Sociology 4461 4461     CRITICAL THINKING          Fall, 1991


Instructor:  Martha E. Gimenez
Office:  Hunter 206
Telephone: 303-492-7080

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This course focuses on critical thinking
about major contemporary social issues, concentrating through
writing and oral discussion on such issues as American values,
poverty, masculine/feminine roles, racism, and global issues.


COURSE REQUIREMENTS:  Students should read all assignments,
attend all classes and participate as much as possible in class
discussions.  Class participation will be assessed by the quality
of the comments made and ability to use critical thinking skills.
Written work will be assessed in terms of students' ability to
avoid common mistakes in reasoning, to identify main arguments
and their stated and unstated assumptions, to gather and evaluate
evidence, and to present and defend a given standpoint.  Grading
will be based on the following:

1.   Class participation: 25 percent (it includes the       
preparation of written materials to be distributed to the        
other students).  

2.   Short mid-term essay (8 - 10 pages): 25 percent
          DATE DUE:  OCTOBER 16

3.   Term Project* :  50 percent.  
          DATE DUE:DECEMBER 14

     The term project is a structured exercise involving the full
range of skills to be covered in the course and requires the
selection and exploration of an issue over a period of time.
Students must write a one page proposal, keep a journal and write
an essay (10 - 12 pages).
     
     The proposal: 
     
     A single typewritten page (double spaced) in which students
identify and briefly describe the issue to be explored in   the
project, providing a brief rationale for the selection. 
     An "issue" is a genuinely disputable topic.

     Guidelines on Selecting the Term Project Topic

     Since your term project will be occupying your attention for
a substantial portion of the semester, the first consideration in
choosing a topic is your own interests.  Your topic should be one
that you feel will be able to sustain your interest for several
weeks. Beyond this, try to pick a topic which satisfies the
following conditions:

          Media visibility:  Pick a topic you feel has a good
chance of coming under public discussion over the coming weeks.
(Obviously, some of the topics currently under public discussion
would be good choices).

          Accessibility:  Pick a topic that is open to discussion
from a variety of distinct points of view.  Try to avoid topics
that are overly technical or that are restricted to a narrow or
specialized interest group.

          Moral Dimension:  Pick a topic which has what you would
call a "moral dimension."

     Guidelines on Setting Up and Maintaining Your Term Project
     Journal 

     Your term project journal is a file (or folder) in which you
collect material relevant to a discussion of the issue you have
selected for your term project, and in which you reflect on the
material and on the issue itself.

          WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR JOURNAL:

          Clippings:  News articles, editorials, essays,
political cartoons, letters to the editor, graphics, advertising
copy, leaflets, direct mail campaign literature, sociological
views on the issue, bibliographical references, book reviews,
etc.
          Commentary:  In your own words, as clearly, fairly, and
deeply as possible, paraphrase the point and reasoning of the
passages you find most relevant and/or interesting in the
material you collect.

          Evaluate the point and reasoning of such passages as
clearly, fairly, and deeply as you can, using as much of the
material from the text and lectures of the course as possible.

          Explore the issue and develop your own position,
indicating where you are in agreement and where you are in
disagreement with the views expressed in the material you
collect.  And of course give the best reasons you can in support
of the position(s) you take.

          WHEN TO MAKE ENTRIES IN YOUR JOURNAL

          Before class.
          After class.
          When you feel inspired.
          twice a week whether you feel inspired or not.
          Always date your entries.
          Always identify your sources.

     THE PROJECT PAPER:
     
     In this essay, students will analyze the issue and arguments
pertaining to it, and will take and defend a position on the
issue, considering posible objections to the position, and
critically evaluating the way the issue was handled in the media
and in social science sources.

* The guidelines for the Term Project are based, with very small
modifications, on Barry's and Rudinow's Instructor's manual.

ALL STUDENTS SHOULD CHOOSE THE TOPICS FOR THE MID-TERM ESSAY AND
THE TERM PROJECT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE INSTRUCTOR, AT LEAST BY
SEPTEMBER 30 OR EARLIER IF POSSIBLE.                   


REQUIRED READINGS:

Vincent E. Barry and Joel Rudinow, INVITATION TO CRITICAL
THINKING (second edition). Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc.,
1990.

Bruno Leone, ed., CAPITALISM. Opposing Viewpoints. Greenhaven
Press, 1986.

Bruno Leone, ed., RACISM. Opposing Viewpoints.  Greenhaven Press,
1986.

Andrea Hinding, ed. FEMINISM. Opposing Viewpoints.  Greenhaven
Press, 1986.