College Now- Critical Thinking Syllabus HUP 102

College Now- Critical Thinking Syllabus HUP 102 Academy of American Studies FALL 2015 Instructor E-mail Course Website Google Drive Link: Mr. Randle jrandle@schools.nyc.gov www.jrandle.net http://tinyurl.com/cngdrive Welcome to Critical Thinking (HUP 102). This semester you are getting a chance to earn both high school and college credits. This course will earn you one English credit towards high school graduation and 3 credits from CUNY. You have been registered to take Critical Thinking (HUP 102) in the fall, followed by Global Politics (SSP 200) in the spring. If you earn a grade of D (equivalent to a 65) you will receive high school credit. If you earn a grade of C (equivalent to a 75) or better you will receive CUNY credit. If you earn a grade of lower than C, your CUNY transcript will have a NC (No Credit). If you do earn a C or higher you will be eligible to take higher-level courses in your freshmen year at college. Description: This course explores the process of thinking critically and guides students in thinking more clearly, insightfully and effectively. Concrete examples from students' experience and contemporary issues help students develop the abilities to solve problems, analyze issues, and make informed decisions in their academic, career and personal lives. Substantive readings, structured writing assignments and ongoing discussions will help students develop language skills while fostering sophisticated thinking abilities. What is a good argument? How do arguments work? What makes some arguments better than others? The purpose of this course is to equip students to recognize and analyze argumentation as it occurs in a variety of contexts such as editorials, discussions, speeches, argumentative essays, and philosophical texts. To accomplish this, we will study the components of good arguments, different types of arguments, common ways in which arguments can go wrong, and techniques of criticizing and constructing arguments. Objectives: The goal of this course is to sharpen your ability to think effectively. We may use our critical thinking skills in a wide range of situations from identifying and correcting problems on a national or global scale to achieving our personal goals. Critical thinking enables us to solve problems and to make the best choices in our academic, professional, and personal lives. Effective thinking involves close attention to detail, an ability to stand back from situations, weighing of pros and cons (the positive and negative attributes involved in every situation), and ultimately a willingness to make decisions on the basis of information that has been collected and to take responsibility for those decisions once they have been made. In this way, critical thinking involves how we see the world, how we organize what we see, and how we behave in the world. In our society, the skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening are essential to critical thinking. The exchange of ideas with others is a crucial component of critical thinking in action. Page 1

This course will be conducted as a seminar (i.e., a meeting for an exchange of ideas in an area). As a group we will examine ideas about critical thinking, civility, and public discourse, with particular attention to the contemporary issues in society. We will also reflect upon our own critical thinking as we present and discuss together. The course has several objectives: 1. Develop critical thinking skills: This is a College Now course in Critical Thinking. As such, it involves certain specific requirements (especially, substantial required reading and writing). Its central purpose is to enhance each student's ability to read, write, speak, and listen critically. (If you're asking yourself exactly what the term "critically" means, you're already off to a good start!) 2. Develop communication skills: The course has been designed to help students integrate and further develop knowledge and skills introduced in other courses such as interaction skills, public speaking, argumentation, etc. This class will focus on developing skills in questioning, discussion participation and leadership, and the presenting of oral and written arguments. To become "conversant" means to be able to discuss an issue in an engaged, well informed, insightful, articulate manner. Becoming conversant with an issue means much more than just knowing "the facts," although factual information is always important. It means developing a well thought out personal perspective informed by an understanding and appreciation of other views, so that fruitful dialogue with people having different perspectives on the issue becomes possible. Goals: The course is designed to enhance student s abilities to read and listen critically, to respond reflectively to arguments offered by others, to distinguish successful and unsuccessful arguments, and to generate wellformed arguments of their own. In a broad sense, the course is intended to introduce students to philosophical argumentation and reflection, and to develop skills of reading, writing, and argumentation that are valuable in a number of academic and everyday contexts. The goals of the course are to help you: develop the habits of assessing and defending the reasonableness of your beliefs and values and those of others; appreciate the importance of looking at an issue from a variety of points of view and of recognizing the complexity that surrounds most controversial issues; and appreciate the value of critical thinking in both public and private decision-making. Students will learn to identify and analyze arguments. Students will learn to evaluate situations from various perspectives. Students will learn how their perceiving lenses influence their thinking and beliefs. Students will develop the ability to solve problems, analyze issues, and make informed decisions in their academic, career and personal lives. Text: Chaffee, John. Thinking Critically, edition. Some course readings and materials will be provided by the instructor or will be for download at www.jrandle.net or Google Drive. We will be reading the play, Twelve Angry Men. Eligibility: Passing grade on the English Regents or a Social Studies/English GPA greater than 70. Required Resources: You must create and maintain a Google Email and Google Drive Account. Page 2

