frequently asked questions
Our courses are designed to teach skills that will be critical to academic and professional success. An expert and experienced instructor will engage with students intensively and continuously throughout the duration of the course. Classes will meet online in real time, up to 3 hours a week, in discussions where the instructor will pose questions for students to explore collectively, provide information and hands-on guidance on the assignment for each week. The weekly activities will build on each other in sequential steps towards a final project (such as a research paper on a topic of your choice). Students will receive written and prompt feedback on each assignment, so that you can make necessary revisions, and in the process, hone your skills and maximize your potential.
Each course will have clearly stated learning objectives, a syllabus and instructions on how to complete assignments. We design our courses according to best practices to achieve learning goals. For example, an advanced course in Critical Thinking and Writing will culminate in the composition of a research paper, approached in a series of weekly steps that will teach you to conduct research, evaluate and cite sources, engage with diverse perspectives and shape a consistent argument with an effective introduction and conclusion.
Most courses run 6 weeks and are designed to be intensive and focused on specific objectives. A student’s attentiveness and desire to learn and improve will be key. While our instructors are dedicated and highly motivated, students will be expected to bring a similar ethic to learning!
Instructors will post a question or prompt for students to respond to in the discussion thread for the week. A real-time conversation where students get to clarify, expand and rethink responses, will ensue. The discussions will also give students an opportunity to pose questions on assignments, seek clarifications and obtain guidance. For example, if a student is having difficulty, say, finding relevant sources to incorporate into a paper, the instructor will walk the student through the steps that will help the student find these.
Students will receive prompt (within 3 days of submission), written feedback on weekly assignments and a detailed evaluation of the final paper. All feedback will be focused on the incremental development of the student as a thinker and writer. The focus will be on helping students improve skills and to deepen an understanding of what makes for clear thinking and effective communication. Instructors will meet students where they are, and guide them on how to rather than what to think.
Our courses are designed by experts in the subject matter, under the supervision of the co-founders. CSA is a response to the need for rigorous, high-quality courses that build invaluable skills, be it the capacity to evaluate arguments or to engage productively with a diversity of views. We are not at all interested in telling students what to think. Our goal is to help a student become a strong and confident thinker and an effective communicator of the ideas and arguments the student deems important.
Our methods are informed by the experience and understanding of the co-founders, who have decades of experience teaching at all levels—from middle school to doctoral. A tutorial approach, where a dedicated instructor works closely with students on honing critical skills, is at the core of all our offerings.
After submitting a brief, 3-question form, you will be automatically directed to a payment page. Once payment is received, the student will be enrolled in the class and we will email the student instructions on how to access the course on our Learning Management System.
Full refund of course cost will be made if a student is withdrawn from a course by midnight, Wednesday, of the first week of each term (that is, within 72 hours). Please inform us by email. No refunds will be issued after the 72-hour deadline.
A student may wish to sign up for a specific course that aligns with the student’s academic level and learning objectives. A student may also choose to proceed to the next course in a sequence that builds incrementally to advanced levels. For example, a student may decide, after completing an introductory course in critical thinking and writing, to move on to an intermediate, and then an advanced course in the area. A student, however, is not obligated in any way to take multiple courses in a sequence. Our goal is to provide students with the courses they see as beneficial.