Indian Institute of Management Rohtak

Critical Thinking and Writing Skills I

Course Title : Critical Thinking and Writing Skills I

Credits : 1 (20 Sessions)
Type : Compulsory
Session Duration : 75 minutes
Term : V
Year : 2020
Faculty :
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Introduction
This introductory critical thinking and writing course is designed to help you develop
basic critical thinking, reading, and writing skills in preparation for more advanced
courses in critical thinking and writing. The aim of this course is the (1) development of
logical reasoning and analytical and argumentative communication skills, (2) develop
critical thinking by analyzing and reflecting upon selected readings, (3) practice writing
and creating visuals effectively across a variety of disciplines, and (4) understand the
relationship between critical reading, critical thinking, critical writing, and critical
presentation.

Course Objectives
The specific objectives of the course are to:
1) Critically read, analyze and write
2) An understanding the manner in which critical thinking and writing work together
3) Analyze arguments and construct cogent arguments
4) Develop visual images that involve critical thinking
5) Develop oral presentation using persuasion
6) Analyze different forms of rhetoric

Focus

The emphasis of this course is to develop your critical thinking, writing, reading
presentation skills and to better understand how persuasion can be applied in different
situations and context.

Pedagogy
The pedagogy of this course will be a mixture of lecture, demonstrations, discussion,
group exercises in class, case analysis, assignments, quizzes and presentation. Students
are expected to come prepared to class by having read the weekly reading material prior
the start of the class. Every attempt will be made to cover the entire chapter material
during the lecture, however if content is not covered due to time constrains it is the
students responsibility to cover the material.

1
 Evaluation Scheme
Visual rhetoric assignment 20%
Oral persuasion assignment 20%
Mid Term Exam 30%
Final Exam 30%

References
Course textbook: Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing: A brief Guide to Argument, by
Sylvan Barnet, Hugo Bedau & John O’Hara. Tenth Edition, 2020. ISBN: 9781319194512
(hardcopy) ISBN13: 9781319216856 (e-book).
https://www.macmillanlearning.com/college/ca/product/Critical-Thinking-Reading-and-
Writing/p/1319194516

Special Instructions
Every effort will be made to manage the course as stated. However, adjustments may be
necessary at the discretion of the professor. If so, students will be advised and alterations
discussed in the class prior to implementation.

Session Plan
Module Session Topic and Sub-topics Reference (Book Case / Exercise / Assignment
No. No. chapter / Page
numbers from the
book/Additional
readings)
1 1-2 Intro, course syllabus,
expectations, policies, meet
and greet
3-4 What is critical thinking CH 1 Class assignment, exercises or
activities
2 5-6 Critical reading CH 2, 3 Class assignment, exercises or
activities
7-8 Visual rhetoric CH 4 Class assignment, exercises or
activities, visual rhetoric
assignment assigned
9-10 Analysis of an argument CH 5 Class assignment, exercises or
activities
11-12 Developing your argument CH 6 Class assignment, exercises or
activities, visual rhetoric
assignment due
3 13-14 Using references and sources CH 7 Class assignment, exercises or
activities
15-16 Toulmin Model, Rogerian CH 8, 12 Class assignment, exercises or
Argument, Aristotle activities
rhetorical triangle
4 17-18 Oral persuasion, term wrap Supplementary Oral persuasion assignment due
up, question and clarification reading provided

2
 session
19-20 Oral persuasion, term wrap Oral persuasion assignment due
up, question and clarification
session