English 103 Syllabus

Course Syllabus: Final syllabus.pdf

Course Description:

This course focuses on developing critical thinking, reading, and writing skills by studying established argumentative methods and models and applying them to contemporary issues. Emphasis will be on logical reasoning and analytical and argumentative skills necessary for critical writing.

Textbook Information:

1) From Critical Thinking to Argument: A Portable Guide, 5th edition by Sylvan Barnet, Hugo Bedau and John O'Hara and

2) A History of the World in 10 and 1/2 Chapters (any edition) by Julian Barnes

Student Learning Objectives:  

Students will read and discuss critically in order to identify premises, syllogisms, deduction and induction; to evaluate evidence, examples, and arguments for soundness; to assess authoritative testimony; to draw inferences from statistics; and to recognize rhetorical devices.

Students will synthesize information to produce academic argumentative and persuasive essays and a documented research paper by using resources ethically and MLA format, reflecting collegiate level writing standards.