Spring 2016 Open Questions: Critical Thinking Through Literature Do you have a curiosity about unresolved, complex, and challenging issues? Do you have a willingness to listen to the responses of others? Do you have a willingness to postpone judgment? This course combines readings, open inquiry, and persuasive essays to critically review our reasons for action. Readings collect around large interdisciplinary questions such as "Are we responsible for others?", "Is violence necessary?", "Is honesty the best policy?", and "Why change your mind?" Students compose essay responses to each unit's demanding question: "What would you do?"
Materials/Textbooks
2 Notebooks: one for taking notes/one to be used as a journal Open Questions: Readings for Critical Thinking and Writing by Chris Anderson and Lex Runeiman
laptop
Assessments/Assignments
Extended Response Papers (10 at 20 points each) 200 points
Essays (3 at 100 points each) 300 points
Journal (2 collections at 50 points each) 100 points
Participation 100 points
Video Essay and Oral Presentation 100
Final Exam 200 points
Total 1000 points
Class participation is vital in this course. You will be evaluated on the QUALITY of your contributions and insights. Quality comments offer a different and unique, but relevant, perspective, move the discussion and analysis forward; expand on previous comments; and go beyond "I feel” statements. They reference the readings and demonstrate critical thinking. Additionally, participation involves being prepared, awake, and on time for class (having all books, independent reading materials, writing materials, notebooks, etc.). Finally, strong participation involves paying attention to one another and being respectful of each person's views and contributions.
General Expectations
Late Policy It is expected that all work due on any given day will be turned in promptly at the beginning of class in hard copy format. Any late work will suffer a deduction of 10% for each day it is late, and after an assignment is five days late, it can earn no more than 50% of the available credit. Work that is not turned in at the beginning of class, but is turned in later in that class period, or later in the day, will suffer a deduction of 5%.
Sick Policy/Procedure When a student misses class it is the student’s responsibility to follow up on missed work. Students should adhere to the following steps: 1. Email instructor at earliest possible opportunity and inquire about day(s) missed. 2. Check schedule to stay apprised of reading/assignments. 3. Get notes from a classmate.
Snow Day Policy Should class be cancelled due to snow or any other unexpected emergency, students are expected to abide by the posted schedule. The instructor will email the class, should any deviation from the schedule occur. Otherwise, all due dates and expectations will be upheld, as posted on the schedule.
Code of Academic Honesty (page 21 of the student handbook):
Personal integrity is essential to both self-esteem and a vision of Christian womanhood. For this reason, academic honesty is essential at Nerinx Hall. Students learn a sense of personal discipline, which prohibits the following behavior:
Cheating
Submitting someone else’s work in class assignments, homework, papers, tests or examinations as your own, or using unauthorized information on a test or an examination.
Resubmission of Work
Resubmitting/recycling assignments and projects from other courses constitutes academic dishonesty.
Plagiarism
The copying or rewording of phrases, sentences, or ideas from a book, magazine, internet source, or anything else without indicating the sources you have used.
While Nerinx Hall faculty recognizes that a sense of personal failure and the disapproval of others are in themselves consequences of dishonest behavior, the following consequences will occur:
1. Clear intentional evidence of plagiarism or cheating will result in a grade of 0 for that test,
examination, or assignment.
2. The student is further required to write a letter of apology to the community. This letter will be
submitted to the principal.
*This syllabus is a dynamic document and therefore subject to change. The instructor retains the right to alter the content, assignments, and calendar of this course. If revisions occur, the instructor will notify the class.
Instructor: Maggie Doyle Ervin
Email: **mdoyleervin@nerinxhs.org**
Alternate email: **maggiestacydoyle@hotmail.com**
Office: English Office (N-1)
Spring 2016
Open Questions: Critical Thinking Through Literature
Do you have a curiosity about unresolved, complex, and challenging issues? Do you have a willingness to listen to the responses of others? Do you have a willingness to postpone judgment? This course combines readings, open inquiry, and persuasive essays to critically review our reasons for action. Readings collect around large interdisciplinary questions such as "Are we responsible for others?", "Is violence necessary?", "Is honesty the best policy?", and "Why change your mind?"
Students compose essay responses to each unit's demanding question: "What would you do?"
Materials/Textbooks
2 Notebooks: one for taking notes/one to be used as a journal
Open Questions: Readings for Critical Thinking and Writing by Chris Anderson and Lex Runeiman
laptop
Assessments/Assignments
Extended Response Papers (10 at 20 points each) 200 points
Essays (3 at 100 points each) 300 points
Journal (2 collections at 50 points each) 100 points
Participation 100 points
Video Essay and Oral Presentation 100
Final Exam 200 points
Total 1000 points
Class participation is vital in this course. You will be evaluated on the QUALITY of your contributions and insights. Quality comments offer a different and unique, but relevant, perspective, move the discussion and analysis forward; expand on previous comments; and go beyond "I feel” statements. They reference the readings and demonstrate critical thinking. Additionally, participation involves being prepared, awake, and on time for class (having all books, independent reading materials, writing materials, notebooks, etc.). Finally, strong participation involves paying attention to one another and being respectful of each person's views and contributions.
General Expectations
Late Policy
It is expected that all work due on any given day will be turned in promptly at the beginning of class in hard copy format. Any late work will suffer a deduction of 10% for each day it is late, and after an assignment is five days late, it can earn no more than 50% of the available credit. Work that is not turned in at the beginning of class, but is turned in later in that class period, or later in the day, will suffer a deduction of 5%.
Sick Policy/Procedure
When a student misses class it is the student’s responsibility to follow up on missed work. Students should adhere to the following steps:
1. Email instructor at earliest possible opportunity and inquire about day(s) missed.
2. Check schedule to stay apprised of reading/assignments.
3. Get notes from a classmate.
Snow Day Policy
Should class be cancelled due to snow or any other unexpected emergency, students are expected to abide by the posted schedule. The instructor will email the class, should any deviation from the schedule occur. Otherwise, all due dates and expectations will be upheld, as posted on the schedule.
Code of Academic Honesty (page 21 of the student handbook):
Personal integrity is essential to both self-esteem and a vision of Christian womanhood. For this reason, academic honesty is essential at Nerinx Hall. Students learn a sense of personal discipline, which prohibits the following behavior:
Cheating
Submitting someone else’s work in class assignments, homework, papers, tests or examinations as your own, or using unauthorized information on a test or an examination.
Resubmission of Work
Resubmitting/recycling assignments and projects from other courses constitutes academic dishonesty.
Plagiarism
The copying or rewording of phrases, sentences, or ideas from a book, magazine, internet source, or anything else without indicating the sources you have used.
While Nerinx Hall faculty recognizes that a sense of personal failure and the disapproval of others are in themselves consequences of dishonest behavior, the following consequences will occur:
1. Clear intentional evidence of plagiarism or cheating will result in a grade of 0 for that test,
examination, or assignment.
2. The student is further required to write a letter of apology to the community. This letter will be
submitted to the principal.
*This syllabus is a dynamic document and therefore subject to change. The instructor retains the right to alter the content, assignments, and calendar of this course. If revisions occur, the instructor will notify the class.