English 3 – 50404 – Critical Reading and Writing (online)	
Fall 2013 - 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.

The class will require students to read and critically evaluate college-level non-fiction material and write synthesized and documented, critical analysis essays. 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. We will learn to identify and analyze different argument techniques, errors in reasoning, and forms of logic. Thinking critically will eventually lead us to forming our own ideas and constructing our own arguments in essay form. 

Course navigation:		

1. Announcements will provide important direction for all aspects of the course. Announcements will be used to introduce assignments, provide reminders, and will point students to other parts of the Bb course for information (think of it as the compass to the course). 

2. Course Documents will include lectures, instructions, essay readings, and other items that will be used as materials or supplementary information for assignments (including important details to assignment requirements). 

3. Assignments will include assignment prompts (with requirements) that must be completed and turned in. Due dates will be listed here and the link to submit assignments is located here as well.

4. Discussion Board will be used to discuss readings and assignments as a group. 

5. Course Information will provide syllabus, textbook, and submission guidelines.

Book: Current Issues and Enduring Questions, 9th 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 (or its preceding elements: rough draft, annotated bibliography) 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: Oct. 11, 2013 

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.
(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
(1-3) 4. Light Papers                                  4	                       
		5. Participation  					 5
(use of discussion board, turning in assignments on time, accessing course materials, following class requirements)		

*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.