UNWSP ENG2205 Critical Thinking and Writing Syllabus, Fall 2022 Quad 1 , Prof. R.

Hope 1

ENG 2205: Critical Thinking and Writing

Classroom: B007 Bernsten Resource Center

Fall 2022, Quad 1, T/TH 8:00 – 9:40 a.m.

Professor Rebecca Hope

Email: rmhope@unwsp.edu

Office Hours: By Appointment

Almost always available T/TH 9:45 – 10:45

Catalog Description: A writing course designed to improve students’ skills in source analysis,
critical thinking, and argumentation as they create a research paper. Students will develop skills
in research by using reference materials, journals, and databases related to their disciplines.

Number of Credits: 2 credits

COURSE PREREQUISITES/COREQUISITES: ENG1105 or ENG1825, or consent of

department chairperson

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of ENG2205, students will be able to:
1. Analyze published texts using critical thinking skills.
2. Apply process writing techniques to generate, plan, draft, and revise writing.
3. Apply research strategies to find appropriate resources for a researched paper.
4. Apply grammar, editing, and citation rules to assigned researched paper.
5. Evaluate peers’ texts using criteria provided in class.
6. Compose an audience-sensitive argumentative researched paper.

Textbooks and Other Necessary Materials

 Wood, Nancy V. Essentials of Argument. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson
Prentice Hall, 2006.
 *Guide to Editing Essentials (available on course site)
 Purdue OWL, Online Citation Source (https://owl.english.purdue.edu)
 Collegiate dictionary and thesaurus
 Notebook and pocket folder

*Although the instructor will review some editing concepts, students enrolled in ENG2205
are assumed to be familiar with and able to apply the editing concepts covered in ENG1105
Composition, the previous course in the composition sequence at UNW. These concepts are
described in Guide to Editing Essentials, a required text for this course. Students who are not
 UNWSP ENG2205 Critical Thinking and Writing Syllabus, Fall 2022 Quad 1 , Prof. R. Hope 2

familiar with or need to brush up on these concepts should consult Guide to Editing
Essentials on Moodle and/or seek tutoring with the ALPHA Center as needed.

Course Requirements
1. Students will write one argument for a position as a formal, scholarly research paper. Its
thesis must be persuasive (not expository) and preferably related to the student’s field of
study (declared major). The instructor will provide an assignment sheet with full details
about the required paper.
a. The topic must be approved by the instructor. The instructor reserves the right to
prohibit certain topics. If a student changes or alters the topic or thesis statement in
any way, he/she must receive approval from the instructor before submitting any
other process assignments.
b. The final draft must be a minimum of 2,000 words and should not exceed 3,000
words (excluding the References or Bibliography). Essays below the minimum word
count will automatically fail. Papers exceeding the maximum will be penalized.
c. Students will turn in a conference draft for peer critique and general feedback from
the instructor. This draft must be a minimum of 1,900 words; it must be properly
formatted, present a sufficient amount of scholarly research, and correctly use APA or
CMOS documentation style.
d. A minimum of four credentialed sources (excluding the Bible) must be used. Papers
for this class typically have many more than four sources used in the paper, but
students must have a strong core of research from which to build their argument. A
full explanation of the “Core Four” and other acceptable sources will be provided on
the assignment sheet. Failure to meet the “Core Four” requirements results in
automatic failure of the course.
e. Students will also submit an annotated bibliography in APA or CMOS style prior to
the final draft.
f. Students must print and retain hard copies of all sources referenced in the paper.
These copies will be submitted with the final draft. Details about completing the
source packet will be provided on the assignment sheet.
2. Students will complete various process assignments for the research and drafting stages
of their papers. Students who are retaking ENG2205 are allowed to use process
assignments from a prior ENG2205 class only if they have not previously drafted the
paper.
3. Students will complete various daily assignments, textbook readings, and in-class group
work related to writing, the research process, and/or critical thinking skills.
4. Three quizzes will be administered throughout the semester to review understanding and
application of editing skills and documentation styles (CMOS and APA).
5. The final exam, administered on the final day of class, will be an objective assessment of
the skills learned during the semester. Final exams may not be taken prior to the date
 UNWSP ENG2205 Critical Thinking and Writing Syllabus, Fall 2022 Quad 1 , Prof. R. Hope 3

listed in the registration guide. Permission to take a final exam after the scheduled date
must be requested and approved in the Registrar’s office.
6. If a student receives a grade on the research paper below C- due to errors in editing,
formatting, or citation, the student must remediate the paper’s errors as instructed in order
to raise the grade and pass the course. The revised final draft will receive a grade no
higher than C-. Should a student receive a grade of C- or below for content and/or
significant problems with the Reference/Bibliography and in-text citations or footnotes,
he or she will be required to retake the course. There is no remediation option for such
errors.