Electronics Policy: This a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Classroom. Your electronic device may be and should be visible on your desk, yet face down on the upper right side of your desk. If at any time Mr. Randle feels you are not using your electronic device for class work you will be asked to store it away in your school bag. All devices must be in silent/vibrate mode while in class (on campus), unless otherwise allowed by Mr. Randle. During class, all sounds on personally owned technology must be muted unless Mr. Randle grants permission for use of sound associated with an instructional activity. Headphones/earbuds may be used with Mr. Randle s permission. Students may use electronic devices during class to text and access the internet when appropriate to work on an assignment. All assignments will be submitted and receive feedback and graded through Google Drive. Students should not expect to be able to charge their electronic devices in class. Students may not use their smartphone during class to make or receive phone class. Students may not use the camera or audio/visual recording feature. Voice, video, and image capture applications may only be used with prior teacher permission for specific instructional purposes. Students may not use devices to record, transmit, or post photographic images or video of a person or persons in class unless allowed by Mr. Randle. Each student is responsible for his/her own device and should use it responsibly and appropriately. Mr. Randle and the Academy of American Studies take no responsibility for stolen, lost, or damaged devices. Mr. Randle reserves the right to revise this policy. Consequences for inappropriate use will be dealt with on a case by case basis. Attendance Policy: Attendance, punctuality, and participation are important in this class. More than three absences will result in a WF (Withdrawn/Failing). Note: 3 Lates = 1 Absence A student with no more than one absence will receive bonus points to their final paper grade. No absence will be excused ; however, some absences are unavoidable due to illness. If you have to miss class, please leave an E-Mail message and be sure to find out about work due before coming to class. It is the student s responsibility, to ask about work missed. Evaluation: Your participation--which means coming to class prepared, expressing and defending your ideas clearly and constructively, contributing relevant points of interest, making connections between course material and material from other classes and from the world outside the school, demonstrating enthusiasm, and completing in-class exercises--will count for 20% of your final grade. This course is organized as a seminar format, in which the essential feature will be the active discussion of topics by all attendees. Students are expected to attend all class sessions, to complete course readings and assignments prior to the class for which they are assigned and to participate actively in the discussions. Page 3

Major Writing Assignments must be submitted through Google Drive. All assignments will be required to be turned in on Google Drive the day they are due. 5 points per day will be deducted for late assignments. You are responsible for assignments whether or not you are in class the day they are assigned or the day they are due. If you are going to miss class for any reason and wish to receive full credit for the assignment due that day, you must get the assignment to me in my drive by 7:00 p.m. There will be no make-up assignments. A word about grammar, punctuation, and spelling: Although, correctness is not the most important aspect of writing, it is necessary in academic writing. Therefore, formal papers must show an acceptable level of correctness in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Papers that do not meet these standards, or that do not meet other acceptable standards of academic writing or that do not fulfill the assignment, will be given an NC (no credit). You may revise and/or edit any paper on which you receive an NC and turn it in to receive credit, but you must do so by the date given on the NC grading sheet, and your paper will receive a full grade deduction from whatever grade it earns. If you get more than one NC, you should make an appointment to come discuss your problems. Take advantage of your peers for peer editing as well prior to submitting final papers. I m available to conference with all students working on drafts by appointment. Plagiarism: You should understand all the meanings of the word plagiarism and agree not to commit this academic offense in the preparation of your work for this course. I encourage you to seek help with your writing. Students who are proven to have committed any acts of plagiarism will be withdrawn from the course and receive an automatic F on their transcript. Late Assignment Policy: Assignments are due on the specified due dates. Assignments will be accepted up to one weekend late, and will result in a lowered one letter grade. After one weekend, the door closes, and you lose all points for the assignment. Homework Assignments: All readings, videos, and podcasts assignments are required. Grading Policy: Essays 30 % Mini-Assignments (CW/HW) 20 % Final Paper and Presentation 30 % Participation & In Class Discussions 20 % Note: Grades will be posted and can be monitored through Pupil Path. (www.pupilpath.com) Page 4

