HUM 115 Critical Thinking
Edgecombe Community College
Course Syllabus ● 2009SP
Instructor Information Instructor Name Johanna Owens Office Phone Number 252-823-5166 ext 178 Internet E-Mail [email protected] Office Location 255 Fleming Building ● Tarboro Campus Office Hours M-F, 11:00–12:00 Other times by appointment
Course Information Course Section TD1 Days and Times of Course TTh, 1:30–3:14 Location of Class 218 Fleming Building
Semester Information Credit Hours: 3 Contact Hours: 3 Class Hours: Lab Hours: Shop/Clinic Hours: Work Experience Hours: 3 0 0 0 HUM 115-TD1 • Critical Thinking 2009SP • Page 2
Course Information Course Description This course introduces the use of critical thinking skills in the context of human conflict. Emphasis is placed on information, problem solving, approaching cross-cultural perspectives, and resolving controversies and dilemmas. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate orally and in writing the use of critical thinking skills in the analysis of appropriate texts. This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement general education core requirement in the humanities/fine arts. This course may meet the SACS humanities requirement for AAS degree programs.
Textbooks Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your Learning and Your Life, 2nd edition, by Richard Paul and Linda Elder The Blair Handbook, 5th edition, by Fulwiler and Hayakawa, recommended
Pre-requisite(s) Co-requisite(s) ENG 090 and RED 090; or ENG 095 None HUM 115-TD1 • Critical Thinking 2009SP • Page 3
Learning Outcomes Edgecombe Community College has set forth the following learning outcomes for all curriculum students. Upon degree completion, students will
Communicate effectively with verbal and nonverbal messages appropriate to audience, purpose, subject, and format Comprehend and apply mathematical concepts and interpret numerical data Research, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information to draw conclusions and respond to problems, scenarios, and arguments Use technology to facilitate learning Demonstrate an understanding of global and cultural diversity, events, and issues Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary for entry-level positions or continued education in a field of study
At the end of the semester, the successful student will have
Proven comprehension of the importance of critical thinking in both public and private lives Demonstrated an understanding of the multi-faceted role of language in critical thinking, argument formation, and textual analysis Generated and applied problem-solving strategies using interdisciplinary approaches Demonstrated an understanding of the responsibility of citizens to think and act in a reasonable, ethical way
General Requirements From the ECC Catalog:
“Students are expected to attend all classes, laboratories, and shop sessions and have full responsibility for accounting to their instructors for absences. Makeup work may be allowed at the discretion of instructors. Students who have missed more than 20 percent of a course will not receive credit for a course. Students are withdrawn form courses by instructors when they have been absent more than 20 percent of the class hours scheduled.”
Note: Attendance begins with the first scheduled day of class.
Withdrawal from Classes Students can be withdrawn from a course through one of two methods.
1. Students may complete an official withdrawal form from Student Services to withdraw themselves from a particular course. If a student officially withdraws between 10 percent and 75 percent points of class, he or she will receive a grade of W (Withdrawn), which is not calculated in the student’s GPA. Students receiving Financial Aid should contact that office prior to dropping a course. HUM 115-TD1 • Critical Thinking 2009SP • Page 4
2. Students may be administratively withdrawn from a course for not pursuing the learning activities of the class, failing to meet ECC’s Attendance Policy, improper conduct, and other reasons outlined in the Catalog (p. 70).
Any student who drops or is dropped after the 75 percent point in the semester will receive an F in the course unless it is a developmental course.
Assignments 1. Assignments generally should be typed and double-spaced in 11-point Palatino Linotype or 12-point Times New Roman typeface with 1-inch margins. Consider keeping a back-up copy of all your work. 2. All work is due on the assigned date. If you must miss class on the day an assignment is due, you should e-mail it to the instructor on the due date or turn it in early. 3. Only one late assignment will be accepted during the semester; however, it will be penalized a full letter grade. This policy does not apply to in-class activities or quizzes. If you must submit a late assignment, it must be submitted within one week of the due date. Also, you must include a signed and dated note/memo that requests the assignment be graded, the date it was due, and the date it is being submitted. 4. You must be present to have the opportunity to complete in-class activities and quizzes (no make-ups for these activities).
Grading Scale ECC uses a 7-point grading scale. Your grade will be based on the following:
A = 93 – 100 B = 85 – 92 C = 77 – 84 D = 70 – 76 F = 69 or below
Grade Composition Your final grade for this course will be determined using the following percentages:
Classroom Activities 10% Exams and Quizzes 40% Projects & Presentations 50%
Statement of Students with Disabilities The college recognizes its responsibility under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to provide equal access to education for students with disabilities. Support services are available to the hearing impaired, visually impaired, orthopedically handicapped, learning disabled, and other health impaired. A student who is in need of special circumstances should contact Student Services. Documentation of a disability must be on file at the College before accommodations can be provided. HUM 115-TD1 • Critical Thinking 2009SP • Page 5
Students who would like to request accommodations for this class under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact ECC’s Student Support Specialist in Student Services. Contact should be made early in the semester.
Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism Cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of inappropriate behavior are considered serious offenses and are prohibited in all course assessments, assignments, and standardized tests. Students who exhibit such behaviors will be subject to disciplinary action. See the 2008–2009 Student Handbook for further details of this policy or read the document online at http://www.edgecombe.edu/current_students/current_students.htm.
Plagiarized or copied assignments as well as undocumented work will result in a grade of 0 for the assignment and possibly an F for the course.
Class Conduct ONLINE RESOURCES All students are responsible for The ECC Library has access to NC LIVE, an electronic upholding the Student Code of database of academic journals for students to access Conduct, which can be read in the for class assignments. The database can be accessed College Catalog. ECC students are on any campus computer by going to the campus expected to display the qualities of Web site and clicking on LRC/Library Services. When courtesy and integrity that characterize the LRC page appears, scroll down and select NC LIVE the behavior of adults. from the middle list of resources. If you are accessing our library away from campus, you must enter the Cell Phone Policy current password which is scanwhip. When prompted, enter these letters in lower case. Cell phones must be on silent mode or turned off during class. Your phone Another excellent resource for this course and others should not disturb other classmates or is the SIRS database which is also available on the the instructor. If there is a compelling LRC/Library Services Web site. Off-campus, please reason why you must have access to enter the usercode NC0980H and password 27886 your cell phone during class, you must when prompted. Please note that this code is case obtain permission from the instructor. sensitive. Even with the instructor’s permission, cell phones must be set to vibrate, not ring, during class time. Text-messaging in class will not be tolerated. Students who disregard any part of this policy may be asked to leave the classroom for the remaining class time. Abuse of this policy constitutes disruptive behavior and may lead to being dropped from the class.
Intellectual Property Edgecombe Community College is committed to providing an environment that supports the academic activities of the faculty, staff, and students. The college encourages the creation of original works of authorship and the free expression and exchange of ideas. It is the intent of the college to maintain a positive atmosphere for scholarly development. The college encourages innovation and discovery of new knowledge and its dissemination. To ensure proper safeguards for the generation of intellectual property by faculty, staff, or students, the HUM 115-TD1 • Critical Thinking 2009SP • Page 6 college has adopted an intellectual property policy which applies to all full-time and part-time Edgecombe Community College employees, students working with or without compensation on any project under the direction and control of the college, anyone using college facilities, or anyone conducting activities under the supervision of college personnel. The complete intellectual property policy can be found on the college website at http://www.edgecombe.edu/intellectual_property.htm.
Other Important Reminders ECC’s Curriculum Learning Center is very helpful for students needing assistance with specific subject areas. If you feel you need extra help, contact the tutorial staff. ECC’s CLC has two locations to serve students. In Tarboro, it is located in Building C, Room 5. In Rocky Mount, it is located in 148 Barnes Building. If you have an urgent situation, please call the instructor at 252-823-5166 ext 178 and leave a detailed message. Be sure to discuss missed coursework and the situation with your instructor upon returning to class. In the event of inclement weather, students should check the website (www.edgecombe.edu), call the switchboard at 252-823-5166, or watch local television stations to determine if class will be held. The decision to delay classes or close the college during inclement weather is the responsibility of the college president or his/her designated representative. The decision is made by 6:30 a.m. if a situation arises. Further information can be found in the Student Handbook. If you have any questions or concerns about your program of study, please contact the program chair or coordinator at 252-823-5166. Only students are permitted in ECC classrooms. Your ID badge should be displayed at all times while you are on campus and in classrooms. Food and drink are not allowed in ECC classrooms except for documented medical reasons. HUM 115-TD1 • Critical Thinking 2009SP • Page 7
Course Outline Students are expected to participate fully in this course. We will participate in weekly classroom discussions, complete various in-class and homework activities as well as projects and presentations, and take tests (including exams and quizzes). A schedule of our readings, exams, and major assignments follows. I reserve the right to modify this schedule with appropriate notice.
Tues Thurs
J 20 J 22 Introductions & Warm-ups
J 27 CT Introduction & 1 Fair-Minded Thinker J 29 CT 2 Stages of Development
F 05 F 03 CT 3 Self-Understanding Artifacts/Beliefs
F 10 CT 4 Parts F 12 Presentations
F 17 Presentations F 19 Test 1
F 24 CT 5 Standards F 26 CT 6 Questions
M 05 M 03 CT 10 Decisions & Problems
M 10 CT 11 Irrational Mind M 12 The Lorax
M 17 CT 12 Bias & Propaganda M 19
M 24 M 26 Test 2
M 31 CT 13 Fallacies A 02
A 07 CT 14 Ethical Reasoner A 09 CT 15 & 16 Learn and Use
A 14 SPRING BREAK • NO CLASS A 16 SPRING BREAK • NO CLASS
A 21 12 Angry Men A 23
A 28 CT 17 & 18 Strategic Thinking A 30
M 05 Test 3 M 07 Final Evaluation