QuickStart Kit
MyLiteratureLab NEW DESIGN
Dear Colleague,
Thank you for making Pearson part of your students’ English experience. We are glad that you and your students
will be joining our community!
The QuickStart Kit contains these key tools to get you started quickly:
 QuickStart Guide - Three Easy Steps
 Technical & Training Support
 MyLiteratureLab FAQs
 Faculty Sample Syllabi
Additional resources to get you started in using MyLiteratureLab:
 Live, online training Webinars offered every week: www.MyLiteratureLab.com/training.html
 Training videos: www.MyLiteratureLab.com/howtovideos.html
 First Day of Class Materials: www.firstdaysofclass.com
English Instructor Exchange Web site
We invite you to become active participants in our user community! English Instructor Exchange
(www.englishinstructorexchange.com) is an open-access community site that provides a space for college English
instructors at all stages of their careers to share teaching ideas and resources. Here you can: read articles on our
multi-authored blog; discuss trends and topics in higher education with your colleagues around the country; or
download podcasts, e-lectures and videos on topics ranging from Integrating Reading and Writing for College
Success to Teaching the YouTube Generation from our Resource Library.
We also invite you to join our MyLiteratureLab Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MyLiteratureLab) to
receive product updates and to talk to other users about their experiences.
Thank you,
Joyce Nilsen, Executive Marketing Manager
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MyLiteratureLab QuickStart Kit Contents
About MyLiteratureLab ……………………………………………………………….1
QuickStart Guide ………………………………………………………………….1-2
How to Sign In ……………………………………………………………….1
How to Create a Course ……………………………………………………2
MyLiteratureLab User Guide ……………………………………………………….3-13
About MyLiteratureLab
In an effort to engage students in the study of literature and to help literature professors
solve their teaching challenges, Pearson Higher Education developed MyLiteratureLab. No
online application for literature offers the breadth and depth of resources that are found in
MyLiteratureLab. From full-length films, to interactive, guided readings of key works, to a
Composing space replete with a Writer’s Toolkit of resources, MyLiteratureLab enriches the
students’ experience. They become critical analyzers of literature and improve their literary
research and writing skills
How to sign in
 Go to
www.pearsonmylabs.com.
 In the "Sign In" box, click
Sign In.
 Enter your username and
password in the fields
provided.
 Click Sign In.
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How to create a course
 Click Create/Copy Course on
the left of your My Pearson
portal page.
*Note1 – your principal area of
interest will be the left-most box.
*Note2 – this image shows what the
My Pearson Portal will look like the
first time to sign in. If you have
existing courses, you will see a
slightly different view.
 In the search box, enter the
textbook author’s name or
enter “MyLiteratureLab” to use
a generic (no eText) course.
 Click GO.
*Note – to generate multiple sections
(i.e., member courses) at once,
choose the MAKE MULTIPLE COPIES OR
SECTIONS OF A COURSE option.
 Click Select Course Materials
for the materials you wish to
use.
*Note – be sure you see New
Design! in the listing’s box.
Enter the course information.
o Course Name
o Description
o Course Type
o Course Enrollment Dates
o Course Duration
o Make Available For Other Instructors to Copy
o Create Course Now
You will see a confirmation page with your CourseID. Give this CourseID to your
students. When your course is ready, you will receive an email from MyLab and Mastering
Support.
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MyLiteratureLab User Guide
MyLiteratureLab User Guide Contents
MyLiteratureLab Features & Content Overview…………………………….3-4
How to Use MyLiteratureLab
How to Personalize MyLiteratureLab (Hiding Content Areas)………………..4
How to Find a Longman Lecture…………………………………………………………4-5
How to Find an Interactive Reading……………………………………………………..5-6
How to Find Writers on Writing Interviews………………………………………….6
How to Launch Writing and Skill-builder Assignments……………….……7
How to Comment On & Grade Assignments…………………………….….…8-9
How to Require or Hide Student Resources…………………………….......10
How Students Submit Portfolios…………………………………………………...11
How to Use ClassPrep……………………………………………………………….…..12
Technical Training & Support ………………………………………………………...13
MyLiteratureLab Features & Content Overview
On the left side of your MyLiteratureLab pages, you will see the Navigation Tree. These are the
buttons you will use to navigate through your course.
Course Home
This is your “landing” page within MyLiteratureLab. You can post announcements for your students
and redesign the home page via the Modify link (on the right side of page).
Student Calendar
The calendar provides an at-a-glance look at due dates for assignments and required topics.
Student Study Plan and Assignments
Students can access the “To Do” list (the Study Plan and list of assignments).
