INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL THINKING SYLLABUS EXAMPLE

NOTE: This syllabus serves as an example only

Kathie Lee, Instructor

More than two absences from the class necessitates dismissal from the DSP program.

Text: Indigenous Australian Voices-A Reader
I have purchased these for you and will bring them to class on Monday, 6/24; please have $22.00 cash with you to pay for your book.

You will also need to purchase from me a packet of materials we will use in this class. The packet will be available tomorrow and the fee is nominal; approximately $4-$5. I'll give you the exact fee tomorrow. You may reimburse me on Thursday.

Tuesdays are computer lab days. We will meet in the classroom at 7:00 and proceed to the lab at 7:20. Lab closes at 8:30 on Tuesdays.

GOALS AND EXPLORATIONS:

1. Developing a philosophy of accepting responsibility for our own learning by learning to be our own teachers

2. Building and riding vehicles of expression

a. response writing
b. interaction with other self-teachers
c. prose, poetry, and short story
d. oral contribution of ideas to our writing colleagues
e. oral contribution of ideas in class
f. developing the habit of contributing and receiving idea avenues as part of the writing process
g. developing study skills

3. Hearing the voices of indigenous people.

a. indigenous origins and the dreaming
b. the experience of invasion and colonization
c. resistance
d. The Protection Period
e. assimilation
f. constructions of identity
g. contemporary issues: Aboriginal deaths in custody, The Stolen Generation, Land Rights
h. politics and land rights
i. The Dreaming and connection
j. family dialogues: an oral tradition
k. station life
l. urban life and dislocation
m. hardships and resilience
n. communities
o. encounters with the law
p. hidden histories
q. a glossary of terms

4. Finding Common Ground: Where else? Who else? What is the result? What must we learn?

Vehicles of Exploration

1. Introspection
2. Collaboration
3. Literature (see list of resources)
4. Film
5. Music
6. Text
7. Electronic resources: web searches and electronic data bases
8. Using an interactive portfolio to encourage learning and self-development

Resources:

Books: Indigenous Australian Voices-A Reader (text) edited by Jennifer Sabioni; The One Minute Teacher, by Johnson and Johnson; Wise Women of the Dreamtime, Aboriginal Tales of the Ancestral Powers; The Madudjara Aborigines, Robert Tomkinson; Archeology of the Dreamtime, Josephine Flood; The Other Side of the Frontier, Henry Reynolds; Race Relations in Colonial Queensland: A History of Exploitation and Exclusion, Evans, Saunders, Cronin; Yunupingu: Letter from Black to White

Film: National Geographic Cultural Study: The Australian Aborigine; The Last Wave

Music: Dream Time: Spiritual Music of the Australian Aborigine; Spirit of the Uluru; Jamu Dreaming; Freedom, Yothu Yindi

SYLLABUS

Week 1

Tuesday, 6/18, Brief Intro., Computer Lab: Purple Lab, upper level of basement of Healey Library
Web search: Indigenous People of Australia See Lab Sheet #1 Evaluating web sources
Assignment: write me a one page letter introducing yourself and reacting to the overview
Due Wed. 6/19
Wed., 6/19 Introductions, Developing the One Minute Teacher Concept, goal setting process, start journal and accompanying class discussion after interpersonal discussion and collaboration; intro. short story; interactive reading
Assignment:. Rd. The Wirreenun Mother; quiz in class Thursday, 6/20; open notes
Thursday, 6/20, Journal and discussion; quiz-open notes, on Wirreegun Mother (no text) Collaborate with colleagues, revise and edit responses, class discussion of efforts. Short story film.
Assignment: Find a fable from any cultural background. Using your notes on short story as a guide, write your own 2 page, word processed fable updating the traditional. Cite your source and include a copy of the original. Double Space. Due: Monday, 6/24. Bring $22.00 cash to pay for your text.

Week 2

Monday, 6/24, $22.00 cash for text. Journal, goal setting, collaboration, self-evaluation,
Assignment: due Tues. 6/25 Revision of fable. Include self-eval., notes from your collaboration, and your reactions to your colleagues' suggestions.
Tuesday, 6/25, Journal and Discussion, class first, then Lab. Evaluating web sources and Aboriginal Culture.
Assignment: Rd. Preface in text pp. IX-XXXI Quiz Wed. 6/26 Overview of Aboriginal History (open notes/no text)
Wed., 6/26, journal and discussion, open notes quiz on Preface, Double Entry Note System, film: Nat'l Geog.: Aboriginal People; Intro. readings: I Give You This Story, Neidge
Assignment: Read: Prologue in text, p. 3-17, double entry notes, due Thursday, 6/27
Thursday, 6/27, Journal and discussion, essay format 4 paragraphs, peer collaboration on double entry notes: Prologue, general discussion-guided. Submit original notes, peer additions, class additions along with
Assignment due Monday, 7/2: Apply above notes to writing a 4 paragraph, 2 page, double spaced essay referring to the following: Both Bede Tungatulum (artist's lithograph on p.2 and the accompanying write-up on page XV) and Eileen Belia ( author of oral narrative piece: Untitled in Prologue, p. 3-17), express a common theme. What is it? Draw specific support from the text. Include well designed thesis, topic sentences, transition, solid support to substantiate you claim, and a conclusion.

