| Advanced Composition:
Critical Reasoning and Writing (3 units) |
Mary B. Graham |
| Spring 2001, Section #0812 |
E-mail: graham6@mail.sdsu.edu |
| T TH 1-2:50 G110 (H 1-1:50
E102) |
Voice Mail: 594-658 |
Catalog
Description 3 hours lecture, 1 hour laboratory.
This course is designed to develop critical thinking, reading, and writing skills beyond
the level achieved in Engl 120. The course will focus on the development of logical
reasoning and analytical and argumentative writing skills. |
PREREQUISITES
To enroll in this class you must have received a
"C" or better in English 120 or or possess equivalent qualification.
What is critical thinking good for?
Critical thinking is a life skill. When
can you use it? When you are trying to decide what car to buy. When you or a loved
one has a serious illness and you must decide which doctors to trust and which treatments
to pursue. When you are selecting a college to attend or a career to pursue.
When you are solving interpersonal conflicts. Before you walk into a voting
booth. When you struggle to decide what is best for your children. When you
meet people you don't understand. When you meet people who don't seem to understand
you. Whenever you are frightened. Whenever you experience success. |
COURSE
GOALS/DESCRIPTION
Some of you may have entered this course
because you want to graduate from Cuyamaca with a two-year degree or who want to transfer
to a four-year college. Others of you may be brushing up on your reading and writing
skills because you know how essential these skills are in the workplace. Others, still,
may be here because you realize that writing and reading are essential elements of
critical thinking. This course, I believe, has something valuable to offer all of you.
Goals for this course include—but are not limited
to—the following:
- To strengthen and expand writing skills through a variety
of complex writing assignments.
- To promote close reading and critical thinking skills.
- To encourage careful and analytical assessment of data and
resources.
to integrate resources smoothly and effectively into
writing assignments.
To support, prewriting, writing, and revision skills.
To encourage attention to the subtleties of language and
written composition.
To encourage writing for personal growth.
In this course, we will write a variety of essays designed
to help you integrate "research" into your writing. The essays and readings will
also focus on analysis of ideas, texts, resources, and the world around you. As needed,
some sentence skills will be reviewed.
TEXTS AND MATERIALS
(Available at the campus bookstore)
- At least one 3.5 inch floppy disk (IBM formatted)
- Mirror on America by Joan T. Mims and
Elizabeth M. Nollen
Always remember:
Writing is a little like playing a musical instrument, singing, dancing, playing a
sport, painting, or taking photographs: you only improve if you practice, and if you
practice, you improve. "Practice" might be divided into two broad categories:
skill drills and "performances." The musician practices scales (drills) to gain
confidence and fluidity so that he/she may play or compose particular pieces of music
(performances). Athletes life weights and practices skills (drills) in order to excel in
the game or competition (performances). So, in English 120, we will work on some skills
You will put those skills together with the ones you already have to write a variety of
essays (performances).Great athletes and
musicians become great through years of practice. The same is true of great
writers. This is why it is said that writing is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. |
COURSE GRADING
| Homework |
20% |
| Collaborative WebQuest |
15% |
| Critique |
15% |
| Synthesis |
15% |
| Researched Argument |
20% |
| Final Exam (Essay) |
15% |
A=90-100%
B=80-89%
C=70-79%
D=60-69%
F=59% and below
| Good writing is having
something to say, rather than having to say something. So start off writing to be read,
and soon you will experience that writing can be enjoyable! |
COURSE
POLICIES
1. Typing. All assignments must be typed, double spaced, and printed
with a fresh ribbon. This includes daily homework assignments. (If this is a problem, come
talk to me right away).
2. Extra Credit will
be awarded to anyone who gets a signed letter to the editor or any other article with a
byline published in any (reputable) newspaper during the course of the semester. The Coyote
Express is obviously included.
3. All papers
- Will only be accepted if they have rough drafts
attached to them.
- Must be typed, double spaced, and printed
with a fairly fresh printer cartridge
- Should be printed twice—once for me and once for your
records.
- Should have your name, my name, English 120, and
the date at the top.
4. Late Assignments
Homework Late homework
assignments will be accepted only if you were absent on the day on which the homework was
due (in which case it is due on your first day back to class) or if you have made special
arrangements with me. I suggest that you exchange phone numbers with another student so
that you can get homework assignments which might be given out while your are absent.
Papers Late
papers will not be accepted. If you feel that you might have trouble getting a paper in on
time, please come to me no later than the class meeting before the paper is due to
ask for an extension. I am willing to grant extensions in advance. I am not willing to
grant extensions after the fact. Absence on the day a paper is due does not excuse you
from turning in your paper on that day. You may have a friend turn the paper in to me
during class or to the admissions office (which will then put it into my mailbox).
5. Attendance Participation in in-class
exercises, in discussions, and in workshops will facilitate your growth as a writer
and will help you become comfortable sharing your work and ideas with classmates.
Therefore, failure to attend class meetings or tardiness will impair your writing development in this class. You are allowed 4 absences
"free." Beyond that, your grade will be lowered one-third of a letter grade per
absence. There will be no exceptions, so use your free days wisely! I reserve the right to
drop you after you have missed ten hours of class.
Tardiness. Two late arrivals to--or early
departures from--class equal one absence. If you show up late to class, be sure to come by
after class to make certain I mark you present.
Mental Absences Since the presence of both your
mind and body are required for learning to occur, I reserve the right to mark you mentally
absent if you are unprepared, unresponsive, or sleeping in class.
6. Dropping. Always take
responsibility for dropping a course, even if you have missed 10 or more hours of class
and think I may drop you
7. Plagiarism Plagiarism, simply
defined, is using another person's words or ideas without giving proper credit to that
person. Cases of Plagiarism will be dealt with according to school policy, and I will push
for the maximum penalty. Plagiarism is a very serious offense.
8. General Course Guideline My
one rule about "behavior" is simply that no student should ever perform any
action or make any statement which suggests disrespect for another student. (This includes
talking when another student is talking, coming to workshops unprepared, asking to turn in
work late that everyone else turned in on time, failing to turn off your beeper or cell
phone during class). As for class discussion and the sharing of ideas, you are encouraged
to debate openly, to argue thoughtfully, to question everything. These activities should,
however, be conducted in a respectful manner.
NOTES: PLEASE do not throw
anything away from this course until you have received your final Grade Report. This is
partly for your own protection, and partly because assignments in this class build upon
one another. You may need early semester work for a late semester project.
ALSO, make a copy of all
paragraphs and papers before you turn them in.
This course adheres to policies outlined in the Cuyamaca College catalog.
For further information consult "Academic Policies" in the catalog. |
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