CRTW 201 Section 12 Fall 2009

CRTW 201 Section 13 Fall 2009
MW 3:30

This Calendar is subject to frequent changes (as you will see). Save quota--don't print out the whole thing at one time. It's going to change!
Last updated on 12/26/2009.

Date		What to Prepare for Class Today	What We'll Cover Today
W	Aug 26		Introductions, preliminary discussion, diagnostic exercise.
M	Aug 31	Read Nosich: “To the Student” (xv); Ch. 1: What Is Critical Thinking?; Writing Analytically “To the Student” and Ch. 13. Explore the class website and write a reaction on the class discussion board. In your notebook, assess your critical reading skills as you begin this course.	Bring back the two essays on driving while texting. We will have a quiz about the website and go over the requirements for online postings. We will start wrestling with critical reading.
W	Sept 2	Read and reflect on Alan Lightman's essay "Prisoners of the Wired World" and David Foster Wallace's graduation speech "This Is Water." Start talking about it in a note or on our wall. Read Nosich ch. 1 and WA ch. 2.	Nosich: Ch 1. To think about: what is the difference between the terms barriers, impediments, and filters in your thinking? WA Ch. 2. Discuss paper #1. I will explain how we will use the Facebook group in this class.
M	Sept 7	Read Nosich ch. 2 and WA ch. 3.	Winthrop is open on Labor Day. We'll talk more about paper 1. Nosich: Ch. 2: The Elements of Reasoning (45); use WA Ch. 3 to help you analyze Nosich Ch. 2.
T	Sept 8	Last day to declare or change S/U option.
W	Sept 9	Read Nosich: Ch 2; WA: Ch. 1.	Discuss the elements of critical reasoning and the traits of intellectual development.
M	Sept 14	Read WA Ch. 4 and Nosich pp. 201-206. Read sample student papers by Bill O'Reilly, Kenny Chesney, and Beyoncé Knowles. Try grading them using the CRTW rubric before you come to class.	Discuss the SEE-I(T) strategy and how it can improve the organization of papers. Discuss strengths and weaknesses of sample papers and the CRTW rubric.
W	Sept 16	Read WA: Chs. 9, 10 & 19.	Discuss clear introductions, structuring your paper, and paper presentation tips. Please bring your Prentice Hall guide to class so we can review correct documentation for your papers. If you have an older PHG, print out a copy of the updated MLA citation style for your reference. Paper 1 is due by Friday at 5 pm.
M	Sept 21	Re-read Nosich Ch. 2 and begin Ch 3 on disciplinary ways of thinking.	Start thinking about how your discipline shapes your thinking. Cultural events paper assigned.
W	Sept 23	Read Nosich Ch 3. Bring Wilson, The Future of Life, to class today.	More on disciplinary ways of thinking. Group project assigned. Time for groups to meet and start planning.
M	Sept 28	Read Nosich: Ch. 4. Before class, watch the Serj Tankjen video “Empty Walls.” (Want the lyrics? Click here.) Also read Lawrence Lindsay's Fortune article on the cost of war in Iraq. If you can't get the video to load, try this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgQb6il94_I.	Developing standards and using them to judge the quality of arguments. Here is today's PowerPoint.
W	Sept 30	Read Writing Analytically: Chs. 4 and 12. Before today's class, please read "The Myth of Multitasking" by Christine Rosen and Jennifer Thomas' "Chronic Media Multitasking Makes it Harder to Focus."	More elements and standards. Discuss Paper #2.
M	Oct 5	Read WA ch. 5 & ch. 9. Read the essay "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" by Nicholas Carr and be prepared to perform a standards check on it.	Standards checks and building paper 2. Sometime this weekend papers will be done; I'll e-mail you.
W	Oct 7	*Read* WA chapter 10. To practice your logical analysis skills, read "Lifeboat Ethics" by Garrett Hardin and identify as many of the logical problems you can find in it. PHG has a section defining logical fallacies, or you can use this handout.	Logic and standards.
