Welcome to CRT 100

FYE

What is FYE and what do you think should happen in this class so that you feel like you belong/ successful here and at BMCC in general?

Class rules

Let’s create them together

6 word memoir

What is yours?

Week 1

Think and Write

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What have you done between the first class and today to be successful in this class? What else do you need to do? What can Prof. Barnes do to help you?

Class chat?

OpenLab?

Conversation 1?

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6 word memoir!

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Course materials:

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1. Course calendar
2. Class rules
3. OpenLab site
4. Blackboard
5. Cruelty-free class
6. Time management video
7. How to write a professional email

Quiz 1

How to be successful in this class?

Reflection 1: How do you see the world?

Select 1-2 of the following questions to focus on:

• What values and beliefs are most important to me? (Be specific- provide examples)
• Who/what helps to develop and expand my views? Personal Experience/ Culture-Heritage/Authority Figures (parents, teachers, professors)/ Evidence (facts)/ References (something you read or saw)?
• I consider/ do not consider myself a critical thinker. Explain.
• What barriers to Critical Thinking exist that I need/want to overcome?
• What is the balance of reason and emotion in my thinking?
• Do I expect my views to change significantly or remain mostly the same over time?
• What do I expect to gain from this course?

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Week 2/ Think and Write

What is this ad selling? How do you know? Who is the target audience here? Is it convincing? Why or why not?

BMCC Services- what’s where and who’s who and why should you care?

Here is a link to the student hub.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES: Research one of the services with your partner/ group.

1. Tutoring
2. Advocacy and Resource Center
3. Student Clubs
4. Career Development
5. Counseling Center
6. Early Childhood Center
7. Immigrant and Undocumented Student Support
8. International Students
9. Non-Traditional Students
10. Office of Accessibility
11. Social Justice & Equity Centers (pick one or two or all three: Pride Center, MultiCultural Center, Women’s Resource Center)
12. ESL Lab

Step 1: Research your assigned service.

Step 2: Brainstorm interview questions about your assigned service.

Step 3: Find your assigned service at BMCC. Take a picture of their office door or a sign associated with the service. Try to get a brochure if available.

Step 4: Conduct and record your interview.

Step 5: Continue researching your assigned service. Analyze the language on the program’s website.

Step 6: Create an ad or a slogan for your assigned service.

Step 7: Post your project (ad/ slogan + video + a brief description of the service) on Brightspace/ under Discussion/ Group Project BMCC Services.

Step 8: Present/ advertise your service to the class.

Check in

Conversation 1?

6 word memoir?

Practice Essay

If you enrolled late or missed class…

Think and Write

What is ChatGPT? Have you used it? Explain.

Check in

Group projects?

First grades in: quiz 1, practice essay, conversation 1

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Formation by Beyonce

Language analysis

Conversation 2

Assigned

Bias

Week 3/ What is bias?

Can you find it in this cartoon?

NY Cares orientation!

Please complete before the end of week 3

Groupthink Bias

You let the social dynamics of a group situation override the best outcomes. Dissent can be uncomfortable and dangerous to one's social standing, and so often the most confident or first voice will determine group decisions. Rather than openly contradicting others, seek to facilitate objective means of evaluation and critical thinking practices as a group activity.

Classwork: In groups, review 4 assigned biases by reading the definitions provided, coming up with your own definitions, and then coming up with an example for each one.

Conversation 2

Missing assignments?

Replies?

Your checklist?

End of week 3/ Think and Write

How did your summary go? What did you find out about the topic? Were you able to find any bias in the source? How can you apply what you learned to the world outside of class?

Check in

New York Cares

Orientation sign up + orientation + next steps

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Group Project: BMCC Services

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Grades on Brightspace–are you missing anything?

Week 6/ Think and Write

How do you solve problems in your life? Do you use a specific method or improvise? Do you think your approach to problem solving is effective?

Growth Mindset

What is it? How can we have more of it?

Check in

• Conversation 4 and replies + Conversation 5/ part 2
• New York Cares Volunteering/ Midterm Project
• Week 7: Midterm Conferences + Group Project Presentations
• Complete midterm review sheet before Tues Oct 22

Think and Write

It’s midterm time. How are you feeling about your classes, overall? Is there anything you plan to do differently in the second half of the semester?

What do you do for self-care?

