Course Syllabus
English 103 Syllabus
Course Syllabus:
Our Mission Statements:
Santa Ana College inspires, transforms, and empowers a diverse community of learners.
The Santa Ana College English Dept. provides numerous opportunities for students to develop and improve the reading, critical thinking and writing skills required to succeed at their chosen careers, to meet the rigors of the writing demands at four-year transfer institutions, and to foster lifelong learning and an appreciation of literature.
English 103: Seminar in Critical Thinking
Humanities & Social Science Division Spring 2019
Section: 63514 W: 6:00 pm D 208
Instructor: Mari-Lynne Reid Email: Reid_Mari-Lynne@sac.edu
Required Materials:
The Structure of Argument, 9th Edition, Rottenberg & Winchell ISBN: 978-1-319-05662-9
A Dictionary and/or Thesaurus
Course Description: Unit(s): 4
Class Hours: 64 Lecture total. Prerequisite: English 101 or 101H with a grade of C or better.
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.
English 103 will assist you in:
- utilizing appropriate evidence to support ideas and to persuade others
- evaluating the quality and sufficiency of evidence for a position
- revising arguments through critical reflection
- comparing and contrasting the relative merits of opposing positions
- understanding the role that language plays in critical thinking
Student Learning Outcomes:
Communication Skills
- Reading and Writing
- Read 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.
- Develop a thesis; write argumentative and persuasive essays; write an analysis and summary; research argumentative topics; synthesize material; avoid plagiarism; and document sources.
- Listening and Speaking
- Utilize interactive listening strategies for note-taking and appropriate questioning.
- Determine purpose and goals for listening.
- Use speaking as a tool for idea generation and utilize prior knowledge through small and large group discussion.
- Verbally summarize and paraphrase effectively.
Thinking and Reasoning
- Creative Thinking
- Incorporate rhetorical strategies such as irony and satire.
- Generate ideas using prewriting strategies.
- Critical Thinking
- Write argumentative essays that are supported by evidence and are logically organized, using deductive and inductive reasoning.
- Synthesize information to produce a research paper incorporating research, using documentation and MLA format.
Information Management
- Evaluate primary and secondary sources including Internet sources.
- Use library’s on-line catalogue and resources.
- Distinguish between professional journals and magazines and other periodicals.
- Demonstrate awareness of breadth of sources.
- Use sources ethically.
Diversity
- Cultural—read, understand, and demonstrate an appreciation of literary and expository works from diverse historical and cultural backgrounds.
- Social—read, understand, and demonstrate an appreciation of literary and expository works from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
Civic Responsibility
- Ethical
- Discuss moral dilemmas that are present in the readings.
- Examine both historical and contemporary social issues that are present in the readings.
Life Skills
- Students will develop knowledge and skills in areas such as creative expression, aesthetic appreciation, personal growth, and interpersonal skills.
Grading: You will receive a grade option in this course, based on a percentage system: 100%-90% A 89%-80% B 79%-70% C+ 69%-60% D 59.9% and below-F.
Grade Allocation:
- Mid Term Exam 20% of total
- 2 Intro Oral Presentations 10% of total
- 4 short analytical papers 40% of total
- Research Paper 20% of total
- Final Exam 10% of total
Attendance: Because this class involves a high degree of student participation, your presence is perhaps more important than in other classes you may have taken. Since we meet only once a week, more than 2 absences will negatively affect your grade, or may be cause from an instructor-instituted drop. Please note: it is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from a course. Stopping attendance does not constitute a withdrawal.
Late Work: To put it simply, late work will not be accepted. On one occasion per semester, you may email your work to me by noon of the day after class. I will not consider such work to be late. Any other late work cannot be accepted. If you are having real difficulty with any assignment, contact me before it is due. Please don’t wait for class to inform me.
Presentations: Each of you will be responsible for two presentations about a subject(s) of your choice for the class. You must provide your source material to me to receive credit for the presentation.
Academic Dishonesty: SAC students are expected to be honest and forthright in their academic endeavors. Falsifying research sources, using unaccredited words or ideas of another, or cheating on exams corrupt the advancement of knowledge. Academic dishonesty is fraud as it seeks to claim credit for the work of another without authorization. Assignments that include any academic dishonesty may receive an F grade, and the student may be referred to the division dean for further disciplinary action.
In-Class Use of Devices: I know that cell phones have become an integral part of our existence; however, using them during class time has created conflicts. Therefore, any use of cell phones in the classroom without the instructor’s explicit permission will be cause for expulsion from the classroom. This includes taking photos, using it for access to information and receiving or sending calls or text messages. Additionally, to protect the privacy of all members of the class, the use of any recording devices without prior consent from the instructor is prohibited. Even with permission, whether to take an audio recording, a photo, or video recording, all such recordings are for personal use only and may not be distributed, posted, or shared in any manner. An exception is for recording is the reasonable accommodation for any disability that would impair a student’s capability to be successful in the course. Please present documentation of your situation from DSP&S prior to recording. Any such recording will follow the same guidelines for privacy. I would like to maintain an atmosphere where all can feel at liberty, especially in this course, to discuss and express controversial or sensitive ideas without fear of having those ideas publicly disseminated.
College policies for Disabilities: Your success in this course is important to me. SAC and I are committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability that may have some impact on your ability t do well in this course, I encourage you to speak with the as soon as possible. Also, please contact Disabled Student Programs and Services so we can all collaborate on your classroom accommodation in a timely manner. DSP&S is in VL-203; the phone number is (714) 564-6295. The DSP&S office requires documentation of your disability in order to receive reasonable accommodation. If you do not have documentation, they will assist you in acquiring it. I look forward to supporting you to meet your learning goals.
In conclusion, I look forward to a pleasant and productive semester. Please feel free to contact me at any time via email or arranged meeting times.
Class Schedule: Subject to change (with notice)
Week One: Review class requirements, examine syllabus, class introductions, writing sample, assign topic for next week
HW: Buy book—Read chapters 1, research chosen topic
Week Two: Discuss chapters, review chapter questions, class discussion on assigned topic.
HW: Read chapters 2 & 4—Answer chapter questions as assigned
Week Four: Documentary Film for discussion and reference for Assignment #1.
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Week Three: Discuss chapter contents, assign first analytical paper.
HW: Write a rough draft of the paper.
Week Five: Peer Review of the first paper, write a critique of your partner’s paper. Assign Presentation Dates. Lecture on Logical Fallacies, Chapter 11. Assign fallacies.
Week Six: Paper #1 Due. Present fallacies in class. Assign Paper #2.
HW: Written response to chapter questions as assigned.
Week Seven: Lecture for the Midterm. Review Final Project. Class time for study.
Week Eight: Midterm Exam (through Chapter 7 & Chapter 11)
Week Nine: Paper #2 Due . Class debate on chosen topic. Research to be conducted in class. Bring your smart phone and/or laptop to class.
Week Nine: Presentations, Assign Paper #3
HW: Reading in text as assigned.
Week Ten: Presentations
HW: Reading in text as assigned.
Week Eleven: Presentations Paper #3 Due
HW: Reading in text as assigned.
Week Twelve: Paper #4 done in class. Proper Citation Methods
HW: MLA Citation exercise
Week Thirteen: Review Research Paper, topic choice, supporting your thesis, etc.
Week Fourteen: Peer Review of Research Papers
Week Fifteen: Review for Final Exam, Research Papers Due
Finals Week: Exam
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