SRJC Course Outlines

3/29/2024 2:36:48 AMPHIL 5 Course Outline as of Fall 2023

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  PHIL 5Title:  CRITICAL THINK/WRITE  
Full Title:  Critical Thinking/Writing
Last Reviewed:1/23/2023

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum3.00Lecture Scheduled3.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled52.50
Minimum3.00Lab Scheduled06 min.Lab Scheduled0
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total3.00 Contact Total52.50
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50 

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:
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In this course, students will learn to use critical thinking principles in the reading, writing, and analysis of extended argumentative essays.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Completion of ENGL 1A (OR ESL 10) or higher (V8) or appropriate placement based on AB 705 mandates


Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
In this course, students will learn to use critical thinking principles in the reading, writing, and analysis of extended argumentative essays.
(Grade or P/NP)

Prerequisites:Completion of ENGL 1A (OR ESL 10) or higher (V8) or appropriate placement based on AB 705 mandates
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Spring 1991
Inactive: 
 Area:B
Communication and Analytical Thinking
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 A3Critical ThinkingFall 1991
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 1BCritical Thinking - English CompositionFall 1981
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Spring 1991Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:TransferableEffective:Spring 1991Inactive:
 
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

Approval and Dates
Version:09Course Created/Approved: 3/11/1991
Version Created:4/27/2022Course Last Modified:12/30/2023
Submitter:Sarah LessonCourse Last Full Review:1/23/2023
Version Status:Approved Changed CoursePrereq Created/Approved:1/23/2023
Version Status Date:1/23/2023Semester Last Taught:Fall 2023
Version Term Effective:Fall 2023Term Inactive:Fall 2024


COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1. Analyze extended arguments to identify and explain their claims and premises.
2. Evaluate extended arguments to determine whether their claims are adequately supported.
3. Compose cogent written argumentative essays.
 

Objectives: Untitled document
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Identify and describe the main conclusion or thesis of an argument and demonstrate an understanding of its significance.
2. Identify and paraphrase the main supporting premises for a conclusion and the arguments in support of those premises.
3. Identify vagueness, ambiguity, emotive language, and other rhetorical elements of an argument.
4. Make explicit any unstated premises and/or conclusions in an argument.
5. Employ the correct techniques for evaluating the deductive and/or inductive structures of a component argument within the larger argument.
6. Determine and discuss the relevance of premises to conclusions.
7. Detect and describe logical fallacies that may occur in an argument.
8. Evaluate the acceptability of any unsupported statements of fact or opinion in an argument.
9. Perform a summary evaluation of an overall argument.
10. Select an appropriate topic for an argumentative essay and formulate a clear and defensible conclusion.
11. Conduct library research to support an argument and provide the appropriate documentation.
12. Develop strong arguments that are based upon sound inferences from clear and acceptable premises.
13. Anticipate and critique the strongest counterarguments.
14. Express ideas clearly, precisely, and unambiguously.
15. Organize essays, paragraphs, and sentences logically and coherently.

Topics and Scope
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Topics and sequences vary but a typical course involves the following:
I. The Concept of "Argument" and its Various Components (e.g. Issue, Conclusion, Premise, Assumption)
II. Clarity in Language Use
    A. How to recognize unclear language
    B. How to improve the clarity of one's own writing
III. Rhetorical Features of Argument Evaluation
    A. Ambiguity, connotation, denotation, euphemism, slanting, etc.
    B. Identifying rhetorical features in critical essays
IV. Types of Argument
    A. Deductive, inductive, syllogism, generalization, analogy, causal argument, etc.
    B. identifying types in critical essays
V. Methods for Evaluating Arguments (e.g. Validity, Soundness, Cogency, Relevance, Logical Fallacy)
VI. Determining the Acceptability of Claims of Fact, Value, Opinion, etc.
VII. Selecting Argumentative Essay Topics and Conclusions
VIII. Developing and Presenting Relevant Support for a Conclusion
IX. Identifying and Responding to the Strongest Objections to a Position
X. Organizing an Argumentative Essay Clearly, Logically, and Coherently by the Appropriate Use of Essay Components
    A. Introduction
    B. Transitions
    C. Conclusions
    D. Summaries
    E. Logical relationships between sentences in a paragraph and between paragraphs in an essay
XI. Library Research and Documentation, as Pertaining to Argument Essays
XII. Revision Techniques to Improve Clarity, Coherence, Accuracy, Cogency and Logical Progression

Assignments:
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1. Written application of methods for evaluating different types of arguments
2. Written application of methods for selecting argumentative essay topics and conclusions and developing and presenting relevant support for a conclusion
3. Written application of library research and documentation
4. Writing assignments of at least 6000 words total, divided into at least 5 essays
5. Revising essays to improve their clarity, coherence, accuracy, cogency, and logical progression
6. Exam(s) (1-2)

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.Writing
70 - 90%
Written applications; essays
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
5 - 20%
Written applications of methods
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.Exams
5 - 25%
Exam(s)
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
0 - 0%
None


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Critical Thinking. 6th ed. Bassham, Gregory. McGraw Hill. 2018.
Critical Thinking, Reading and Writing. 9th ed. Barnett, Sylvan and Bedau, Hugo. St. Martins. 2016 (classic).
Elements of Style. White, E. B. and Strunk, William. WLC Books. 2009 (classic).
Instructor prepared materials

OTHER REQUIRED ELEMENTS

Student Preparation
 Matric Assessment Required:ERequires English Assessment
 Prerequisites-generate description:UUser Generated Text
 Advisories-generate description:NANo Advisory
 Prereq-provisional:NNO
 Prereq/coreq-registration check:YPrerequisite Rules Exist
 Requires instructor signature:NInstructor's Signature Not Required
   
BASIC INFORMATION, HOURS/UNITS & REPEATABILITY
 Method of instruction:02Lecture
 71Internet-Based, Simultaneous Interaction
 72Internet-Based, Delayed Interaction
 Area department:PHILPhilosophy
 Division:71Language Arts & Academic Foundations
 Special topic course:NNot a Special Topic Course
 Program Status:1Major Applicable Course
 Repeatability:00Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
 Repeat group id:  
   
SCHEDULING
 Audit allowed:NNot Auditable
 Open entry/exit:NNot Open Entry/Open Exit
 Credit by Exam:NCredit by examination not allowed
 Budget code: Program:0000Unrestricted
 Budget code: Activity:1509Philosophy
   
OTHER CODES
Disciplines:Philosophy
 Basic Skills:NNot a Basic Skills Course
 Level below transfer:YNot Applicable
 CVU/CVC status:YDistance Ed, Not CVU/CVC Developed
 Distance Ed Approved:YEither online or hybrid, as determined by instructor
 Emergency Distance Ed Approved:YFully Online
Partially Online
Online with flexible in-person activities
 Credit for Prior Learning:NAgency Exam
NCBE
NIndustry Credentials
NPortfolio
 Non-credit category:YNot Applicable, Credit Course
 Classification:YLiberal Arts and Sciences Courses
 SAM classification:ENon-Occupational
 TOP code:1509.00Philosophy
 Work-based learning:NDoes Not Include Work-Based Learning
 DSPS course:NNO
 In-service:NNot an in-Service Course

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