Preparing for Study in the “College Transfer Learning Community”:
Notes for our students
by Nita Rajagopal and Sandra Woodside
Introduction
Welcome to what may be your first set of classes in a learning community. Learning Communities, here at
Modesto Junior College, are sets of classes that are linked together through a theme, and the classes
address that theme by applying the specific point of view of each of the disciplines represented. In this
learning community, we have paired “English 101: Reading and Composition” and “Sociology 101:
Introduction to Sociology” to address the theme “The Individual and the Community.” We are interested in
how our lives are structured by both these elements.
In addressing our theme, our goal, as your instructors, is to help you develop the skills of critical thinking.
Critical thinking, as defined by Paul (2006) is “the art of analyzing and evaluating information [someone
else’s thinking or our own] with a view to improving it.” The quality of our thinking affects our ability to
create clear, relevant solutions to the challenges we face in our personal lives, in our communities, in our
nation, and in our world.
Why Did We Link Composition and Sociology?
The human is a thinking animal. We are also a social animal, which makes us by nature communicators.
We articulate our thoughts in speech and writing.. Writing is a tool and an art form that helps us learn,
think, and communicate.
The goal of your English class, then, is to help you create meaningful communication through writing by
providing you with practice in reading intelligently and thinking critically. You’ll learn to communicate your
ideas through a variety of writing methods generally known as modes of discourse.
In English, we will read essays and stories and observe the social and philosophical commentaries made
within them. Even as we analyze the literature before us, we will develop skills to communicate
effectively. As we enhance our spirit, we will also improve our craft, which in turn will serve us the rest of
our lives
Just as the various methods of discourse help us communicate by writing, Sociology provides us with a
particular point of view with which to approach and interpret the world in which we live. Sociology
understands individual human behavior from the group (community) point of view. Sociologists examine
how group life controls and shapes individual choices.
In our learning community, we will be using the perspective of Sociology and sociological ideas to ask
questions about our individual and collective lives. C. Wright Mills calls this developing “the sociological
imagination.” As we question and analyze, we will use structured writing as a way to express our thinking
about the topics under consideration.
So, you see, Composition and Sociology are automatically intertwined. What you learn in one is easily
applicable to the other.
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How Will Your Learning Be Organized?
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What Happens On A Typical Day?
You will notice that every class is split into segments of:
1.
2.
3.
4.
lecture,
writing,
group work, and
presentations
You could use this acronym to remember the four segments: Let’s Write Good Papers, which is our motto
in English 101.
The short lectures are intended to give you information about the topics and guide you through the day’s
session. The group discussion is intended for you to learn by sharing ideas and teaching. You’ll be
placed in a small study team that might consist of two to four members. You will each present work which
you brought to class (or completed in class) which will then be discussed and analyzed, and your team
will give useful feedback on how you might improve your work. The presentations are to help you place
your ideas before the class for deeper questioning and feedback, which will in turn add to the body of
thought created by you and the class.
What you have written will be assessed using one or more of a core of universal intellectual standards.
They include: clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, logic, significance, and fairness.
As your teachers, we will function as your guides. We’ll design the activities in which you will engage and
will usually wander through the class listening in on your work. We will coach you on the skills of critical
thinking as they are being practiced for that day. We will work to keep you on track by commenting on
group discussions as they are happening. We will model critical thinking behaviors and feedback skills.
Group discussion carries participation points, so missing discussions will have an impact on your grade.
Not every class session is the same: The form it takes will vary from day to day and from theme to theme.
However, you are always expected to prepare for class and to write or do a set of problems for it, and you
must always hand in your work or present your work at the time required. If you arrive in class
unprepared, you will be asked to leave and go to the library to prepare your work. This means you miss
the participation points and credit for the assignment for that day. Continual lack of preparation will
obviously be reflected in an unsuccessful grade.
How Can You Get the Most from In-class Sessions and Enjoy Them Most Fully?

If you do enough work in preparation for them—otherwise, you won’t appreciate the points
made in discussion and won’t be able to actively participate and contribute.

If you get up enough courage to put forward you own views and actively participate. Class
is about the exchange of ideas. Your peers are not there to lecture you nor to entertain you during
class. Rather, they should help you think your way through the assigned content.

If you are not afraid to reveal your ignorance. Your classmates do not grade your work and
performance nor will you grade theirs. Rather you will each be making suggestions as to how
each of you might improve your work and increase your understanding.

If you learn to stand up for your own views at the same time you learn to admit the
limitations of your views. You and your classmates should learn to enjoy sharing ideas and not
be offended if someone disagrees with the thinking of others. Remember--you can learn a lot
from each other.
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What Are Your Responsibilities Towards Your Teacher and Yourself?
1. To attend class at the agreed time
2. To read all the essential reading indicated when the assignment is set.
3. To produce the work by the time specified.
In Conclusion
Critical thinking is hard work. Our classes may be very different from many you have experienced
because the responsibility for learning rests squarely on your shoulders. Writing essays and adequately
preparing for class is hard work. You may not always be satisfied with what you have written in
preparation for class, but do not let yourself be paralyzed by a desire to produce the perfect assignment.
No one has ever achieved perfect knowledge (of anything) and there is always room to learn more about
anything. After all – if you knew it all already, you wouldn’t be here.
As we move forward, if at any time you need help, please visit us during office hours or make
appointments with us. We look forward to a great semester of learning and growing as critical thinkers!
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