Welcome.
This course focuses on increasing the writing and thinking skills developed in English 101 and will help you to apply critical thinking and writing skills to a variety of academic assignments. English 102 is the second of a two-course sequence, the follow-up to English 101. Like its prerequisite, English 102 stresses critical thinking and writing based on experience, observation, research, and reading selected literature. Thus, the mission of the course is to help you, the student, develop clear and concise written and verbal responses to varied genres of literature (fiction, poetry, and drama.) This course will prepare you to explain and argue effectively by engaging in critical thinking and by supporting and defending your opinions, using a variety of reading and writing strategies. My goals in this course are (1) to foster critical reading and thinking (2) to provide instruction in varied methods of literary interpretation and (3) to encourage stimulating debate and discourse in response to selected texts. This course will lay the foundation for writing in upper-level English courses at CCBC, as well as in your future academic and professional endeavors.
Perhaps you have looked at the reading assignments on the course syllabus, which I like to describe as an "ambitious" reading list. Wait, wait, don't panic. This is a tentative list which is subject to revision as the course proceeds. One of the unstated objectives of this course is to stimulate understanding and enjoyment of literary works, and the best way to achieve this objective is to expose you to a wide variety of literary selections, even while recognizing that we may not get to them all. It is possible that we may not discuss every selection on the list and probable that you will not have an opportunity to analyze every work. But by reading widely from the list, you should come across some selections that inspire you, encourage a response, and perhaps even compel you to read more from a particular author, period, or genre. If this course encourages you to read independently, then the most important objective is achieved.
On another note, you will find that despite the lack of face-to-face interaction we will learn a great deal about one another as the course proceeds. Unlike the classroom setting, the online format requires each student to respond to assigned texts on a regular basis and thus allows us to hear every voice in the class. I see this as a great advantage to online learning. However, the lack of personal interaction has its disadvantages and can sometimes serve as a barrier to communication. So I welcome you to stop by my office during office hours, make an appointment to see me, or arrange to attend one of my in-person sections of ENGL 102 (if space permits). I look forward to a great semester with all of you.
Orientation
Optional: If you would like to participate in an in-person orientation session, you may attend any one of Dr. Cole-Leonard's ENGL 102 sections on Monday, January 29 on the Essex campus at the following times and locations:
10:10am - 11:05am, #E-337
1:25pm - 2:20pm, #E-341
2:30 - 3:25pm, #E-337
Before Registering
Use the menu to the left to:
- Review any course materials and academic prerequisites.
- Check the technical prerequisites for taking an on-line course at CCBC.
- Preview the on-line course materials to help you determine whether this on-line course meets your needs and suits your learning style.
- Take the distance learning assessment tool.
After Registering
- E-mail me immediately so that you can receive important course information.
- Attend the course orientation if possible.
- For help in getting started in an online course for which you are registered, please check the Online Help Desk.
- If you have any questions on how to log in to the passworded portions of an online course for which you are registered, please check the Online Help Desk.