Lecturer: Bryan R. Ghent              

Course Description and Overview:

This is a three-credit-hour course that examines the language of critical thinking and argumentation and focuses on the connection between writing and critical thinking, using critical reading and critical thinking as springboards for researched, argumentative writing assignments.

Course Goals:

• To demonstrate 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.
• To use writing, reading, speaking, and critical thinking to foster intellectual growth in an academic environment.
• To recognize critical thinking and problem solving strategies in different academic disciplines and for different audiences.
• 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 recognize individual writing voices and learn how those voices can be adapted to fit different audiences and rhetorical situations.
• To revise effectively by completely rethinking, restructuring, and rewriting essays.
• To demonstrate improved oral communication skills in class discussions and small group activities.

Learning Outcomes- students will be able to:

·         Identify and define the elements and standards of reasoning.

·         Apply the elements and standards of reasoning to their own thinking and the thinking of others.

·         Use critical reading strategies to analyze a variety of texts.

·         Propose, organize, and defend a reasoned analysis.

·         Integrate critical thinking character traits into their academic and personal lives.

·         Compose 6,000 words of mature nonfiction prose.

Successful completion of WRIT 101 and HMXP 102

with a grade of at least C-/S is a prerequisite for CRTW 201.

CRTW 201 is a core course in the General Education curriculum,

and is required for graduation. A grade of C- or better is needed to pass.

Required Texts:                                                                                                                                  Harris, Muriel. Prentice Hall Reference Guide to Grammar and Usage

Nosich, Gerald. Learning to Think Things Through. Prentice Hall. 3^rd Edition.                                                  Postman, Neil. Amusing Ourselves to Death. Penguin, 2005                                                                                                                                                                                           

Course Requirements:

Analytic Essay #1                                10%

Analytic Essay #2                                20%

Journal Entries                                     10%

In-Class Essay                                       5%

Conference                                          10%

Quizzes                                                10%

Participation                                         20%

Presentations                                        10%

Final Exam                                            5%

Grading Standards:

In this course, letter grades are assigned the following numeric values:

Assignments: 0-60 = F, 61-70 = D, 71-80 = C, 81-90 = B, 91-100 = A

Course: 0-600 =F, 601-700 = D, 701-800 = C, 801-900 = B, 901-1000 = A

Most graded assignments will be assessed in 2 parts: Content and Deadline - 50 pts each.

An assignment turned in on time as requested will receive 50 points, each day late will reduce by 10 pts until 0 pts after 5 days. 50 points will allotted to the paper’s content as explained on the CRTW rubric:

The A paper, superior work that far exceeds requirements, will receive 42, 45, or 48 points.

The B paper, with clear sense of purpose and good analysis, will receive 32, 35, or 38 points.

The C paper, that is adequate but not fully developed, will receive 22, 25, or 28 points.

The D paper, a serious attempt to fulfill the assignment, will receive 12, 15, or 18 points.

The F paper, unacceptable work that fails to meet requirements, will receive 8, 5, or 2 points.

Late Work Policy:

Late means missing a paper deadline, a conference, a presentation, or in-class assignment, for any reason. A hard copy of each paper must be in my hands at the beginning of class on the date it is due, as requested, unless otherwise specified. Papers e-mailed to me or left outside my office with prior consent will be given a late penalty of 5-50 points. Late arrival to class will result in a 25 point penalty to the day’s participation grade. Final exams, in-class essays, presentations, conferences and quizzes are given on one day only.

Special circumstances: Students who find themselves incapacitated due to illness must submit a valid doctor’s note, describing the student as unable to perform their duties and detailing exactly which days that student was incapacitated. Late penalties will not be incurred against students for those specific dates during which they were verifiably incapacitated.  Students representing the school will also not incur late penalties for those specific dates during which they were verifiably representing the university. The death of an immediate family member will also incur no penalty. The attempt to falsify verification will result in failure of the course. Students will still be recorded absent for those verifiably incapacitated dates (9 absences total – there is no excused absence), but opportunities for make-up work will be offered upon return at the instructor’s convenience. Doctor’s notes must be presented to the instructor in his office, never during class time. A student’s personal legal issues are not adequate grounds for make-up work or missing classes.  

Failure to submit any formal assignment will result in a failing grade for the course.

Assignments:

All out-of-class papers must be submitted in MLA format:

12pt Times New Roman Font, with 1 inch margins, and must be stapled.

