Critical
Thinking
Wednesday Discussion Sections
015 & 016
Denise Kleinrichert
FAO 230
Office Hours: Wed 11 am – 1 pm
(or by appointment)
813 974-5459
Required Text for Discussion Section:
Thinking Critically, 7th edition, John Chaffee
Discussion Section Topics and Assignments:
8/28/02: Introduction & requirements
9/4/02: Chapter 1 - Thinking
Paper: What is your primary goal as a university student? Think about and explain the internal and external influences on this goal. Compare and contrast your situation to that of Colin Powell’s article, citing your short-term and long-term motivators.
9/11/02: Chapter 2 – Thinking Critically
Paper: Discuss one personal liberty and how a societal or governmental change could have a direct impact on you. Three (3) valid outside references must be used and cited with footnotes.
9/18/02: Chapter 3 – Solving Problems
In class discussion (15 min): small group discussion of assigned article topic from text: Racism/I Can’t Believe/Spring Break/Generation Y.
Paper: In class written analysis of discussion (15 min).
9/25/02: Quiz 1: Chapters 1 – 3
10/2/02: Chapter 4 - Perceiving
Paper: Use Thinking Activity 4.6 as applied to the September 11th anniversary coverage. Key questions: Has your perspective of the 2001 event changed since last September and if so, how? What hopes, fears, or prejudices have influenced your perceptions? Extrapolate any critical, personal, experiential, etc influences.
10/9/02: Chapter 5 – Believing and Knowing
Paper: Thinking Activity 5.7, using three different newspaper or magazine accounts. Cite each account in your discussion.
10/16/02: Chapter 9 – Reporting, Inferring and Judging
Paper: Write your own brief examples reflecting each of the following theories of morality (approx 1 paragraph each): psychological, morally agnostic, pragmatic, theist, hedonist, authoritarian, and altruistic. Then write your concluding response to “If you were unsure about what was right or wrong in a particular situation, which guiding principle would you choose?”
10/23/02: Quiz 2: Chapters 4, 5, & 9
10/30/02: Chapter 10 – Constructing Arguments
In class discussion (15 min): dialogue to define a thesis on a topic to be assigned, then develop views/refuting views, and finally determine a concluding statement or solution.
In class written analysis: Summarize the thesis, reasons, evaluations, and conclusion of your assigned dialogue (15 min).
11/6/02: Chapter 11 – Reasoning Critically
Paper: Develop your argument regarding either the article, “She’s Not Really Ill…” on page 513 or the “A Shorter Life for Lefties,” on page 526. Explore generalizations, fallacies, and valid research citing at least 3 outside references in footnotes.
11/13/02: Quiz 3: Chapters 10 - 11
11/20/02: Short presentation on the thesis, arguments and critical thinking in your Lecture paper.
11/27/02: Discussion on topic determined by consensus on 11/20.
Rules of the
Game:
Reading and written assignments are due on the date assigned, no exceptions.
Come to class prepared to talk about the assignments. 30% grade
Papers handed in at start of discussion section and returned next meeting. 40% grade
Format for papers: Two (2) pages (white paper) of double spaced text, Times New Roman black, 12 pt font, 1”margins all the way around, spelling and grammar corrected. Photos, diagrams, or graphics are not permitted. Your name, course name, and due date must be in the upper right hand corner. The paper’s title must be centered.
Quizzes are completed in class on the day assigned;
no make up quizzes. 30% grade