Course Units of Study: 1) Faith and Society - Essential Question: Is Religion Essential for A Moral Society? a. Parts of an Argument b. Identifying Issues and Conclusions c. Building Convincing Arguments d. Analyzing Issues and Opposing Viewpoints e. Class Debate Is religion essential for a moral society? f. Persuasive Essay Writing g. Challenging a false premise 2) Implications of Critical Thinking in the Judicial System - Essential Question: Is the American Jury System Still A Good Idea? a. Credibility and Accuracy b. 12 Angry Men (play/film) c. Identifying Arguments and Evaluating Arguments 3) First Amendment Rights and Students - Essential Question: Are Students Losing Their Rights? a. Defending a point of view b. Weighing Pros and Cons 4) Contemporary Issue: Gun Control v. Gun Rights - Essential Question: Are We A Violent Society? a. Research Writing Skills 5) Contemporary Issue: Race in America Essential Question: How Do Changing Demographics Impact Our Society? 6) Final Paper and Presentations Course Schedule: Period 1 (7:24am 8:24am) Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays Room 23 Assignment #1: Complete online course survey: http://tinyurl.com/criticalthinkingcoursesurvey -Create a gmail account if you don t already have one! Page 5

NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ACADEMY OF AMERICAN STUDIES William C. Bassell, Principal September 2015 North Campus: 28-01 41 Avenue Long Island City, NY 11101 (718) 361-8786 / Fax--(718) 361-8832 Mark Solkoff, Asst. Principal South Campus: 28-04 41 Avenue Long Island City, NY 11101 (718) 433-2556 / Fax-- (718) 937-4159 Nina Cohen, Asst. Principal Joanne Black, Asst. Principal Jason Vanderwalker, Asst. Principal Brian Mayer, Asst. Principal Dear Parent/Guardian: Your child, is enrolled in a College Now course for the Fall 2015 semester. The course, Critical Thinking, is offered in conjunction with CUNY LaGuardia College. This course is held at the Academy of American Studies and this course ends in mid-december. Students who successfully complete the course will have earned three college credits and a high school credit. As students of LaGuardia College, the students are also eligible to receive a student ID from LaGuardia to use all student facilities on campus including the LaGuardia Library. Students will also be eligible to take courses and earn college credits at LaGuardia during the Spring semester. This class will strengthen reading, writing, and critical thinking skills, and prepare students for college level work. In order to be successful, students need to attend regularly, complete all assignments, and participate actively in class. Students cannot have more than three unexcused absences during the semester. During the semester, the students may go to the LaGuardia campus after school which is within walking distance from the school. We will also be watching and discussing controversial topics, related to our course goals. For example, we will watch a PBS documentary entitled, Farmingville and Bowling for Columbine. Please don t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about the course. I look forward to working with your student this semester and meeting you during parent/teacher conferences later in the Fall. Sincerely J. Randle jrandle@schools.nyc.gov My child,, has permission to go to LaGuardia College Campus from the Academy unescorted after school. He/She can view and discuss all material related to the class. Signed Dated Page 6