I can be reached by telephone message and e-mail, which I check frequently when not in meetings. I like to hear from students who are going to be absent, or who are not sure about a homework assignment. I check my e-mail frequently throughout the day when not in class. Telephone messages left after 5:00 P.M. will generally be returned the next workday morning at 8:00 A.M.

• Accept the challenge of reading complex, controversial materials. Some assigned readings will seem challenging; they will require you to struggle with the concepts and sort out the arguments. But this hard intellectual work results in the rewards of discovering new ways of perceiving the world.
• Contribute to class discussions of the reading assignments. Generally the class will be engaged in small- and large-group activities and discussions based on assigned readings. You will be encouraged to support your opinions and statements with evidence from your reading.
• Listen with an open mind to the ideas and opinions of others.
• Write: You will have formal writing assignments that require you to evaluate the readings. Writing is a way of learning and sorting out ideas. In addition, it is a way of sharing your ideas with others.
• Use the computer:
  • to word-process written assignments in Microsoft Word or a word-processing program that can convert documents for e-mailing in RichText Format (.rtf).
  • to access the CRE course website for weekly assignments and links to homework articles.
  • to use an internet e-mail account to communicate with me and others in the class.
  • Use of the internet is a required part of the course. If you do not have access to the internet from home, you will have to come on campus to do much of your work.
  • Use of your my.Maricopa Google e-mail account is required.
  • If you need help figuring out how to use the internet or setting up an email account, I'll help.
    

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It is college policy to provide reasonable accommodations to students with physical, mental or learning disabilities which may affect their learning/performance in the classroom. To inquire about or request such accommodation, please contact the Disability Resource Center in KSC-119, 602-787-7170. All inquiries/discussions will be confidential.

Reading: The amount of text we will read in this class is less than the amount for many other 3-credit courses. However, what we read we will read and reread in depth, to develop our critical analysis skills.

• Twenty to thirty (mostly short) essays and articles that I will provide as class handouts or by internet access.
• Most or all the chapters from the textbook Asking the Right Questions , 10th edition.

Writing:

• Up to to five word-processed essays, drafts and revisions (1 to 3 pages each).
• Up to a dozen short homework exercises from the textbook, also word-processed (1 page each).
• Additional short article analyses (1 page each).

Group Work:

• One to two group assignments to be completed outside of class.
• Numerous short in-class group discussions/writing assignments.

• All homework assignments.
• In-class group assignments.
• Class participation and attendance.
• Chapter tests of the content of Asking the Right Questions.
• Short quizzes on assigned essays and articles.
• A Midterm Examination.
• A Final Examination.

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Required:

• Textbook: Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking (10th edition) by Browne and Keeley.
  • Computer Access Code required for this text.
• Loose-leaf notebook paper (or clean-tear spiral) for in-class assignments.
• Blue or black ink for hand-written class work.
• Assigned papers must be word-processed and multiple pages stapled. Do not put homework in special presentation folders or binders-- simply staple it.
• Access to the Internet, either at home or from the school Computer Commons.
• A working e-mail address that you check frequently--either your my.maricopa.edu Google account or another account to which you have forwarded your my.maricopa.edu email.

Strongly recommended but not required:

• A three-ring binder in which to keep course handouts and class work. I provide all handouts three-hole punched.
• A USB flash-drive for storing a second copy of your word-processed work (always have a backup storage system for important documents. Having a computer crash and no other copies of assignments is not an acceptable reason for not turning in homework on time).
• A dictionary or access to a good online dictionary.
  
• A writer's reference guide to grammar and style--your choice. I can recommend. Alternatively, access to a good online grammar and style website. You are expected to write essays free of grammar, spelling, and typo errors.

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• Attendance is essential in order to contribute to the group learning process and to improve your skill in reading critically. Perfect Attendance contributes approximately 10% of your final grade. One absence will reduce your potential attendance credit by 15 out of 100 possible points. For example, if you are absent three times you will receive 55 of a possible 100 points which is only 5.5% of a possible 10% (approximate) credit toward your final grade. If If you are absent three or more times during the semester, Maricopa Community Colleges policy states that you may be withdrawn from this class at the instructor's discretion. Three times tardy to class (arriving late or leaving early) will constitute one absence. Missing more than half of any one class period will constitute one absence. Cell phone use or doing homework for another class during class will be considered an absence.
  
  

• Quizzes, chapter exams, group assignments and homework writing assignments will contribute approximately 50% of your grade.
  
  
• The Midterm exam will contribute approximately 20% of your final grade.
  
  
• The Final Exam will contribute approximately 20% of your final grade.
  
  
• Perfect Attendance will contribute approximately 10% of your final grade.
  
  
• Extra Credit assignments can add an additional approximately 3% to your final grade.

