Taft College Home >Distance Learning Home > Class Schedule > Distance
Learning Spring Course Schedule > Online Orientation
ENGL 1600-40 Critical Thinking Literature
and Composition
This course focuses on critical thinking and composition through
reading of essays, poetry and fiction; introduces critical evaluation;
develops techniques of analytical, critical and argumentative
writing; explores inference, evidence, inductive and deductive
reasoning, identification of assumptions underlying conclusions and
other terms of logical thinking; continues expository writing (8000
word minimum).
Prerequisite: English 1500
Course Details
Instructor: Devine
E-Mail: bdevine@taft.org
Telephone: 661-763-7883
My office is located in G-5.
You can make arrangements to meet with the instructor
at Taft College on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and
Thursday, but the most effective means of
communication for online students is the private
message center built into Etudes. If you require a face
to face meeting, let’s make an appointment to ensure a
successful rendezvous.
Units: 3
Class Meets: August 24 to December 18, 2009
Textbook & Estimated Costs:
Textbook: A Handbook of Critical Approaches to
Literature (Guerin, Labor, Morgan, Reesman, and
Willingham) (contact book store for latest price 661763-7731)
Purchase Textbook: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
(contact book store for latest price 661-763-7731)
Purchase Textbook: Hamlet by William Shakespeare
(contact book store for latest price 661-763-7731)
Estimated Time Per Week: Students can expect to devote
on average at least nine hours a week to the class given the
reading and writing assignments.
Special Requirements: This course is delivered through the
Etudes-NG program. There is a link to the website from the
TC distance learning page. There is also a tutorial there.
Students are welcome to contact me for help; all
communication is encouraged.
Assignments: In addition to the Handbook of Critical
Approaches to Literature, students will read Andrew Marvell’s
poem To His Coy Mistress, Alice Walker’s short story Everyday
Use, Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, and William
Shakespeare’s tragic play Hamlet. Inspired by the in-depth
discussions of these texts from the Handbook, the student will
create four original essays on each of these texts,
demonstrating insight well beyond a basic summary of plot or
theme. Students submit a weekly reader response journal the
other weeks of the semester.
Proctored Exams: None
Additional Comments: The essays represent the student’s
demonstration of critical thinking, so analysis of these works
that make sophisticated connections with supporting material
and examples will be the most relevant and convincing. I
want to see evidence of your learning with deep and complex
ideas supported by rich, engaging, and pertinent details, as
well as evidence of analysis, reflection and insight. This
course literarily introduces the student to a whole new world
of differing perspectives through deep readings on critical
approaches to the four works mentioned above. It is a rare
opportunity to learn a lot about a few treasured texts instead
of learning a little about the many. I look forward to digging
up the dead bodies by moonlight beside you. Our identity can
be born or made: monster, lover, sister, and son, or not be
made. That is the question, one of many to explore.
New to ETUDES: Be sure to check System Requirements before getting
started with ETUDES. You need to do this on each computer you use while
taking a class through ETUDES.
ETUDES Course: You will log into the Etudes classroom with log-in
information provided below
New Users use the following login instructions:
Login ID
First 2 letters of first
name +
Password
MonthDay of birth in school
records
First 2 letters of last
name +
Last 5 digits of your
Student ID
(Type using all lower case
letters)
Example:
(Type using all lower case
letters)
Birthday is April 11th, 1982
(04/11/82)
Example:
Password = 0411
Jose A. Garcia
ID: A000123456
Username = joga23456
Previous Users use the following login instructions:
Login ID
Password
First 2 letters of first
name +
First 2 letters of last
name +
Last 5 digits of Student
ID
(Type using all lower case
letters)
Example:
Enter the password YOU
set in a previous term
If you cannot remember
your password, go to the
ETUDES login screen and
reset the password. Be
sure to use the email
address you used in on
your application.
Jose A. Garcia
ID: A000123456
Username = joga23456
Etudes link opens in a new window
Disclaimer: The book prices are an approximation only and are subject to change.