Welcome English 102: Intermediate Composition and Critical Thinking. In this course, we will be focusing on a broad range of writing, critical thinking, and rhetorical skills. These will extend beyond those that you learned in your English 101 class and will include: summary, analysis, evaluation, causal, rebuttal, and argumentation.

The problem is that everyone thinks; it is our nature to do so. But much of our thinking, left to itself, is biased, distorted, partial, uninformed or prejudiced. Yet the quality of our life and that of what we produce, make, or build depends precisely on the quality of our thought. Shoddy thinking is costly, both in money and in quality of life. Excellence in thought, however, must be systematically cultivated.

This course is broken down into two units: Critical Engagement with Media and Critical Monster Theory. The overall purpose of the course is to be a positive force in the world. The research and writing that you will do in this course is meant to help you improve the quality of your thinking as well as benefit the rest of society. The work you will do will help you improve as a writer and a person and add value to others. Approach all the work you do in this class by first asking yourself, “How will this help others?”

Course Objectives

Upon satisfactory completion of the course, students will be able to:

Summarize an argument accurately.
Identify the thesis of an argument.
Analyze and evaluate the strength of the evidence and the soundness of the reasoning offered in support of the thesis.
Identify and analyze the main and supporting arguments of argumentative essays.
Identify and evaluate rhetorical techniques, such as the straw man and appealing to the masses.
Recognize and evaluate stated and unstated assumptions.
Analyze, evaluate, and account for discrepancies among various readings on a topic (for example, explain why certain facts are used or not used, or how two sources might differently interpret the same facts).
Distinguish between deductive and inductive reasoning.
Evaluate arguments for logical consistency.
Identify and explain logical fallacies, including post hoc, ad hominem, ad populum, false analogy, and hasty generalization.
Write compositions of 1,000-or-more words advocating ideas clearly, logically, and convincingly.
Employ a style appropriate to occasion, audience, subject, and purpose.
Refine critical essays through a dialogical process of draft, response, revision, and editing, with particular emphasis on supporting evidence.
Incorporate sources into their own writing, including summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting.
Write an academic research paper, including both direct and indirect citation and following the documentation conventions of either the most current MLA or APA style sheet

Student Learning Outcomes

Write effective essays.
Demonstrate critical reading skills.
Demonstrate effective problem-solving skills.

Required Text

Barnet, Sylvan, and Hugo Adam Bedau. From Critical Thinking to Argument: A Portable Guide. 5th Edition, Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2017. ISBN: 978-1-319-03544-0
Additional readings will be on the class website.

Assignments and Grading

Specific instructions and rubrics will be provided to you for your work on the major projects. As we go through the course, we will clarify the assignments and make sure we agree on what good work looks like.

Assignment	Points Possible	My Points	Assignment	Points Possible	My Points
Journals	10 x 8 = 80		Final	100
Rough Drafts	20 x 4 = 80		Tutoring	20
Peer Review	15 x 4 = 60		Fallacy Project	50
Essay 1	100		Annotated Bib	25
Essay 2	100		Participation 1	95
Essay 3	100		Participation 2	90
Essay 4	150		Extra Credit
Presentation	50		TOTAL	1100

Crafton Hills does not use a + or – grading scale for the course grade, only A, B, C, D, and F. Essays 1 – 4 are mandatory for everyone. The class uses a 1110-point grading scale. Points required for an A= 990, B= 880, and C=770. Anything less than 770 points is considered a failing grade. It becomes very difficult to pass the class if you are missing an essay. You can earn up to 50 points extra credit.

Critical Weekly Journals: Every week, you will locate an article, news report, social media post, or ??? to respond to. First, summarize the text, explaining how you are understanding what they are saying. Second, respond to the article using the skills we will be working on in class. About 250 words.

Fallacy Project: The fallacy project will be a research project aimed at developing a thorough definition and explanation of a particular fallacy. The project will be web based and incorporate research and examples from current media to help the audience understand the fallacy, how to recognize it, and how to avoid it.

Honors Component

This course is available as an honors class. If you would like to take this class as an honors class, please get in touch with me. The honors component is meant to challenge you and help you become a more advanced student. You will work closely with your professor to develop a research project that you can present at a conference. The honors component requires all the work of a regular 102, plus additional research, close study with professor, and a presentation. I highly encourage you to take the honors version of this class.

Course Policies

Syllabus Revision: I may need to change or revise the syllabus during the semester. Students will receive ample notice of revisions.

