SantiagoCanyonCollege: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
English 103: Critical Thinking and Writing
Course Syllabus
Spring 2006
Instructor:James IsbellTicket #: 3310306
Time:T/Th 11:00-12:50Location: Rm. E-308
Office Phone:714 628-4946Office: U-130
Email:
Office Hours: Mon 6:00-7:00
Tues
Wed 11:30-12:30
Thur 11:30-12:304:30-5:30
and by Appointment
Required Texts
Elements of Argument 7th Ed. by Annette T. Rottenberg
A Writer's Reference 5th Edition by Diana Hacker
A College Dictionary
Course Objectives
English 103 provides means and opportunities for college students to develop critical reading, thinking and writing skills that they will employ in a wide range of academic and professional settings. It is a course based on the idea that reading, writing and thinking rationally, fairly, and objectively are interdependent activities, all of which may be greatly improved with instruction and practice. "Critical" thinking relies on the judicious detection and evaluation of an argument, whether explicitly or implicitly made, and on the ability to construct a substantial argument and support it with well-documented and thoroughly analyzed textual evidence.
Policies and Procedures
Prerequisite:Satisfactory completion ("C" or better) of English 101 or equivalent course
Attendance and Drop Policies:Attendance is expected and will be recorded at each class meeting. If you are absent, you are still responsible for the work conducted in the class; make a class "buddy" and exchange phone numbers, and ask your buddy to pick up any handouts you might miss. It is not the teacher's job to re-teach the class individually to students who were absent. Three unexcused absences may result in the student being dropped from the class. Students who choose to drop must do so officially with Admissions and Records (and may do so by telephone). The last date to drop a class and receive a "W" is Thursday, May 5, 2006(students who remain enrolled after that date will be assigned a grade for the course). Ultimately, it is the student's responsibility to drop the class.
Lateness:Sometimes we are unavoidably late. If you should one day be late, please enter the classroom and take your seat quietly. Don't stand outside peering through the window or waiting for a break that may never come. Frequent lateness however suggests bad planning or a lack of commitment to the course, both serious lapses in effective critical thinking.
Late Papers:Papers are due on the due date. Absence is no excuse for a late paper. If you must be absent, ask someone to deliver the paper to me or my mailbox—on the day that it is due. But, you may turn in one (and only one!) essay one class period late without penalty; this is truly a one-time-only offer, so please save it for emergency use. No course work will be accepted after the scheduled final exam time.
Plagiarism and Cheating:Plagiarism and cheating undermine the fundamental aims of higher education and cannot be tolerated. A plagiarized paper automatically fails and could earn an "F" for the course. Refer to the 2005-2006 Course Catalog for SSC's official policy on plagiarism.
Extra Credit:Please do not ask for extra credit: do your best work on each assignment.
Paper Preparation:Each paper written for this class must be type or computer-printed and carefully edited on each page with black pen. Please review thoroughly the attached "Specifications" checklist before submitting your work. Supporting evidence (including any citations from the Internet) must be correctly documented according to current MLA standards; please review pp. 380-403 in your textbook or refer to The Writer's Reference.
Final Exam:Successful completion of the final exam is a course requirement; you must pass the final exam in order to receive a passing grade in English 103.
Overview of Assignments
Essay #13 typed pages100 points
Essay #24 typed pages100 points
Essay #35 typed pages150 points
Essay #46 typed pages150 points
Essay #58 typed pages200 points
Oral Reports (handout & quiz) 50 points
Mid-Term Exam (open-notes, books)100 points
Final Exam (open-notes, books)200 points
Journals (5 responses to Op-ed pieces)50 points
Total Possible1100 points
Final Grades: 900-1000: A; 800-899: B; 700-799: C; 600-699: D; Below 600: F
All papers are due at the beginning of class on the dates indicated on the syllabus. No paper will be accepted for which no rough draft was prepared.
You will turn in final and rough drafts in a letter-sized manila file folder marked with your name and my name. All papers will be passed back and forth between us in this folder; when you turn in a paper, all previous final drafts should also be included.
Essay #1: minimum 3 typed pages, extended definition, Tom Waits’s "The Heart of Saturday Night," a popular song
Essay #2: minimum 4 typed pages, Chapter 15, “Freedom of Speech”
Essay #3: minimum 5 typed pages
Essay #4: minimum 6 typed pages, “Figuring the Body”
Essay #5: minimum 8 typed pages, “Argumentative Paper”
The writing of each of the above essays will be supplemented by readings in the primary text (Rottenberg), as well as by discussions and lectures about relevant terms and concepts, many of which will appear on the mid-term exam.
