Introduction
Welcome Winter 2012 Students to Humanities 100, Creative and Critical Thinking. I trust you have reviewed the summary at Casad.org. Bookmark/favorites this page and the summary at www.casad.org.  Your first task is to read through this introduction and the notes up through the first week. The notes are like footnotes or endnotes in a book and have been developed and updated for the course since its Internet introduction in 1998.  I also write to the notes during the quarter.   Your next task during this first week (by Monday the 9th) is to send me your email address and tell me that you understand the course procedures and can navigate the website.  Put Humanities 100 in the subject line of all your emails. You will do all of your work at www.casad.org which is on the web and does not require access from Angel or a password.   If you have questions, you can always send an email.

Later, when you write and save your homework assignments in a file, save as your last name and save as a Word doc or rich text format (rtf), e.g., smith1.doc or smith1.rtf.   Add assignments to the file each week. Then, when you send the file, attach (paper clip, insert file, open) your file to your email. Do not send a folder; send a file. You send the first set of homework, Weeks 1-3, in one file.  Use standard email conventions (salutation, short message, close).  Send to rfcasad@msn.com.   The assignment schedule is in the summary and the course guide.

I will read your homework, comment, and grade it consistent with the assignments and weights defined in the course guide and syllabus. I will respond to your homework within three days, usually sooner.  If each week you summarize the reading assignment (including a quotation from the reading material), complete the writing task, and explain a relevant quote (to the week's topic) from the Resource Quotes, you will do well.  Edit and proofread your writing since I will take off points for non-standard format, punctuation, grammar, and usage in emails as well as documents. (Use a college level English handbook and a college desk dictionary.) Do not plagiarize (i.e., submitting another's ideas or writing as your own--see syllabus). 

Beginning Thoughts
Our project this quarter is to introduce you to the different ways of understanding the world. We will follow the principle that knowledge of the truth entails knowing when one is mistaken.  In the past, students have developed this concept to include relative gains in aspects of creative and critical thought.  Below I have listed some of these thoughts and hope you will seek gains during the quarter.

1. Have more second thoughts.
2. Ask questions.
3. Analyze problems.
4. Analyze others’ opinions.
5. Analyze before judging.
6. Find new thoughts.
7. Tolerate ambiguity.
8. Make fewer mistakes.
9. Am intrigued by simple things.
10. Question what I know and think.
11. React differently to situations.
12. Analyze choices.
13. Accept different explanations.
14. Contribute my explanation.
15. Think twice.
16. Comprehend more while reading.
17. See more options.
18. Am more open-minded and analytical.
19. Know what people are talking about.
20. Form more habits of thought.
21. Think when challenged
22. Have improved relationships.
23. Use new ways to solve problems.
24. Find better way to live life.
25. Understand more concepts.
26. Form theories that explain more.
27. Am more open minded and confident.
28. Accept and use a variety of thoughts.
29. Consider thoughts in conflict with my own.
30. Concentrate more and without interruption.

At the end of the quarter I will ask you about the progress you have made (self assessment).  You will need to talk to significant other people about this and offer to me a candid answer as to your progress. 

There is no textbook required for this class. Initially, review the syllabus, notes, and open the Course Guide. Review the Course Guide and notes online each week, especially before an assignment is due.  They will clarify each week's assignments since they are answers to student questions and requests from past quarters. If you want to post a question not answered in the notes, send it to me and I will put it in the notes. 

 Be sure you have:

ü      Read Syllabus. Syllabus

ü      Read notes through the first week. Notes

ü      Sent introductory email. Open Course Guide (Assignments and Schedule)  

ü      Looked at assignment schedule (file label--lastname.doc; due dates)  Open Course Guide(Assignments and Schedule)  

Your work and your learning (your commitment to knowledge and the truth) are the pivot between the traces of critical and creative thinking. Imagine a teeter-totter with creative the teeter, learning the mechanical center, and critical the totter. We are born teeters with the weight of creativity holding up a vast unknown. We die totters with our critical eyes viewing our created lives.

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