COURSE:                     CRTW 201, Section 4 (3 hrs)

Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing—Fall 2010  

MW 9:30-10:45, Kinard 206

PROFESSOR:              Dr. Jack DeRochi

                                    Office: Bancroft 256, Phone: 323-4577

                                    Email Address: derochij@winthrop.edu

OFFICE HOURS:         MW 11-12, and by appointment. 

                                       

I.   Course Goals and Student Learning Outcomes

As the title indicates, this is a course that focuses on critical reading, critical thinking, and deliberative / argumentative writing and builds upon skills acquired in Writ101 and HMXP 102.  Students will read, write, and discuss, in an effort to further develop their skill as college writers and critical thinkers.  Our primary objective for CRTW 201 is to help students embrace and develop what Gerald Nosich identifies as the “Traits of a Critical Thinker”:   "Intellectual humility, Intellectual courage, Intellectual empathy,  Intellectual perseverance, Intellectual integrity, Confidence in reason, Fair-mindedness, and Intellectual autonomy."

 

In order to develop those traits, our goals and student learning outcomes are as follows:

 

English Department Goals

Ø      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, listening, reading, and writing.

Ø      To use writing, reading, speaking, and critical thinking to foster intellectual growth in an academic environment.

Ø      To recognize critical thinking and problem solving strategies in different academic disciplines and for different audiences.

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

Ø      To prepare for writing by carefully analyzing evidence.

Ø      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.

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

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

Ø      To improve oral communications skills through class discussions and small group activities.

 

See a complete listing of course goals for the Department of English at http://www.winthrop.edu/english/goals/index.htm. 

 

In addition, CRTW is a Touchstone course and was designed to help meet the following goals of that program:

 

Touchstone Goals

Goal One: To communicate clearly and effectively in standard English.

Goal Three: To use critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a variety of research methods.

Goal Four: To recognize and appreciate human diversity (both past and present) as well as the diversity of ideas, institutions, philosophies, moral codes, and ethical principles.

Goal Seven: To examine values, attitudes, beliefs, and habits which define the nature and quality of life.
 

               Student Learning Outcomes

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

Ø   identify and define the elements of reasoning

Ø   identify and define the standards of reasoning

Ø   identify and define the character traits of a critical thinker

 

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

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

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

Ø   use critical reading strategies to analyze a variety of texts

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

 

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

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

 

II.  Textbooks

Nosich, Gerald.  Learning to Think Things Through, 3rd Edition, Prentice Hall, 2008.

Schlosser, Eric.  Fast Food Nation, Harper Perennial, 2004.

Harris, Muriel, ed.  The Prentice Hall Guide to Grammar and Usage. 6th ed.

Strunk and White.  The Elements of Style, 4th edition.  Allyn and Bacon, 2000. (optional)

 

Further note: The English Department’s home page is located at http://www.winthrop.edu/english. Resources for many of our courses can be found at http://www.winthrop.edu/english/core.htm.  Also, copies of assignments can always be found at my web address, http://faculty.winthrop.edu/derochij.    

 

III.   Course Content and Grading Information

Midterm, In-Class Essay                                                                        15%

Paper 1, Thinking Things Through                                                          15%

Paper 2, Major Thinking Project                                                          20%

Paper 3, Fast Food Nation Paper                                                         20%

Final Exam                                                                                           15%

Group SEEI Journal                                                                                5%

Oral Presentations                                                                                  5%

Quizzes                                                                                                       5%

(when assigned--see schedule--quizzes to be taken on WebCT before class)

 

Attendance: In this class, each absence (excused or unexcused) over 3 will result in a ½ grade penalty.  If you miss 7 classes, as per university policy, you will receive an “F” for the course.  Tardiness will affect your class participation grade and it is your responsibility to make sure I’ve marked your attendance. 

Class Participation (including Facebook and WebCT Chats):  Active class participation is a requirement in this course, requiring all students to engage in all "community" aspects of this course.  These activities include our facebook and WebCT requirements (see below), in-class discussions, and various homework assignments. I will not be grading each individual contribution; instead I will be evaluating your participation in all community assignments.  At the end of the semester, I will grade your participation according the following scale: exceeds expectations, meets expectations, or fails to meet expectations.  In terms of grading, your final class average will be affected in the following manner by your class participation performance: Exceeds Expectations: your final average will be increased by 3%; Meets Expectations: final average will not be affected positively or negatively; Fails to Meet Expectations: final average will be lowered by 3%.   

Final Grading Note: Regardless of numeric average, students must receive at least a C- on two of the major writing assignments to receive a C- in the course. In addition, all work must be submitted in order to receive a passing grade.

IV. Course Technology 

As for the main technological apparatus for this course, we will be using the following web interface programs, for which students are required to establish accounts:

1)      Winthrop’s WebCT online interface (http://online.winthrop.edu).  This service will be used primarily for essential powerpoints, podcasts, and quizzes.

