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Mt San Antonio College Fall 2021
8/23 - 12/12/2021
CRITICAL THINKING and WRITING:
COURSE SYLLABUS
Eng 1C-22 (CRN22456)
MW, 2:15 - 4:20PM
26A-3670
&
Eng 1C-32 (CRN 22471)
MW, 4:30 - 6:35PM
26D-G220
Instructor: Anna Lee McKennon E-Mail: amckennon@mtsac.edu
Office Hours: via e-mail MW 9 -10M
Class Website: www.amckennon.com/mtsac
Required Texts:
Rottenberg, Annette and Donna Winchell. Elements of Argument,12th edition. Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martin, 2018.
ISBN#: 978-1-319-05672-8
College Level dictionary/thesaurus
In addition to the above texts, students will also receive additional reading handouts (H)
Additional Materials Needed:
Two 8 ½ by 11 blue books for mid-term essay and final exam.
You must have an e-mail account for sending assignments & receiving teacher responses
You must use in CANVAS Course page for assignment submissions
Prerequisites for course:
English 1A or equivalent with grade of “C” or better
Course Description:
English 1C is designed to develop critical thinking, reading and writing skills beyond those achieved in English 1A. The
course will focus on the development of logical reasoning and analytical and argumentative writing skills. This course provides
practice in the application of challenging thinking, reading, and writing skills required in academic discourse. Students
will use the recursive writing process skills developed in English 1A to address a variety of rhetorical and academic writing
situations, including critical analysis, discussion, and debate, in relation to expository prose. Special attention will
be given to student evaluation of both professional and student essays, followed by the effective development and support
of significant ideas on given topics. Students will discover and employ relevant information in support of their ideas. Through
weekly in-class writing assignments, as well as four out-of-class writing assignments, students will generate valid arguments
in support of their individual thesis. All assigned essays will require some library research and internet exploration of
controversial topics, as well as the application of inductive and/or deductive logic. English 103 is a student-centered course
which requires participation in both open class discussion and smaller peer groups of 4-5. Students will learn to use academic
conventions of format and structure required in academic discourse. Students will further develop the critical revising and
editing skills necessary to produce effective and polished compositions. Students will read a minimum of 250 pages of text
and write a minimum of 6,000 - 8,000 words.
Course Requirements:
A Reading Response Journal in which you write DAILY responses to assigned readings.
All Journal entries will be submitted to CANVAS course page
Three out of class essays, each focusing on one of the three categories of Stephen Toulmins theory of argumentation 1)
A Claim of Fact support consists of factual information, 2) A Claim of Value which makes a judgment and expresses approval
or disapproval of an action, belief, or condition, and 3) A Claim of Policy which advocates adoption of a course of action
meant to resolve a problem.All essays must b submitted to CANVAS Assignment section.
One in-class Mid-term essay which requires analysis of two conflicting viewpoints represented in multiple readings, taking
a stand on the issue, and developing a persuasive argument using evidence from readings and personal experience.A Research
paper of a minimum 3,000 word count, including proper in-text citations and Reference List in APA format which presents at
least five outside academic sources and uses extensive library and internet research, as well as field research, to support
its claim or thesis. The topic must be an accepted aspect of American Pop Culture, approved by your instructor
Various in-class writing assignments, timed writing exercises, and group activities.
Collaborative Group Oral Presentation with Power Point- Faces of the Enemy: Analysis of Logical Fallacies in War Propaganda
Individual 2-3 page analysis paper on the Faces of the Enemy paper assignment
In-class Final Exam in which you show that you have mastered each step of the writing process: prewriting, planning,
drafting, revision, and editing.
All assigned essays must be typed in 12 font, Times New Roman (drafts and final papers)
5-6 pages in length with Annotated Works Cited page, according to MLA format.
All in-class essay exams must be written in black or blue pen, in large examination blue books,
double- spaced.
CANVAS STATEMENT:
All grades will posted in the CANVAS Course Page
All Journal Assignments must be submitted through Canvas
All Essay Assignments must be submitted through Canvas grading
All Peer Reviews will be done through Canvas Peer Review according to assigned Study Groups.
Even though this is an in-person course, I will post essay assignments and supplemental handouts in CANVAS in the FILE
section.
There will be a once a week DISCUSSION topic posted in the CANVAS Course Page, and each students must post an individual
response, as well as respond to at least two other students in order to receive points.
COVID-19 Protocols for Mt San Antonio College, Fall 2021:
Face Coverings Requirement
(Updated July 19, 2021) - Mt. SAC has updated it face coverings requirement, following public health guidance.
