CRTW 201H–Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing (Spr. 2010)

MW 3:30-4:45 Owens G07

Dr. John Bird

Office:  260 Bancroft

Phone:  323-3679

e-mail:  birdj@winthrop.edu

birdj1@peoplepc.com

Web Page: http://faculty.winthrop.edu/birdj

Class Website: http://birdcrtw210.ning.com

Office Hours:

MW 2:00-3:30

R 3:30-6:00

or by appointment

 

 

DESCRIPTION:

A course that focuses on critical reading, critical thinking, and deliberative/argumentative writing and builds upon skills acquired in WRIT 101 and HMXP 102.  Students will read, write, and discuss, in an effort to further develop their skill as college writers and as critical thinkers.

 

GOALS: 

!                    To learn that the complex process of critical thinking is a part of all we do and that the process relies on such skills as observing, speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

!                    To use writing, reading, speaking, and critical thinking to foster general cognitive development and  intellectual growth in an academic environment.

!                    To recognize critical thinking and problem solving strategies in different academic disciplines.

!                    To evaluate arguments, evidence, and the contexts in which they appear.

!                    To prepare for writing by carefully analyzing evidence.

!                    To plan, organize, and develop essays based on introspection, general observation, deliberation, research, and the critical reading of mature prose texts drawn from varied disciplines.

!                    To learn to revise effectively by completely rethinking, restructuring, and rewriting essays.

!                    To recognize individual writing voices and learn how those voices can be adapted to fit different audiences and rhetorical situations.

!                    To improve oral communication skills through classroom discussions and small group activities.     

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Knowledge: By the end of the semester, students will be able to

!                    identify and define filters, barriers, and impediments to critical thinking

!                    identify and define the elements of reasoning

!                    identify and define the standards of reasoning

!                    identify and define the character traits of a critical thinker

 

Skills:  By the end of the semester, students will be able to

!                    apply the elements of reasoning to analyze their own thinking and the thinking of others

!                    apply the standards of reasoning to analyze their own thinking and the thinking of others

!                    use critical reading strategies to analyze a variety of texts

!                    plan, draft, and revise critical writing in a variety of rhetorical contexts and disciplines

!                    effectively discuss their thinking and the thinking of others in a variety of oral forms (e.g., discussions, group presentations, etc.)

 

Attitudes:  By the end of the semester, students will be able to

!                    recognize and appreciate the differences between critical and noncritical thinking in both themselves and others

!                    integrate critical thinking character traits into their academic and personal lives

 

REQUIREMENTS:

<    attendance, group work, participation, and oral presentations

<    two 5-10 pp. essays (15% first; 25% second)

<    one in-class essay (10%)

<    one 10-12 pp. research paper (25%)

<    weekly blogs and discussion forums (10%)

<    thinking/reading journal (5%)

<    final exam (10%)

 

ATTENDANCE:  I will follow the Winthrop attendance policy, which means that seven or more absences for any reason will result in an automatic grade of “F” for the course.  Except for  emergencies, you should never miss any classes, but if you find that you must miss, please let me know, beforehand if possible. Each missed class above two will result in a one-point grade average penalty for each day; e.g., three absences = one point penalty; four absences = two point penalty, and so on.  I will take attendance every day.  Note: Because of the H1N1 virus, do not come to class if you have flu-like symptoms, especially fever.  Contact me and we will make arrangements for online participation that will not count as an absence.

 

GRADING SCALE:

A         94-100

A-        91-93

B+       88-90

B          84-87

B-        81-83

C+       78-80

C         74-77

C-        71-73

D+       68-70

D         64-67

D-        61-63

F          0-60

 

TEXTS:

Gerald M.  Nosich, Learning To Think Through Things: A Guide to Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum (3rd ed.)

David Rosenwasser and Jill Stephen, Writing Analytically (5th ed.)

Paul Roberts, The End of Oil

Muriel Harris, Prentice Hall Reference Guide to Grammar and Usage (6th  ed.) 

