English 270 is a survey course of major works from various continents and cultures prior to 1500 A.D. The class focuses on the historical, social, philosophical and cultural aspects of literature and studies the roles of women and men. Minority perspectives will be included. Students will read works from the ancient Mediterranean world, South and East Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and the early Americas. UC, CSU, AA/AS, GE, IGETC, CSU GE

I'm so glad you've selected Eng 270. This is a really interesting course where we look at the beginnings of literature from the great ancient kingdoms in Europe, Asia, and Africa. We will be reading classical tales of war, conquest, love, desire, honor, betrayal, mystery, magic and more. The human race is prolific in its writing, and we have a wealth of wonderful stories available. However, in our short number of weeks, we will only have time for a taste of the incredible tales that exist. So, to begin, it is very important to realize we will be reading A LOT. We will also spend much of our time chatting on-line about what we have read and what it meant then and now, so you need to participate and share your ideas.

We will look at the readings in terms of the time period, philosophy, culture, gender and minority roles. We will also take time to discuss how the works relate to our day and our society.

I hope that you enjoy all the wonderful pieces of literature we will be reading. Check out the syllabus, and I look forward to seeing you in class.

You must attend the on campus orientation for this class. You will receive materials and instruction about the course, it's requirements and how to be an on-line student. You should also complete the student information form by the first day of class.

I use Blackboard for class management (quizzes, grades, turning in work, discussion). The course Web site has a link to the Blackboard login page. You will not be able to log into class until you attend the Orientation.

To get started with the class, go to the online schedule and do everything listed for the current week. Click any links in the schedule for instructions, demonstrations, presentations, etc. You'll want to begin every class session by visiting the online schedule.

If you are new to online learning, it will probably take a few weeks to get used to how I do things. Plan to spend a little extra time at first and don't hesitate to email or call if you feel lost. That's what I'm here for.

Dr. Lyn Neylon
619-660-4241
lyn.neylon@gcccd.edu