English 002 Course Calendar

Essential Questions:
What does it mean to think critically? How is thinking formed? Why is this important?
What are fallacies and other forms of illogical reasoning?
What is logical reasoning? Why is it important to commit to and use logical reasoning?
What are the major, controversial problems in society today?
How do we construct our understanding of those issues?
How can we use critical thinking and logical reasoning to improve our understanding?
Unit 1: Reading, Thinking, and Visual Arguments
Week 1
Jan. 11: Introductions, Icebreakers, Course Information
Michael Wesch: Knowledgeable to Knowledge-able
Jan. 13: Paul & Elder: 2 12; Barnet & Bedau: 3 9; Wenger: Communities of Practice (handout)
Jan. 15: Barnet & Bedau: 39 44 (top), 70 83 (top)

Assign Meme Analysis

Week 2
Jan. 18: Holiday! No class!
Jan. 20: Paul & Elder: 13 23; Barnet & Bedau: 83 108; Browne & Keeley: Overcoming Obstacles
to Critical Thinking (excerpt)
Jan. 22: Barnet & Bedau: 117 143, 371 384

Meme Analysis Draft Due

Week 3
Jan. 25: Barnet & Bedau 307 - 345
Jan. 27: No readings assigned

Meme Analysis Peer Workshop

Jan. 29: Cummins: Chapter 5

Meme Analysis Essay Due

Unit 1 Quiz (on Canvas, due by 11:59 pm)
Unit 2: Investigating Issues and Logic
Week 4
Feb. 1: Barnet & Bedau: 147 155

Assign Anthology Assignment

Feb. 3: Barnet & Bedau: 293 306
Feb. 5: Cummins: Chapter 9
Week 5
Feb. 8: Cummins: Chapter 4; Kant (excerpt)

Anthology Proposals Due

Note: This calendar is subject to change based upon the needs of the course. Any changes will be announced in class
and/or on Canvas.

 Feb. 10: Culture of Fear documentary (online)

Alcock: Belief Engine
Feb. 12: Holiday! No class!
Week 6
Feb. 15: Holiday! No class!
Feb. 17: No readings assigned

Anthology Peer Workshop

Feb. 19: Barnet & Bedau: 357 366

Anthology Assignment Due

Unit 2 Quiz (on Canvas, due by 11:59 pm)
Unit 3: Controversial Issues of Today, part 1
Week 7
Feb. 22: Group 1 Anthology

Assign Short Response Essay 1

Feb. 24: Group 1 Anthology
Feb. 26: Group 1 Anthology
Week 8
Feb. 29: Group 2 Anthology
Mar. 2: Group 2 Anthology
Mar. 4: Group 2 Anthology
Week 9
Mar. 7: Group 3 Anthology
Mar. 9: Group 3 Anthology
Mar. 11: Group 3 Anthology

Short Response Essay Due

Unit 3 Quiz (on Canvas, due by 11:59 pm)
Unit 4: Controversial Issues of Today, part 2
Week 10
Mar. 14: Group 4 Anthology

Assign Short Response Essay 2

Mar. 16: Group 4 Anthology
Mar. 18: Group 4 Anthology

Spring Break March 21 25

Week 11
Mar. 28: Group 5 Anthology
Mar. 30: Group 5 Anthology
Note: This calendar is subject to change based upon the needs of the course. Any changes will be announced in class
and/or on Canvas.

 Apr. 1: Group 5 Anthology

Short Response Essay 2 Due

Unit 4 Quiz (on Canvas, due by 11:59 pm)
Unit 5: Taking Logical Positions
Week 12
Apr. 4: Hyman: Proper Criticism; Sloman & Fernbach: Im Right (For Some Reason)

Assign Position Paper

Apr. 6: Cummins: Chapter 6
Apr. 8: Barnet & Bedau: 167 204 (top)
Week 13
Apr. 11: Barnet & Bedau: A Lawyers View (excerpt)

Position Paper Proposals Due

Apr. 13: Cummins: Chapter 7
Apr. 15: Cummins: Chapter 8
Week 14
Apr. 18: Lakoff: Framing 101 (excerpt)
Apr. 20: Model Positions: Obama Common Sense Gun Control
Apr. 22: Model Positions: TBD

Position Paper Draft Due

Week 15
Apr. 25: TBD
Apr. 27: TBD
Apr. 29: No readings assigned.

Position Paper Peer Workshop

Unit 5 Quiz (on Canvas, due by 11:59)
Week 16
May 2: Position Presentations

Position Paper Due

May 4: Position Presentations
May 6: Position Presentations
Week 17
May 9: Position Presentations
May 11: Review for Final Exam
May 13: No regular class! This is the beginning of Finals Week.
Week 18
Finals Week Final Exam on Wednesday, May 18th 9:15 am 11:15 am

Note: This calendar is subject to change based upon the needs of the course. Any changes will be announced in class
and/or on Canvas.