2020y-apmodr1790a-06

AP/MODR1790 6.0 A: Reasoning In Everyday Language

Offered by: MODR


(Cross-listed to: AP/ESL1790 6.0A )

 Session

Fall 2020

 Term

Y

Format

LECT

Instructor

Calendar Description / Prerequisite / Co-Requisite

This course is structured to enhance the continued learning and language proficiency of ESL students. Students are exposed to theory and skills that foster critical reading, writing, speaking, thinking, and reasoning. Students apply theory and skills to the analysis of timely culturally relevant social, ethical, and/or pop culture issues. Given the smaller class size, students can expect opportunities of continued experiential education built into the course. Finally, students can expect to see real improvement in their abilities to be both respectfully curious individuals and reasonable skeptics - practices that are helpful in other academic courses and life generally. Students who have been admitted to York University with an ESL requirement, or can demonstrate an ESL need, will be given permission to enrol in this course. Contact the Department of Philosophy or course instructor (Lcarozza@yorku.ca) for guidance. Course credit exclusions: AP/MODR 1730 6.0; AP/MODR 1760 6.0; AP/MODR 1770 6.0; AP/PHIL 2200 3.0; GL/MODR 1711 6.0 (this does not include course codes prior to 2009 in AS and AK). Note: This course has been approved in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies for general education credit: Humanities or Social Science.


Course Start Up

Course Websites hosted on York's "eClass" are accessible to students during the first week of the term. It takes two business days from the time of your enrolment to access your course website. Course materials begin to be released on the course website during the first week. To log in to your eClass course visit the York U eClass Portal and login with your Student Passport York Account. If you are creating and participating in Zoom meetings you may also go directly to the York U Zoom Portal.

For further course Start Up details, review the Getting Started webpage.

For IT support, students may contact University Information Technology Client Services via askit@yorku.ca or (416) 736-5800. Please also visit UIT Student Services or the Getting Help - UIT webpages.


    Additional Course Instructor/Contact Details

Professor Linda Carozza

lcarozza@yorku.ca

Virtual office hours: Zoom or the Moodle Chat function will be used for virtual office hours. Further information will be made available in the full syllabus on Moodle. For students who are in different time zones, we will co-ordinate any live sessions (like an office hour) based on compatible scheduling.

    Expanded Course Description
This Modes of Reasoning course is intended only for ESL students. It addresses the same content as other Modes of Reasoning courses while supporting the language proficiency needs of ESL students. Students learn theory and skills that foster listening, (active) reading, writing, speaking, and (critical) thinking. Students apply theory and skills to the analysis of relevant social, ethical, and/or pop culture issues. Experiential education is built into the course so that skills are actively practiced. Students continually hone their abilities to be both respectfully curious individuals and reasonable skeptics - practices that are helpful in future courses and life generally. Specific learning outcomes are listed below. Note: MODR 1790 can serve as either a HUMA or a SOSC general education requirement, or an elective if you have not taken another MODR course.

 

(1) Critical Reading Skills/Reading Comprehension - building academic vocabulary; active reading; asking “critical” questions; reading between the lines; deconstructing passages.

(2) Critical Thinking Skills - logically evaluating what we hear/read; presenting a strong analysis; rational decision-making; presenting cogent arguments, ethically; to be able to articulate counter-views; being aware of bias (self bias and others’ bias); differentiating between manipulative arguers and rationally persuasive arguers; to develop an awareness of Western reasoning skills and their connection to language use.

(3) Writing and Research Skills - expanding written vocabulary; improve general writing skills including structure, writing style according to recognized writing style guides; essay organization (thesis development and argumentation; bibliography; editing techniques).

(4) Oral Skills - improving on the presentation of ideas/arguments clearly, coherently, logically, and most of all with more confidence (formal/informal settings).

(5) Personal Development - the ability to engage in civil discourse as a “competent layperson;” a clearer understanding of personal styles and habits when arguing (e.g. conflict style; preferred learning style; logical strengths; logical weaknesses; etc.).

