PACT 103

Practicing the Art of Critical Thinking

Fall 2011

Instructor: Dr. Erastus C. Dudley

Office: Jackson Home, Room 104, 833-4582

Office Hours:MWF 10:30-11:30, TR 11:00-12:00

Email:

Website:

Syllabus:

Required Text:

Asking the Right Questions, with Readings: A Guide to Critical Thinking.

Neil Browne & Stuart M. Keeley. ISBN 13: 978-0205649280

Course Description:

PACT 103 will develop your skills as a critical thinker and communicator. These skills are the foundation of Huntingdon’s liberal arts education and will support your academic success throughout your college years and beyond.

Critical thinking is a powerful way of looking at the world; it is the process of observing subjects from a fair-minded point of view, asking thoughtful, informed questions, and developing answers that are well-reasoned, well-supported, and clearly communicated.

In this class, you will engage with controversial issues and unfamiliar ideas, work to understand different points of view, and develop your own thoughtful and well-reasoned positions. This will not only help you develop intellectual skills that will serve you well through your college experience, but also provide you with important tools for success beyond college. Strong critical thinking and communication skills will enable you to make accurate and powerful decisions as a reasonable, free-thinking individual.

Course Goals: At the core of this class is the basic process of analyzing others’ arguments and then building your own. You will examine a range of arguments (written, spoken, and visual) and by the end of the class, be able to demonstrate (both in class discussion and in writing) these critical thinking steps:

Point:
Identify the main question asked and the point stated in an argument.
Analysis:
Analyze how the argument supports the point and assess that argument’s strengths and weaknesses.
Counter-arguments:
Formulate possible counter-arguments.
Thesis:
Present an argument that has a clear thesis, which is well supported and clearly communicated.

Course Requirements:

In this class you will have two writing projects of at least 4 pages. The first will be a “PAC Project” due before the midterm, the second, a “PACT Project,” in the final week of class. The second project will have a research requirement. Essays must be typed and documented in MLA style (1-inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman font, etc.). An electronic version of your essay must be turned in by class time on the due date through Turnitin.com.

Turnitin ID#: 4218222

Turnitin password: Critical

Deadline extensions may be given only at the professor’s discretion. Late work will receive a penalty of five points for each day late, and will not be accepted more than one week after the due date. Late work might not receive comments—only a grade.

There will also be a final essay exam.

There will also be other assessments of your critical thinking skills as needed, including in-class writing, short essays, debates, etc., at the professor’s discretion.

Attendance and Class Participation:Attending all classes at HuntingdonCollege is mandatory. But simply attending all class meetings does not guarantee that you will pass the class. You will be expected to come to class, keep up with the assignments, and be prepared to engage productively in class discussion as a member of our community of thinkers. Respectful, intellectual discussion is absolutely vital to the process of critical thinking. Disrespectful and/or discourteous behavior will not be tolerated. Disruptive students will be asked to leave and recorded as absent.

Every five (5) unexcused absences will result in your final grade being lowered by one full letter grade. Absences will be excused only with written documentation from the dean.

If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to get the missed work from your fellow classmates. Lateness must be avoided. If you are unavoidably late to class, come in quietly and take a seat near the door so that your disturbance of the class is minimal.

Electronic Devices: Cell phones should be turned off, and laptop computers, tablets, and other electronic devices are not to be used in class unless such use is required by the professor. If there are circumstances that necessitate your use of a cell phone or laptop, you may get clearance from the professor. Any use of electronic devices for non-class related activities will be considered disruptive behavior.

Honor Code: All students are expected to adhere to the principles of the Honor Code, including but not limited to conducting themselves in a manner above reproach, putting their names only on work which they themselves have produced, and to report instances of violations by other students to the appropriate persons. Violations will be reported.

Plagiarism: Critical thinking is about developing your own positions and your own arguments. Plagiarism is the act of declaring another’s work to be your own—intentionally or unintentionally. This is not only a failure of critical thinking, but actively detrimental to critical thinking. The work of others must be appropriately recognized and clearly distinguished from your own. Failure to conform to these expectations damages both the individuals involved and the academic institution as a whole. Any work found to be plagiarized will be penalized, possibly including failure of the course. The professor is obliged to report the offense to the Office of Academic Affairs.

Classroom Conduct:

  1. Students are expected to treat their peers and professors with respect. Students shall not interrupt their fellow students or professor. Derogatory or sarcastic comments directed at students or professors are never acceptable.
  2. Students shall attend all scheduled classes.
  3. Students shall bring all necessary books and other materials to every class.
  4. Students shall arrive for class on time.
  5. Students shall not leave class early or gather materials together until the class has ended.
  6. Students shall not engage in text messaging (receiving or sending) during class or talking on cell phones during class. If students have an emergency and must receive a message or call, they shall alert their professor at the beginning of class and then step out of the class to take the emergency call or message.
  7. Students shall refrain from Internet surfing during class. If a faculty member believes that a student is using his or her electronic device in ways unrelated to class, the professor may prohibit the student from bringing his or her computer to class.
  8. Students shall not talk with fellow students during class about topics unrelated to the course. Side conversations are distracting to one’s colleagues and the professor.
  9. Students shall uphold the standards of academic integrity and the Student Honor Code.

Grading Distribution:

  • Class Participation & other assessment (in-class writing, etc.): 30%
  • 15% class participation.
  • 15% short writing assignments and in-class writing.
  • Writing (two projects): 50%
  • First PAC Project: 20%, due just before midterms
  • Second PACT Project, with research: 30%, due at the end of semester
  • Final Exam: 20%

Support Services for Students with Disabilities:

Faculty at Huntingdon College make every effort to accommodate unique and special needs of students with respect to speech, hearing, vision, seating, or other possible adaptions. Please notify the Disability Services Intake Coordinator, Ms. Camilla Irvin, , as soon as possible of requested accommodations.

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