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Advanced Composition and Critical

Thinking

English 201 (3.5 units): #31528

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Course Description:

This course focuses on the

development of critical thinking

skills. Students will apply these

skills to the analysis of written

arguments in various forms and

genres, both classic and contemporary, and to the writing of

effective persuasive essays. Students will learn to

evaluate and interpret data, to recognize assumptions, to

distinguish facts from opinions, to

identify and avoid logical fallacies, to employ deductive and inductive

reasoning, and to effectively assert

and support argumentative

claims.

Rio Hondo

College

Spring 2016

Professor Dina Szklarek dszklarek@riohondo.edu

Office Hours: M/W 9:30- 10:30 AM in A200

d

I N S I D E T H I S S Y L L A B U S

Lecture: Friday 8:00 AM- 11:10 AM in A218

Lab: Friday 11:15 AM- 12:40 PM in LR 124

Student Learning Outcomes

The student will be able

to integrate credible

outside sources into their

papers.

The student will be able

to organize ideas

logically.

The student will be able

to write persuasively.

Student will write a clear,

declarative thesis

statement.

Students correctly

documented outside

sources using the

designated citation

format

Student will be able to

formulate an argument

and support it with

relevant evidence.

Student will be able to

communicate ideas in an

organized, logical manner.

Why should I take this class? 1

How will I be evaluated? 2

What are the course policies? 3

Who is teaching this class? 4

Student will be able to

incorporate quoted or

paraphrased material from

credible outside sources.

The student will be able to

apply standard English

grammar and mechanics

in both written and oral

communication.

SLO’s Continued…

Essay 1: Evaluating

arguments: 3-4 pages-

10%

Essay 2: Visual Rhetoric:

4-5 pages- 15%

Essay 3: Argumentative:

5-6 pages- 15 %

Essay 4: Research- 6-8

pages – 20%

Course Requirements

Class Workshops 5%

Quizzes 5%

Journals (Five 1-2 pages)

15%

Group Presentations 5%

Lab 10%

GRADING SCALE

A 90- 100

B 80-89

C 70-79

D 60-69

F 50-59

Launch Pad Access for LAB

http://www.macmillanhighered.com/launchpadsolo/readwrite/3242735

Alone Together by Sherry Turkle ISBN-13: 978-0465031467

The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr, 2011,

ISBN-13: 978-0393339758

Pen and Paper

Class Blog: https://thespacebetweenusblog.wordpress.com

Course Readings and Materials:

“Words — so

innocent and

powerless as

they are, as

standing in a

dictionary, how

potent for good

and evil they

become in the

hands of one

who knows how

to combine

them.”

~Nathaniel

Hawthorne

English 201 Syllabus Page 2

“It is the belief that

intelligence can be

developed that opens

students to a love of

learning, a belief in the

power of effort and

constructive, determined

reactions to setbacks”

- Carol Dwek

English 201 Syllabus Page 3

A Note on Attendance and

Participation. Because this

class is conducted as a

workshop, your attendance is

necessary. Please come,

and come prepared. The

discussions we will be having

on the readings and the

papers are an integral part of

the learning process. There

will be in-class assignments

given at any time, and

these cannot be made

up. Also, because we only

meet once a week, it is

Course Policies

important to be in class on

time. You get points for

participating, and you do not

get those points when you

are not here. Also, should

you be absent from class, it

is your responsibility to find

out what happened from

another student. Should you

decide to drop the class, it is

your responsibility to go to

the Admissions Office and fill

out the appropriate card.

A Note on Email. I will email

the class with updates,

reminders, instructions, and

clarifications. I do this to

make sure that the class is

clear on what is expected of

them. I am available to

answer questions through

email and will get back to you

within 24 hours. In the

subject of your emails to me

please put your last name

and English 201.

Otherwise, I might not

respond to you.

While your main goal of

distributing a newsletter

might be to sell your

product or service, the

and write your own

articles, or include a

calendar of upcoming

events or a special offer

that promotes a new

product.

You can also research

articles or find “filler”

articles by accessing

the World Wide Web.

You can write about a

variety of topics but try

to keep your articles

short.

Much of the content you

put in your newsletter

can also be used for

your Web site.

Microsoft Word offers a

simple way to convert

your newsletter to a

Web publication. So,

when you’re finished

writing your newsletter,

convert it to a Web site

A Note on Late Work.

Please bring your work in on

time. Your essays and

assignments must be turned

in on the due date and in

class. I will accept one “late”

essay per semester with no

questions asked. The

assignment must be received

by the next class meeting to

receive full credit. Should you

be absent on the day an

assignment is due, email it

on the due date and bring a

hard copy to our next class

meeting.

A Note on my Revision

Policy. If you receive a

grade you are dissatisfied

with, you are welcome to

revise and resubmit that

essay provided that you talk

with me and/or visit one of

the tutors on campus. This

does not guarantee a higher

grade, but you cannot

receive a lower grade. You

have two weeks to resubmit

and can receive up to ten

more points.

A Note on Classroom

Behavior. Disobedient,

disruptive or disorderly

behavior exhibited by any

student may result in

disciplinary action in

accordance with District

policies and procedures.

Action may include, but is not

limited to expulsion from

class.

A Note on Technology in

the Classroom. Please use

technology responsibly. This

means that cell phones

should be on “Silent.”

Technology should be used

ONLY for class assignments

as specified by me. If you

must use your phone, just

step outside of the class.

A note on Lab. Our lab

should be treated like a

class. This means that during

lab you are to work on the

assigned modules and/ or

work on an English 201

writing assignment. You will

conference with me four

times over the course of the

semester.

MAKEUPS. You may not

makeup any quiz or in class

writing, unless you have a

doctor’s note or a note from

court explaining your

absence.

Rio Hondo College

3600 Workman Mill Road Whittier, CA 90601

(562) 692-092

Important dates for spring 2016

Last day to add = Feb 10

Last day to drop with refund = Feb 10

“I embrace teaching as an opportunity to inspire and empower. As an English

instructor, it is my goal to enhance student learning as a transformative experience.

Ideally, I want students to feel personally changed by their participation in a course I

am teaching. Therefore, my courses stress the importance of critical thinking,

effective writing and communication as means by which my students can empower

themselves… Teaching English is my passion. There is nothing else in my professional

life that brings the same joy and exhilaration as leading a class discussion where

students are learning and engaged. While I am fortunate to have found something I

am so passionate about, I feel that I have a responsibility to work hard for my

students. It is a great gift and an even greater responsibility to share the subject

matter I love with others. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to teach English and I

only hope that I am always doing a service to my students.”

- Professor Szklarek

We’re on the Web!

http://www.riohondo.edu

English 201 Syllabus Page 4