Course Syllabus

Jump to Today

ENGLISH 1C.4629: Critical Thinking and Composition / SPRING 2025

Instructor: Elise Geraghty / [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) (you can also

email through Canvas)

Office: H-221P

In-Person Student Help hours:

IN PERSON:

Tuesdays 9:10 to 9:40 & 12:10 to 1:10 p.m. in H-221P (or H-310 when available).
Thursdays 2:15 to 4:15 in H-221P
Fridays 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. in H-221P

Required Course Materials

Writing Logically, Thinking Critically 8th edition by Sheila Cooper & Rosemary Patton

Course Catalog Description:

This course focuses on the development of critical thinking skills. Students will apply these skills to the
analysis of written arguments in various forms and genres, both classic and contemporary, and to the
writing of effective persuasive essays. Students will learn to evaluate and interpret data, to recognize
assumptions, to distinguish facts from opinions, to identify and avoid logical fallacies, to employ
deductive and inductive reasoning, and to effectively assert and support argumentative claims.

Course Objectives:

1. Evaluate arguments in terms of bias, credibility, and relevance.

2. Assess an argument's claims by examining assumptions, by differentiating between facts and
inferences, by recognizing errors in logic, by analyzing support, and by identifying both explicit and
implied conclusions.
3. Recognize and assess argumentative claims embedded in literary works, advertisements, political
tracts, and presentations in other media.
 4. Express critical viewpoints and develop original arguments in response to social, political, and
philosophical issues and/or to works of literature and literary theory.
5. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate electronic sources and databases, to incorporate research from
on-line and print media, and to compose unified, coherent, fully supported argumentative essays that
advance their claims by integrating primary and secondary sources, and by employing the tools of
critical interpretation, evaluation, and analysis.
6. Anticipate readers’ objections and incorporate counterarguments in argumentative writing

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this course, students will:

1. Compose an argumentative essay that shows an ability to support a claim using analysis, elements
of argumentation, and integration of primary and secondary sources.
2. Identify and assess bias, credibility, and relevance in their own arguments and in the arguments of
others, including primary and secondary outside sources.
3. Write an essay that is correct in MLA format, paragraph composition, sentence structure, grammar,
spelling, and usage.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Academic Honesty and Plagiarism (may lead to F in course)

El Camino College places a high value on the integrity of its student scholars. When an instructor
determines that there is evidence of dishonesty in any academic work (including, but not limited to
cheating, plagiarism, or theft of exam dassignment and suspension from class are among the
disciplinary actions for academic dishonesty (AP 5520). Students with any questions about the
Academic Honesty or discipline policies are encouraged to speak with their instructor in advance. BY
CONTINUING WITH THIS COURSE, YOU AGREE TO ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF A.I. DETECTION
SYSTEMS AS CAUSE FOR A MEETING WITH ME AND/OR THE DEAN REGARDING ACADEMIC
HONESTY.

Academic Dishonesty / Plagiarism includes the following (these violations and will result in a
failing grade):

Using sources from the internet—even if you change words or paraphrase—without citing the source
in correct MLA format. This includes Grammarly (or any system that corrects grammar) and any
translation tool. The goal of this class is that you use standard English grammar without outside
assistance.
Using a Chatbot or getting help from a friend or tutor that results in writing that you did not or cannot
produce 100% on your own
Using your own writing from previous semesters or classes without instructor permission
 BY CONTINUING WITH THIS COURSE, YOU AGREE TO THE RESULTS OF AI DETECTION
SYSTEMS as cause for a meeting with me and/or the dean regarding academic honesty.

ATTENDANCE

According to ECC’s attendance policy, students not attending regularly in the first two weeks of class
maybe dropped to allow a waitlisted student to register. For an online class, this means being active
(submitting assigned work) in Canvas regularly throughout the week. In activity in Canvas and/or not
submitting assigned work in Canvas by deadlines may lead in being dropped from the class.

SPRING 2025 Important Dates

SPRING SEMESTER BEGINS: Tuesday, Feb. 18th

LAST DAY TO ADD/DROP W/ NO NOTATION: Friday, February 28th.
CESAR CHAVEZ DAY: CAMPUS CLOSED Monday, March 31st.
MEMORIAL DAY: CAMPUS CLOSED Monday, May 26th.
LAST DAY TO DROP WITH ‘W’: Friday, May 16th.
SPRING RECESS—NO CLASS this week: April 14 to April 18th.
LAST DAY OF CLASS: Monday, June 16th.