Student Resources
The Resource section contains instruction, multimedia tutorials, and exercises for literary works and
writing. The literary resources include:
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Longman Lectures. Narrated by our textbook authors, these engaging, illustrated audio
lectures present readings of influential or illustrative works. Each lecture provides insights on
the author, the work, and its historical or cultural context combined with photos, pictures, and
images.
Interactive Readings. For a variety of key works, students can click on highlighted sections
of text to read helpful explanations and respond to critical thinking questions. These resources
guide students’ reading and promote their understanding of the work.
Writers on Writing. Students will gain inspiration for their own writing from over sixty
exclusive interviews with noted contemporary authors, including Rita Dove and Alberto Rios,
as each discusses the craft of writing.
Full-length films from Films for the Humanities & Sciences help students to appreciate
and understand Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Othello and Sophocles’ Antigone and Oedipus the
King.
Audio productions. There is a complete audio production of Susan Glaspell’s Trifles by L.A.
Theatre Works, with an introduction by author Dana Gioia.
eAnthology. The interactive eAnthology offers over 200 additional works and is organized by genre
and alphabetized within each genre. It is an excellent study aid, allowing students to search, highlight,
-4and take notes directly within the application. Instructors can use the note tool feature to give
hints to students about a close reading of a particular work.
Literature eText. Three anthologies are now available through MyLiteratureLab: Our eAnthology
(described above); Pike and Acosta, Literature: A World of Writing; or Pearson’s exciting new
enhanced eText: The Literature Collection offering over 800 selections at an affordable price. All are
available in both MyLiteratureLab and the Pearson eText app.
Online Assignments & Commenting via the Composing Space
The Assignment Builder offers six assignment types: (1) Composition Assignments, (2) Collaboration
Assignments, (3) Peer Review Assignments, (4) Portfolio Assignments, (5) Skill-building Assignments,
and (6) Diagnostics. Students will submit the assignment via the Composing Space.
Once a student submits the assignment, you can provide comments in the context of the assignment.
Four commenting tools are available: (1) In-line mark up, (2) Common Errors, (3) My Comments, and
(4) Audio Commenting. Comments (the topics referenced) inserted from the “Common Errors” and
“My Comments” will appear in the student’s Study Plan as well as in the Draft and Comments History.
Portfolio
If you require students to keep a portfolio of their work within MyLiteratureLab, you will access their
documents here.
Communication Tools
This tab includes options for document sharing, discussion boards, chat and ClassLive (whiteboard)
sessions, and e-mail.
Gradebook
The Gradebook is divided into two areas: Student Results and Topic Results. The first view will display
students’ grades for assignments and resources (tutorials and exercises) you required. The latter will
show the scores per topic.
How to Personalize MyLiteratureLab
 Click the MODIFY link atop the
tab menu.
 Make content areas unavailable
by opting to HIDE FROM
STUDENT or ARCHIVE.
 Reorder the tabs by selecting
MOVE
*Note – other options include
changing the color scheme and adding
additional tabs.
How to Find a Longman Lecture
You want to find James Baldwin’s
“Sonny’s Blues.” From the
MyLiteratureLab Course Home
Page, click the Student Resources
tab in the left Navigation Tree.
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. Click the “Literature” tab.
“Authors A to Z” appear. Click on
“Authors A to D” and there you
will find “Sonny’s Blues.” Click on
“James Baldwin Sonny’s Blues”
and you will find a Longman
Lecture as well as the other
resources that support this story.
The Longman Lectures can be a
great way to start class. They
bring students to a shared focus
and provide a dynamic opening
to small group work and/or
class discussion of key concepts
before moving on to the main
text under consideration or can
act as supplements to assigned
texts being covered in class.
How to Find an Interactive Reading
You want to see what poems are
available by Gwendolyn Brooks.
From the MyLiteratureLab Course
Home Page, click the Student
Resources tab in the left
Navigation Tree. Click the
“Literature” tab. “Authors A to Z”
appear. Click on “Authors A to D”
and there you will find three
poems by Gwendolyn Brooks.
Click on “We Real Cool” and you
will see all of the resources that
support this poem.
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Click “Interactive Reading.”
“Interactive” means that
highlighted portions link to
annotations that encourage
students to closely examine
particular literary elements and
ask the kinds of questions that
can foster a closer, more
analytical reading of the poem.
How to Find Writers on Writing Interviews
You want to explore Writers on
Writing interviews because many
of your students are curious
about the inspiration behind a
creative work or simply wonder if
published writers ever have
“writer’s block” and what they do
about it. From the
MyLiteratureLab Course Home
Page, click the Student Resources
tab in the left Navigation Tree.
Click the “Literature” tab. Scroll
to the bottom until you see
“Writers on Writing Video
Interviews.” Select a favorite
writer and choose a subject that
piques your interest.
In this example, find out about
the writing habits of Janet
Burroway, a prolific author of
twelve books.
