1 Language Arts Division English 103, Composition and Critical Thinking, Spring 2016 Online Section #8193 Transfers to UC/CSU, 3 units 11 April 6 June 2016, 6 hrs 30 mins per week Prerequisites: Completion of English 101 with a grade of a C or better. Course Description This course, which meets the transfer critical thinking requirement, is designed to develop transferready critical thinking, reading, and writing skills beyond the level achieved in English 101. Based on college-level readings, the course will focus on the development of logical reasoning and analytical and argumentative writing skills. The assignments in essay writing, rhetorical analysis, and critical reading are rigorous and are based on non-fiction writings. Course Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) SLO #1 - At the end of the course, the successful student will be able to argue a point and support it (in writing) using extensive evidence from outside sources, evaluate arguments and rhetorical strategies for effectiveness, and detect any logical fallacies. SLO #2 - At the end of the course, the successful student will be able to research, evaluate and cite outside sources for use in the student's own writing. Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs) Critical Thinking: Analyze problems by differentiating fact from opinions; using evidence, and using sound reasoning to satisfy multiple solutions and their consequences. Ethics: Practice and demonstrate standards of personal and professional integrity and fairness; apply ethical principles in submission of all college work. Instructor: K. Dawson Contact information: dawsonk@wlac.edu kdkathdawson2@gmail.com Etudes Private Message system. This late start, eight-week English 103 class meets entirely online using the Etudes course management system. Although there are no on-campus meetings, students are expected to log in
2 to the Etudes classroom several times a week to satisfy requirements for online course content: readings, scheduled assignments, discussions, the research paper and research, essays and weekly viewing a series of videos, all of which are outlined week-by-week here in Etudes, in weekly Modules and in Etudes CourseMap. English 103 is a writing course, so you will write four researched essays, a research paper with all research documented and cited in a Works Cited list conforming to MLA style and format. Other writing counting towards your final grade will be a weekly discussion, based on a series of videos that guide you through the process of finding and refining thesis; a gathering evidence, strategies for evaluating and organizing research and integrating research into an argument paper, and elements of argument illustrated and presented to you in entertaining videos. The textbook Everything s an Argument (details listed below) is an important part of the course, and in addition to writing, there will be substantial reading each week. This class is sixteen weeks of work compressed into eight weeks for three units of transferrable credit. That means that you will have to devote many hours of work to successfully complete the requirements. You CAN do this if 1. You organize your time; 2. You spend at least eight or more hours per week on reading and writing; 3. You devote one hour to viewing the videos, then answer questions in Discussions about what you have seen; 4. You keep in touch with me frequently by engaging in discussions, by emailing and sending Private Messages (if needed) to me; 5. You observe deadlines for submitting work to me, and by following any suggestions I make to you for improving your work. You can get in touch with me every day in Etudes (except at weekends), or by email. I answer email daily (except at weekends). This course is entirely online; therefore, communication is by Private Message in Etudes, or email. I live in England, in a different time zone, so when you get in touch with me, allow for the eight (8) hour time difference. I will be online every weekday, and I will respond to messages daily except at weekends. Information about the course Instructional Content: Weekly announcements, readings, discussions, modules (these are like class lectures), assignments, essays, midterm and final exams, weekly viewing of a video series The Writer s Odyssey. Required textbook: Lunsford, Andrea, and John Ruszkiewicz. Everything s an Argument. Boston: Bedford/StMartin s.
3 2013. ISBN: 978-1-4576-606-9 Everything s an Argument has e-pages, a Student Site, reference materials, visual tutorials, and support for working with sources. It will be a help to you if you arrange to have these e-pages available to you. The authors of the required textbook say this: Academic argument covers a wide range of writing. But its hallmarks are an appeal to reason and a faith in research. Such arguments cannot be composed quickly, casually, or off the top of one s head. They require careful reading, accurate reporting, and a conscientious commitment to truth. As you read the assigned material in your textbook, follow the suggestions of the authors for their approach to reading and writing good arguments. Recommended: Hacker, Diana, and Nancy Sommers. A Pocket Style Manual. 6 th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin s. 2012. ISBN: 978-0-312-54254-2 This handbook has a companion Web site that demonstrates exercises, model papers, research and documentation online, and other free resources. You will find this a help when you record your research for essays in a Works Cited list. Videos for the course are listed in Etudes, left hand menu. The video series includes interactive exercises and activities. Use the exercises and activities to broaden your understanding of argument. Buy your books using ISBN so you have the correct edition. If you can find an online source, you may be able to buy your books at a more reasonable price. Renting textbooks is always less expensive than buying, but please have your textbook before the course begins so that you will be able to complete the first assignments. Be sure to have the same edition that the class will use, so when I refer to pages in the textbook, you will have the correct material. After taking this course, you should be able to: Identify and analyze the structure of arguments underlying the texts you read: Evaluate the validity and soundness of arguments, recognize and avoid logical fallacies; Draw sound inferences from data given in a variety of forms: Distinguish factual statements from judgmental statements and distinguish knowledge from opinion: Develop and practice the inductive and deductive skills needed for close reading and clear writing; Discover, evaluate, and cite outside sources for use in the development of your own writing; Demonstrate continued development in writing correct college-level English prose, using appropriate MLA citations/works cited; Identify some of the deliberate abuses and manipulations of rhetoric so you can identify them in your own writing: Use writing to construct meaning as critical thinkers and responsible citizens, and