Attendance Policy
Since this course meets twice per week, you are allowed a total of one absence, whether excused
or unexcused, for the quad. This includes absences excused for any university-sponsored events
(e.g., field trips or athletic events). Additional absences will result in your final grade being
lowered. If you anticipate having more than one absence for the quad, please talk to me.

Three tardy arrivals to class equal one absence. I consider you tardy if you arrive more than five
minutes after the scheduled start time. Missing more than four class periods will result in
automatic failure of the course.

If you know ahead of time that you will miss class, plan to get your assignment in early. Except
for an excused absence when you have been granted an extension (see below), late work due to
absence will be subject to loss of points. For any absence, it is your responsibility to obtain notes,
assignments, and handouts and to ask the instructor about the possibility of making up any
quizzes or assignments you miss.

Remote Attendance Expectations

You must request via email to join class via Zoom. This option is only available if you are ill or
in quarantine. If you have been approved to join class via Zoom, you must have your video on
and be as engaged as you would be if you were in the classroom. Be prepared to be called on at
any time and quickly enable your audio. If you have a reason for not having video or audio
capabilities, you must advise the professor of that before class if at all possible. You cannot
receive credit for class attendance if you only appear as a black rectangle and don't participate!

Excused Absences and Extensions

Sometimes extenuating circumstances arise that prevent you from attending class and/or
completing an assignment on time. To receive an extension on an assignment’s due date, you
must provide me with confirmation of your situation from the appropriate office shown below.
An extension will allow you to turn in an assignment at a later specified date without losing
points. [See COVID-19 update below. Follow UNWSP guidance for dealing with illness.]
 UNWSP ENG2205 Critical Thinking and Writing Syllabus, Fall 2022 Quad 1 , Prof. R. Hope 4

For minor illnesses Health Services: 651-631-5246; ljkaup@unwsp.edu,

For prolonged illnesses or other
serious health-related issues
(influenza, injury, surgery, etc.)
For personal, non-health-related
issues (funerals, etc.)
N111
Center of Academic Programs for Support Services
(CAPSS): 651-628-3241, refries@unwsp.edu, N4232
Student Life: 651-631-5205, studentlife@unwsp.edu,
G213

Late Work
Unless otherwise specified, I prefer that you submit assignments to me in class in hard copy form
on the day they are due. However, assignments will also be accepted on Moodle by the end of
the day on the date due. At the instructor’s discretion, assignments turned in late may receive a
10% reduction in points for each day (24-hour period) that passes before work is submitted.

If you have an excused absence and have been granted an extension, your assignment will be due
at the next class period following the due date (unless I have informed you of some other due
date) and will receive no penalty if submitted by that time.

Fall 2022 Syllabi Statement Regarding COVID-19

Expectations for all UNW courses

 If you are feeling unwell due to COVID-like symptoms or are notified of an exposure,
please stay home and contact Health Services (651-631-5353) AND instructors of any
courses on the same day.

 If you are placed on isolation or quarantine due to your status of testing positive or being
exposed to COVID, Academic Achievement will be notified by Health Services and will
contact you to determine your need for academic adjustments.

 If you have been placed on isolation or quarantine, you must be cleared through Health
Services to return to class.

 You are expected to make up all work and will be responsible for material covered during
missed class days.

 You are required to attend class in the modality in which the class is offered (i.e., face-to-
face, blended, hybrid, or virtual). If you need a change in modality, submit a formal
request to Academic Achievement.

 The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) recommend vaccines for eligible individuals. If unvaccinated, you are
encouraged to consult with your health care provider for additional guidance.
 UNWSP ENG2205 Critical Thinking and Writing Syllabus, Fall 2022 Quad 1 , Prof. R. Hope 5

Audio/Visual Recording Policy

Class meetings and materials may not be recorded, livestreamed, photographed, or otherwise
shared, whether by audio, video, photo and/or other means, without the express consent of the
professor and/or any other class presenter. This is due to privacy considerations, including
student privacy rights governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and
intellectual property rights of instructors and is in accordance with common ethical practice in
professional settings. Any authorized visual and/or auditory recordings or imagery of classes and
materials (University recordings and/or student personal recordings) made on any devices will
not be available or shared beyond class participants except as required or permitted by applicable
law. Class recordings made by students for personal use and with authorization must be erased at
the close of the term.

While the University has various technologies that it may use to engage in authorized
livestreaming and/or recording of classes, the University does not make any guarantee that any
particular class or class event will be recorded. Recordings may not be available for a variety of
reasons, such as but not limited to, a decision not to record, inadvertent human error, technology
glitches, and recording retention issues.

