Irvine Valley College

Writing 2

Critical Thinking and Writing

Fall 2014

Instructor: Jason Witt

Course Description:

This Course is designed to develop critical thinking, reading, and writing skills beyond the level achieved in Writing 1. We will be reading, analyzing, and responding critically to the assigned texts representing a variety of intellectual and cultural perspectives in an effort to develop necessary critical thinking skills. The course will also focus on the development of logical reasoning and analytical and argumentative writing skills.

Objectives:

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

Read and critically evaluate college-level material
Identify and analyze the structure of arguments
Evaluate the validity and soundness of arguments
Identify common formal and informal fallacies of language and thought
Distinguish and use both deductive and inductive reasoning
Distinguish factual statements from judgment statements and knowledge from opinion
Use research methods to discover and evaluate outside sources for use in support of arguments

Student Learning Outcomes:
SLOs - (H&L) - English: Composition - WR 2- College Writing 2: Given a text-based, criterion-referenced course-appropriate prompt, students will write a process-centered writing assignment that reflects mastery of the five elements of effective writing:

1. unity/focus (controlled by a thesis claim or topic sentence claim;

2. development/support/elaboration;

3. coherence/organization;

4. style;

5. conventions.

Required Text:

Wood, Nancy. Essentials of Argument. 3rd edition, 2011.

Jacobus, Lee. A World of Ideas. 9th edition, 2013.

Required Materials:

3-4 Large Blue Books

Course Requirements:

Class Participation. Class participation includes attendance, in-class assignments, group work, peer response workshops, and verbal participation in class discussions. Students must arrive to class on time. If students are more than ten minutes late, they will automatically be marked absent. Further, more than 3 class absences may result in being dropped from the course. Students are required to have read the assigned material by the time set in the course outline. Furthermore, students are expected to participate in all class discussion, which will make up a good portion of the course. Discussion includes inputting thoughtful response during class. In order to do this, students must read all material critically. Failure to participate will result in low participation points.

Papers. All essays must be typed in 12pt. Times Roman Font and double-spaced with one-inch margins. They must also adhere to MLA format. No late papers will be accepted. The papers must show critical analysis of the material written upon. Students must also remember that papers are not book reports and should contain limited text explanation. Three papers will be assigned over the course of the semester. The required page length for the first paper will be 5-6 pages; the required length for the second paper will be 6-8 pages; the length for the third paper will be 6-8 pages; and the length for the fourth paper will be 15-20 pages.

Journals. Journal writing is informal writing that allows students to record their observations and a thoughtful reflection based on the readings and also allows students to explore their own opinions about any given topic. Students will be given approximately ten to fifteen minutes at the beginning of class to respond to the readings. Responses should show critical analysis and in-depth consideration to receive full credit. Each journal entry should be no less than ¾ of a page and must be written in the students’ blue books.

Conferences. During the semester, students may make an appointment to meet with me to discuss papers or the material assigned to the class. I am always willing to find time to discuss concerns or interesting topics that students wish to converse about. See me after or before class to schedule an appointment.

Book Group. Students will choose their own texts and will be assigned group members to participate in book group activities. These activities will commence once a month.

Writing Lab. The Writing Lab provides one on one individual tutoring. The tutors are very experienced and will assist students with specific problems in organization and the dynamics of their papers in addition to offering valuable feedback to student writing. However, the writing center tutors should not edit student’s papers for grammar errors. Students should go in with a sense of purpose, for example, to seek feedback on the strength of any particular argument or idea.

Classroom Etiquette. In order for students to experience this class unhampered by others:

cell phones MUST be turned off during class
no food or drinks are allowed with the exception of a water bottle
do not leave class early or get up during lecture. Wait until break for this
do not begin to pack up early

How to Succeed in Class

Personal Responsibility—Know that you are responsible for your own success and education. This attitude is key and forms the basis for the following list.
Take Notes—The most effective way to stay engaged in class is to take notes during lectures and discussions. Write down key ideas and supporting information. Then be sure to utilize this information. Do not stick it in a folder somewhere to get lost.
Ask Questions—When you are unclear about any piece of information, ask a question that will help to clarify the information for you.
Keep Up With Reading And Homework—Only by reading assigned text by the time the material is due can you fully participate in class discussion.
Come To Class—Students who skip class rarely do well.
Set Up a Study Schedule—Time management is the most important concept to the zealous student. Budget enough time for reading and studying as well as recreational activities.
Find Study Partners—Students who operate within a group often find themselves doing better through collaborative learning.
Read Comments on Returned Work Carefully—I write extensively on student papers. My comments usually point to specific points throughout the margins in a paper and globally at the end of a paper. Both are equally important and should be understood for learning to effectively take place. If you are confused about any comments, come ask me.

