Thursday, August 6, 2009

Syllabus

ENGLISH 75 CRITICAL THINKING

Prerequisite/Co-requisite Courses: None
Fall 2009 (3), Tuesdays, 9-11:45
Instructor: Dr. Sylvia Y. Schoemaker Rippel
Phone: 510.628.8036
Office Hours: T-Th 11:45-12:30 and by arrangement
E-mail: profsr20@gmail.com

Blog: http://c2cthinking.blogspot.com
Wiki: http://c2cthinking.wetpaint.com

DESCRIPTION
ENG 75- CRITICAL THINKING
Critical thinking (E75) considers the cognitive skills and communicative strategies for defining, applying, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating information. The course includes structural and operational approaches to task/mission analysis, decision-making, change forecasting, adaptation, and evaluation. Systems approach to analysis and solution of complex problems. Conceptual issues in problem definition, goal determination and measurement of effectiveness. (3 units)

OBJECTIVES
Students will develop their cognitive skills and enhance their communicative strategies for defining, applying, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating information. The course will incorporate the following University learner and institutional goals:
University learner goals 1 -6, and specifically (3.2) To examine objectively various sides of issues; (3.3) To utilize the procedures involved in systematic problem solving; and in English:: To develop basic academic and professional skills(1); To develop the ability to communicate effective in English, oral and in writing, and to read with understanding (1.1) and institutional goals , especially 1,(1.1-1.4), 2.4

FORMAT

The course sessions will include presentation, discussion, and application modes.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Students are expected to attend class, complete assignments, and to participate in individual and group work in a productive manner, and to take personal responsibility for meeting the objectives of the course.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Mayfield, M. (2007). Thinking for yourself. (7th Ed.). Boston: Thomson Wadsworth. ISBN: 1-4130-1772-X (TFY)
Daiek, D., & Anter, N.(2004) Critical reading for college and beyond. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 0072473762 (CRCB)

RECOMMENDED TEXT:

Harris, Robert. A. Creative Problem Solving. Los Angeles: Pyrczak Publishing, 2002. ISBN: 1-884585-43-4 (CPS)

COMPANION SITE FOR REQUIRED TEXTS

Thinking for Yourself Site

Critical Reading for College and Beyond Companion site:

ASSIGNMENTS


Topical Outline

Topics covered include observation skills, appropriate language skills and encoding strategies, differentiating among fact, inference, judgment, recognizing fallacies of reasoning and evaluation, understanding viewpoint, analyzing character, logic, and emotion in persuasion.

SCHEDULE


WkDateUnitTFY Text ReferenceCRCB Text Reference
125-AugIntroduction
Where Do You Stand?


21-SepObservationTFY C1, ObservationCRCB C13, Cognitive Domain
38-SepLanguage and ThoughtTFY C2, Word PrecisionCRCB C2, Vocabulary
415-SepFactsTFY C3, FactsCRCB C6, Details
CRCB C5, Main Ideas
522-SepInferencesTFY C4, InferencesCRCB C7, Inference
629-SepAssumptionsTFY C5, AssumptionsCRCB C10, Marking
76-OctOpinionsTFY C6, OpinionsCRCB C9, PSR Strategies
813-Oct

Evaluations

TFY C7, EvaluationsCRCB C14, Evaluation
920-OctMidterm

1027-OctPoints of ViewTFY C8, Viewpoints

CRCB C4, Time

113-NovArgument
TFY C9, ArgumentCRCB C12, Arguments
1210-NovFallaciesTFY C10, FallaciesCRCB C8, Texts
1317-NovInductionTFY C11, Inductive ReasoningCRCB C1, Reading
1424-NovDeductionTFY C12, Deductive ReasoningCRCB C11, Advanced Strategies
151-Dec Characteristics of a Critical Thinker
ReviewReview
168-DecReview Presentations--
17
15-DecFinal--

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA & METHOD OF EVALUATING STUDENTS
Students will demonstrate their level of achievement through appropriate and accurate application of critical thinking theory, including problem-solving, analysis, and decision-making criteria in approaching, solving,, text and classroom exercises , and work on real-world examples, individually and in groups.


Class Participation

15%

Quizzes

10%

Projects

15%

Term Paper

30%

Presentation

10%

Final Exam

20%

Total

100%


100-95

A

94-90

A-

89-87

B+

86-84

B-

83-80

C+

79-77

C+

76-74

C

73-70

C-

69-67

D+

66-64

D

63-60

D-

59 or <

F

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Welcome

Welcome to this blog at http://c2cthinking.blogspot.com