 

 

    Additional Requirements

Technical requirements for taking the course: A higher internet speed is important to stream lecture material. In order to fully participate in this course students should have access to electronic devices that have video and microphone access. There will be opportunities to have live Q & A sessions, webinars, and office hours through Zoom.

 

Here are some useful links for student computing information, resources and help:

Student Guide to Moodle

Zoom@YorkU Best Practices 

Zoom@YorkU User Reference Guide

Computing for Students Website

Student Guide to eLearning at York University

 

To determine Internet connection and speed, there are online tests, such as Speedtest, that can be run.

    Required Course Text / Readings

Good Reasoning Matters (5th Ed.), by Groarke & Tindale

Note: It absolutely needs to be the 5th edition.

You can buy this book through the York University bookstore. You can also rent an

online version through VitalSource.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

            This is a popular book. Access this book however you like – buy an actual book, buy

an audio book, etc.

All other course material will be provided to you on the course Moodle site.

    Weighting of Course

Participation – 20%

Quizzes – 20%

Personal Profile – 5%

Argumentative Podcast – 10%

Fallacy Presentation – 15%

Critical Essay – 30%

 

More specific information about assignments will be provided in Moodle.

    Organization of the Course

Times and locations: This is an online course - all lectures, tasks, assignments, and meetings will be held online through the course Moodle site. To be as accessible as possible, this course does not require you to log on and complete tasks and assignments and lectures at specific times. It is an ASYNCHRONOUS course – you can choose when to log on to keep up with weekly material. You must log on frequently to keep up with this accelerated course. Weekly content will be made available on Thursdays. All deadlines fall on Thursdays. (Optional) webinars will be facilitated on Thursdays as well. Please note that there will be no in-person interactions or activities on campus.

Organization of the course

Weekly course material (e.g. video lectures, handouts, web links, discussion forums, etc.) will be posted online on Thursdays. This is an asynchronous course - you don’t have to log in to Moodle at a specific time each week, but you do need to keep up on days/times weekly that are convenient for you. There is an emphasis on continuous engagement in the course.

    Additional Information / Notes
 

Course policies

Submitting assignments on time

•     Expected academic performance includes students not only completing assignments, but completing them on time. We find ourselves in unprecedented times though, so please see adapted policies below.

•     If you miss a quiz, for which you have 7 days to complete, you earn a zero grade. There will be bonuses quizzes to replace any low or missed grades.

•     If you don’t participate during the required week, you don’t earn participation grades. There will be bonus opportunities to participate to replace low or missed grades.

•     There will be no late penalty for submitting an assignment late. Rather, you’ll have a window of time after the deadline where you can submit an assignment (you just won’t receive feedback from the instructor). Each assignment’s instructions will have specific details.

 

To be successful in this course

•     You must log on to Moodle frequently

•     You should be completing coursework every week

•     You should be taking notes when you review video lectures - always

•     You should be taking notes when you read the course material - always

•     Critical Thinking and Reasoning requires practice. The textbooks have chapter exercises that you should be answering in order to hone your skills.

•     For an updated and helpful website with tips and tools, for writing, time management, and other necessary tools and skills for university success, see:                         http://www.yorku.ca/spark/

•     Take care of yourself. Balancing the academic, professional, family, personal, and other aspects of your life can be challenging at the best of times. Aim to create some balance in your life. You want to be healthy and rested when you tackle a full year course in half the time, remotely.

 

Regarding lecture content (e.g. videos, documents, etc.): students do not have

permission to duplicate, copy, and/or distribute content outside of the class. Doing so

violates copyright laws.

Regarding synchronous Zoom recordings: students do not have permission to

duplicate, copy, and/or distribute the recordings outside of the class. These acts

can violate not only copyright laws but also FIPPA. All synchronous webinar

recordings will be destroyed after the end of classes.

 

    Relevant Links / Resources