EVERYONE: The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health issued a new Health Officer Order on Friday, July 16,
2021, with an effective date of July 17, 2021. Following this health order, Mt. SAC will again require masks for anyone indoors,
regardless of vaccination status. This includes any classes, labs, and meetings held inside. There are few exceptions, such
as a situation where a mask can impede workplace safety. One of the best ways to curb COVID-19 is to wear masks and get vaccinated.
Public health officials reiterated vaccines are now widely available at most local pharmacies. They are safe, effective and
free.
EMPLOYEES can pick up a face covering from Police & Campus Safety or request supplies for in-person classes through
the Office of Risk Management's Online PPE Request Form.
STUDENTS can pick up a face covering from their professors, who each have classroom safety kits.
NOTE THAT I AM REQUIRED TO ENFORCE THIS MANDATE, WITHOUT EXCEPTION! I HAVE NO CHOICE. ANY STUDENT WHO REFUSES TO WEAR
A MASK IN CLASS WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY!
I will do my best to conduct our classes in an optimal safe manner, including social distancing as much as possible.
I will be assigning discussion groups, which will each meet once a week in a hybrid manner ( one set of groups will meet
the second half of class on Mondays, and the other discussion groups will meet on Wednesdays during the second half of class.
This will enable social distancing and still allow for group discussions. That is why there is a once a week all-class CANVAS
Discussion topic assigned!
Before coming to campus, students should check for COVID-19 symptoms. Students who experience COVID-19 symptoms (such
as fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches, headache, new loss of taste/smell, sore throat, runny nose,
congestion, sneezing, nausea, diarrhea, and so on), should fill out a Health Check online at www.mtsac.edu/covidscreen. Students
with no symptoms of illness do not have to submit a daily health check. If you have traveled outside the country, you should
self-quarantine for 14 days.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN CONDUCT THIS SEMESTER SAFELY AND ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE OF IN-PERSON LEARNING!
INSTRUCTOR STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students completing courses or programs in English 1C will be able to:
Use language skills effectively in reading, writing, listening, or speaking to achieve personal, academic, or vocational
goals.
Use critical thinking skills to examine information, events, and ideas from a broader perspective.
Recognize the significance of language and culture in human experience.
Apply principles of academic honesty and integrity.
Work cooperatively and collaboratively with others.
Use campus and/or community resources to participate actively in their own education.
MT SAN ANTONIO/ENGLISH DEPARTMENT STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Documentation. Students will apply MLA format for citing and documenting sources.
Synthesis Essay. Students will write an essay in which they synthesize information from a
variety of sources.
Mt San Antonio ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY
Students are expected to abide by ethical standards in preparing and presenting material which demonstrates their level
of knowledge and which is used to determine grades. Such standards are founded on basic concepts of integrity and honesty.
These include, but are not limited to, the following areas:
1. Students shall not plagiarize, which is defined as:
A. stealing or passing off as one’s own the ideas or words of
another, or
B. using a creative production without crediting the source.
The following cases constitute plagiarism:
paraphrasing published material without acknowledging the source,
making significant use of an idea or a particular arrangement of ideas, e.g., outlines,
writing a paper after consultation with persons who provide suitable ideas and incorporating these ideas into the paper
without acknowledgment, or
submitting under ones own name term papers or other reports which have been prepared by others.
2. Students shall not cheat, which is defined as:
A. using notes, aids, or the help of other students on tests or exams in ways other than those expressly permitted by
the instructor, or
B. misreporting or altering the data in laboratory or research projects involving the collection of data.
3. Students shall not furnish materials or information in order to enable another student to plagiarize or cheat.
Instructors may deal with academic dishonesty in one or more of the following ways:
1. Assign an appropriate academic penalty such as an oral reprimand or point reduction.
2. Assign on all or part of a particular paper, project, or exam.
3. Report to the appropriate administrators, with notification of same to the student(s), for disciplinary action by the
College. Such a report will be accompanied by supporting evidence and documentation.
WAIT TIME FOR LATE INSTRUCTORS
If, due to unforeseen emergencies, the instructor does not arrive at the scheduled start time for class, students are
to wait for fifteen minutes (unless otherwise notified by the division). If they do not receive notification to wait for
their instructor to arrive, after fifteen minutes the students may leave with no penalty for absence or assigned work due
for that class meeting.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) STATEMENT
Mt San Antonio College is committed to providing educational accommodations for students with disabilities upon the timely
request by the student to the instructor. Verification of the disability must also be provided. The Disability Support Services
office functions as a resource for students and faculty in the determination and provision of educational accommodations.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE STATEMENT
Take note of the safety features in around the classroom. Also, please study the posted evacuation routes. The most
direct route of egress may not be the safest. Running out of the building during earthquakes may be dangerous. During strong
earthquakes, it is recommended to duck, cover, and hold until the quaking stops. Follow the guidance of your instructor.