Week 3

Mon., 7/1,Journal and discussion; setting goals; collaborate on essay due today. Hand in notes along with essay.
Assignment due: Tuesday, 7/2, Politics and Land Rights; Read all and write 1 par. synopsis of each, p. 20-29.
Tuesday, 7/2, Journal and discussion, LAB see sheet; Search web sites for other voices on the topic of Australian Politics and Land Rights as well as on The Dreaming and Connection.
Assignment due Wed., 7/3, Read all of The Dreaming and Connection, p. 32-45. Write synopsis of each.
Wed. 7/ 3, Aboriginal Mysticism and Beliefs, film: The Last Wave.
Assignment due Mon. 7/8: Read Family Dialogues, p. 48-79. In excerpts from Auntie Rita, 52-74, oppression and suppression are powerful tools to domination and exploitation. Explore this topic in 6-8 paragraphs. Cite examples from the text, from history of other colonized people, and/or from your personal experience.

Week 4

Mon., 7/8, journal and discussion, setting goals, self evaluation, self-adjustment; peer collaboration on essays due today (see 7/3)). Include in your submission: a. your essay, b. your evaluation, c. colleagues' comments and suggestions and your revision due tomorrow, 7/9.
-Assignment: edited essay
Tuesday, 7/9: Lab: Dislocation (see sheet) Turn in essay packets.
Assignment: Rd. and write synopsis and reaction to p. 82-95-Station Life
Wed., 7/10, journal and discussion, Review Station Life synopses, Rd. 114-119 in class-Urban Life and Dislocation, review lab on dislocation and apply to these readings; poetry basics.
Assignment for 7/11: Rd. Hardships and Resilience, 142-153; write a minimum 1 page poem in the fashion of those you've read here and speak of hardship and resilience you've experienced. (typed)
Thurs., 7/11, journal and discussion, Oral presentations of poems and the stories behind them. Collaboration with peers. Take on colleagues' topic and write new poem in class; Test Anxiety
Assignment for Mon., 7/15: Read 154-178: Write 4 paragraphs based on the last par. on 178: "That it might give some idea of the difficulty we have surviving between two cultures, that we are here and will always be here." Analyze and support from the text. Draw parallels.

Week 5

Mon., 7/15, journal and discussion, review syllabus and set goals for the day/week/2 weeks; evaluae; assess, modify, reset goals; peer collaboration on essays; attach notes on the collaboration; self-evaluate; make revision as part of the writing process. Taking essay exams. Compare and Contrast questions.
Assignment: Rd. Excerpt from Unna You Fullas by Glenyse Ward, p. 188-208. Open notes exam on Tuesday, 7/16 in lab.
Tues., 7/16, Lab, journal and discussion, Essay Exam on 188-208.
Assignment due Wed., 7/17, Rd. Excerpt from True Country by Kim Scott, p. 208-221, Write 2 paragraphs comparing and contrasting True Country with Unna You Fullas.
Wed., 7/17, journal and discussion, hand in Compare and Contrast assignment. Communication and Oral Communication
Assignment: Rd. 180-187, Communities poetry; take notes
Thurs., 7/18, journal and discussion, review Communities; In class, 227-260, 224-226; detailed oral presentation guidelines. Choose one of the pieces from the above, present an issue that you have researched on the indigenous people of Australia, an art form, or another topic of your choice regarding Native Australians.
Assignment: due Mon., 7/22, Oral presentation on a topic of your choice regarding the Indigenous People of Australia. This will be about 5-10 minutes in length; it will include visuals and/or manipulatives. You must challenge us, motivate us, and show relevance to all of our lives. Encourage class participation. We will collaborate on your preparation and be screened for approval. Orals will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Your preparation will be graded on Monday.

Week 6

Mon., 7/22, journal and discussion; goals and eval., Collaborate on Oral Presentation Preparation; Your prep. will be reviewed and graded today; planning for the Fall Semester.
Assignment: catch up! Make final changes and augmentations in you Oral Prep.
Tuesday, 7/23, NO LAB! Oral Presentations; continue planning for Fall Semester.
Wed., 7/24, journals and discussion; continue planning for Fall and continue Oral Presentations.
Thursday, 7/25, Finish up loose ends and celebratory party.
Friday, Graduation at 11:00 AM

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU DID IT! HAPPY SUMMER! SEE YOU IN THE FALL!