English 3 – 53058 – Critical Reading and Writing (online)	
Spring 2009 - Ryan LaSalle (Office: Annex 2)
Contacts: ryan.lasalle@reedleycollege.edu 559-638-3641 (ext.3125)

On Critical Reading/Writing...

This class is about thinking. Not the everyday routine thinking that travels our minds at a dull pace, but rather, the active vital critical thinking that leads to complexity, growth, and understanding. My assumption about critical thinking/writing is that most students do not like to write, or for that matter, think beyond the routine ruts or habits of thought they have already established. This class aims at pushing students out of their routine thinking patterns in the hope of jumping the long driven channels, cresting self made obstacles, and turning the wheel of their minds to objectively analyze information, issues, and arguments.

As a class and as individuals, we will embark on projects that will pose provocative and intellectually demanding questions. Though answered simply by most, we will instead look behind the surface to better understand the content at hand. We will work with ideas and arguments presented by others in order to comprehend and dissect them. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to identify and analyze different argument techniques, errors in reasoning, and forms of logic. Thinking critically will lead us to effectively forming our own ideas and constructing our own arguments in essay form.  

The Plan: (typical week)		

1. Announcements will give important information and directions about assignment due dates, online lecture announcements, and other updates to the site. 
2. Course Documents will include lectures, instructions, essays, and other items that will be used as materials or supplementary information for assignments. 
3. Assignments will include specific tasks (along with due dates) that must be completed and turned in. 
4. Discussion Board will be used to discuss lectures and assignments as a group. You may also email me directly to ask questions.  

Book: Current Issues and Enduring Questions, 8th Edition 
(by Sylvan Barnet and Hugo Bedau)

Policies: Late work may be accepted for partial credit with instructor’s approval (5% deduction for each day late). All due dates are until midnight of the day it is due. However, if assignments provide a due date with “no exceptions” as in the case of the “final” paper then no late work allowed. In the event of plagiarism (see Schedule of Courses for more information), the student will fail the assignment or the class at the discretion of the instructor (depending on the nature and severity of the offense).

Final drop date: March 13, 2009

Grading:	Grading will be based on a point system. 
90%A 80%B 70%C 60%D 50%F (of total points available in class)	
 # of assign.  Description					     pts.
(2-3) 1. Main papers 					      10 
(1)   2. Argument/research final paper (MLA)          25
      	   w/annotated bibliography				10
      (1)   3. Rough draft of final paper		       	 5
(2-3) 4. Light Papers                                  4	                       
		5. Participation  					10
(use of discussion board, turning in assignments on time)		

*instructor reserves the right to make changes in this syllabus as deemed necessary or appropriate.
*Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:
If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, including alternate media requests, please notify me immediately. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate your special needs.