Santiago Canyon College: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
English 103: Critical Thinking and Writing
Course Syllabus
Fall 2005
Instructor:
Time:
Office Phone:
Email:
Office Hours:
James Isbell
Ticket #: 3310305
M/W 9:30-11:20
Location: Rm. E-308
714 628-4946
Office: U-130
isbell_james@sccollege.edu
Mon 6:00 pm-7:00 pm
Tues 11:30-12:30
Wed 11:30-12:30
Thur 4:30-5:30
and by Appointment
Required Texts
Elements of Argument 6th Ed. by Annette T. Rottenberg
A Writer's Reference 4th Edition by Diana Hacker
A College Dictionary
Course Objectives
English 103 provides means and opportunities for college students to develop critical reading, thinking
and writing skills that they will employ in a wide range of academic and professional settings. It is a
course based on the idea that reading, writing and thinking rationally, fairly, and objectively are
interdependent activities, all of which may be greatly improved with instruction and practice. "Critical"
thinking relies on the judicious detection and evaluation of an argument, whether explicitly or implicitly
made, and on the ability to construct a substantial argument and support it with well-documented and
thoroughly analyzed textual evidence.
Policies and Procedures
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion ("C" or better) of English 101 or equivalent course
Attendance and Drop Policies:
Attendance is expected and will be recorded at each class meeting.
If you are absent, you are still responsible for the work conducted in the class; make a class "buddy" and
exchange phone numbers, and ask your buddy to pick up any handouts you might miss. It is not the
teacher's job to re-teach the class individually to students who were absent. Three unexcused absences
may result in the student being dropped from the class. Students who choose to drop must do so
officially with Admissions and Records (and may do so by telephone). The last date to drop a class and
receive a "W" for this session of Summer is Thursday, June 24, 2005 (students who remain enrolled after
that date will be assigned a grade for the course). Ultimately, it is the student's responsibility to drop
the class.
Lateness:
Sometimes we are unavoidably late. If you should one day be late, please enter the
classroom and take your seat quietly. Don't stand outside peering through the window or waiting for a
break that may never come. Frequent lateness however suggests bad planning or a lack of commitment
to the course, both serious lapses in effective critical thinking.
Late Papers: Papers are due on the due date. Absence is no excuse for a late paper. If you must be
absent, ask someone to deliver the paper to me or my mailbox—on the day that it is due. But, you
may turn in one (and only one!) essay one class period late without penalty; this is truly a one-time-only
offer, so please save it for emergency use. No course work will be accepted after the scheduled final
exam time.
Plagiarism and Cheating: Plagiarism and cheating undermine the fundamental aims of higher
education and cannot be tolerated. A plagiarized paper automatically fails and could earn an "F" for the
course. Refer to the 2005-2006 Course Catalog for SSC's official policy on plagiarism.
Extra Credit: Please, do not ask for extra credit: do your best work on each assignment.
Paper Preparation: Each paper written for this class must be type or computer-printed and carefully
edited on each page with black pen. Please review thoroughly the attached "Specifications" checklist
before submitting your work. Supporting evidence (including any citations from the Internet) must be
correctly documented according to current MLA standards; please review pp. 380-403 in your textbook
or refer to The Writer's Reference.
Final Exam: Successful completion of the final exam is a course requirement; you must pass the final
exam in order to receive a passing grade in English 103.
Overview of Assignments
Essay #1
Essay #2
Essay #3
Essay #4
Essay #5
3 typed pages
4 typed pages
5 typed pages
6 typed pages
8 typed pages
100 points
100 points
150 points
150 points
200 points
Oral Report (handout & quiz)
50 points
Mid-Term Exam (open-notes, books)
100 points
Final Exam (open-notes, books)
100 points
Journals (5 responses to Op-ed pieces)
50 points
Total Possible
1000 pnts.
Final Grades: 900-1000: A; 800-899: B; 700-799: C; 600-699: D; Below 600: F
All papers are due at the beginning of class on the dates indicated on the syllabus. No paper will be
accepted for which no rough draft was prepared.
You will turn in final and rough drafts in a letter-sized manila file folder marked with your name and
my name. All papers will be passed back and forth between us in this folder; when you turn in a paper,
all previous final drafts should also be included.
