1

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

College of Arts and Letters
Department of English Languages and Linguistics
Sta. Mesa, Manila


COURSE OUTLINE IN ENGL 1013 STUDY AND THINKING SKILLS IN ENGLISH
First Semester, AY 2013-2014


Course Description:

This is a three-hour-per-week course designed to train and develop in the students the skills of effective
study habits, communication in the English language, critical thinking and reasoning, and socially
desirable attitude, as keys to success in college in particular and in life in general.

Objectives:

Generally, at the end of the semester, the student must have developed effective study habits and skills,
English communication skills, critical reading, thinking and writing skills, and desirable social attitude.

Specifically, the students should:

1. Organize an effective study and time management system.
2. Write good paragraphs and compositions using the English language.
3. Develop effective reading skills by summarizing, analyzing and evaluating the reading materials.
4. Know and apply effective listening techniques.
5. Think and reason out critically in reading, speaking and writing situations.
6. Conduct individual and group research and presentations.
7. Know, appreciate and apply ethical values as desirable ingredients to success.

Course Contents:

Week 1 Acquaintance Activities, Getting to Know College, Motivation, Adjustments
Week 2 Effective Study Skills, Note-Taking, Summarizing, Paraphrasing, Presentation and
Visual Aids, Listening Techniques
Week 3 Reading Techniques, Skimming, Scanning, Fast Reading, Critical Reading, Making
Inferences, Figures of Speech and Idioms
Week 4 Library Research, Dewey Decimal Classification, Library of Congress Classification,
Card Catalog, Internet Research, Genera References
Weeks 5-6 The Paragraph, Parts of Paragraph, Qualities of an Effective Paragraph, Unity,
Emphasis, Coherence
Weeks 7-8 Methods of Paragraph Development, Narration, Emphasis, Definition, Comparison and
Contrast, Description, Cause and Effect
Week 9 Midterm Examination
Week s 10-11 Methods of Paragraph Development, Analogy, Process, Classification, Persuasion,
Argumentation
Weeks 12-13 Critical Thinking, Inductive Reasoning, Deductive Reasoning, Fallacies
Weeks 14-15 Ethics, Moral Point of View, Good Judgment, Relativism and Subjectivism, Ethics of
Duty and Human Rights
Week 16 Grammar Review: Parts of Speech
Week 17 Composition Review: Sentence Structures
Week 18 Final Examination


Methodology:

To achieve the objectives of this course, the following techniques and methodologies shall be used:

Mediated Lectures-Discussions
Group Research and Presentations
Free and Graded Recitations
Role-Playing
Brainstorming
Quizzes
Exercises
Examinations


2

Grading System:

Midterm: Semi-Final:
Attendance: 15% Attendance: 15%
Recitation: 15% Recitation: 15%
Quizzes: 15% Quizzes: 15%
Research Output: 15% Research Output: 15%
Research Presentation 15% Research Presentation 15%
Attitude: 10% Attitude: 10%
Midterm Exam: 15% Final Exam: 15%

Final Grade: Midterm Grade + Semi-Final Grade 2 = GPA

Only an absence of nine (9) cumulative hours or six (6) contact sessions are allowed for each student.
Each absence shall translate to a corresponding .25 deduction from attendance points, to wit:

1 absence = 1.25
2 absences = 1.5
3 absences = 2.0
4 absences = 2.25
5 absences = 2.5
6 absences = 2.75
7 or more absences = 5.0

Cumulative tardiness of ninety (90) minutes shall mean one (1) absence, unless prior consent from the
professor has been sought by the student.

References:

1. Basilio, Sylvia, et al. Study, Thinking and Writing Skills. GMK Publishing House, 2010.
2. Tiempo and Tiempo. College Reading and Writing (latest edition). Rex Book Store.
3. Moore, Brooke N. and Richard Parker. Critical Thinking (7
th
International Edition). Boston:
MacGraw Hill. 2005.
4. Rosenwasser, David and Jill Stephen. Writing Analytically. Thompson Wadsworth, 2006.
5. Kemper, Dave, et al. Write Source, A Book for Writing, Thinking and Learning. Massachusetts:
Great Source Education Group, 2007.
6. Vandermey, Randall, et al. The College Writer, A Guide to Thinking, Writing, and Researching
(3
rd
Edition). Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009.
7. Hinman, Lawrence M. Ethics, A Pluralistic Approach to Moral Theory (3
rd
Edition). University of
San Diego: Wadsworth, 2003.
8. Other printed and online sources.


Prepared by:


Prof. Elmer P. Brabante
June 2013