English 102H
Joe Calabrese
FH 232
calabj@unr.edu
Homepage:
http://wolfweb.unr.edu/homepage/calabj/102/Legendshomepage2.html
SKEPTICISM AND SOCIETY
OVERVIEW
This course is focused on two things: skepticism and writing. Let me explain
the first with an example. Recently I read an article about two health care
practitioners whose treatment relies on “traditional Chinese medicine and the five
element theory as a framework for diagnoses” of their patients. The two
practitioners say they have “received various forms of energy healing.” What is the
“five element theory”? How does someone “receive” energy healing? Is there
research to show the effectiveness of such practices? A skeptic would ask such
questions.
The same clinic offers craniosacral therapy, a practice based on eccentric
about the human skull. A skeptic would ask about the underlying assumptions of
such a therapy and would likely also ask for evidence that the practice works better
than making a wish or just doing nothing, and a trained skeptic would know the
difference between evidence and anecdote.
Basically, skepticism is a balanced stance in the face of claims about the
world. Skeptics try to be open but not unguarded. They have taken the trouble to
learn something about logic and about the methods of science and also about their
own vulnerability to error. It’s not very hard to pick up the basics even though their
application lasts a lifetime.
The second focus is on writing and we will be reflecting on our practices all
semester. I think the basics of composition are also fairly easy to grasp and working
at basic skills will serve you throughout your years at UNR and probably well
beyond those.
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Searching for Bigfoot
GOALS
This is a writing course, and we want to get better at writing. The only way to
do that is to write, regularly and critically. We need to become conscious of our
choices in writing, and one way to do this is to share writing with attentive readers,
and we will do that. We will also identify some properties of good writing—
compression; clarity; wit; accuracy—and we will incorporate these in our work.
Our theme being what it is, we will want to develop what I am calling a
skeptic’s toolkit. In the span of a semester we can acquire tools and practice using
them as we sort through all kinds of material.
Reading, a big part of the course, requires effort that includes things like
note-taking and questioning of authors’ intent, and the mapping out of claims. So we
will work on reading skills in ways that may be new to you. This may be most
apparent when we read some of the texts late in the semester.
BASIC SKILLS
Writing:
1. Efficiently restate the core views of another writer
2. Coherently quote texts, integrate others’ words into your essay
3. Understand and evaluate the structure of your own writing
4. Gain insight into your own style (diction, voice, sentence patterns, etc.)
5. Develop economy of style
Reading:
1. See texts as arrangements of claims and evidence
2. “Talk back” to texts, questioning their claims, layout, strategies
3. Compare and link various readings
Argument:
1. Acquire and develop your skeptical stance—all semester long
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2. Build up and learn to skillfully use tools in skeptic’s toolkit
3. Learn to assess evidence, to sort weak from strong
4. Determine limits to skepticism
WORK
1.
2.
3.
4.
several short essays and a final, investigative paper
a notebook with 10 formatted entries
group and final exam presentations
quizzes
GRADING
1.
2.
3.
4.
papers: 50%
notebook: 15%
presentations: 20%
quizzes: 15%
ET CETERA

If you miss three classes it won’t affect your grade. If you miss more, it may
lower your grade.

If you miss a class, look at our syllabus. Don’t ask me to tell you what we did
in class. This will annoy me. Do come by during office hours if you have
questions about the course or about your progress. I don’t post grades during
the semester.

Never submit work via email without my prior, specific permission.
Various official statements you need to read:
Academic Success Services: Your student fees cover usage of the Math Center
(775) 784-4422, Tutoring Center (775) 784-6801, and University Writing Center
(775) 784-6030. These centers support your classroom learning; it is your
responsibility to take advantage of their services. Keep in mind that seeking help
outside of class is the sign of a responsible and successful student.
Surreptitious or covert video-taping of class or unauthorized audio recording of
class is prohibited by law and by Board of Regents policy. This class may be
videotaped or audio recorded only with the written permission of the instructor. In
order to accommodate students with disabilities, some students may have been
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given permission to record class lectures and discussions. Therefore, students
should understand that their comments during class may be recorded.
Disability Services: Any student with a disability needing academic adjustments or
accommodations is requested to speak with the Disability Resource Center
(Thompson Building, Suite 101) as soon as possible to arrange for appropriate
accommodations.
End of semester evaluations: We strongly encourage you to complete the online
course evaluation form provided on Webcampus. Your evaluation is important to
faculty because it impacts department decisions regarding their annual evaluations
and because instructors themselves value thoughtful comments and suggestions.
The procedure is completely anonymous. No one is able to see who wrote what. We
are announcing, as well, a drawing from among students who complete the form;
four winners randomly picked from a blind list will receive $25.00 gift certificates in
the ASUN bookstore.
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