Essay #1: minimum 3 typed pages, extended definition, John Lennon’s "Working Class Hero," a
popular song
Essay #2: minimum 4 typed pages, Chapter 15, “Freedom of Speech”
Essay #3: minimum 5 typed pages
Essay #4: minimum 6 typed pages
Essay #5: minimum 8 typed pages
The writing of each of the above essays will be supplemented by readings in the primary text
(Rottenberg), as well as by discussions and lectures about relevant terms and concepts, many of which
will appear on the mid-term exam.
Small-Group Oral Report:
Each group will devote 10-15 minutes of class time to a presentation of
one logical fallacy, including definition, explanation, and discussion of at least two examples.
The material covered in these presentations will appear on the mid-term exam.
Mid-Term Exam:
objective and short essay answers covering assigned readings in Rottenberg,
terms, concepts, and the logical fallacies.
Final Exam:
the equivalent of 4-5 pages, an evaluative essay of the five texts studied in this class.
Recommendations
1. Writing courses are difficult and time-consuming! For each assignment, you'll need to do a certain
amount of reading, go through a lengthy (and often painful) process of drafting and revising, edit final
mechanical problems (and review appropriate sections in the text) and then prepare a final draft. Be
realistic about what you can handle this semester, and figure out right now how you will schedule the
regular study and writing time you will need. Figure at least 10-12 hours per week outside class!
2. Study reading assignments before class. Because they will often be the basis of your written work,
you should read them at least twice. Read actively, and mark your texts: underline, jot down
questions, record impressions.
3. Make sure that your written work responds directly to the assignment. Keep a copy of the assignment
sheet in front of you as you write and proofread.
4. Take time to proofread carefully--I should not be the first one to read your work. Get a friend or
family member to proofread, especially if you're a lousy speller! Pay particular attention to issues we
have covered recently in class.
5. You are encouraged to compose at a computer, and you may use a laptop in class (however, bring it at
your own risk!). In-class essays, however, must be written the old-fashioned way: with pen and paper.
6. Most importantly, study all my comments on papers returned to you, and refer to all appropriate
sections of Hacker’s A Writer’s Reference for further explanations of specific problems. You will
probably have many problems in your first papers; what is important is that you study them and work
towards developing more effective skills as the semester progresses.
Course Outline
Note: All is due on the date indicated. Supplemental outlines, which include additional readings and
essay assignment sheets, will be passed out on the day each essay is assigned. Incidentally,
Wk 1
Aug 22 & 24
 introduction to course and syllabus (lecture)
 Writing exercise: “The Student, the Fish, and Agassiz; by the Student”
To Do: 1. purchase books
2. bring all books to each class meeting
read: pp. 40-43 (responding as a critical listener)
read: pp. 111-154 ("definition"); pp. 237-274 ("Language and Thought")
terms: inference, implication, narrative, myth, identity, definition, analysis, connotation/denotation
write:
Wk 2
Aug 29 & 31
 Schedule group presentations on logical fallacies
 Discuss Essay #1 assignment, due June 27
 Discuss assigned readings and terms
 Discuss “The Terms of Argument”
read: pp. 283-312 ("Induction, Deduction, and Logical Fallacies")
terms: inductive reasoning, deductive reasoning, logical fallacies; disinterested/uninterested
write:
Note: Friday, September 2 is the last day to withdraw without a "W."
Wk 3
Sept 5 & 7
 No Class on Monday—Labor Day Holiday
 review of academic essay structure, documentation, support
 Discuss assigned readings and terms
 Pick groups for logical fallacies presentations
read: pp. 3-17 ("Understanding Argument")
terms: argument, claim, warrant, support, credibility, perception, memory
write:
Wk 4
Sept 12 & 14
 Group work: Prepare for presentations of logical fallacies

 group discussions of Essay # 1
 Discuss assigned readings and terms
read: pp. 43-56 ("Responding to a Visual Argument")
terms: principles of organization and selection, thesis and topic sentences, classification,
exemplification, concrete/abstract, specific/general
write:
Wk 4
Sept 12 & 14
 Group work: Prepare for presentations of logical fallacies

 group discussions of Essay # 1
 Discuss assigned readings and terms
read: pp. 43-56 ("Responding to a Visual Argument")
terms: principles of organization and selection, thesis and topic sentences, classification,
exemplification, concrete/abstract, specific/general
write: