HUM 115-TD1 Critical Thinking Spring 2011 Page 5

HUM 115-TD1 • Critical Thinking Spring 2011 • Page 5

HUM 115 • Critical Thinking

Edgecombe Community College

Course Syllabus ● 2011 Spring

Instructor Information

Instructor Name / Johanna Owens
Office Phone Number / 252-823-5166 ext 178
E-Mail /
Home Page / http://it.edgecombe.edu/homepage/owensj/jso_index.htm
Office Location / 255 Fleming Building ● Tarboro Campus
Office Hours / In Tarboro TTh 10:00–11:00 · W 2:00–3:00 · M 5:00–6:00
In Rocky Mount W 8:30–9:00
Other times by appointment
Course Information
Course Section / TD1
Days and Times of Course / MWF 1:00 p.m.–2:09 p.m.
Location of Class / 266 Fleming Building
Hours / Credit (3) • Contact (3)
Class (3) • Lab (0) • Shop/Clinic (0) • Work Experience (0)

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 and Materials
n  Think Critically, 2011 edition, by Peter Facione, Prentice Hall, ISBN 978-0-205-73845-8
n  Web site Access to http://thethinkspot.com/critically
n  The Blair Handbook, 5th edition with 2009 MLA update, by Fulwiler and Hayakawa, recommended, Prentice Hall © 2007, ISBN 978-0-205-73559-4
n  A dedicated journal/composition book that will be periodically submitted
Pre-requisite(s)
n  ENG 090 and RED 090; or ENG 095 / Co-requisite(s)
n  None

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Edgecombe Community College has set forth the following learning outcomes for all curriculum students. Upon degree completion, students will

n  Communicate effectively with verbal and nonverbal messages appropriate to audience, purpose, subject, and format

n  Comprehend and apply mathematical concepts and interpret numerical data

n  Research, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information to draw conclusions and respond to problems, scenarios, and arguments

n  Use technology to facilitate learning

n  Demonstrate an understanding of global and cultural diversity, events, and issues

n  Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary for entry-level positions or continued education in a field of study

COURSE-SPECIFIC OUTCOMES

At the end of the semester, the successful student will have

n  Proven comprehension of the importance of critical thinking in both public and private lives

n  Demonstrated an understanding of the multi-faceted role of language in critical thinking, argument formation, and textual analysis

n  Generated and applied problem-solving strategies using interdisciplinary approaches

n  Demonstrated an understanding of the responsibility of citizens to think and act in a reasonable, ethical way

ATTENDANCE

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.
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.

Any student who drops or is dropped from this class after the 75 percent point in the semester will receive an F.

GRADING SCALE

Grades will be written on returned assignments and available through secure access on the instructor’s faculty home page at http://it.edgecombe.edu/homepage/owensj/jso_index.htm. Students are encouraged to keep all graded assignments in one folder until the end of the semester.

ECC uses a 7-point grading scale, and your final course grade will be assigned accordingly:

A = 93 – 100 B = 85 – 92 C = 77 – 84 D = 70 – 76 F = 69 or below

SPECIFIC COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Students’ grades will be based on their successful execution of written and oral assignments as well as in-class and out-of-class activities, quizzes, and exams. The breakdown of the final grade is as follows:

n  Classroom and Homework Activities 15%

n  Journals 20%

n  Projects and Presentations 25%

n  Exams and Quizzes 40%

ASSIGNMENTS

1.  Students must include their name, class, date, and assignment title on all submitted work.

2.  Assignments must be typed and double-spaced in 11-point Palatino Linotype or 12-point Times New Roman font with 1-inch margins.

1. Assignments and presentations must be submitted/presented at the assigned time and day and in the requested format unless and only unless arrangements have been made prior to that particular class meeting. Students may receive accommodations for no more than one assignment during the semester; again, that is only if arrangements are made with the instructor prior to class. Such assignments will only be accommodated within one week of the assignment’s due date.
2. You must be present to have the opportunity to complete in-class activities and quizzes (no make-ups for these activities).

