FdEng 301: Advanced Writing & Critical Thinking Instructor: David Grover

Get To Know Each Other In Groups of 3–4, talk together and find out One thing you all share in common (cannot be obvious things like “we all go to BYU–Idaho” or “we all have eyeballs,” etc. It needs to be something interesting that you have in common!) One thing about each group member that is unique (something that no one else in the group has in common) After a few minutes, each person in the group will introduce someone else in the group by name and tell us something unique about that person.

Course Description Foundations of English 301 helps students learn how to reason carefully and express ideas clearly. Students develop these competencies as they learn to recognize strong arguments, uncover assumptions, evaluate evidence, recognize rhetorical patterns, and infer ideas from data.

Learning Outcomes Apply critical reading and thinking skills to texts, including the ability to accurately summarize and analyze their structure and logic. Conduct library and electronic research by locating reliable sources with which to frame an argument relevant to a current academic or disciplinary conversation. Write a coherent, clear, and cogent argument that supports claims with specific evidence, logical reasoning, and appropriate documentation. Meet the needs of a variety of audiences and rhetorical situations.

Learning Outcomes (in plain English) You'll become a better reader, able not only to understand difficult texts but to take them apart, analyze them, critique them, and retain what you learn from them. You'll become a better thinker, able to spot faulty reasoning and to examine your own thinking to better come to conclusions about what is true, good, right, or practical. You'll become a better writer (and researcher), able not only to produce better writing faster and more efficiently but also able to discern and discuss the difference between more and less effective writing.

Assignments Major Papers Argument Analysis 15% Synthesis 20% Researched Argument 25% Reflections 10% Writing Manual Reports 10% Semester Project 10% Everything Else 10%

Required Materials Asking the Right Questions, Browne & Keeley, 11th edition Writing manual of your choice MLA or APA Handbook, depending on your major; we’ll discuss this later

Required Materials Broadband internet access Access, Edit, and Create .docx and .pdf files A Slack account

Attendance You can miss two class periods without penalty. On a third absence, and again on a fourth, your final grade will be dropped a third of a letter (A– becomes a B+, C becomes a C–). On your fifth absence, you will automatically fail the course.

Preparation and Participation Every day in class you will need any readings that were assigned something to write with, and something to write on laptop or device if you have one

Further Information Please read the full syllabus and other course information at our course website: groversenglish.com