Methods of Critical Reasoning (online)

Course Description and Overview

Note for Enrolled Students in BGS 302-98, Spring 2002:  
For important textbook info., click the "Texts" link at right

Methods of Critical Reasoning is the first course in the Next Step and Fast Track plans of study within the BGS/BPS program. The course provides you with advanced skills in critical analysis, argumentation, and research. You'll develop proficiency in locating, understanding, and evaluating resources used in academic research as well as improving and refining their own research methods. Topics covered include analysis of arguments in popular and academic publications, evaluation of websites and other media-based sources of information, comparison of quantitative and qualitative research, practical statistical literacy, and the construction of reasoned arguments using a range of sources.  Through weekly reading assignments, active participation in threaded discussions and small-group chat sessions, and a sequence of individual and group assignments, we foster an intellectual commitment to critical reasoning and rigorous research--habits of mind that are crucial to your overall academic development.   Students entering this class should have prior coursework in basic library research methods and in writing basic research papers, as well as a working familiarity with email and internet use. 

What makes this particular section of BGS 302 special, of course, is that it takes place completely online.  We'll be using the virtual learning interface at Roosevelt, called RU Online, which is supported by Blackboard (hereafter referred to as "Bb," for short).  The key thing to understand about online courses, including this one, is that they're interactive--just as my on-campus 302 students read assignments, write papers, construct arguments, and come to class to engage in lively discussion, so too will you and your fellow students share ideas and interact in real and virtual time.  Bb gives us the web-based tools to do just that.  We'll use threaded discussion forums, which are asynchronous (i.e., not in real time) means of communicating, to exchange ideas and materials on a weekly basis.  We'll also use real-time (synchronous) chats, which may be more familiar to veteran web users, to interact periodically, though most likely in small groups among students who typically login at similar times of day.  Again, the important point here is that 302 online is not an independent study experience:  you'll be moving through the semester with your fellow students, week by week, and interacting with them and me regularly.  And of course, you can always contact me by email, by phone, or simply by dropping by during my office hours.

Course Logistics:  Keeping Up, Getting Help, Staying in Touch

Staying in touch and on pace is vitally important to your success and satisfaction in this class, for our schedule is both tight and complex.  I've organized 302-98 to proceed in weekly units and at a measured and predictable pace (see the Schedule page).  If you fall behind by a week, it's certainly possible to catch up; but you'll have to work doubly hard to do so.  Above all, please do not disappear from from the course site!  (More on my expectations regarding weekly participation can be found on the Assignments page.)  A good rule of thumb is to plan on logging into our course site in Bb at least a few times per week, depending on the constraints of your own schedule.  Moreover, you should dedicate at least as many hours/week to this course as you would a "regular" on-campus class--you'll need time for reading assignments, checking the website, reading posts to the Discussion Forums, contributing your comments on the reading, drafting papers, etc.  A truism to ponder:  online courses aren't easier than regular courses; they're different. 

Although we don't have any required face-to-face interaction in BGS 302 online, I encourage you to email, talk to me during office hours, or make an in-person (or even virtual) appointment, should you have questions or feel like you need some individualized help.  If it's inconvenient for you to see me at my Robin or Downtown offices, we can always schedule a phone or "Virtual Classroom" conference.  Note, too, that I've scheduled online office hours from 3-5pm on Wednesdays--this means that I'll open up the Virtual Classroom space during that time, so you can login and talk to me online in real time.  (If I have a conflict during my online hours, I'll post an announcement to that effect on the course site.)  See my Courses page for phone #s, office hours, etc.

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.  With Roosevelt's online registration system, RU Access, registering for classes has become much more convenient.

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Last updated 01/31/02