Module Goal

My goal is that this module will fulfill all the course competencies of the ENG102 course.  ENG102 – Freshman Composition emphasizes critical reading and essay writing.

Students write short essays as well as an extended research paper. Course work engages students in the reading, thinking, and writing processes central to academic research-

• Paraphrase
• Summary
• Critical analysis
• Synthesis
• Argumentation

Module Overview and Description

Lots of activities are included in order to give students' the maximum use of critical thinking.

First, students are asked to brainstorm and participate in an online discussion on personal freedoms. Next, students take their ideas and begin a preliminary search on topics that fall under this theme. During the next activity, students conduct research on their chosen topic. They use data discovered in:

• Books
• Periodicals
• Scholarly periodicals
• Reference sources
• the internet

Students then develop their own arguments based on this personal freedoms issue and use the evidence found in research. Finally, students present their arguments to the class in a final documented research paper using correct MLA or APA format, and as a presentation.

What will students do differently after they finish this module?

After completing this module, students:

     1. Have developed their ability to:

• Read critically
• Generate original ideas
• Present these ideas persuasively in academic, college-level essays. This includes writing well-supported, coherent, original arguments.

    2. Have refined strategies of academic research, including:

• Selecting a topic
• Generating an original thesis
• Understanding and evaluating sources
• Planning and developing an extended documented research paper

    3. Have refined their reading and writing processes as they further develop confidence in their ability as readers, writers, and critics.

Module Needs Analysis

Here are a few results from the survey students took.

Students indicated that:

• The internet was a valuable research tool and they often use it as a primary source of information for papers
• 2 to 3 sources are plenty for writing a research paper

Most students did not understand the difference between primary and secondary research.

Students could not define synthesis or 80% of the logical fallacies supplied, and very few indicated a method for evaluating sources to be used in a research paper.

Here Are the Materials for You to Use

This critical thinking project consists of 5 modules. Two are fully developed here, with the others to follow.

http://eng102.wordpress.com/

Final Report