Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Syllabus


ENGLISH 75 CRITICAL THINKING
Prerequisite/Co-requisite Courses: None
Fall 2008 (3), Tuesdays, 9-10:15, 10:30-11:45
Instructor: Dr. Sylvia Y. R. Schoemaker
Phone: 510.628.8036
Office Hours: T-Th 11:45-12:30 and by arrangement
E-mail:
profs4e@gmail.com

Blog: http://e75cthink.blogspot.com/

Wiki: http://e75cthink.wetpaint.com/

DESCRIPTION

ENG 75- CRITICAL THINKING

Critical thinking (E75) considers the cognitive skills and communicative strategies for defining, applying, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating information. The course includes structural and operational approaches to task/mission analysis, decision-making, change forecasting, adaptation, and evaluation. Systems approach to analysis and solution of complex problems. Conceptual issues in problem definition, goal determination and measurement of effectiveness. (3 units)

OBJECTIVES

Students will develop their cognitive skills and enhance their communicative strategies for defining, applying, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating information. The course will incorporate the following University learner and institutional goals:

University learner goals 1 -6, and specifically (3.2) To examine objectively various sides of issues; (3.3) To utilize the procedures involved in systematic problem solving; and in English:: To develop basic academic and professional skills(1); To develop the ability to communicate effectively in English, oral and in writing, and to read with understanding (1.1) and institutional goals , especially 1,(1.1-1.4), 2.4

FORMAT

The course sessions will include presentation, discussion, and application modes.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Students are expected to attend class, complete assignments, and to participate in individual and group work in a productive manner, and to take personal responsibility for meeting the objectives of the course.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Mayfield, M. (2007). Thinking for yourself. (7th Ed.). Boston: Thomson Wadsworth. ISBN: 1-4130-1772-X (TFY)

Daiek, D., & Anter, N.(2004) Critical reading for college and beyond. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 0072473762 (CRCB)

RECOMMENDED TEXT:

Harris, Robert. A. Creative Problem Solving. Los Angeles: Pyrczak Publishing, 2002. ISBN: 1-884585-43-4 (CPS)

COMPANION SITE FOR REQUIRED TEXTS

Thinking for Yourself Site

Critical Reading for College and Beyond Companion site:


ASSIGNMENTS

Topical Outline

Topics covered include observation skills, appropriate language skills and encoding strategies, differentiating among fact, inference, judgment, recognizing fallacies of reasoning and evaluation, understanding viewpoint, analyzing character, logic, and emotion in persuasion.

SCHEDULE

Wk

Date

Notes


TFY Chapter


CRCB Chapter

1

2-Sep


Observation

1

Reading

1

2

9-Sep


Word Precision

2

Vocabulary

2

3

16-Sep


Facts

3

Memory

3

4

23-Sep


Inferences

4

Time

4

5

30-Sep


Assumptions

5

Main Ideas

5

6

7-Oct


Opinions

6

Details

6

7

14-Oct


Evaluations

7

Inference

7

8

21-Oct



ePortfolio due


Review


8

9

28-Oct

Midterm

Midterm


Strategies

9

10

4-Nov


Viewpoints

8

Marking

10

11

11-Nov

Holiday

Argument

9

Adv Strategies

11

12

18-Nov


Fallacies

10

Arguments

12

13

25-Nov


Inductive Reasoning

11

Cognitive Domain

13

14

2-Dec


Deductive Reasoning

12

Evaluation

14

15

9-Dec


Final




ASSESSMENT CRITERIA & METHOD OF EVALUATING STUDENTS

Students will demonstrate their level of achievement through appropriate and accurate application of critical thinking theory, including problem-solving, analysis, and decision-making criteria in approaching, solving,, text and classroom exercises , and work on real-world examples, individually and in groups.

Class Participation

15%

Quizzes

10%

Projects

15%

Term Paper

30%

Presentation

10%

Final Exam

20%

Total

100%

100-95

A

94-90

A-

89-87

B+

86-84

B-

83-80

C+

79-77

C+

76-74

C

73-70

C-

69-67

D+

66-64

D

63-60

D-

59 or <

F

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