Your cooperation during emergencies can minimize the possibility of injury to yourself and others.
Mt San Antonio COLLEGE CATALOG AND CLASS SCHEDULE
The Mt San Antonio College Catalog and the Class Schedule contain a number of policies relating to students that are important
to you. Please be sure that you have read these publications thoroughly. You may purchase copies of these publications at
the campus bookstore, or you may read them online at the Mt San Antonio College website, www.mtsac.edu.
Course Instructional Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
Read and critically evaluate college-level material from a variety of sources.
Identify and analyze the structure of arguments underlying the texts they read.
Evaluate the validity and soundness of arguments.
Identify common formal and informal fallacies of language and thought.
Distinguish factual statements from judgmental statements and knowledge from opinion.
Draw sound inferences from data given in a variety of forms.
Distinguish and use effectively both the denotative and connotative aspects of language.
Discover and evaluate outside sources for use in the development of their own writing.
Write a number of essays that effectively employ such writing strategies as analysis, synthesis, and summary, and that
emphasize such writing tasks as casual analysis, advocacy of ideas, persuasion, evaluation, refutation, interpretation, and
definition.
Demonstrate continued development in writing correct and sophisticated college-level English prose.
Learn some of the classical definitions of rhetorical appeal including ethos, logos, and pathos.
Identify some of the deliberate abuses and manipulations of rhetoric so that they can identify them in general occurrence
and avoid them in their own writing.
CLASS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Attendance:
Regular attendance is crucial to your success in this class if you are not in class, you cannnot participate. More than
four (4) absences during the first half of the semester will be considered excessive and may result in being dropped from
the class in accordance with college policy. I do understand that necessity may cause you to miss class on occasion, but
please make every effort to be in class on a regular basis. Participation in scheduled peer review is essential and can be
done in Canvas or in class study group meetings. You are responsible for all material presented in class, even if you are
absent. I will post ALL handouts in the Course Canvas Page.
NOTE: BECAUSE OF THE UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES REGARDING COVID-19, I WILL BE MORE FLEXIBLE REGARDING ATTENDANCE. IF YOU ARE
ILL, YOU WILL NOT BE PENALIZED.AS LONG AS YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE WEEKLY CANVAS DISCUSSIONS AND SUBMIT WORK WEEKLY, YOU WILL
NOT BE PENALIZED.
Tardiness:
Please make every effort to be on time to class. Students who come to class late disrupt the learning atmosphere and
show a lack of respect to their instructor and fellow classmates. Regular tardiness will also negatively influence your participation
points.
Late Papers:
Each paper is expected to be completed by the specific due date. Late papers will only be
accepted under approved emergency circumstances. No papers will be accepted past one week after the due date.
Classroom Environment:
We will observe the campus-wide regulations prohibiting food and drink inside classrooms. You may not bring food and
drinks, with the exception of water, to class. Likewise, smoking is prohibited inside all campus buildings.
You should turn off all electronic devices (cell phones, papers, watch alarms, etc.) and put away headphones before entering
the classroom. You will receive one warning if your phone goes off or you are caught texting during class! You will then
be asked to leave and be marked absent for the day, as well as receive a zero for any class activities.
Students have an obligation to become familiar with the college policies, rules, and regulations and to conduct themselves
in a reasonable, respectful manner conducive to attaining their educational goals. Students should respect the rights of
other students to learn and should behave responsibly during class. Anyone who acts irresponsibly during class or who does
not respect the rights of other students or the instructor will be asked to leave.
Distribution of Grades:
Weekly Canvas Discussions 100 points
Advertising Fallacies Presentation 25 points
Quizzes 75 points Journal responses 100 points Mid-term Essay 50 points
Essay #1 A Claim of Fact 100 points
Essay #2 A Claim of Value 100 points
Essay #3 A Claim of Policy 100 points
Faces of the Enemy Analysis (Indiv) 50 points
Group Oral Presentation 50 points
Essay #4 Research Paper 200 points
Final in-class Exam/Essay 50 points
TOTAL POSSIBLE: 1000 points
900 – 1000 points = A
800 - 899 points = B
700 – 799 points = C
600 – 699 points = D
599 and below = F
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