M	Oct12	Read The Future of Life ix-21 and Writing Analytically: Ch. 14: Using Sources Analytically (215).	Making extended critical arguments; reading Wilson. Review paper revision policy.
W	Oct 14	Read The Future of Life 22-41. Refresh your memory of Nosich ch. 3.	Questions at issue, points of view, and "fairness."
R	Oct 15		Paper 2 is due by 5 pm today.
M	Oct 19		Fall Break
T	Oct 20		Fall Break
W	Oct 21	Read The Future of Life 42-78 and WA ch. 7. Refresh your memory of Nosich ch. 2.	Discussion of Wilson reading conducted by Group #1. Discussion of research paper. Here are some recent topic areas for research papers.
F	Oct 23	Last day to withdraw from courses (automatic ‘N’) without documentation of extenuating circumstances. Last day to rescind S/U option.
M	Oct 26	Read The Future of Life 79-102. Refresh your memory of Nosich ch. 4. Writing Analytically: Ch. 16: Finding and Citing Sources.	Discussion of Wilson reading conducted by Group #2. Critical selection of source materials--how do you know what's good?
W	Oct 28	Read The Future of Life 103-128.	Discussion of Wilson reading conducted by Group #3. Group #1’s papers are due.
M	Nov 2	Read The Future of Life 129-148. Writing Analytically ch 8.	Discussion of Wilson reading conducted by Group #4. Group # 2’s papers are due.
W	Nov 4	Read The Future of Life 149-end. Review commas, comma splices, and the possessive case in your Prentice Hall Guide. Seriously. You all need a refresher.	Discussion of Wilson reading conducted by Group #5. Group #3’s papers are due.
M	Nov 9		Everyone: e-mail me your question at issue and annotated bibliography for your research paper by noon today. (If you have it done earlier, send it to me as soon as you can to get a head start!!) Group #4’s papers are due.
W	Nov 11	Read WA Ch. 16. Review correct use of borrowed information in your handbook and online, then do the Here is today's documentation slide show.	Mandatory documentation class. Everyone must bring "The Correct Use of Borrowed Information" and her/his copy of The Prentice-Hall Guide, as well as the homework. No absences, tardies, or unprepareds are acceptable today. Group #5’s papers are due.
M	Nov 16	Read Writing Analytically: Ch. 11: Introductions and Conclusions. Look at sample papers by Dick Van Dyke, Bill Murray, and Emily Dickinson.	Revisions of paper 1 are due today by noon. Record of your online participation is due. Here is today's slideshow on Tailoring Your Research Paper.
W	Nov. 18	Review three previous papers and discuss inductive structure (WA chs. 9 & 10). Review sample cultural events paper.	Structuring research paper. Discuss presentation of cultural events papers.
M	Nov. 23	Class won't meet; Dr K will be in her office for conferences. Sign up for rough draft conferences. Signup sheet will be up around 9 a.m. (parking willing).	There's a new series on MSNBC connected to Wilson: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29840099/.
T	Nov 24		Last day to submit cultural events paper.
W	Nov 25		Thanksgiving Break begins. No classes.
M	Dec 2	Class will not meet so there is more time for conferences. Check your appointment time on the conference schedule!	Rough draft conferences (mandatory) this week. Revisions of paper 2 are due.
W	Dec 3	Class will not meet so there is more time for conferences.	Rough draft conferences (mandatory) this week.
M	Dec 7	Class WILL meet today!!!	Final exam preparation and evaluations. Bring milk.
T	Dec 8		Study Day. Research paper due in hard copy to my office and in www.turnitin.com by 5 pm.
T	Dec 15	Readings for the exam will be distributed in class on December 3.	Final examination, 3-5:30 PM. Exam schedule available at http://www.winthrop.edu/recandreg/pdf/exams/F08exam.pdf. Travel plans or work schedules are not acceptable reasons for rescheduling examinations.