ENGL 1B-14 Critical Thinking Literature and Composition
This course focuses on critical thinking and composition through reading of fiction, poetry, drama and critical theory. It introduces critical evaluation; develops techniques of analytical, critical and argumentative writing; explores inference, evidence, inductive and deductive reasoning, identification of assumptions underlying conclusions and other terms of logical thinking; continues expository writing (8000 word minimum).
- Prerequisite: English 1A
- Instructor:
Geoffrey Dyer
- E-mail: gdyer@taft.org
- Telephone: (661) 763-7724
- Office Hours: The instructor will be available on campus Monday and Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. You also may schedule an appointment by phone.
- Units: 3
- Class Meets: June 16th – August 7th, 2008
- Textbook &
Estimated Costs:
- Rental Textbook: Literature, An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Roberts and Jacobs. 7th Edition. (Contact Bookstore for rental cost).
- Purchase: Candide, Voltaire. (around $10)
- Estimated Time per Week: Students can expect to devote between 6 and 9 hours per week to the course
- Special Requirements: The entire course will be conducted online through the ETUDES-NG program. Students are required to have Internet access, the ability to use word processing, conduct Internet searches, attach files, send emails and other basic computer skills. Students are expected to work independently.
- Assignments & Tests: Each week, you will read the assigned work actively and complete short writing assignments called “weeklies.” You will write four original papers on literature from the course, supporting your own ideas about the texts with critical thinking. You will take two exams. The mid-term and final will both include an objective section, highlighting key points of the course, and each exam will also include a timed argumentative essay about the texts we have been studying. All exams are delivered through the ETUDES system.
- Proctored Exams: None
- Additional Comments: Although this course uses literature as primary text, the aim of the course is to develop advanced critical thinking and intelligent writing. It is important to understand, from the very start, that the ideas you will write in your essays and exams are to be your own. Because reactions to texts and ideas about texts are endless, you will use your reading and thinking to carefully support these ideas. Summary of the texts consumed must only be used on a limited basis when necessary to support your own ideas about the texts. I urge you to contact me by phone or through ETUDES well before an assignment is due any time you have difficulty understanding my instructions, are struggling with a text, or have a brilliant idea for a paper of your own that you wish to discuss. I look forward to working with you.
- Course Syllabus: Click the link to open the course syllabus in PDF format. The syllabus will open in a new window.
- New to ETUDES-NG: Be sure to check System Requirements before getting started with ETUDES-NG. You need to do this on each computer you use while taking a class through ETUDES-NG.
- ETUDES-NG Course: You will log into the Etudes-NG classroom with log-in information provided below
- First 2 letters of first name +
- First 2 letters of last name +
- Last 5 digits of SSN
- First 2 letters of first name +
- First 2 letters of last name +
- Last 5 digits of SSN
New Users use the following login instructions:
Login ID |
Password |
|
(Type using all lower case letters) Example: Jose
A. Garcia Username = joga23333 |
MonthDay of birth
in school records
(Type using all lower case letters) Example: Birthday is April 11th, 1982 (04/11/82) Password = 0411 |
Previous Users use the following login instructions:
Login ID |
Password |
|
(Type using all lower case letters) Example:
Jose A.
Garcia Username = joga23333 |
Enter the password YOU set in a previous term
|
Disclaimer: The book prices are an approximation only and are subject to change.