Academic Achievement Statement

UNW students requesting academic accommodations in association with the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) are directed to notify Disability Services to begin the application process.
Academic Achievement also provides the following: Writing Tutoring, Subject Tutoring,
advocating, transitional skill building, Academic Coaching (organization, time management, test
taking, etc.).

Contact Academic Achievement for more information: AcademicAchievement@unwsp.edu |

651-628-3316 | N4012 (Revised 07/22).

The ALPHA Center

The ALPHA Center, Northwestern’s tutoring service staffed by student tutors, can help you as
you work on papers for this or any class. At my discretion, I may require a student to consult
with the ALPHA Center. The ALPHA Center strives to help all members of the Northwestern
community learn more about writing and become better writers. You can schedule a one-on-one
consultation with an ALPHA Center peer tutor to help you on any stage of the writing process.
To make an appointment, go to unwsp.edu/alpha.

English Department Grading Standards

After determining the quality of your paper’s content and assigning a letter grade, I will total the
number of “countable editing errors” in the paper and determine the paper’s average number of
 UNWSP ENG2205 Critical Thinking and Writing Syllabus, Fall 2022 Quad 1 , Prof. R. Hope 6

errors per page. A page is defined as 250 words, and your submitted paper must display the total
word count in the paper’s header.
“Countable editing errors” are those covered on the ECE plus spelling errors.

Countable Errors Highest Letter Grade Countable Errors Highest Letter

per Page Possible for Paper per Page Grade Possible for
Paper
1 A (no effect on grade*) 5 D
2 B+ 6 D-
3 C+ 7 F
4 D+
*Even an “A” student could miss one error per page. Of course, your paper’s grade is based on
content before these editing standards are applied, so doing well on editing alone does not
increase your grade to an “A” if your content merits a “B” or “C.”

Grading Scale
Grades are based on the following scale:
93-100% = A 87-89% = B+ 77-79% = C+ 67-69% = D+ Less than 60% = F
90-92% = A- 83-86% = B 73-76% = C 63-66% = D
80-82% = B- 70-72% = C- 60-62% = D-

How Your Final Grade Is Calculated

In order to pass this class, you must complete the research paper according to the stated
requirements with a final grade of at least C-. Additionally, you must complete the process
assignments, peer conferencing, and quizzes with acceptable scores. Assignments are weighted
according to the following percentages:

Process Assignments 25%

Peer Conferencing 10%
Final Research Paper 50%
Quizzes 10%
Final Exam 5%
Total 100%

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

Plagiarism will result in failure of the paper and failure of the entire course. It can also result in
possible expulsion from UNWSP. I will report plagiarism or other forms of cheating, and
students will be subject to the university’s disciplinary procedures.

For complete details on Northwestern’s plagiarism policy, consult the University of

Northwestern Student Handbook, which may be accessed through theRock. You can also find a
 UNWSP ENG2205 Critical Thinking and Writing Syllabus, Fall 2022 Quad 1 , Prof. R. Hope 7

description of plagiarism and the college’s policies on handling cases of plagiarism under the
link for Academic Policies.

All the work you do for this class must be your own. You must document all ideas and
information you gather from your research to avoid plagiarism. We will cover correct
documentation and other ways to avoid plagiarism in class, but if you are in doubt, always ask.
You may not use papers or assignments written for previous or current classes in this class.
This rule also applies to those retaking this course. The penalty for submitting a previously
drafted paper is failure of the course.

Fabricating sources is academic dishonesty. Students must take great care when doing research
to assure that they are accurately representing the ideas of the authors and works they cite.
Sloppy research that leads to inadvertent citation problems is not an adequate defense for
misquoting or misrepresenting a source. Specifically, all sources listed in the Bibliography or
References of the paper must match with an in-text citation or footnote in the paper’s body. A
citation that is not listed in the Bibliography or References will result in a full letter grade
deduction for the paper. An entry in the Bibliography or References that is not cited in the paper
may result in failure of the paper.

As part of our plagiarism-prevention strategy, UNWSP uses Turnitin.com, an online service that
checks for possible plagiarism. You must submit your final paper draft to Turnitin.com the same
day you submit it to me.

Using Sources Responsibly

It is the policy of the Department of English and Literature that students must examine outside
sources, especially sources from the Internet, critically before using them. You will be taught to
do so in this course and must use those skills correctly in order to pass the course. Your research
paper will be written using either Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) or APA Style, and
documentation must adhere to the requirements of the style you use.

