Instructor: Brian W. Carver
Office Hours: by appointment
E-mail: bwcarver at earthlink.net
Course Web-site: http://home.earthlink.net/~bwcarver/

REQUIRED TEXTS:
Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing: A Brief Guide to Argument. 4th Edition Barnett, Sylvan & Bedau, Hugo. Bedford/St. Martins

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Three Argument Analysis Exercises will be assigned and specific instructions and requirements for each will be provided in class.

(1) Argument Analysis Exercise #1 (25%): Due Saturday, Nov. 3. Analysis of Newspaper Editorial
(2) Argument Analysis Exercise #2 (25%): Due Saturday, Nov. 17. Voter's Guide Arguments
(3) Argument Analysis Exercise #3 (25%): Due Saturday, Dec. 1. Analysis of a Web Site
(4) Issue Paper (25%)*: Due Saturday, Dec.15. Specific instructions and requirements provided in class.

*Students will have the option of turning in a rough draft of their issue paper on Saturday, Dec. 1, which will then count for 10% of their overall grade, and will make the final draft of their issue paper worth only 15% of their overall grade. As I will provide comments on any rough draft that I receive, and as those comments will likely allow a student to greatly improve the final draft, I recommend that everyone utilize this option.

Make-up Exercises, Late Papers: Late Argument Analysis Exercises or Late Papers will not be accepted. If you are worried that you may miss class on one of the Saturday due dates then you are welcome to turn in the exercises or the paper on the preceding Friday.

Attendance: Attendance is expected. Quality class participation and an excellent attendance record may be used to resolve borderline cases. Due to the intensive nature of a 7-week class, a student that misses two classes will be automatically dropped.

Drop Policy: To determine that the last day to drop without a "W" and the last day to drop please contact the Student Services Center.

Academic Honesty: I assume you are familiar with the College's policies on Academic Honesty. I consider it my responsibility in cases of academic dishonesty to respond with the most severe penalty.

Students with disabilities: Students with disabilities who may need accommodations for any sort of disability are invited to make an appointment to see me.

Course Description:
(from College Catalog) This course presents critical thinking as a tool and skill to be used for better understanding, evaluating and constructing arguments. The focus will be on developing and enhancing the student's ability to identify, analyze and present arguments. Topics covered through analysis and writing include the nature of argument, inductive and deductive reasoning, rhetoric, theory of knowledge, scientific method, informal fallacies and the composition of persuasive essays.

Goals:
Students will improve their critical reading, thinking, and writing skills. Those skills primarily involve the better understanding of, the evaluating of, and the constructing of arguments. These skills will benefit students both personally and academically. Personally, by being related as much as is possible to activities in their daily lives. Assignments reflect this. Academically, because they will be better critical readers of material in future classes and better critical writers of future class assignments, regardless of their chosen discipline.

Important Dates:
10/26 F: Class 1
10/27 S: Class 2

11/02 F: Class 3
11/03 S: Class 4: Argument Analysis Exercise #1 Due