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How to Launch Writing & Skill-building Assignments
 Click the INSTRUCTOR TOOLS tab.
 Choose MANAGE ASSIGNMENTS.
 Select CREATE ASSIGNMENT.
 Select the assignment type.
 Follow the steps to create the
assignment.
*Note1 – you must provide a due date
for the assignment.
*Note2 – if the formatting of the
Composing Space is beyond the scope
of the assignment (e.g., APA style),
you may allow students to attach the
original version.
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How to Comment on & Grade Assignments
 Click the INSTRUCTOR TOOLS tab.
 Choose MANAGE ASSIGNMENTS.
 Select GRADE ASSIGNMENTS.
 Click on a student’s name to
view his or her assignment.
Option 1: In-line commenting
 Click into the assignment and
type your comment.
Repeat as needed.
 Enter a score and Return the
assignment for revision by
clicking the RETURN FOR
REWRITE to give the student a
chance to revise for a better
grade. SUBMIT makes the grade
final.
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How to Comment on & Grade Assignments (cont.)
Option 2: Common Errors
 Choose the comment from the
Common Errors list,
 Click on the student’s error and
click INSERT.
(Students will be directed to the
resources via the Study Plan and
in the Drafts & Comments
history.)
Repeat as needed.
 Enter a score and Return the
assignment for revision by
clicking the RETURN FOR
REWRITE to give the student a
chance to revise for a better
grade. SUBMIT makes the grade
final.
Option 3: Create your own
 Click CREATE NEW.
 Title the comment and add a
description.
 Choose the resource to which
your comment will be tied.
(Students will be directed to
these resources via the Study
Plan and in the Drafts &
Comments history.)
 Click Save.
 Click in the student’s
assignment and click INSERT.
Repeat as needed.
 Enter a score and Return the
assignment for revision by
clicking the RETURN FOR
REWRITE to give the student a
chance to revise for a better
grade. SUBMIT makes the grade
final.
Option 4: Audio comments
 Click the red Record button.
 Speak into your microphone.
 Click the blue Stop button.
 The recording will automatically
be attached the recording to
the student's document. When
the student receives the
document, she or he can listen
to the audio recording from the
document's draft history.
How to Require or Hide Student Resources
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Grammar Diagnostics
 Click the INSTRUCTOR TOOLS tab.
 Choose MANAGE STUDENT
RESOURCES.
 Open the American Literature
section.
 Click on ABOUT THE AUTHOR.
 Require the version you would
like to have students complete.
(You may hide the others if you
prefer.)
*Note – the alternative is to build a
diagnostic assignment. See above.
Instructional & Practice Assets
 Click the INSTRUCTOR TOOLS tab.
 Choose MANAGE STUDENT
RESOURCES.
 Open the section of choice.
 Click on a topic.
 Click REQUIRE or HIDE for the
asset(s) you would like
students to complete.
*Note – the alternative is to build a
skill-building assignment to include
multiple topics in one assignment.
See above.
[How Students] Submit Portfolios
- 11  Students select the Portfolio
assignment you created in the
My Assignments area.
*Note – You must already have the
Portfolio assignment created.
See above.
 Students drag & drop the
assignments (they will see the
choice of Assignments and
Personal Documents).
 They click CONTINUE.
 Students choose who can see
the Portfolio (in the Toolkit).
 They click SUBMIT.
Using ClassPrep with MyLiteratureLab
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The Pearson Class Preparation tool (ClassPrep) is a search engine that helps instructors
using MyLiteratureLab to create and deliver presentations to their classes using
MyLiteratureLab’s learning objects (i.e., multimedia instructional tools). These collections
can be presented to the class and exported and modified in PowerPoint or an HTML editor.
 From the MyLiteratureLab
Homepage, click into Instructor
Tools.
 Click the Teaching with
MyLiteratureLab menu item.
 Choose the ClassPrep option.
Training and Technical Support
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At Pearson, we take your technical needs and questions very seriously. We are committed
to giving instructors and students technical support when they need it, no matter what.
Therefore, we offer technical support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Customer Technical Support at
http://247pearsoned.custhelp.com
 Search frequently asked questions.
 Ask a question and receive a detailed response.
 Chat online with a live representative.
Live, Online Training at
http://www.MyLiteratureLab.com/training.html
 We offer weekly online training sessions for MyLiteratureLab.
 Join one of our training webinars and learn how to use the application from a
member of our media team.
 Review our webinar schedule and learn more about our training options.
Detailed How-To Videos at
http://www.MyLiteratureLab.com/howtovideos.html
 Watch videos for convenient how-to instructions for some of MyLiteratureLab’s most
popular tasks.
 How-to videos are available for both instructors and students.