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Syllabus English 5 Critical Thinking
Spring 2010 Merritt College
Tues/Thurs 11:00-12:20
Bldg D 137
Code: 23752
Instructor: Georgie Ovenden
Email: georgie.ovenden@csueastbay.edu
Phone: 510-649-7982
Required Texts/Materials:
 Writing Logically, Thinking Critically by Cooper and Patton
ISBN 978-0-205-66856-4
 Lined paper for in-class writing
 Flexible three-binder for your Reading Journal which will comprise class
notes, writing assignments, homework and handouts.
 A folder for your final Portfolio
Email and Internet Requirements:
You will be using email, accessing websites for articles, interactive quizzes,
writing exercises and issues. You will be printing out documents so you must
have reliable and consistent access to a computer and a printer in order to pass
the course.
Emailing me: Please put this in your subject line: “Merritt Eng 5 Your Name”,
so that it can be identified. This will lessen the chance of it being deleted.
Course Web sites:
 http://georgiesenglishwiki.pbworks.com/ The class syllabus, schedule,
essay information, peer review sheets, presentation guidelines, and
reading journal information are all posted on the class page on my
website. You will be responsible for downloading and printing out course
materials and handouts.
 http://engrade.com/student/login Gradebook and attendance records are
kept on Engrade.com. You will login with: engrade – govenden. Your
Student ID number is your password, and then you will set up your own
username and password for your account.
Cell phones: Turn off or silence your phones while in class. Do not text
message or make personal phone calls during class. In case of emergencies,
please leave the classroom for cell phone use.
Course Description: English 5 is designed to develop your ability to analyze,
evaluate, and form a critical response to primary and secondary works from a
range of academic and cultural contexts. You will be expected to develop the
critical methods of inquiry and evaluation that are widely used in written analysis
and argument across disciplines, and you will be asked to apply these methods of
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analysis and argument in analytical papers and in class discussions and
presentations.
Student Learning Outcomes:
* Apply active reading strategies in order to identify main ideas and critically
analyze and explain ideas in texts
* Evaluate the pattern of reasoning present in an argument and related critical
evaluation, including induction, deduction and the logical fallacies
* Apply fundamentals of critical thinking to writing well organized, well
developed, effective, well edited, cited, logically sound essays and a research
paper
* Practice the conventions of academic writing, including introduction to
Modern Language Association (MLA) documentation style of citation.
Course Assignments:
There will be 7 out of class mini writing assignments.
Your drafts will be peer-reviewed in class, which will be submitted with the
assignments.
Chapter 1 - Thinking and Writing - a Critical Connection
Considering Audience and Purpose p. 15
Chapter 2 - Inference - Critical Thought
Interpreting Fiction p. 46
Chapter 3 - The Structure of Argument
Summarizing an Article p.70
Chapter 4 - Written Argument
Taking a Stand p.102
Chapter 5 - The Language of Argument - Definition
Composing an Argument Based on a Definition p.124
Chapter 6 - Fallacious Arguments
Analyzing an Extended Argument p.151
Chapter 7 - Deductive and Inductive Argument
Questioning Generalizations p.196
Writing Format Guidelines:
* MLA formatting
 typed
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double spaced
one inch margins
size 12 standard fonts
your name in the upper left corner of your first page
page numbers in the upper right corner.
Group Presentations:
In a group of 3 or 4 of your classmates, you will present a topic or an article about
writing to the class. This is a broad topic that will need narrowing down. You and
your group may browse my website for ideas, but you aren’t limited to those
resources. You will then present your topic, and develop an activity for the class
to participate in that will teach the class. Your goal should be not only for the
class to understand the topic, but also to apply what you are showing them. Try to
make your presentation clear, thorough, and fun for the class.
Reading Journal – get a flexible 3 ring loose leaf binder in which to collect
your in class writing exercises. I will collect them periodically. Your entries will be
in response to specific questions and in-class writing exercises that you do.
During the quarter, you will be responsible for keeping track of all your work.
Portfolio – There is no Final Exam in this course, but your Final essay is due
with your Portfolio the last day of class. See the website for the Portfolio
Guidelines.
Final Class Writing Analysis – You will come to the Computer Lab at the last
class meeting and write an analysis of ONE of the three essays in the back of the
text (p. 215). You will pick an essay and respond the questions the follow the
essay, and then submit your work online at the end of the class period.
Grading in this course:
* Seven writing assignments are worth 60% of your grade.
* Homework assignments are worth 10% of your grade.
* The Class Presentation counts for 5 % of your grade.
* Reading Journal counts for 5% of your grade.
* Portfolio counts for 10% of your grade.
* Final Class Writing Analysis counts 5% of your grade
* Attendance and class participation counts for 5% of your grade
Grading Contract:
You will receive a guaranteed C in the course if you submit all the work.
To receive a B or an A in this course requires you to do more than show up and
turn work in. You must display effort, enthusiasm, and improvement.
Attendance and Participation
Consistent attendance is very important, as the work we do in class is directly
related to your success. If you do miss a class it is your responsibility to check
your class page on my website for your schedule and assignments, and find out
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from classmates about what you missed in class; exchange contact information
with classmates. As this class meets twice per week, a student who misses more
than three of the classes, regardless of the reason, will have their grade
reduced by one full grade. A student who misses more than five classes
will automatically fail the course. Students arriving more than 15 minutes late
will be considered absent for the entire class.
In-Class Etiquette
In this class, there will be a lot of discussion. We will all be attempting to answer
questions, voice opinions, agree and/or disagree with each other, and present
findings. None of this is possible unless we create a comfortable environment. To
do this, a few rules apply:
1. Keep cell phones/beepers on vibrate or silent.
2. Do not text during class – you need to pay attention to the work.
3. Be on time!
4. Show respect for your classmates and their ideas. During discussions, many
different opinions will be expressed. All are welcomed and none are to be
ridiculed.
5. Use appropriate language during discussion.
6. Refrain from expressing disgruntlement during class. See me outside of class
about any concerns.
Academic honesty and plagiarism policy:
Cheating or plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in severe disciplinary
action. Students are required to attend the class on plagiarism and pass the
plagiarism quiz.
Cheating is defined as possessing unauthorized sources of information
during an exam; copying the work of another student during an exam;
completing an assignment for another student; submitting out-of-class work for
an in-class assignment; retaining exams or other materials after they were
supposed to be returned to the instructor; submitting the same paper for two
different classes without approval of both instructors; and inventing data or
falsifying an account of data collection.
Plagiarism is taking the words of another and either copying or
paraphrasing those words without giving credit to the source (through
parenthetical citations, quotation marks, reference citations, all of which we will
go over in class). This includes using material from the Internet without citing
correctly. I am required to file a report of academic dishonesty with the
Department of Academic Affairs should an act of plagiarism occur. The first
incidence of plagiarism will result in an “F” on the assignment and you will be
reported to the Dean of the College. If plagiarism occurs a second time, you will
fail the course.
Grievance Policy
English Department Grievance Policy: All student grievances concerning grading
or other areas are to be brought to the attention of the course instructor before
any other action can be. If you cannot find a resolution to your grievance, then
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you and your instructor will meet with the head of the composition program or
the Dean of the English Department.
Disability Accommodations
If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic
accommodations, or if you would need assistance in the event of an emergency,
please contact me as soon as possible.
Final notes: This syllabus is subject to change as needed. I may also assign
individualized homework to help you improve particular writing skills.