EWRT 2 – Critical Reading, Writing, and Thinking - Fall 2016
Goals:
To read critically a wide variety of texts, including visual images and other nonverbal texts.
To learn to apply the principles of argumentation (logic).
To evaluate argument and its logical elements.
To write analyses and interpretations.
To formulate, support, and critique arguments both in class and in writing.
To distinguish, compare and evaluate a variety of perspectives, including alternative points of view from a variety of outside sources, such as library-, internet-, and (optionally) field-based research.
To integrate multiple sources and points of view in a documented, analytical research paper.
Requirements:
1. Active participation in class discussions
2. Keeping up-to-date on the reading and assignments
3. Five papers, two of which will be written in class
4. Final examination
5. One meeting with the instructor
6. Eleven quizzes
7. Participation in two oral activities: a class presentation and a debate.
Texts: Sherry Diestler. Becoming a Critical Thinker, 6th Ed.
Ruth Ozeki. My Year of Meats.
Grades: 90-100%=A, 88-89% = B+, 80-87%=B, 78-79%=C+, 70-77%=C, 60-69%=D (possible 750 points – I will give A- and B- in unusual situations)
Five papers = #1 = 70, #2-4 =100 points each, #5=130 for a total of 500 points
Debate about a film = 40 points
Oral presentation of your research project (speech): 40 points
Final = 20 points
Class participation = 50 points
Quizzes and study question assignments = 10 points each and I drop the lowest (100)
Notes:
You must attend every day during the first two weeks, or I will assume that you have dropped and give your place to another student. If you miss ANY day during the quarter, please call and excuse yourself. If you have three (3) unexcused absences, you will be dropped (W).
I penalize late papers by automatic subtraction of points. See me if you have a dire emergency and make certain that I write myself a note to give you a break. If you have any problems, please tell me. I have been through every sort of writing block myself!
Plagiarism and Cheating. Plagiarism is using someone else’s words or ideas in direct quote, paraphrase, or summary form and submitting them as your own. A paper with noticeable plagiarism will receive a grade of 0. More serious cases will have even worse consequences. Cheating of any kind is not tolerated. Cheating includes talking during quizzes, copying in any form, and doing anything that compromises your academic integrity.
Form on all papers:
Double-space everything, including indented quotations. This includes hand-written, in-class essays.
Italicize titles of books, compact discs, full-length plays, television series, movies, and book-length poems.
Put double quotation marks (“ “) around titles of essays, stories, poems, chapters, short plays, and songs.
Use single quotation marks (‘ ‘) only for quotations within quotations.
If a quotation is 4 lines or more, indent the entire quotation two tabs from the left and omit quotation marks.
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