Classroom Code of Conduct: We will be discussing controversial and/or adult oriented content in this course. You are all adults and are expected to conduct yourself accordingly in class and in all interactions with other students. Racist, sexist, bigoted, and hurtful language will not be tolerated and could get you removed from the course and/or reported to disciplinary authorities. While I am here to lecture and help facilitate discussion, it is up to you to participate in the class and keep up with the readings. I will be available through email and after class, so please see me if you need anything pertaining to our class.

Attendance: Attendance is graded. We will be working together regularly in groups and to workshop assignments. In order for this to work, you have to be present and ready to work. If you do miss a class, it is your responsibility to turn in required assignments on time and to find out from your classmates what you missed. Readings and writing assignments are due at every class meeting. To get the points for the day, you need to be present and on task.

Arriving late, leaving early, or other inappropriate behavior disrupts your learning and that of your classmates and will be considered an absence. No cell phones, texting, or unauthorized computer use will be tolerated and you will be marked absent. Please do not bring any food or drink into the classroom. As you can see, we will be working at computer stations and no food is allowed. You can bring water in a container that seals and is leak proof.

Personal Writing: We will be doing some personal writing in this class. Do not write anything that you are not comfortable sharing with this class or outside of this class. The writing that we do here is for everyone. If you have any questions about whether something is suitable, please discuss it with me or your classmates.

Plagiarism: Knowingly submitting the work of others as your own is considered plagiarism. Proper MLA citation is required for any and all sources used in the course. If you have any questions or need help with citation please see me. If you plagiarize, the least that will happen is you fail this course.

Electronic Devices: Electronic devices are not permitted during class time, unless specifically cleared by me. Please silence or turn off your electronics and phones. If you require special accommodation, please see the contact the Disabled Student Services office at (909) 389-3325. There is no texting, social media, or email during class.

Late Work and Make-up Work: No Late Work is accepted, unless cleared by me ahead of time. All assignments are due at the start of class on the designated dates. It is your responsibility to have assignments submitted on time. In-class assignments and essays cannot be made up. Please contact me directly if you have any questions or need special accommodations. Make-up work will only be accepted in case of emergency or a case by case basis. Do not wait until the next class session to ask about make-up work. Contact me before it is late.

Revision: If you are not happy with a grade you receive on an assignment, you may revise the essay with the original attached, within one week of receiving the grade.

ADA Compliance: If you are unable to participate fully in this class due to a disability that qualifies under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you should contact the Disabled Student Services office at (909) 389-3325.

Disclaimer: The best way to grow as a writer is to study other writers’ work, so I may use your writing as a model/sample in our class or for future classes. This is a great way for you to contribute to the growth and learning of your peers here at Crafton Hills College and beyond. Do not be embarrassed, we are all here learning from each other.

Course Schedule

The following is the schedule of assignments for this class. The schedule of readings and assignments is subject to change based upon the needs of the class.
All readings and assignments are listed on the day they are due. Please come to class with all readings and assignments complete.

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English 102 Summer 19 Syllabus

Unit 1: Critical Engagement with Media

WEEK ONE June 3 – 6

WEEK TWO June 10 – 13

WEEK THREE June 17 – 20

WEEK FOUR June 24 – 27

WEEK FIVE July 1 – 4

Unit 2: Critical Monster Theory

WEEK SIX July 8 – 11

WEEK SEVEN July 15 – 18

WEEK EIGHT July 22 – 25

WEEK NINE July 29 – August 1

WEEK TEN August 5 – 8

English 102/102H: Intermediate Composition and Critical Thinking

Crafton Hills College – Summer 2019

Course Objectives

Student Learning Outcomes

Required Text

Assignments and Grading

Honors Component

Course Policies

Course Schedule

Unit 1: Critical Engagement with Media

WEEK ONE June 3 – 6

WEEK TWO June 10 – 13

WEEK THREE June 17 – 20

WEEK FOUR June 24 – 27

WEEK FIVE July 1 – 4

Unit 2: Critical Monster Theory

WEEK SIX July 8 – 11

WEEK SEVEN July 15 – 18

WEEK EIGHT July 22 – 25

WEEK NINE July 29 – August 1

WEEK TEN August 5 – 8

English 102/102H: Intermediate Composition and Critical Thinking

Crafton Hills College – Summer 2019

Course Objectives

Student Learning Outcomes

Required Text

Assignments and Grading

Honors Component

Course Policies

Course Schedule

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