Grading.

Class Participation 100 points

HW Activities 50 points

Paper #1 100 points

Paper #2 100 points

Paper #3 150 points

Paper #4 150 points

Journals 50 points

Book Assignments 50 points

750-675 = A 674-600 = B 599-525 = C 524-450 = D

Less than 450 points will result in a grade of F

Academic Dishonesty. Academic dishonesty consists of plagiarism and cheating, which includes receiving outside help in the writing of assignments, turning in work that is not the student’s own, or failure to cite any outside sources used. Deliberate academic dishonesty will result in an “F” for the assignment. Keep in mind that the burden of proof for academic dishonesty is the student’s and not the instructor’s. For further information, please consult your Irvine Valley College Catalog.

Writing 2

Critical Thinking and Writing

Tentative Course Outline

Week 1

Aug 18 Class Begins

Introduction to Course and Syllabus

In Class Activity—Who Should Survive

Aug 20 Learn Names

In Class Activity—Who Should Survive (con’t)

HW Read: Chapter 1 in Wood

HA#1 Complete Activity 2: a and b (page 21)

Read: Chapter 2 in Wood

HA#2 Complete activity 1 (page 38)

Choose an issue to write on and complete activity 3 (page 43)

Week 2

Aug 25 Assign Exploratory Paper

Discuss activities

HW Read: Machiavelli—The Qualities of a Prince (219)

Read: Chapter 3 in Wood

HA#3 Complete Activity 2 (page 66)

Aug 27 Discuss reading

HW Read: Rousseau—The Origin of Civil Society (237)

HW Read: Chapter 4 in Wood

HA#4 Complete Activity 2 (page 89)

Week 3

Sep 1 Labor Day (No Class)

Sep 3 Discuss Reading

Week 4

Sep 8 Conference (Bring rough draft of exploratory paper)

Read: Chapter 5 in Wood in class

Begin HA#5 Complete Activity 4 (page 112)

HW Read: Jefferson—The Declaration of Independence (259)

Sep 10 Rough Draft of Exploratory Paper Due

Discuss Reading

Book Group

HW Read: Marx—The Communist Manifesto (453)

Week 5

Sep 15 Assign Position Paper

Discuss Reading

Discuss Ch. 5 and HW

HW Read: Carnegie—The Gospel of Wealth (481)

HW Read: Chapter 6 in Wood

HA#6 Complete Activity 2 (page 134—Identify main and sub-claims)

Sep 17 Discuss Reading

HW Read: Marx—The Communist Manifesto (453)

Read and critically evaluate college-level material

Identify and analyze the structure of arguments

Evaluate the validity and soundness of arguments

Identify common formal and informal fallacies of language and thought

Distinguish and use both deductive and inductive reasoning

Distinguish factual statements from judgment statements and knowledge from opinion

cell phones MUST be turned off during class

no food or drinks are allowed with the exception of a water bottle

do not leave class early or get up during lecture. Wait until break for this

How to Succeed in Class

Personal Responsibility—Know that you are responsible for your own success and education. This attitude is key and forms the basis for the following list.

Take Notes—The most effective way to stay engaged in class is to take notes during lectures and discussions. Write down key ideas and supporting information. Then be sure to utilize this information. Do not stick it in a folder somewhere to get lost.

Ask Questions—When you are unclear about any piece of information, ask a question that will help to clarify the information for you.

Keep Up With Reading And Homework—Only by reading assigned text by the time the material is due can you fully participate in class discussion.

Come To Class—Students who skip class rarely do well.

Set Up a Study Schedule—Time management is the most important concept to the zealous student. Budget enough time for reading and studying as well as recreational activities.

Find Study Partners—Students who operate within a group often find themselves doing better through collaborative learning.

Tentative Course Outline