Lincoln University
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Title:
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Critical Thinking
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Instructor:
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Dr. Sylvia Y. S. Rippel
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Course No.:
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English 75
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Email:
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Units:
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3 (45 lecture hours)
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Course email:
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Semester:
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Spring 2012
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Office hours:
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T, Th 11:45-12:30
& Arranged | |
Class Day:
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Tuesdays
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Location:
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Room 307
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Class Time
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9:00-10:15, 10:30-11:45
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Office phone:
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510-628-8036
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Instructional Materials and References
REQUIRED TEXTS
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Mayfield, M. (2010). Thinking for yourself. (8th Ed.). Boston: Cengage Learning: Wadsworth. (TFY)
ISBN: 978-1-4282-3144-3
Daiek, D., &; Anter, N. (2004) Critical reading for college and beyond. New York: McGraw-Hill. (CRCB)
ISBN: 0072473762
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RECOMMENDED TEXT:
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Harris, Robert. A. Creative Problem Solving. Los Angeles: Pyrczak Publishing, 2002. (CPS)
ISBN: 1-884585-43-4
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COMPANION SITES
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Note: Course and student blogs and wiki sites to be presented in class
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
Critical thinking (E75) considers the cognitive skills and communicative strategies for defining, applying, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating information. The course includes structural and operational approaches to task/mission analysis, decision-making, change forecasting, adaptation, and evaluation. Systems approach to analysis and solution of complex problems. Conceptual issues in problem definition, goal determination and measurement of effectiveness.
OBJECTIVES
Skills emphasized include ability to examine objectively various sides of issues as demonstrated in oral written text and course-assigned exercises. Students will demonstrate increased ability to effectively use the procedures involved in systematic problem solving based on text and class selected examples. Additional skills targeted include increased ability to develop and apply academic and professional communication skills, including improved ability to interact appropriately with challenging materials at an increased level of communicative competence as measured in exercises, quizzes, midterm and .final exams.
METHODOLOGY
The course sessions will include lectures , A/V-augmented presentations (text-based and other topically related slides and relevant audio/video/web resources), written and oral classroom exercises applying course concepts, small group and classroom discussions, student presentations of individual and group assignments based on course units, with emphasis on engaging students in learning by doing.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Students are expected to attend class punctually and fully (arriving on time and leaving the classroom only at the scheduled break and end times). Students are expected to participate in individual and group work in a productive manner, to complete assignments according to schedule and at a level appropriate to university rubrics, and to take personal responsibility for meeting the objectives of the course.
TOPICAL OUTLINE
Topics covered include observation skills, appropriate language skills and encoding strategies, differentiating among fact, inference, judgment, recognizing fallacies of reasoning and evaluation, understanding viewpoint, analyzing character, logic, and emotion in persuasion.
For each of the units (as well as additional assignments given in class), students will do the following:
· Read assigned materials with care and understanding,
· Reflect on the assignments in writing (a brief paragraph or two), discussing your thoughts on the primary content; include points of personal interest.
· Review main points of the reading and create a personalized three-level primary question and answer outline on a minimum of three or four selected items from the assigned readings. The outline should develop the main topics in question form with a clear and concise answer followed by significant details with definitions and examples, including your own ideas and evaluations.
· Email your assignments to me at profsylvia@gmail.com, with your outline and reflections attached or in the body of your email. Be sure to keep a copy of the email for yourself and add it to your ePortfolios/PowerPoint presentations for midterm and final submission and sharing.
Assignments are due on the dates indicated on the schedule below.
SCHEDULE
Session
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Date
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Topic
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TFY Text Assignment
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CRCB Text Assignment
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1
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17-Jan
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Introduction Where Do You Stand?
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2
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24-Jan
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Observation
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TFY C1, Observation
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CRCB C1, Reading
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3
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31-Jan
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Language and Thought
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TFY C2, Word Precision
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CRCB C2, Vocabulary
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4
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7-Feb
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Facts
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TFY C3, Facts
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CRCB C3, Memory
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5
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14-Feb
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Inferences
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TFY C4, Inferences
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CRCB C4, Time
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6
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21-Feb
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Assumptions
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TFY C5, Assumptions
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CRCB C5, Main Ideas
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7
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28-Feb
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Opinions
Evaluations |
TFY C6, Opinions
TFY C7, Evaluations |
CRCB C6, Details
CRCB C7, Inference |
8
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6-Mar
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Midterm
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13-Mar
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Spring Recess
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9
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20-Mar
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Points of View
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TFY C8, Viewpoints
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CRCB C8, Texts
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10
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27-Mar
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Argument
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TFY C9, Argument
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CRCB C9, PSR Strategies
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11
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3-Apr
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Fallacies
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TFY C10, Fallacies
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CRCB C10, Marking
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12
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10-Apr
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Induction
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TFY C11, Inductive Reasoning
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CRCB C11, Advanced Strategies
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13
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17-Apr
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Deduction
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TFY C12, Deductive Reasoning
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CRCB C12, Arguments
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14
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24-Apr
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Deduction
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TFY C13, Deductive Reasoning
Presentations for Review Prior to Final |
CRCB C13, Reading beyond the Words
CRCB C14, Evaluating Internet Resources |
15
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1-May
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Final
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ASSESSMENT CRITERIA & METHOD OF EVALUATING STUDENTS
Students will demonstrate their level of achievement through appropriate and accurate application of critical thinking theory, including problem-solving, analysis, and decision-making criteria in approaching and solving text, classroom, and real-world exercises, individually and as group participants.
Grading Guidelines
Items
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Points
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Class Participation
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10
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Quizzes/Midterm
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20
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Projects/ePortfolio
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10
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Daily Assignments and Attendance
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25
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Presentation of Assignments
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10
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Final Exam
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25
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Total
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100
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100-95
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A
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94-90
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A-
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89-87
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B+
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86-84
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B-
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83-80
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C+
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79-77
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C+
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76-74
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C
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73-70
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C-
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69-67
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D+
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66-64
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D
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63-60
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D-
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59 or <
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F
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PLEASE NOTE:
Revisions to the schedule will be announced in class as needed. Class attendance is required. Class participation is encouraged for enhanced learning through applied content, group interactions, and individual and small group presentations. Plagiarized content is strictly prohibited: Researched materials must be documented using a consistent style for both in-text and end-text citations of sources using the published standards of the most recent subject-appropriate style guide, such as APA (social sciences) or MLA (humanities), for example. Missed exams and assignments require certified excuses (signed documentation by an appropriate medical or other official representative). With documentation, a makeup exam may be scheduled. Electronics are not allowed during exams. Cell phones should not be active during class sessions.
Revised December 2011
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