 

To access WebCT, go to online.winthrop.edu and enter the following:

      WebCT ID: wu_first half of your Winthrop email address.

Password: wu_first half of your Winthrop email address.

 

For example, if my Winthrop email address is: smithj25@winthrop.edu, my login information would be as follows:

               WebCT ID: wu_smithj25

   Password: wu_smithj25 (The password may be changed following the   

   initial login)
 

2)      Turnitin.com (www.turnitin.com).  This site will be used for submitting homework assignments and all drafts of final papers; turnitin.com will be where you receive feedback on all of your writing assignments and can monitor your grades throughout the term.   

Visit www.turnitin.com and establish your student account (if you have not already done so for another course).  Next, enroll in our class: our class ID is 3426002; our password is derochi.

 

3)       Facebook. That's correct--we will be using the ubiquitous social network for what I hope will be an enjoyable activity.  To begin with, our Facebook group can be used as our class listserv.  If you wish to post a question to my wall or throw a question to the rest of the class, this will be the most convenient way to do it.  Finally, we will be using our Facebook "group" for a blog assignment during the semester (see handout titled "Facebook Blog").  Therefore, each of you is required to register on Facebook.  Next, I will email each of you, inviting you to join our "Private" group.    

    

V.    Course Policies

Syllabus change policy:  This Policy Statement, calendars, and assignments posted on my class webpage are the most up-to-date ones and will be the ones we use to resolve any questions or issues. 

 

Grading Standards: A description of letter grades for writing assignments can be found at

http://www.winthrop.edu/english/rubric.htm.

 

We will be using the University’s plus / minus grading scale, with all grades calculated on a 10-pt scale.  The following breakdown for B’s applies for all grades (please remember there is no A+): B+ (87-89), B (83-86), B- (80-82).  As for individual grades on individual assignments, the following model will apply to all grade ranges: B+ (88), B (85), B- (81). 

 

Essay Format: The final drafts and revisions of your out-of-class essays MUST be computer-generated, using 12 pt, Times New Roman Font, and double-spaced with 1-inch margins.  I will not accept papers in any other format.  All papers (except the in-class essay) will also be submitted via turnitin.com. It is also recommended that you email to yourself a copy of the final draft for each paper.    

 

Final Exam:  Tuesday, December 14, 3:00 p.m. Your final exam will be composed of two parts: 1) a critical thinking exercise 2) a brief examination based on Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation. Travel plans or work schedules are not reasons to reschedule examinations.

 

Late Work: Late work will be severely penalized.  Turnitin.com deadlines are firm.  Anticipate computer problems--"trouble" with turnitin.com will not be an excuse for a late paper. I am generally reasonable about extending deadlines if you have extenuating circumstances and if you approach me before the due date.  However, unexcused late papers will be penalized one letter grade per day, including weekends. 

 

Student Code of Conduct: As noted in the Student Conduct Code: “Responsibility for good conduct rests with students as adult individuals.”  The policy on academic misconduct is outlined in the “Student Conduct Code Academic Misconduct Policy” in the online Student Handbook.  (http://www2.winthrop.edu/studentaffairs/handbook/StudentHandbook.pdf).

 

Academic Dishonesty: Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are serious offenses.  As stated in your Student Handbook, any of these acts may result in the automatic failure of the course and possible expulsion from the University. 

 

A Note on “N” Grades: Friday, October 22nd is the last day to drop a course for this semester.  Students who drop before this date will receive an automatic “N”; students who drop after this date will receive an automatic “F.”  Extenuating circumstances must be addressed directly to the registrar.

  

Students with Disabilities: If you have a disability and need classroom accommodations, please contact Gina Smith, Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities, at 323-3290 as soon as possible.  Once you have your “Professor Notification Letter,” please notify me so that I am aware of your accommodations well before the first test, paper, or assignment. 

 

Note on Class Participation and Professionalism:  Regardless of the sometimes “informal” nature of the class, I expect professional and respectful behavior at all times.  Therefore, cell phones must be kept in backpacks and on “vibrate”; there should be no “texting” in the middle of class; notebooks and textbooks should be open at the beginning of class, and students ready to work; students must treat everyone in class respectfully at all times.  Students who fail to conduct themselves in a professional manner—in the above or any other way—may be dismissed from class; being dismissed from class results in an absence for the day (see absence policy),and will lower your overall grade for the course.

 

Other Requirements and Notes:

~Cell phones must be kept in backpacks and on “vibrate.” (I will always have my cell phone in case of an emergency on campus.)

~Students are expected to use standard reference tools, methods, and forms of documentation in scholarly research. 

~Students are required to review the English Department’s plagiarism policy at www.winthrop.edu/english/plagiarism.htm.

~Goals for all English Department courses can be found at www.winthrop.edu/english/goals.htm.  There is a link to NCATE and NCTE standards on the department’s web page, and those students who are preparing to teach will want to visit the site.