Analytic Essay #1:

A 5-8 page (1,200-1,500 word) paper. A thesis driven essay on a topic of your choice using the elements and standards of thinking and 3 diverse sources as a framework for developing an analysis. Hardcopy due in class on 2/8 and submitted to turnitin.com by midnight 2/12.

Analytic Essay #2:

A 6-10 page (1,500-3,000 word) paper. A thesis-driven essay on a topic assigned to you, using the elements and standards and 5 diverse sources. Hardcopy in class on 4/5 and turnitin by midnight 4/5.

Journal Entries:

These are typed “think pieces,” including 500-700 word responses to various prompts. These prompts are given in class, and an absence will receive an inadequate content grade in addition to any penalties to the deadline grade for the assignment. Submission of an alternate assignment can earn up to 50 points, but still receive a failing grade. The final Journal Grade will be determined by averaging grades from a selection of no less than 2, but no more than 4 graded assignments.

In-Class Essay:

A 500-700 word, handwritten response to a spontaneous prompt. This is given on one day only.

Conferences:

These are scheduled 30-60 minute meetings in my office regarding Analytic Essay #2. To receive full credit the student must bring a complete rough draft, copies of all sources, notes and outlines, and be able to mindfully discuss the elements and standards of thinking in addition to displaying a competence in mechanics and writing conventions. Grades will be adversely affected by rescheduling, failure to bring a completed draft, and lack of critical thinking skills.

Quizzes:

No less than 2, no more than 4.  These may take a variety of forms. Highest and lowest grade averaged.

Participation:

Grades averages from no less than 10 opportunities, 100 points split between Attendance and Discussion: Daily sign-in sheet; Present/On-Time = 50pts, Present/Late = 25pts.Participation; Discussion Insightful (check-plus) = 50pts, Discussion Relevant (check) = 30 pts, Non-Discussion = 0pts.

Use of a laptop or cell phone during class time without prior consent will reduce 5 points off of the final course participation grade, as will sleeping in class or not bringing a required draft to a class workshop.

Presentations:

Students will present material before a group or the entire class at least once and possibly twice during this semester. These presentations are scheduled and if missed cannot be made-up. A failing grade will be received, but up to 50 points could be awarded through an alternate assignment. Rubric to be determined.

Final Exam:

This is offered on one day only.

Extra Credit: 50pts

A published letter to the editor in the Rock Hill Herald: letters@heraldonline.com

Other Policies:

Attendance Policy:

Upon a student’s 9th absence the student will receive a failing grade for the course.

That is the equivalent of 3 weeks of class, or almost 25% of the course.

Additionally, there are a number of daily in-class assignments that count toward writing, quiz, and participation grades that cannot be made up.

Missing a scheduled conference will count as 2 absences and a failing grade for the conference. A meeting could be rescheduled during office hours or at instructor’s convenience.

Plagiarism Policy:

Plagiarism is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not. Failing the course is the penalty for plagiarism. Students are responsible for knowing The Code of Student Conduct in the Student Handbook. Upon the first instance of Academic Misconduct as defined in the student handbook, the student will fail this class with a grade of F and full disciplinary action will be taken. No excuse for this misconduct is acceptable.

We will use turnitin.com for Analytic Essay #1 and #2. Papers not submitted will not be graded, and will be reduced 10 points for each day late. The class name is CRTW S10, id# is: 3057596 and the password is: deadline

Revision Policy:

Written assignments that receive a failing grade can be revised if the student schedules a conference within 5 days of when the graded work was returned by the instructor. After a mandatory conference about the failing work, the student will have 5 days to submit a total rewrite of the original assignment. After these deadlines, no work will be accepted. The revision grade will then be averaged with the original grade for a final grade for that assignment. No more than 2 assignments can be revised in a semester, and Analytic Essay 2 cannot be revised.

Student Accommodation:

Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education.  If you have a disability and require specific accommodations to complete this course, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 323-3290 and make an appointment to see a professional staff member.  Once you have your official notice of accommodations from Services for Students with Disabilities, please inform me as early as possible in the semester.

Work Folder:

Departmental policy requires the graded versions of your essays to be filed in the department’s storage room for an indeterminate period of time. They will be submitted by each student in a pocket folder at the end of the course.

It is not the instructor’s responsibility to remind students of these policies, or announce when there has been an infraction.