4 Write effectively for different audiences and purposes, with an emphasis on argumentation and academic writing. You must have access to a computer. Assume that something will go wrong, so plan what you will do if you have a failure of equipment. If you must complete work to satisfy a deadline, arrange to work in the local library, or the College s library, or borrow a substitute computer, printer, or whatever you think you may need. Readings: Almost all your readings will be assigned from the textbook. Each weekly Module points you to pages that will help you to begin writing after you have read the material assigned Discussions You are required to post weekly responses to various topics related to the videos. Responses should be at least 3-4 complete sentences. Support your ideas with references to the video; state your point and back it with facts or personal anecdotes. Stay on topic. Respond to each other s comments in a respectful manner. See other Discussion guidelines in each weekly topic. Your comments will be read by me and others in class, so please be careful not to make inappropriate comments. NOTE: If you don t have internet access at home, there are computer labs on campus. Essays There will be four (4) essays, each of which will form part of the research paper. Full instructions will be given to you during the first week of class in the Module for Week 1. Please observe due dates for essays. When the four (4) essays are complete, you will edit them into a single research paper. This is the easiest way I know of to complete a research paper in a short-term compressed class such as this. All essays must follow MLA style and format. In the Module for preparing your essays, I will refer you to pages in the textbook(s) that illustrate MLA style and format. Instructions for submitting your essays will be in the essay-writing Module. Exams Midterm Final These exams will be essay exams. They will be open-book, timed, and submitted in MLA format. I will give you explicit instructions for each exam to prepare and then submit your essays to me. Class Policies Attendance
5 Because class discussions are an integral part of this course, your attendance in the online classroom is mandatory. You are responsible for attending in the online classroom for discussions each week. Read all announcements carefully, complete all assignments (essays), submit exams and essays as instructed and on time. If you are absent from the online classroom for more than one week, you may be dropped. Please notify me if there are circumstances that prevent your participation in the class. Students often think that online classes are easier, or take less time, than traditional on-campus classes, but online classes and online learning require dedication and focus, and often require more study time. Organize your time so that you do not become overwhelmed. Remember: you are completing sixteen weeks (16) work in eight (8) weeks. i Netiquette and Civilogue This semester, you will post weekly responses to the class discussions on various topics related to the videos you view each week. The term netiquette is a combination of the words internet and etiquette. The term civilogue is a combination of the words civil and dialogue. Both terms, as well as the words used to create them, are essential to the class. You may not agree with the views and opinions expressed by your peers, but you don t have the right to be disrespectful. Personal attacks, profanity, vulgarity and comments that are not productive additions to the conversation will be deleted and you will not receive credit for the assignment. Contacting Me E-mail is the best and quickest way to contact me. If you have a problem, do no.t let it grow. Contact me immediately. I expect students to ask questions and obtain help from me via email and/or during office hours, which I will post during the first week of class, and which will be informal College Policies: Academic Integrity (Plagiarism) In accordance with code 9803.28, academic dishonesty is prohibited and will not be tolerated in this class. Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, the following actions: cheating on an exam, plagiarism, working together on an assignment, paper or project when the instructor has specifically stated students should not do so, submitting the same term paper to more than one instructor, or allowing another individual to assume one s identity for the purpose of enhancing one s grade. Academic dishonesty of any type, such as cheating or knowingly furnishing false information, by a student provides grounds for disciplinary action by the instructor or college. In written work, no material may be copied from another without proper quotation marks, footnotes, or appropriate documentation.
6 o Plagiarism will result in a zero for the assignment, possible dismissal from the class and disciplinary action from the college. You will not receive credit for any essay missing citations and/or a Works Cited page. If you are having problems, don t let them increase. Email me or send me a Private Message, and check out some of the campus resources available to you. There are many resources available to help you; you will need the resources of the College s Library in particular, so take time to go into the library and introduce yourself to a librarian. Office of Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSP&S) Student Services Building (SSB) 320 (310) 287-4450. West Los Angeles College recognizes and welcomes its responsibility to provide an equal educational opportunity to all disabled individuals. The Office of Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSP&S) has been established to provide support services for all verified disabled students pursuing a college education. DSP&S students may qualify for: priority registration, registration assistance, special parking permits, sign language interpreters and assistive technology (WLAC College Catalog). Instructional Support (Tutoring) & Learning Skills Center Heldman Learning Resources Center (HLRC) (310) 287-4486 Improve your reading, language, vocabulary, spelling, math fundamentals and chemistry knowledge with convenient, self-paced computer-aided courses in the Learning Skills Center. Increase your knowledge and learning success: sign up for tutoring in various college subjects (WLAC College Catalog). Look at the link on the left hand menu. Library Services Heldman Learning Resources Center (HLRC) (310) 287-4269 & (310) 287-4486 The WLAC Library provides instruction on how to use the online catalog, periodical and research databases. In addition to a large collection of books, periodicals and videos the WLAC Library has course textbooks which students may use while in the Library. Web access is available in LIRL as well as meeting rooms. The upper floors provide a beautiful view ideal for study. I encourage you to visit the library often and to ask for help with research and finding material useful to you for your paper. There is a link to the library on the left hand menu here in Etudes. Please learn your way around your Etudes site. Find everything, and consult the Distance Learning office in HLRC, 4 th floor, where you will get help for just about anything you need. You will find the staff in HLRC encouraging and friendly. Get to know them visit their office and ask to see the spectacular view from the outside terrace.
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