Small-Group Oral Report:Each group will devote 10-15 minutes of class time to a presentation of one logical fallacy, including definition, explanation, and discussion of at least two examples. The material covered in these presentations will appear on the mid-term exam.
Mid-Term Exam:objective and short essay answers covering assigned readings in Rottenberg, terms, concepts, and the logical fallacies.
Final Exam:In-Class Essay.
Recommendations
1. Writing courses are difficult and time-consuming! For each assignment, you'll need to do a certain amount of reading, go through a lengthy (and often painful) process of drafting and revising, edit final mechanical problems (and review appropriate sections in the text) and then prepare a final draft. Be realistic about what you can handle this semester, and figure out right now how you will schedule the regular study and writing time you will need. Figure at least 10-12 hours per week outside class!
2. Study reading assignments before class. Because they will often be the basis of your written work, you should read them at least twice. Read actively, and mark your texts: underline, jot down questions, record impressions.
3. Make sure that your written work responds directly to the assignment. Keep a copy of the assignment sheet in front of you as you write and proofread.
4. Take time to proofread carefully--I should not be the first one to read your work. Get a friend or family member to proofread, especially if you're a lousy speller! Pay particular attention to issues we have covered recently in class.
5. You are encouraged to compose at a computer, and you may use a laptop in class (however, bring it at your own risk!). In-class essays, however, must be written the old-fashioned way: with pen and paper.
6. Most importantly, study all my comments on papers returned to you, and refer to all appropriate sections of Hacker’s A Writer’s Reference for further explanations of specific problems. You will probably have many problems in your first papers; what is important is that you study them and work towards developing more effective skills as the semester progresses.
Tentative Course Outline
Note: All is due on the date indicated. Supplemental outlines, which include additional readings and essay assignment sheets, will be passed out on the day each essay is assigned. Incidentally, the schedule and assignments are subject to change.
Wk 1 introduction to course and syllabus (lecture)
Feb 7 & 9 Writing exercise: “The Student, the Fish, and Agassiz; by the Student”
To Do:1. purchase books
2. bring all books to each class meeting
read: pp. 3-24 (Chapter 1: “Understanding Argument”)
read: pp. 111-154 ("definition")
terms: inference, implication, narrative, myth, identity, definition, analysis, connotation/denotation
write:
Wk 2 Schedule group presentations on logical fallacies
Feb 14 & 16 Discuss Essay #1 assignment, due Sept 14
Discuss assigned readings and terms
Discuss “The Terms of Argument”
read: pp. 25-56 (Chapter 2: “Responding to Argument”)
terms: inductive reasoning, deductive reasoning, logical fallacies; disinterested/uninterested
write:
Note: Thursday, Feb 16 is the last day to withdraw without a "W."
Wk 3No Class on Monday—Presidents’ Day
Feb 21 & 23 review of academic essay structure, documentation, support
Discuss assigned readings and terms
Pick groups for logical fallacies presentations
read: pp. 57-110 (Chapter 3: "Claims")
read: pp. 155-193 (Chapter 5: "Support")
read: pp. 194-236 (Chapter 6: “Warrants”)
terms: argument, claim, warrant, support, credibility, perception, memory
write:
Wk 4 Group work: Prepare for presentations of logical fallacies
Feb 28 Group Presentations of “Claims, Support, and Warrants”
Mar 2 group discussions of Essay # 1
Discuss assigned readings and terms
read: pp. 275-322 (Chapter 8: "Induction, Deduction, and Logical Fallacies")
terms: principles of organization and selection, thesis and topic sentences, classification, exemplification, concrete/abstract, specific/general
write:Rough Draft for Essay #1
Week 4 Group work: Prepare for presentations of logical fallacies
Mar 14 & 16
Rough Draft due: Essay # 1
Discuss assigned readings and terms
read: pp. 43-56 ("Responding to a Visual Argument")
terms: principles of organization and selection, thesis and topic sentences, classification, exemplification, concrete/abstract, specific/general
write:Final Draft of Essay #1
Week 5 Presentations of logical fallacies
Mar 21 & 23 Final Draft due: Essay # 1
Discuss assigned readings and terms
read: pp. 237-274 (Chapter 7: "Language and Thought")
terms:
write: