Reading, Writing and Critical Thinking/ B.Ed. First Year

 Course Title: Reading , Writing and Critical Thinking Course No. : Eng. Ed. 417                                                        ...

 Course Title: Reading, Writing and Critical Thinking

Course No. : Eng. Ed. 417                                                              Full marks: 100

Nature of course: Theory                                                                Pass marks: 35

Level: B. Ed. Four Year                                                                 Periods per week: 6

Year:  First                                                                                      Total periods: 150

                                                                                                        Time per period: 55 minutes

1.                                          Course Description

This course exposes the students to the varieties of reading materials and writing strategies in order to enhance their academic skills. It adopts a content-based approach to the development of reading, writing, and critical thinking abilities. Furthermore, it focuses on stages of the writing process and the structure of academic writing.

 

2.                                          General Objectives

The general objectives of the course are as follows:

·         To expose the students to wide a variety of contemporary reading materials.

·         To facilitate the students to read critically, and write logically.

·         To expose the students to a variety of writing activities.

·         To encourage students to think independently.

·         To enhance the abilities to argue with reason, and confidence among the students.

 

3.                                          Specific Objectives and Contents

Specific Objectives	Contents
·       Read  and comprehend  the purposes of  texts ·       Identify the general idea of the texts. ·       Find the main points in the texts. ·       Read and take notes of the important points. ·       Comprehend details of the texts. ·       Read and analyze the texts.	Unit I: Reading                                                          (60) 1.1     Reading with a purpose 1.2     Reading for specific information 1.3     Reading for general information 1.4     Reading for main ideas 1.5     Reading critically and analytically 1.6     Reading for pleasure 1.7     Reading and taking notes
·       Write keeping in mind the purpose an audience. ·       Organize main ideas with supporting details. ·       Explain the essentials of writing. ·       Write narratives and anecdotes. ·       Write reports and letters. ·       Write different types of essays. ·       Write creatively.	Unit II: Writing                                                         (60) 2.1      Purpose and audience 2.2      Main ideas and supporting details 2.3      The essentials of writing 2.4      Writing an essay 2.4.1     The structure of an essay 2.4.2     The writing process 2.4.3     Writing with sources 2.5     Creative writing 2.5.1     Different genres of creative writing 2.5.2     Writing anecdotes 2.5.3     Writing stories 2.5.4     Writing poems 2.6     Writing journal entries 2.7     Writing notes and summaries 2.8     Writing reports and letters
·       Read and analyze the text critically. ·       Argue with reasons. ·       Think independently. ·       Debate confidently.	Unit III: Critical Thinking                                        (30) 3.1     Developing a critical mind   3.2     Analyzing 3.3     Arguing 3.4     Reflecting 3.5     Reasoning

   Note: The figures in the parentheses indicate the approximate periods for the respective units.

 

4.                                          Instructional Techniques

The instructional techniques for this course are divided into two groups.  The first group consists of general instructional techniques applicable to most of the units. The second group consists of specific instructional techniques applicable to specific units.

4.1 General Instructional Techniques

·      Lecture and discussion

·      Demonstration

·      Explanation and illustration

·      Group and individual work

 

4.2  Specific Instructional Techniques

Unit I & II: Self study

Unit II: Project work

Unit III: Presentation

 

5.                                          Evaluation

This is a theoretical course. Hence, the learning of the students will be assessed through the annual examination held by the Office of the Controller of Examinations. The types and number of questions in the annual examination are given in the following table.

Types of questions	Total questions to be asked	Number of questions to be answered and marks allocated	Total marks
Group A: Multiple choice items	20 questions	20 x 1 mark	20
Group B: Short answer questions	8 with 3 'or' questions	8 x 7 marks	56
Group C: Long answer questions	2 with 1 'or' question	2 x 12 marks	24

 

 

 

 

 

The course is for one academic year and it carries 100 marks. The distribution of marks and time allotment is as follows:

 

Unit                                                Marks                      Time

I    Reading                                       30                           30%

II   Writing                                        50                           50%

II    Critical Thinking                        20                           20%

6.                                          Recommended Books and References

Recommended Books

 

Gardner, P. S. (2009). New directions: Reading, writing and critical thinking. New York: Cambridge University Press. (For units I to III)

Grellet, F. (2009). Writing for advanced learners of english. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.             (For units II & III)

 

References

Allen, M. (2004). Smart thinking. Australia: Oxford University Press.

Bell, J. & Paul, M. (eds.) (2001). The creative writing course book. London: Macmillan.

Hamp-Lyons, L. & Ben, H. (2006). Study writing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Morley, D. (2007). The cambridge introduction to creative writing. Delhi: Cambridge University Press.

Piaw, C. Y. (2004). Creative and critical thinking style. Kualampur: University Putra Press.

Seely, J. (2005). Oxford guide to effective writing and speaking. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Spiro, J. (2004)  Creative poetry writing.  Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Spiro, J. (2006) Creative story building.  Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Wright, L. (2001). Critical thinking: an introduction to analytical reading and reasoning. New York. Oxford University Press.