 

SYLLABUS (students are responsible for any changes):

JANUARY

11 M

Introduction

(as you read Nosich, annotate reading and write responses to at least three grey boxes per chapter in thinking journal; do assigned exercises in Nosich and Writing Analytically in thinking journal; for starred exercises in italics, choose ONE; exercises should all be done when we finish with the chapters)

13 W

Nosich: To the Student (xxi); Chapter 1–What Is Critical Thinking?  (1); Ex. 1.1; 1.2; 1.9; 1.11; 1.12; 1.16; 1.23*

18 M

No class–Martin Luther King Day

20 W

Nosich: Ch.1

25 M

Nosich: Ch.1; Writing Analytically: Chapter 1–Analysis: What It Is and What It Does (3)

27 W

Nosich:  Chapter 2–The Elements of Reasoning (49); Ex. 2.1; 2.2; 2.3; 2.6; 2.7; 2.9; 2.10; 2.16* 

FEBRUARY                                                                                                                                                                                  

1 M

Nosich: Ch. 2; Writing Analytically: Chapter 1

3 W

Nosich: Ch. 2; Writing Analytically:  Chapter 2–Counterproductive Habits of Mind  (17); Ex.  2.1; 2.3; 2.4  

5 F

paper #1 due by 5:00 p.m. in my office

8 M

Nosich: Ch. 2; Writing Analytically:  Chapter 2

10 W

Nosich:  Chapter 3–What Is Critical Thinking Within a Field or Discipline?  (89); Ex. 3.3; 3.4; 3.10; 3.22*; 3.23*; 3.24*

15 M                                                                                                                                                                                            

Nosich: Ch. 3; Writing Analytically:  Chapter 3–A Toolkit of Analytical Methods (31); Ex. 3.1; 3.3; 3.6

17 W

Nosich:  Chapter 4–Standards of Critical Thinking (139); Ex.  4.1; 4.2; 4.15; 4.17; 4.18*; 4.19*

22 M

Nosich:  Chapter 4; Writing Analytically:  Chapter 4–Interpretation: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and How To Do It (49)                                                                                                                                                    

24 W

Nosich:  Ch. 4; Writing Analytically:  Chapter 5–Analyzing Arguments (73); Ex. 5.3

MARCH

1 M

Nosich:  Ch. 4; Writing Analytically:  Chapter 7–What Evidence Is and How It Works (109).

3 W

Nosich:  Chapter 5–Putting It All Together: Answering Critical Thinking Questions (175); Ex. 5.16; 5.19; 5.22; 5.23*; 5.24*                                                                                                                              

5 F

paper #2 due by 5:00 p.m. in my office

8 M

Nosich: Ch. 5; Writing Analytically:  Chapter 8–Using Evidence to Build a Paper (123)

10 W

 In-class Essay                                                                                                                                                         

15-17

Spring Break

22 M

The End of Oil (for each day’s reading, write chapters summaries in thinking journal); Writing Analytically:  Chapter 9–Making a Thesis Evolve (139); Ex. 9.1; 9.2

24 W

The End of Oil; Writing Analytically: Chapter 12–Recognizing and Fixing Weak Thesis Statements (193); Ex. 12.1; 12.2

29 M

The End of Oil; Writing Analytically:  Chapter 13–Reading Analytically (205);  Chapter 14–Using Sources Analytically (215)

31 W

The End of Oil; Writing Analytically:  Chapter 15–Organizing and Revising the Research Paper (227); Chapter 16–Finding, Citing, and Integrating Sources (241)

APRIL

5 M

The End of Oil; Writing Analytically:  Chapter 10–Structuring the Paper (159); Chapter 11–Introductions and Conclusions (179)

7 W

The End of Oil; Writing Analytically: Chapter 17–Style: Choosing Words for Precision, Accuracy, and Tone (271); Ex. 17.2

12 M

The End of Oil; Writing Analytically: Chapter 18–Style: Shaping Sentences for Precision and Emphasis (287); 18.1; 18.3; 18.5

14 W

The End of Oil   

16 F

research paper due by 5:00 p.m. in my office

19 M

research presentations

21 W

research presentations

26 M

Last Class–Nosich: Ch. 5

27 T

Study Day

30 F

Final Exam–3:00 p.m.