• Office: 241 Bancroft
• Phone: 323-4557 (o); 817-7854 (h); 323-4837 (fax)
• E-mail: kosterj@winthrop.edu
• Web address: http://faculty.winthrop.edu/kosterj
• Office Hours: MW 10-12 and by appointment

Thinking, 2/e, by Gary R Kirby & Jeffery R. Goodpaster, ISBN # 0-13-081443-1

Prentice Hall Reference Guide to Grammar and Usage, 4^th edition, ISBN # 0-13-021022-6

Critical thinking is an essential skill, not only in all disciplines but also in all areas of our lives. It involves a careful and conscious examination of the beliefs, values, and judgments we bring to bear on various situations, problems, and texts. This course in critical thinking is a step in building these skills. We assume that, not only in your other General Education courses but in all courses throughout your programs of study, you will continue to develop and refine these skills using the infrastructure established in this course.

You will study and practice effective critical thinking skills in this class, using both materials from your textbook and "cases" that require you to develop and refine your critical thought practices. Some assignments will require individual work, some will be handled in small groups, and some in large groups. You will be expected to demonstrate your learning on tests, in written texts, and through oral presentations.

Goal One: To understand that critical thinking is a constructed concept based on such factors as culture, class, race, gender, and environment and that it requires considerable practice throughout one’s lifetime.

Goal Two: To identify issues, ideas, and problems in particular situations or texts.

Goal Three: To explore a variety of perspectives on the issues, ideas, or problems, as well as a variety of interpretations of the information gathered.

Goal Four: To design coherent and reasonable solutions or positions which directly address the issues, situations, or texts.

Goal Five: To take action based on the selected design, solution, or position.

Goal Six: To consider the implications of the proposed design, solution, or position.

Goal Seven: To generate new sets of questions, ideas, and hypotheses.

Goal Eight: To discover the joy of critical analysis and the confidence that comes from the ability to think critically.

• To demonstrate that you understand the process underlying critical thinking
• To be able to analyze, evaluate, and reflect at each level of the thinking process
• To be able to articulate your interpretations, proposals, and hypotheses clearly in speech and in writing throughout the process
• To be able to discuss the process both individually and in small and large groups

• Collaborative graded assignments: 15%
• Formal Papers/Projects/Presentations: 25%
• Tests (2): 10% each, total of 20%
• Final Exam: 20%
• Informal presentations, homework, quizzes, etc.: 10%
• Active participation in class discussion: 10%

Grading Scale: A= 90+; B=82+; C=74+; D=66+; F is below 66.

E-mail: I conduct most of my business with students using e-mail. If you do not have an e-mail account, go to 17D Tillman immediately to set it up. All class e-mail will be sent to your campus e-mail address, so make sure you set it to forward to any off-campus account you use (e.g. Comporium, AOL, Yahoo!, etc.) You must have a working e-mail address by August 27, 2001.

Attendance: Miss four classes and you are on attendance probation; your final grade will be lowered three points for every absence you have beginning with the fourth. At seven absences you will have missed 25% of the course and university policy requires that you receive an F in the course. Beginning with the second class period there will be an attendance sign-in sheet; your are responsible to sign in each class. If you don’t, or if you’re more than ten minutes late, you will be counted absent for the class. Cell phones and pagers must be turned off during class. If your phone or pager disturbs the class, you will be counted absent for that day. Perfect attendance adds two points to your overall average.

Assignments/Grading Policies: Assignments are expected at the beginning of class on the due date. You may submit one late written assignment during the term [late meaning due one class period after it is due], provided that you notify me you are taking this extension at least one day before the assignment is due. Under no circumstances will an assignment be accepted more than two class periods after the due date; it will receive a grade of zero. Failure to submit any graded assignment means failure for the course. No exceptions! Failure to bring materials for a class workshop will lower your grade for that assignment by 8 points and earn you two absences.

Prepare all written assignments according to the MLA style demonstrated in Harris. You must use a typewriter, word processor, or computer with clear, legible print and ink. Papers must be double-spaced with one inch margins on all four sides. Refer to page 280 of Harris for a template for the first page of each paper; no extra cover sheet is needed. Staple the pages once in the upper left-hand corner. If you must make last-minute corrections, do so neatly in black ink. I look with great favor on students who use the Writing Center regularly. Hint, hint.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited"), whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not. Any assignments containing plagiarisms will receive a grade of F and in severe cases may warrant failure in the class and/or your being turned over to the student judicial system for more significant punishment. Turning in a paper written by someone else is always plagiarism and is never acceptable. Therefore, if you ever have a question about how to handle a source--in this or any other class--ask me before you turn in the paper. I will be happy to help you understand how to document it correctly. Harris’ chapter on documentation, the Writing Center web page, the class web page, and the English Department web page all have lots of information to help you avoid plagiarism (see www.winthrop.edu/english/plagiarism.htm.) Ignorance or failure to consult this material is no excuse.

Procedures: This is a collaborative class. We will be working on cases together, discussing readings together, doing group exercises and oral presentations, and holding frequent workshop sessions. Your participation is absolutely expected. That means being ready for class, keeping up with the workload, bringing drafts on assigned days, and asking questions when things are not clear. Average participation and preparation will earn you a C; if you want higher grades, be more of a presence in the class and show me more evidence of working to improve your skills (such as bringing assignments in for conferences, going to the Writing Center, etc.)

Your Responsibilities: This is college, not high school. You are responsible for much more of your own behavior than you were before you came to Winthrop. You are expected to come to class on time, to be prepared for class, to come to conferences as scheduled, to have materials when called for, and in general to conduct yourself as a responsible adult. I will not be looking over your shoulder every minute or asking you for permission slips; I will give you adequate time to do assignments and plenty of reminders so that you can manage your time effectively. Sometimes we may not discuss all the assigned reading material in class; that’s the way of the world. It doesn’t mean you should not do the reading, since I will expect you to know the concepts covered, be familiar with the vocabulary, and to ask questions if you are confused. I give unannounced pop quizzes and if you are not prepared, you will not enjoy them. Be warned!

Office Hours: Students can learn a lot by talking to their instructors outside of class; that’s why all professors have office hours. I have a big comfy couch in my office for you to come flop on and talk to me about what you’re doing. Please take advantage of my office hours (and not only to raid the cookie and candy jars).