Technology
You will need functioning technology in order to successfully complete assignments for this
class. It is your responsibility to plan ahead for possible glitches. Computer and printer problems
are not acceptable excuses for late assignments. Have a back-up plan in place before technology
malfunctions.

Although this is a seated (in-person) class, we will have some days that you will not come to
class but will complete your work online. This includes the second library day, peer critique
days, and teacher conference days. Critiques and conferences will be conducted via Zoom during
regularly scheduled class periods.
 UNWSP ENG2205 Critical Thinking and Writing Syllabus, Fall 2022 Quad 1 , Prof. R. Hope 8

You will not need your laptop in class. Please don’t have your laptop open unless you have
discussed with the professor your need to use the laptop as an accommodation for notetaking or
other purposes. If you have received approval to use your laptop during class, you may not
access any applications that aren’t related to this class during class time. Likewise, keep your
cellphone hidden and silenced during class. If you want to use it to check a word definition or
fact, please ask permission before doing so.

Peer Conferencing Policy

This course includes three peer conferences during which students in the class will share papers
with each other to give and receive feedback. For this stage of the writing process to be effective,
all students must come to the peer conferencing session with the required number of words
written and with the required number of hard copies. To participate in a peer conference, your
paper must have the word count displayed in the page header, you must meet the minimum
word requirement, and you must bring two printed copies to class so you can share them
with your partner(s). If you don’t participate in the peer conference, you will lose the points for
peer critiques, thus lowering your total points for the course. You will also be excused from class
and you won’t receive attendance credit for that day. Peer conferencing is an essential part of
keeping you on track for this paper. Make sure you fully participate in every conference!

Tentative Class Schedule

This plan for daily assignments and activities is subject to change. I may announce changes in
class or via Moodle updates and Moodle messages sent to your email. It is your responsibility to
log onto Moodle frequently and to check your email daily.

Reading Assignment Key: EA = Essentials of Argument

Date Class Topic Assignment Due

Week 1
TH 8/25  Course overview: syllabus, schedule, None
position paper assignment Bring your textbook to class
 Review key writing concepts
 Your personal arguing “style”
Week 2
T 8/30  Library Day #1: A Research Librarian will Library research pre-test (on
join us in our classroom Moodle)
 Tips for choosing a topic for your research EA pp. 3 - 26
paper
TH 9/1  Library Day #2: Meet in back area of the Topic Assignment Due
main floor of the Library EA pp. 27 - 41
 TRACE Analysis
 UNWSP ENG2205 Critical Thinking and Writing Syllabus, Fall 2022 Quad 1 , Prof. R. Hope 9

Week 3
T 9/6  CMOS and APA documentation Audience Analysis Due
 Credible sources Library research post-test
Thesis statements EA pp. 45 - 65
T 9/8  APA/CMOS Super Sleuth Challenge Thesis Statement Due
 Annotated Bibliography assignment
Week 4
T 9/13  Toulmin Model EA pp. 95 – 120
 Types of evidence Annotated Bibliography Due
Organizing and outlining your paper
TH 9/15  Parts of the argument EA pp. 140 – 160
 Claims and proofs Tentative Outline Due
 Fallacies
Week 5
T 9/20  Peer conference one section of your paper Bring 2 printed copies of one
 Teacher Conferences section of your paper (700 words
View the Evaluating Evidence video minimum)
TH 9/22  Editing review for Quiz #1 Source Packet Due
 Plagiarism Final Outline Due
Direct quotations, paraphrases, summaries
Week 6
T 9/27  How to write an abstract Editing Quiz #1: commas, run-
 Editing review for Quiz #2 ons, fragments, italics, quotation
 Teacher Conferences marks (complete online)
Bring a copy of your outline to
use in class
TH 9/29  Peer conference Abstract due
Teacher conferences Peer conferencing draft; 1,900
words minimum (excluding
abstract)—bring 2 copies to class
Week 7
T 10/4  Increase the sophistication of your written Editing Quiz #2: colons,
work semicolons, agreement,
 APA/CMOS review game apostrophes (complete online)
TH 10/6  Quiz #3: CMOS and APA documentation Revised draft; 2,000 words
(complete online) minimum excluding Abstract and
 Polishing peer conference References/Bibliography;
Abstract and all citations and
References/ Bibliography must
be complete
Bring 2 printed copies to class
Week 8
T 10/11  Final exam preparation Final draft; source packet
 Critical Thinking Exercise: The Fallacy Complete course evaluation
Game Submit printed paper AND
 UNWSP ENG2205 Critical Thinking and Writing Syllabus, Fall 2022 Quad 1 , Prof. R. Hope 10

upload to Moodle
TH Final exam
10/13