Midterm Time

1. Complete the midterm check-in.
2. Meet with Prof. Barnes

1. Review what we’ve learned so far: Discuss the review sheet in groups.
2. Take the anonymous survey about you.
3. Complete the FYE Student Experience Survey if you haven’t yet done so.
4. Complete the CRT 100 survey if you haven’t yet done so.
5. Write a letter to incoming freshmen with advice about their first semester of college. Post the letter in announcements, with your group members' names listed.

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Think and Write

Think and Write

Argument Project Check In

What is your topic? Which parts of this assignments have you completed so far? Are you up to date with all parts of the project? If not, what’s your plan to catch up? Either way, what are your next steps?

Midterm Survey

• 14 students: view report
• Sense of community/ academic success and latenesses and/ or absences
• Don’t know how you are doing in the class?

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Fallacies

What is a fallacy?

Look it up (you can start with typing the word “fallacy” into your search engine like Google). Suggested: write down the definition in your own words.

Fallacy 19: Black or white

Your definition: when you think you have an ultimatum but you have more options, thinking there is only 2 sides

Your example: Friends get into an argument and one of them says: pick a side, you’re either with me or against me.

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Fallacies

1. Strawman: manipulating someone’s words to get people against them
2. False cause: misinterpretation of the connection of facts
3. Appeal to emotion: trying to get sb do sth to make them feel bad or good
4. The fallacy fallacy: claim is poorly argued it’s wrong
5. Slippery slope: performing a small action will lead to a bigger action
6. Ad hominem: using sb appearance or personality against them to win an argument
7. Tu quoque/ you too: look who’s talking to avoid criticism
8. Personal incredulity: sb finds sth hard to believe because they believe it from their perspective
9. Special pleading: double-standard
10. Loaded question: you ask in a way that leads to a trap
11. Burden of proof: need to prove facts in a situation
12. Ambiguity: the understanding of sth in different ways

13. The gambler’s fallacy: keep on trying thinking you’ll win

14. Bandwagon: sb is popular so others follow

15. Appeal to authority: powerful person opinion is correct

16. composition/ division: overgeneralizing

17. No true Scotsman: because you said a stereotype anything you say to disprove it isn’t true

18. Genetic: overgeneralizing based on genetics

19. Black or white: when you think you have an ultimatum but you have more options, thinking there is only 2 sides

20. Begging the question: when you think you have enough evidence to support your claim

21. Appeal to nature: belief that everything from nature is good and can be consumed

22. Anecdotal: making your personal experience a rule about sth

23. The texas sharpshooter/ cherry picking: being selective about what you hear

24. Middle ground: stay in the middle of both–don’t make a choice

Think and Write

Argument Project Check In: which step are you on?

Did you complete the following assignments:

• Summary and Response on BS?
• Find 3 sources about your topic, including 2 from BMCC database
• Outline posted?
• You have 2 copies of your outline today

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Your outline

Topic:

Working conclusion:

Intro: (hook, intro to topic, conclusion)

Premise 1:

Supporting Evidence:

Premise 2:

Supporting Evidence:

Premise 3/ Opposing Viewpoint:

Supporting Evidence:

Conclusion: (paraphrase your conclusion/thesis, and explain why this topic matters)

Think and Write

Have you ever participated in a peer review session?

What is peer review?

What is the purpose of a peer review?

Are you ready for our peer review session?

Summary and response graded

• Include author and title in first sentence of your summary!

Peer review

Think- constructive feedback…

1. Read 2 drafts
2. Answer peer review questions x2 in writing
3. Once all group members are finished, take 5-10 minutes per draft to discuss your feedback. Suggestion: time your group to make sure you discuss everyone’s draft for at least 5 minutes.
4. Begin your conversation with something positive, for example:
1. I enjoyed… The strength of this draft is… I learned that…

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Peer Review Questions

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1.Does the draft include a thesis statement/ conclusion? What is iit? Is it clearly stated and arguable?

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2.Does every body paragraph begin with a premise/ topic

sentence that supports the conclusion?

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3.Does each body paragraph include relevant supporting

evidence? Explain.

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4.Does the draft include 3 sources, at least two of which are from

CQ Researcher or Opposing Viewpoints/ BMCC database?

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5.Does the research support the author’s conclusion/ thesis without replacing their voice? For example, if there is a quote, is it explained and analyzed?

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6.Does the author include at least 1 opposing viewpoint, followed by a refutation? Explain.

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7.Is it clear who the audience is/ who the draft is addressed to?

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8. Is it clear why this topic and argument are important?

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9. What are the strengths of this draft?

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10. Do you have any other comments or suggestions?