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Plagiarism is a serious offense. It is the unacknowledged use of another's words, ideas, or information. Some common examples of plagiarism are summarizing or paraphrasing source material without documentation, quoting without citations, copying all or parts of another writer's paper, having another person write the paper, or purchasing another writer's paper. To avoid plagiarism, students must give a source credit for any ideas or information they have used in an essay, whether they have paraphrased, summarized, or quoted from the source. A student who plagiarizes is subject to disciplinary probation and suspension. The first occurrence of plagiarism may result in a zero for that assignment. A second occurrence may result in a grade of "F" for the course.

See MCCCD Administrative Regulations, section 2.3.11, Academic Misconduct, and the current PVCC Student Handbook and Planner. See also Plagiarism: What it is and how to avoid it. For a tutorial on avoiding plagiarism go to https://www.indiana.edu/~istd/ .

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STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

Students engaging in the following are subject to disciplinary sanctions outlined in the current PVCC College Catalog:

• Acts of Dishonesty; examples include:
  • Plagiarism
  • Cheating on homework or exams.
  • Furnishing false information
  • Falsifying records related to coursework
  • Forgery, alteration, misuse of any college document
  • Tampering with the election of any college-recognized official
• Disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, or college activities. An instructor can remove a student from class for disciplinary reasons
• Physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion and/or conduct that threatens the health or safety of any person.
• Attempted or actual theft
• Failure to comply with direction of college officials or law enforcement officers
• Unauthorized possession, duplication or use of keys to any college premises
• Violation of federal, state, or local laws on college campus or at college sponsored activities
• Use, possession or distribution of narcotics or other controlled substances
• Use, possession, or distribution of alcoholic beverages, or public intoxication
• Illegal or unauthorized possession of firearms, explosives, weapons, or dangerous chemicals
• Participation in a college demonstration that disrupts the normal operations of the college
• Obstruction of the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic on college premises
• Conduct which is disorderly, lewd or indecent
• Theft or other abuse of computer time
• Abuse of the judicial system

For the complete "Student Rights and Responsibilities" and "Scholastic Standards," see the current PVCC College Catalog, and the current the PVCC Student Handbook and Planner, Student Disciplinary Code, regarding appropriate use of campus computing resources. See also the policies of the Computer Commons on computer use.

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For Your Protection:
It is your responsibility to SAVE your essays and assignments on your hard drive and/or on a USB jump drive. Keep copies of your papers and all returned, graded work in a safe place until you have received your final grade for the course.

The Writing Center:
Please feel free to utilize the tutoring/writing center and its tutors, who can assist you with grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, spelling, thesis statements, research papers, and other editing concerns. The tutors cannot write your paper; the point for using their services is to become a better writer. You need to schedule an appointment to work with a tutor in the center. The Writing Center is located in the Learning Support Center.

• Only persons who are registered for a class at any of the Maricopa Community Colleges may attend that class. Attendance requirements are determined by the course instructor. Students who do not meet the attendance requirement, as determined by the course instructor, may be withdrawn.
• Students who fail to attend the first scheduled class meeting, or to contact the instructor regarding absence before the first scheduled class meeting may at the option of the instructor be withdrawn. Absences begin to accumulate with the first scheduled class meeting.
• Students bear the responsibility of notifying the Office of Admissions and Records when they discontinue studies in a course or at the college. Please refer to the Withdrawal Procedures.
• Official Absences -- MCCCD policy states that:
  • Official absences are those that occur when students are involved in an official activity of the college, i.e., field trips, tournaments, athletic events, and present an official absence excuse form. Absences for such events shall not count against the number of absences allowed by an instructor or department. Students who must miss a class for an official reason must obtain an official absence verification card from the appropriate dean or associate dean and present it to the appropriate instructor(s) before the absence. Prior arrangements must be made with each instructor for make-up work. If prior arrangements have been made, the students will not be penalized.
  • Other official absences include jury duty and subpoenas [not Traffic School]. Appropriate documentation will be required. Prior arrangements must be made with each instructor for makeup work. If prior arrangements have been made, the students will not be penalized.
  • In the event of the death of an immediate family member, absences for periods of up to one week will not be counted against the number of absences allowed by an instructor or department. Students should contact instructor(s) as soon as possible to arrange for make-up work. Appropriate documentation will be required (for example, a copy of the obituary or funeral program). In specialized programs that require clinical rotations, this regulation may not apply.
  • Religious HolidaysMCCCD policy states that: Students shall have the right to observe major religious holidays without penalty or reprisal by any administrator, faculty member or employee of the Maricopa Community Colleges. Absences for such holidays shall not count against the number of absences allowed by an instructor or department. At least one week before the holiday, students shall submit to their instructor(s) a written statement that includes both the date of the holiday and the reason why class attendance is impossible. Prior arrangements must be made with each instructor for make-up work. If prior arrangements have been made, the student will not be penalized.
  • Personal illness, illness of children/dependents, transportation problems, work schedule changes, and other unforeseen absences are not official or excused absences.
    

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It is strongly recommended that you print off a copy of this syllabus and keep it in your notebook! It has important information that you may want when you do not have access to this web page. For a print copy of this syllabus, click here.

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Butler's CRE Syllabus Page © 2012 Paradise Valley Community College.