BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE City University of New York Department of Developmental Skills Title of Course: CRT 100: Critical Thinking Class hours: Mondays 2:00pm -3:40pm in room XX Virtual class weekly for 50 minutes Section: 985 Semester: Spring 2011 Credits: 3 Instructor Information Name: Michelle E. Martin Office Hour(s): Mondays 9:15pm-9:45am and 3:45-4:15 Wed. & Thurs. 9:15am -9:45am Thurs. 3pm 4 pm and by appointment Office: N436 Email: mmartin@bmcc.cuny.edu Telephone: 212-346-8547 Fax: 212-748-7477 Course Description: Critical Thinking presents reasoning and problem solving techniques. It begins a description of the thinking process and proceeds to examine areas such as identifying and defining problems, understanding the roles of evidence, interpretation, and perception in reasoning; distinguishing between belief and knowledge; understanding the role of language; techniques for organizing information; and methods for building and analyzing arguments. Prerequisites/Co-requisites: ACR 094 ESL 094, ENG 088 **Please note that this section of CRT100 is taught in a hybrid format of e-learning. This means that students meet in a physical classroom at the BMCC campus 1x a week (Mondays) and meet virtually (online) 1x a week** Student Learning Outcomes: Assessment: Upon completion of this course students will This student learning outcome will be be able to: assessed by the following course evaluations: 1) Identify and differentiate between Exam 1, Thinking Activities, Group effective reasoning and problem solving Project/Presentations, Discussion techniques 2) Describe and apply the thinking process Exam 1, Discussion, Thinking Activities 3) Identify problems and assemble and Exam 3, Thinking Activities, Group assess potential solutions Project/Presentation, Career/Goals Paper, Discussion 4) Describe the role of evidence, Exam 3, Thinking Activities, Discussion interpretation, and perception in reasoning 5) Distinguish between belief and knowledge Exam 2 & 4, Thinking Activities, Career/Goals Paper, Discussion
6) Analyze the role of language Exam 2, Thinking Activities, Discussion 7) Demonstrate techniques for organizing Exam 3 & 4, Thinking Activities, information Career/Goals paper, Review Assignment, Discussion, Group 8) Demonstrate methods for building and analyzing arguments by evaluation and support Project/Presentation Exam 4, Thinking Activities, Discussion, Group Project/Presentation Required Textbook(s): Chaffee, John (2012).10 th ed.thinking critically. Boston: Heinle/Cengage Learning. ISBN-10: 0495908819 This is the print version OR ISBN-10: 0495916048 This is the interactive multimedia ebook *Please note: You only need one version of the text. It does not matter if it s print or ebook. However, if you use the ebook, you may need to print a few pages from time to time to bring to class.* The text is available in the BMCC bookstore, www.cengagebrain.com, plus other website locations, as well as Manhattan Bookstore on chambers St.. Other Required Course Materials: BMCC Student Handbook Items necessary for participation in class pens (2 different colors), pencils, paper, highlighter, binder or notebook to organize class materials Access to a dictionary (electronic or hard copy) Computer with internet access (available in multiple locations on campus) BMCC id Other Resources: E-tutoring is available Outline of Topics: Thinking Critically & Creatively Solving Problems Perceiving and Believing Constructing Knowledge Language and Thought Forming and Applying Concepts Relating and Organizing Thinking Critically about Moral Issues Constructing Arguments Reasoning Critically Thinking Critically, Living Creatively Assessments & Evaluation of Students: Students are evaluated in a variety of ways throughout the semester, some online and some in the classroom, including: Attendance & Participation Out of Class Assignments Discussion Board posts & responses (online) Individual Project (includes a paper) Group Project (includes a presentation) Examinations (some online and some in classroom) All evaluative pieces assess the student learning outcomes listed at the beginning of the syllabus.
Some of those evaluations are graded and others are not. A minimum of 6 hours of out of class assignments (homework) per week will be assigned. Out of class assignments should be word processed. Students who pass this course will be receive a letter grade of A, B, C, or D based on the points earned according to the grading given in this syllabus. All students begin the course with 1000 points, as detailed on the table below. It is up to you to keep your A in the course by losing as few points as possible during the semester. If you do not pass the course you will earn a grade of F. Grades will be based on the following course components: Assignment Percentage of grade Total Points Possible: 1000 Attendance & Participation (in class activities) 25% 250 28 class sessions (12 pts on Mon., 6 pts on Thurs.) Examinations (in class) 20% 200 4 exams (50 pts each) Group Project 10% 100 1 project Individual 10% 100 1 paper Career/Goals paper Out of Class Assignments (thinking activities, review assignments, etc. completed outside of class time) 25% 250 Points vary on assignments see grade sheet Discussions (online) 10% 100 13 discussion posts & responses (8 pts each, except 1 st one post only 4 pts) Due Dates/Late Assignments: Out of Class Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date given (whether you are present or not). If you are not present, you may submit your assignment electronically via email. All out of class assignments should be word processed. See the class session ppts and documents for specifics and due dates. At the end of the semester, 30 points may be dropped. The individual paper is due electronically by midnight, eastern time, on the due date. See course calendar and project assignment sheet for due date and project specifics. Discussion posts are due by Thursday at midnight, eastern time, each week, and responses are due by Monday at midnight, eastern time, each week. Please see the class Blackboard site online and the course calendar for additional specifics. Examinations are in class. Please make every attempt not to miss an exam. You will not be allowed to make up an exam except in dire personal circumstances that can be documented (you were in the hospital or were very ill and have a doctor s note for the day missed.) Assignments may be submitted up to a calendar week late for half credit. After that, no credit will be given.