Annotated Bibliography

3 sources about your topic

Title and author for each source, listed alphabetically by the author’s last name (MLA)

2-3 sentence summary of the source

1-2 sentences on how you may use the source

Think and Write

• What is authority?
• Who are the authority figures in your life?
• Do you always listen to them?
• Should we always listen to authority figures?
• If an authority figure tells you to do something, are you still responsible for that action?

Think and Write

• Think about a time in your life when you obeyed someone else and did something you later came to regret.

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Argument Project

Submit your outline and essay by Nov 19th: a hard copy + on Brightspace please.

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Discuss…

• Think about a time in your life when you obeyed someone else and did something you later came to regret.
• Imagine that you are a participant in Milgram’s study of obedience. What would you have done if you refused to obey the orders and the experimenter in charge answered, “The experiment requires that you continue”?
• What could you do in general to make it less likely to obey an authority figure who’s telling you to do something that isn’t morally right?
• Are there situations in your life that might force you to obey authority figures even when you shouldn’t?

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Authority and Obedience Quiz

Test your classmates’ knowledge of this week’s materials and of their critical thinking skills in the context of authority and obedience.

Think and Write

You're in a lifeboat with eight other people. The lifeboat can't hold everyone and will capsize soon. The only way to avoid killing everyone is to throw one person off the boat. One of the lifeboat passengers is a grievously injured woman, who is certain to die soon, but is she is alert and fully aware of the issue at hand. Could you throw that passenger overboard, knowing you would be saving the others and the person being thrown off would know what you were doing?

The Lifeboat

The ship is sinking and the seas are rough. All but one lifeboat has been destroyed. The lifeboat holds a maximum of six people. There are ten people that want to board the lifeboat. The four individuals who do not board the boat will certainly die.

• Woman who thinks she is six weeks pregnant
• Lifeguard
• Two young adults who recently married
• Senior citizen who has fifteen grandchildren
• Elementary school teacher
• Thirteen year old twins V
• Veteran nurse
• Captain of the ship

7 Moral Positions + Conversation 8

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1. I would follow my conscience
2. I don’t know what I would do
3. I would do whatever would improve my own situation
4. I Would Do What God or the Scriptures Say Is Right
5. I Would Do Whatever Made Me Happy
6. I would follow the advice of an authority figure
7. I would do what’s best for everyone

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“Priscilla”

In May 1967, Elvis Presley and Priscilla marry in Las Vegas. The happiness they share appears very pronounced and authentic, though Elvis' pals are always around, which stresses the couple's relationship. Priscilla becomes pregnant shortly after the wedding, delighting Elvis, though Priscilla is concerned how soon they will become parents. She was hoping to travel with Elvis before having a family. Elvis's ongoing prescription drug abuse, which began in the Army in Germany when his Sergeant gave him speed to keep him alert on night watch, causes further strain, along with Elvis' absence and frequent affairs. Priscilla, now with a baby, feels lonely.

Think and Write

Complete the sentence:

Thanksgiving break was ……. Because ….

Check In

How are you doing in this class? Are you missing any assignments? If so, which ones and what’s your plan?

How are you doing this semester in general? Favorite classes, least favorite classes?

Have you registered for next semester? What classes are you going to take?

Final Exam Practice Essays

• Did you follow essay instructions?
• Did you clearly state the author’s conclusion and premises in your own words?
• Did you introduce the source by providing the author’s full name and article title?
• Were you ok time-wise or did you need more time?

Tips for finding the conclusion/ thesis/ argument?

Tips for finding premises/ reasons/ claims/ topic sentences?

Presentations!

Conditional Sentences

• Zero conditional
• These sentences express a general truth. For example, "If you press this button, the car unlocks".
• First conditional
• These sentences express a likely future consequence. For example, "If you don't practice guitar, then you won't improve".
• Second conditional
• These sentences express an unlikely or unrealistic future consequence. For example, "If I were rich, then I would drive a different car every day".
• Third conditional
• These sentences express an unreal past situation and its result. For example, "If you had listened to me, you would not have missed your train".

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Conditionals

Here are some tips for writing conditional sentences:

• To create a negative conditional statement in a first conditional sentence, you can use "unless" instead of "if". For example, "You won't improve unless you practice guitar".
• In the past subjunctive form of the verb "be", use "were" regardless of the subject. For example, "If I were you, I'd call in sick".
• Inverted conditionals are a more formal structure that invert the subject and auxiliary verb in the if clause. For example, "Had I known, I would have acted differently.

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