In addition to some understanding of the most common logical fallacies, especially as they are considered within a rhetorical context, students must also learn to distinguish reports from viewpoints, and to judge the relative merits of each. Most important, they should learn to identify and evaluate the hidden assumptions underlying their own ideas as well as those of others. To that end, this course is designed to help students become better readers, writers and thinkers by providing them the opportunity to become better evaluators of their own reading, writing and thinking habits. Papers are graded on both content and form. Content includes the student's ability to develop an idea and create an essay that meets assignment requirements within the allotted period of time.
Form includes presentation, grammar, organization.
All categories are interdependent. Further explanations about essays are graded will be provided in class and on the web. This includes but is not limited to absences due to illness, family crises, jobs and childcare. Both the student and the instructor are responsible for keeping track of absences. Students should assume that each class meeting will require at least two hours of homework.