Grading Scale: Grades Numerical Equivalent Point Equivalent A 93-100% 930-1000 A- 90-92% 900-920 B+ 87-89% 870-890 B 83-86% 830-860 B- 80-82% 800-820 C+ 77-79% 770-790 C 73-76% 730-760 C- 70-72% 700-720 D+ 67-69% 670-690 D 63-66% 630-660 D- 60-62% 600-620 F 59% and below 590 or less W Withdrawal Instructional Techniques: This course will be interactive, and will combine elements of lecture, large class work, small group work, discussions, and individual work.. Additionally, part of this section of CRT100 is taught online, and these parts are also interactive. Students should expect that in class and out of class each week, they will read, write, speak, listen and view materials to complete the coursework. Electronic Devices: Please turn off or to silent all cell-phones, beepers and other electronic devices. The use of cell phones is prohibited in classrooms, labs, the library, all theatres, and any other areas where instruction or an organized function is taking place. In addition, students are prohibited from playing radios on college premises. A personal walkman (i.e. an mp3 device) is permitted in public areas, but not in any classrooms. *College Attendance Policy At BMCC, the maximum number of absences is limited to one more hour than the number of hours a class meets in one week. For example, in this three-hour class, you are allowed 4 hours of absence (not 4 days). In the case of excessive absences, the instructor has the option to lower the grade or assign an F or WU grade. Face-to-face classes begin promptly at the times indicated in the schedule of classes. Arrival in class (physically present) after the scheduled starting time constitutes lateness (i.e. if the class starts at 10:00am, if you arrive at 10:01am, you are late). Latecomers may, at the discretion of the instructor, incur an official absence. Also, classes meet until the designated ending time. Early departures may also, at the discretion of the instructor, incur an absence. If you arrive late, leave and return during class, and/or leave early please do so in a quiet and non-intrusive manner. Attendance/participation points will reflect any time missed from the beginning, during, or end of class. So, if you leave class for 15 minutes and come back, you will lose points. Additionally, if you are not participating during class (i.e. you are texting, sleeping, listening to earphones, just sitting but not actively engaging in what the rest of the class is doing, etc.) you will also lose points and may be asked to leave. If you miss a class session, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor to find out what was missed and to receive handouts and/or other materials from class. You are still also responsible for turning in any out-of-class assignments due on the due date they are still due even if you are not physically and/or virtually present. Most course materials can be found on the course Blackboard site. Attendance/Participation is a part of your grade. We will do many interactive activities during class and in the virtual class. You will not be able to make up your attendance/participation
points from the missed class session, and absences will not be differentiated as excused or unexcused absent means not physically present during a class session. However, you will be able to drop 4 hours of attendance/participation points at the end of the semester. Children on Campus: Young children who are not registered in the child care center should not be brought to campus, an, of course, may not attend classes with their parent or guardian. BMCC Policy Statement on Plagiarism Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else s ideas, words, or artistic, scientific, or technical work as one s own creation. Using the idea or work of another is permissible only when the original author is identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations require citations to the original source. Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism. The determination of whether the alleged act of plagiarism involves the presentation of another person s words or work as one s own is a factual determination. In such instances, the Dean of Students may refer the allegation to the Faculty-Student Disciplinary committee (see Article 15.4 of the Bylaws of the Board of Trustees). The determination of whether the alleged act of plagiarism involves the presentation of another person s ideas as one s own is an academic judgment. In such instances, the Dean of Students will refer the matter to the appropriate academic department for review. If the department determines that plagiarism has occurred, the department s regular procedures in terms of grading and grade appeals should be followed. Please be aware that any written assignments may be checked with plagiarism checking software to ensure that it is your original work. Students who are unsure how and when to provide documentation are advised to consult with their instructors. The library has guides designed to help students to appropriately identify a cited work. A copy of this policy is available online, also. BMCC Disability Statement In keeping with the college s policy of equal access for students with disabilities, any student with a disability who requires reasonable academic accommodations is welcome to meet with me privately. All conversations will be kept confidential. Students requesting accommodations will also need to go to the offices of Services for Students with Disabilities, N320. The office will supply you, if appropriate, with an academic accommodation letter for you to show to professors. BMCC is committed to providing equal access to all programs and curricula to all students.