Methods of Critical Reasoning
Course Description
Ever wondered how to distinguish a reliable expert on public health policy from an uninformative talking head? Found it confusing when lawyers in high-profile felony cases argue over the scientific merit of forensic evidence? Gotten frustrated at the bewildering number and variety of sites on the World Wide Web, and wished you had a way to determine which were truly useful and which should be junked?
You're not alone. Funny thing is, though, most people don't see these questions for what they are: critical reasoning opportunities and potential research projects. Critical reasoning skills are basic to sound thinking, whether in the workplace, academia, or one's personal life. The research process is where critical thinking skills are put into practice to accomplish a specific goal: the solution to a problem, the evaluation of an information source, the formation of a personal financial plan. Diverse as these activities may be, they are united by the need for logical analysis, critical scrutiny, and productive research.
BGS 302, Methods of Critical Reasoning, is an upper-level, three-semester-hour seminar designed specifically for and required by BGS students who hold an AA or AS degree, or who successfully transfer 60 or more semester hours to Roosevelt. The purpose of the course is to help you:
- become familiar with scholarly research in various disciplines
- establish criteria for evaluating published research
- develop skills in reading graphs and tables, quantitative data, and jargon
- understand the differences between qualitative and quantitative research
- determine the usefulness and credibility of online sources
- summarize, analyze, and synthesize information from various sources
- articulate and support an original, coherent argument
Upon completing BGS 302, you should be an informed consumer of information, both mainstream and scholarly, be able to critically analyze a wide range of sources, and have the tools to conduct rigorous and thorough research. Methods of Critical Reasoning will prepare you for the challenging demands of upper-level college courses, particularly the BGS interdisciplinary seminars and the senior thesis.
Getting Help, Staying in Touch
Although we don't have any required one-on-one conferences scheduled for BGS 302, I encourage you to talk to me during office hours or to make an appointment, should you have questions or feel like you need some individualized help. I also can assist you with advising questions throughout the semester; however, during advance registration period, please call the University College secretary (847-619-8730 RC; 312-281-3134 DT) to schedule an appointment with me or another advisor.
Staying in touch is vitally important in this class, for our schedule is both tight and complex. Please do not disappear! If you miss a class, get notes and announcements from a dependable classmate, and check the 302 Schedule page for updates. Notes, reminders, and changes will be noted on the Announcements page. I check my voicemail (847-619-8735 RC; 312-281-3148 DT) and email regularly, and I have both home and office fax lines available. However, there's no substitute for regular attendance and timely submission of your assignments.
Associate Professor
University College
Roosevelt University
Mike Bryson's
Home Page
Last updated 05/18/05