Presentation delivered to the English 104 class at Victor Valley College.

1. English 104
Critical Thinking and Composition

2. Course Objectives
 To expand upon what you learned in previous
English courses
 To prepare you for university-level writing
 To help you to:
 Write a well-reasoned, organized argumentative
essay
 Critically evaluate college-level material
 Identify common fallacies in logic
 Recognize a writer’s assumptions
 Distinguish between fact and opinion

3. University Level
 This course is designed to be more like what
you would expect once you transfer to a
university:
 You will listen to lectures and complete readings,
then break into sections of small groups to
discuss the ideas in greater depth among your
peers.
 Most of your grade will consist of a few main
essays.
 Your grade is your responsibility. If you are
struggling, it is up to you to ask for help.

4. Argumentative Essay
 Also known as:
 Persuasive Essay
 Position Essay
 Analytical Essay
 Critical Analysis
 Any essay requiring a central thesis statement
accompanied by supporting evidence is an
argumentative essay.

5. Argumentative Essay
 Why is this important?
 One of the most common forms of writing at
universities.
 Hopefully, this class will help you to think critically
about certain issues and to better defend your position
and persuade others that your opinion is correct.
 PhD: Obtaining a doctorate will likely require you
to write what is essentially a book-length
argumentative essay.
 At the professional level, it is used to discuss and
debate a wide range of issues (such as scientific,
political, artistic, and literary theories).

6. Argumentative Essay
 Examples:
 Hegemony or Survival:
America’s Quest for Global
Dominance by Noam
Chomsky
 The Myth of Martyrdom:
What Really Drives Suicide
Bombers, Rampage
Shooters, and Other Self-
Destructive Killers by Adam
Lankford
 1421: The Year China
Discovered America by Gavin
Menzies

7. Grading
• Class composed of three main topics: Language,
Morality, and Gender. We’ll be examining essays
and watching videos about these topics.
 See ‘Essays and Grading’ handout for more information