Welcome to English 242 American Literature Online Orientation

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Welcome to English 242 American Literature
Online Orientation

• April N. Andrews
• Instructor of English

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Course Information

• English 242 examines American literary works from
  the transitional to post-modern periods,
  emphasizing ideas and characteristics of our
  national literature.
• The structure of this course is designed to
  produce benefits in at least two major areas of
  learning. First of all, since the course views
  major writings as an expression of a given period
  and since time is spent demonstrating the
  thinking of that period, the student learns
  valuable insights into the American personality.
  The student, in short, learns how we got where we
  are today and why we are the way we are now.
  Since the course takes the Jungian theory into
  account, we will actually be tracking the student
  through the history of American literature.
  Furthermore, the course provides, through its
  readings and activities, aesthetic rewards that
  hopefully will last a lifetime. Reading or
  listening to a good novel or poem will definitely
  demonstrate that fact.

3
Welcome

• I look forward to working with each of you this
  semester. Do not be afraid to ask questions. If
  you have a question, chances are someone else has
  the same question. Do not be afraid to take
  ownership over your own interpretation of a work
  we are not supposed to glean the same message or
  provide the same interpretation of a work. It is
  acceptable and appreciated to think outside of
  the box. This intellectual challenge possesses
  the power to make this course, and the material
  covered within it, valuable and provocative.

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Instructor Information

• April N. Andrews
• Warsaw Campus Annex (Office)
• 804-333-6782 (Voicemail)
• 804-333-0106 (Fax)
• aandrews_at_rappahannock.edu (E-mail)

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Instructor Availability

• Campus Office Hours
• Monday 1200 p.m. to 100 p.m. and 245 p.m. to
  545 p.m.
• Tuesday 1045 a.m. to 115 p.m.
• Wednesday 1200 p.m. to 100 p.m.
• Thursday 1045 a.m. to 115 p.m.
• Please post all questions to the Procedural and
  Policy Questions forum in Blackboard before
  emailing me with them. This will allow all
  students to benefit from the response.

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Course Materials

• McMichael, George. Concise Anthology of American
  Literature. 5th edition, Prentice Hall, 1993.
• You should also purchase a copy of a current MLA
  handbook. If you took ENGL 111 and/or 112 within
  the past two years, the MLA handbook from that
  course is sufficient.

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Technical Requirements

• Software/Hardware Requirements
• Minimum system requirements Pentium
  processor, 512 RAM, 56.6 K modem or network
  connection. Obviously, more RAM and a faster
  modem will expedite downloads and make it easier
  for you.
• An Internet Service Provider and e-mail software.
  
• Netscape, Firefox or Internet Explorer, Version 6
  or higher
• Word processing software (MS Word preferred)
• Windows XP or higher/Mac Equivalent
• A sound card properly configured to run WAVE and
  MIDI sound files
• Plugins--gtAdobe Acrobat Reader, Flash Player,
  Java, Quick Time and others as appropriate. Can
  be downloaded from Blackboard in Start Here area.

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Dates to Remember

• Spring Semester Orientation January 7, 530
  p.m. to 730 p.m.
• Deadline to Add/Drop January 23
• Deadline to Withdraw without Grade Penalty
  March 23
• Spring Break March 9-14
• Spring Semester Classes End April 29
• Spring Semester Exams April 30, May 1, May 4-6

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Course Content Overview

• English 242 examines American literary works from
  the transitional to post-modern periods,
  emphasizing ideas and characteristics of our
  national literature.
• The structure of this course is designed to
  produce benefits in at least two major areas of
  learning. First of all, since the course views
  major writings as an expression of a given period
  and since time is spent demonstrating the
  thinking of that period, the student learns
  valuable insights into the American personality.
  The student, in short, learns how we got where we
  are today and why we are the way we are now.
  Since the course takes the Jungian theory into
  account, we will actually be tracking the student
  through the history of American literature.
  Furthermore, the course provides, through its
  readings and activities, aesthetic rewards that
  hopefully will last a lifetime. Reading or
  listening to a good novel or poem will definitely
  demonstrate that fact.

10
Grading/Evaluation

• Weekly Posts to Blackboard Discussion Board 25
• Research Papers (2 _at_15 each) 30
• Tests (3 _at_ 15 each)
  45
• See detailed Assignment Grid listed in
  Blackboard under Assignments.

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Testing

• Three tests will be administered during the
  course. They are to be completed during Weeks
  Five, Eleven, and Fifteen.
• Tests will be completed in the Testing Center at
  any of the RCC campuses. It is your
  responsibility to familiarize yourself with
  Testing Centers hours and policies.
• You are permitted two hours to complete each
  test, and you will be permitted to use your
  textbook, as it will be necessary to cite textual
  evidence in response to test questions.

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Getting Started with Assignments

• Week 1
• Review the syllabus and course orientation
  PowerPoint presentation.
• Post any questions about the course to the
  Blackboard forum, "Procedural and Policy
  Questions."
• Read the Unit One lecture, which is available
  under "Unit Lectures."
• Read pages 941-959.
• Post one message of introduction to the "Course
  Introductions" forum in Blackboard by Sunday,
  January 11, at 1159 p.m..
• Post two messages to the "Week One" forum in
  Blackboard.  Remember, your first message must be
  posted by Thursday, January 15, at 1159 p.m.. 
  Your second message must be posted by Sunday,
  January 18, at 1159 p.m..
• Please visit the assignment link, entitled
  "Research Paper 1," to review the first research
  paper assignment. 

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Evaluation

• In order to truly improve, we must evaluate the
  class. Please complete your course evaluation
  when posted in Blackboard near the end of the
  semester.
• Only you can make the course better by giving us
  constructive feedback.

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Login Help
Email for help at RCChelp_at_rcc.vccs.edu
Online Resources Help Page http//www.rcc.vccs.edu
/distancelearning/onlineresources.shtml
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Email and Blackboard Tips and Tricks

• If using AOL or other broadband internet
  providers, please open another browser such as
  Internet Explorer or Netscape 6.0 or higher.
• Make sure when sending attachments that the
  filename contains no spaces or special characters
  such as hyphens or symbols.
• If you are having trouble with opening blackboard
  or your email, make sure to view the VCCS outage
  page at http//helpnet.utility.vccs.edu/central/Lo
  gs/outagelog.htm.
• If you are typing a long email, you might want to
  type it in word and then cut and paste the
  information into your email message.
• Other tips can be seen at the Webmail manual at
  https//email.vccs.edu/help/apps/brands/_at_/locale/e
  n_US.ISO_8859-1/webmail/FramesLayout.html.

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Have a great semester!

• I look forward to working and learning with each
  of you this semester.