar" or "To Do" tools to know everything you need to read, see, and do.

   • The Course Content HOME page will contain links to our modules and  "Course Information" module. Use these to guide you to our current materials and tasks, to view deadlines, and to provide you with tips for success. You should also click into Announcements (and be sure these announcements are delivered to your preferred email immediately) to view most recent announcements. I use announcements to answer general questions, send reminders, alert students to technology issues or delays, and to offer general graded-work responses. By viewing announcements regularly, you will never miss any information vital for your success.

3. Review the Module Overview each week and consider printing out materials from Canvas

   • Each week before opening the module you'll see a list of activities and other information. View that closely to help orient yourself to what will be expected that week. Additionally, (and especially if you're not super "tech savvy") consider PRINTING the directions and assignments and putting them into a class binder. I know it sounds counter intuitive for an online or hybrid course, but I find it is very helpful to read things on paper and make notations as I'm completing work, readings, activities, and assignments. 

4. Plan to submit early. 

   • I know, this one is hard! Set a personal goal for yourself to have all of your assignments done by 12-24 hours before they are due. Why? Because life happens and when you wait until the last minute, you're more likely to have problems meeting a due date.  I am here to support you when things go awry, but procrastination will always be your worst enemy. Remember the Bull's Eye: Turning in your work on-time each week, even if it's not perfect, is what you're aiming for.

5. Communicate with me - early and often.

   • To me, teaching online can feel like teaching in the dark. As a recent student myself, sometimes online courses can feel that way to students too! I need you to let me know what's happening on your end. If you identify a challenge meeting a due date or understanding an assignment, just reach out and let me know. I am grateful for your efforts to inform me. Really! I love hearing from you! I understand these are difficult times but I'm here to support you. When possible, contacting me before a due date or early in the assignment process will keep you and me in sync and will ensure that you don't get overwhelmed by unfinished work. In your message, propose an alternative due date (within 48 hours is advised to ensure you don't fall too far behind) and ask clear and specific questions about an assignment. Remember, there is a grace period for almost all assignments -- usually 24 hours for "low stakes" assignments and usually 48 hours for "high stakes" assignments (like essays). 

6. Use a personal planner to track and stay current on your assignments. I suggest a paper planner. Studies show they work better for students.

   • Paper planners are so helpful! If you're super savvy you can use apps or other technology tools to program in due dates and reminders for yourself throughout each week. I find that a paper planner is invaluable in helping me stay on track with everything I have to do in my personal and professional life. And, like you, I am VERY familiar with the stressors and time management needs of being a student! I just completed an additional degree last June (Huzzah!) so I've been working and going to college (like many of you) the past 7 years for an additional graduate degree. It's HARD! But a paper planner has been an important and valuable tool for my success!

168 Hours - That's all you've got.

There’s only so much time in a week – 168 hours. You might think that is a lot, but really between school, work and family obligations your time can get filled up pretty quickly. If you set aside a specific time each week for your class, however, you’ll find it easier to make time for studying. Get a handle first on how you tend to spend your week and then you’ll have a better idea of the pockets of time that will work best for you to study in your course.

Using a Day-Planner

A lot of students don't really know how to take best advantage of using an organizer or a day planner. 

Past students have noted that it's a lot easier to keep track of stuff for school by using a paper planner and printing out materials from their courses instead of engaging with everything online (sometimes on multiple devices).

Here is a great URL with free printables that you can download and use to make your own organizer or day planner. (I do not endorse it for any reason other than a college student created it and it's got a lot of great stuff!)

You might like to use a notebook to create your own organizer. Here is a great system you can create on your own that's free: How to Bullet Journal 

Here is a great site with an article about how to use a day-planner.

You can also purchase ready-made day-planners at the PCC bookstore or elsewhere. Whatever system you choose, I highly recommend it over a telephone/smart app system unless you're REALLY good at using Google Calendars or Microsoft Outlook - but use whatever works for you that will help you achieve your success!