LATE ASSIGNMENT POLICY: DISCUSSION POSTS are not accepted late. If you miss the
deadline, there is no making up discussion posts. Late homework and essay will be graded as
pass/fail; therefore, the maximum grade for late work is C (70%); no work will be accepted more than
one week after the due date.

EVALUATION (HOW YOU’RE GRADED)

Please record on this page—this is your grade record. Grades are based on both quantity (you
must do all assignments completely) and quality (assignments should demonstrate college-level
writing skills with correct academic grammar). You need 700 points to pass English 1C.

THE GRADE IN CANVAS MIGHT NOT BE ACCURATE, so please calculate on your own here.

Paper 1 100

P2 100

P3 100

Midterm Essay 200

Final Essay 200

Graded for following directions/college

Discussions 300
level grammar (average of all)

Total 700 points needed to pass class 1,000

TOTAL 1,000 points______

Using the above point breakdown, you should know your point/grade average at any point in the
semester; you may ask me for clarification, but please do some calculating before doing so. You
need a minimum of 700 points to pass the class: 900-1000=A; 800-899=B; 700-799=C

Late Assignment Policy: Late homework and late papers will be graded as pass/fail; therefore,
the maximum grade for late work is C (70%); no work will be accepted more than one week after
the due date.

Students with Disabilities:

It is the policy of the El Camino Community College District to encourage full inclusion of people with
disabilities in all programs and services. Students with disabilities who believe they may need
accommodations in this class should contact the campus Special Resource Center (310) 660-3295, as
soon as possible. This will ensure that students are able to fully participate.

Recording in the Classroom: The use of any recording device during class without the prior consent of
the instructor is prohibited, except as necessary to provide reasonable auxiliary aids and academic
adjustments to disabled students who present official documentation from the Special Resource Center
to the instructor prior to recording. A student who records without instructor permission or distributes any
recordings is subject to disciplinary action in accordance with El Camino College District Administrative
Procedure 5500 Standards of Student Conduct.
Child Abuse / Gender-Based or Sexual Misconduct: If you reveal child abuse, child neglect, or
gender-based or sexual misconduct (including harassment, sexual assault, stalking, or intimate partner
violence), instructors are required by law to report it to the Office of Staff and Student Diversity.
Psychologists, however, are not required to report incidents. To speak confidentially with a psychologist,
contact the Student Health Center for an appointment: 310.660.3643. For more information, visit
http://www.elcamino.edu/about/depts/diversity/misconduct.aspx
(http://www.elcamino.edu/about/depts/diversity/misconduct.aspx) .

Student Resources:

Please click the links below to access detailed and current information about each service.

Reading Success Center (https://www.elcamino.edu/student/academicsupport/rsc/)

Tutors are available to assist with reading assignments (no cost).
Writing Center (https://www.elcamino.edu/academics/humanities/writingcenter/)
Free tutoring is available for writing assignments, grammar, and vocabulary.
Learning Resource Center – LRC (https://www.elcamino.edu/library/lrc/tutoring/)

The LRC Tutorial Program offers free drop-in tutoring in a variety of subjects.

Student Health Center (https://www.elcamino.edu/student/studentservices/health/)

The Health Center offers free and low cost medical and psychological services as well as free
workshops on topics like “test anxiety.”
Special Resource Center – SRC (https://www.elcamino.edu/student/studentservices/src/)
The SRC provides free disability services, including interpreters, testing accommodations,
counseling, and adaptive computer technology.
Counseling (https://www.elcamino.edu/student/studentservices/counseling/appointments.aspx)

Counselors are available for online chat, telephone calls, and virtual appointments. You can chat with
front desk staff to help navigate the scheduling process and address quick questions.

Warrior Emergency Fund (https://elcamino.formstack.com/forms/warrior_emergency_fund_)

This is for emergency needs resulting from COVID-19

Free and Low-Cost Internet (https://ccconlineed.instructure.com/courses/5432/pages/reduced-cost-

or-free-internet-access-slash-wifi?module_item_id=271437)

The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office has provided this list of services. Please note
that the provider needs to be available in your area.

Course Summary:
Date Details Due

 2021/SP ENGL-1C-4635
Tue Feb 16, 2021 (https://elcamino.instructure.com/calendar? 2pm to 4pm
event_id=245539&include_contexts=course_44157)

 Response to Chapter 1 of
Wed Feb 26, 2025 WLTC pages 1-13 due by 11:30pm
(https://elcamino.instructure.com/courses/44157/assignments/1242131)

 Welcome Introductions
(https://elcamino.instructure.com/courses/44157/assignments/1269147)