English 104

Critical Thinking and Composition

Course Objectives

To expand upon what you learned in previous English courses

To prepare you for university-level writing To help you to:

Write a well-reasoned, organized argumentative essay

Critically evaluate college-level material Identify common fallacies in logic Recognize a writer’s assumptions Distinguish between fact and opinion

University Level

This course is designed to be more like what you would expect once you transfer to a university: You will listen to lectures and complete

readings, then break into sections of small groups to discuss the ideas in greater depth among your peers.

Most of your grade will consist of a few main essays.

Your grade is your responsibility. If you are struggling, it is up to you to ask for help.

Argumentative Essay

Also known as: Persuasive Essay Position Essay Analytical Essay Critical Analysis Any essay requiring a central thesis statement

accompanied by supporting evidence is an argumentative essay.

Why is this important? One of the most common forms of writing at

universities. PhD: Obtaining a doctorate will likely require you to

write what is essentially a book-length argumentative essay.

Hopefully, this class will help you to think critically about certain issues and to better defend your position and persuade others that your opinion is correct.

Grading

• Class composed of three main topics: Language, Morality, and Gender. We’ll be examining essays and watching videos about these topics. See ‘Essays and Grading’ handout for more

information