ONLINE RESOURCES

The ECC Library has access to NC LIVE, an electronic database of academic journals for students to access for class assignments. The database can be accessed on any campus computer by going to the campus Web site and clicking on LRC/Library Services. When the LRC page appears, scroll down and select NC LIVE from the middle list of resources. If you are accessing NC LIVE away from campus, you must enter the current password (farmwide—all lowercase).

Another excellent resource for this course and others is the SIRS database which is also available on the LRC/Library Services Web site. Off-campus, please enter the usercode NC0980H and password 27886 when prompted. Please note that this code is case sensitive.

CLASS CONDUCT

All students are responsible for upholding the Student Code of Conduct, which can be read in the College Catalog and Student Handbook. ECC students are expected to display the qualities of courtesy and integrity that characterize the behavior of adults.

n  Cell Phones & Texting

Cell phones must be on silent mode or turned off during class. (This is a college-wide policy.) If there is a compelling reason why you must have access to your cell phone during class on an occasional basis, you must obtain permission from the instructor prior to that class meeting. Even with the instructor’s permission, cell phones must be set to vibrate, not ring, during class time, and certainly to silent if students are making presentations that particular class meeting.

Text-messaging in class will not be tolerated. It is a distraction, obviously, to you, but also to other students and to the instructor.

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.

n  Academic Dishonesty & 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. The Student Handbook provides further details of this policy (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, likely, an F for the course.

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.

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.

OTHER IMPORTANT REMINDERS

·  Only students are permitted in ECC classrooms. Your ID badge should be displayed at all times while you are on campus and in classrooms.

·  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. 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 Web site (www.edgecombe.edu), call the switchboard at 2528235166, 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 generally made by 6:30 a.m. if a situation arises. Further information can be found in the Student Handbook.

READING & ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE

The following is a schedule of reading assignments and major project due dates. The instructor reserves the right to amend the schedule with appropriate notice to students.

MON / WED / FRI
THINK—Think Critically, Facione, 2011
ETHICS—Ethics in the 21st Century, Mary Alice Trent, 2005 / J 21 / Introductions
J 24 / THINK 1—Purposeful, Reflective Judgment / J 26 / J 28 / THINK 2—The “Able”
J 31 / ETHICS—Kopytoff p. 199 / F 02 / F 04 / THINK 3—The “Willing”
F 07 / ETHICS—Rimer p. 196 / F 09 / F 11 / THINK 4—Clarifying Ideas
F 14 / ETHICS—Stark p. 81 / F 16 / DUE—Journals 1–5 / F 18 / THINK 5—Using Maps to Analyze
F 21 / ETHICS—Myrick p. 40 / F 23 / F 25 / EXAM 1
F 28 / THINK 6—Evaluating Claims / M 02 / ETHICS—Grimm p. 106; Robinson p. 65 / M 04
M 07 / M 09 / DUE—Project/Presentation 1 / M 11 / SPRING BREAK—NO CLASS
M 14 / THINK 7—Evaluating Arguments / M 16 / ETHICS—Seglin p. 120 / M 18 / DUE—Journals 6–10
M 21 / M 23 / THINK 8—Evaluating Reasoning / M 25
M 28 / ETHICS—Boatright p. 129 / M 30 / A 01 / EXAM 2
A 04 / THINK 9—Snap Judgments / A 06 / ETHICS—Rivers p. 48 / A 08
A 11 / A 13 / DUE—Journals 11–15 / A 15
A 18 / THINK 10—Deciding and Doing / A 20 / ETHICS—Singer 147; Brock p. 180 / A 22 / EASTER HOLIDAY—NO CLASS
A 25 / EASTER HOLIDAY—NO CLASS / A 27 / A 29 / EXAM 3
M 02 / DUE—Project/Presentation 2 / M 04 / Finish presentations
Wrap-up