University of Central Oklahoma Department of Humanities & Philosophy
College of Liberal Arts Chris Weigand, Instructor
PHIL 1103 ONLINE
LOGIC AND CRITICAL THINKING
Syllabus and Schedule
Section Details: Fall 2010 Online
CRN / WebCT / Regular Online Classroom / Midterm & Final Tests14334 / 126 / http://athena.uco.edu:8090/webct / Proctored, by prearrangement
15285 / 138 / http://athena.uco.edu:8090/webct / Proctored, by prearrangement
Instructor Contact Information
· EMAIL: (preferred) or
· PHONE/VMAIL: 405-397-5812 (preferred) or 210-828-1140
· SKYPE: cweigand65 (http://www.skype.com)
· MESSAGE RESPONSE TIME: End of next calendar day, if response required
· VIRTUAL/ACTUAL OFFICE HOURS: By appointment
· OFFICE LOCATION: LAR 203B
Material and Technology Requirements
Gensler, Harry. Introduction to Logic, 2nd Ed. London: Routledge, 2010. (ISBN: 9780415996518; http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415996518/). First edition may be used (2001, ISBN: 9780415226752), but you will be responsible for accommodating discrepancies (mostly chapter order).
We will use Blackboard/WebCT (http://athena.uco.edu:8090/webct) and Gensler’s LogiCola PC software (http://www.jcu.edu/philosophy/gensler/LC/index.htm). A flash drive is recommended for LogiCola. More details are at http://athena.uco.edu:8090/webct.
Proctored Test Location Requirement
The midterm and final tests will be PROCTORED at approximately Week 9 (Oct. 18-22) and Finals Week (Dec. 13-17). You will need to come to UCO or another approved, secure testing location, by prearrangement. More details will be available as test weeks approach. If you anticipate problems with this requirement, please discuss this with me immediately.
Course Catalog Description and Objectives
Consideration is given to the requirements of correct reasoning with special emphasis on informal fallacies, syllogistic forms, and the analysis of extended arguments. Prerequisites: None. Specifically, we will:
• Identify, examine and apply principles and methods of good reasoning;
• Identify, examine and evaluate real-world cases of good reasoning and of bad reasoning;
• Read, write and employ formally symbolic representations of statements and arguments;
• Evaluate categorical relationships, especially with Venn diagrams;
• Evaluate propositional relationships, especially with truth tables; and
• Evaluate arguments with a set of inference rules for natural deduction.
University of Central Oklahoma Department of Humanities & Philosophy
College of Liberal Arts Chris Weigand, Instructor
Assessments and Grades
· Proctored midterm test / = / 100 points / = / 20%· Proctored semi-cumulative final test / = / 100 points / = / 20%
· Weekly LogiCola homework exercises / = / 120 points / = / 24%
· Best 10 of 12 quizzes @ 10 pts. each / = / 100 points / = / 20%
· Discussion participation / = / 80 points / = / 16%
TOTAL / = / 500 points / = / 100%
Midterm and final tests must be taken in an approved, secure proctored setting, by prearrangement; see Proctored Test Location Requirement (above). LogiCola homework, quizzes and discussion participation are completed electronically and/or online, from any location. See also Attendance and Participation Expectations (below).
Your earned points will be totaled and letter-graded on this standard scale:
450 / to / 500 / points / = / 90 - 100% / = / A400 / to / 449 / points / = / 80 - 89% / = / B
350 / to / 399 / points / = / 70 - 79% / = / C
300 / to / 349 / points / = / 60 - 69% / = / D
0 / to / 299 / points / = / 0 - 59% / = / F
Irregularities are strongly discouraged. Makeup or extra credit arrangements are not routine or automatic. Exceptions are at my discretion and subject to conditions which may include documentation, weighting of scores, and more. These and related matters are also discussed in Attendance and Participation Expectations (below).
Attendance and Participation Expectations
The following will be expected:
· Taking midterm and final tests in secure proctored setting, by prearrangement
· Good online attendance and discussion participation
· Good homework habits and engagement with the material
· Taking assessments according to schedule
· Substantial improvement of low scores, where needed
· Attending departmental tutoring, where needed (details at course site)
· Not habitually requesting or expecting special favors or allowances
· Documentation concerning major irregularities, especially absences
· Prompt and proactive attention to potential or actual problems
This list may not be complete; I reserve the right to include reasonable additions. More details are at http://athena.uco.edu:8090/webct.
I will take these matters seriously, and you should too. First, some of them directly constitute numerical components of your grade; see Assessments and Grades (above). Second, good study habits facilitate better understanding of the material, which improves overall scores. Finally, these matters will influence discretionary decisions I make concerning makeups, borderline cases, curves, exceptions, or the like.
University of Central Oklahoma Department of Humanities & Philosophy
College of Liberal Arts Chris Weigand, Instructor
Academic Integrity
Cheating will not be tolerated. Violators will be subject to the fullest extent of disciplinary action that UCO allows and/or recommends. See UCO Student Information Sheet and Syllabus Attachment (below) for more information.
UCO Student Information Sheet and Syllabus Attachment
Please also see the following link:
http://broncho2.uco.edu/academicaffairs/StudentInfoSheet.pdf
It provides additional UCO information, policies and guidelines concerning the following matters and more:
· Academic Integrity
· ADA Accommodations
· UConnect Resources and Expectations
· Incomplete Grades and Withdraws
· Important Dates and Holidays
· Weather and Emergency Plans
· Final Exam Daily Limits
· Contacting Faculty
· Helpful Telephone Numbers
· Class Attendance and Work Expectations
· Course Evaluations
· Library Hours
You will be held accountable for all UCO requirements or conditions specified in this attachment. I will invoke it as necessary in defense or enforcement of my own policies and practices.
Changes and Exceptions
I reserve the right to make reasonable modifications to this syllabus, schedule, or any element of this course to best meet the needs of the class. Any changes will be announced. You may be asked to provide written justification for any exceptions you feel you deserve, although that is no guarantee that exceptions will be granted.
Schedule of Activities and AssessmentsMore details available at http://athena.uco.edu:8090/webct
WEEK / TEXT / TOPIC / ACTIVITY / ASSESSMENT1 / Syllabus, Orientation, Course Readiness / Quiz 00 (Course Readiness)
2 / Chap 1: Truth, Validity, Soundness, Forms / LogiCola, Discussion, Quiz 01
3* / Chap 2: Syllogistic/Categorical Logic / LC, Disc, Quiz 02
4 / Chap 2: Venn Diagrams / LC, Disc, Quiz 03
5 / Chaps 1-2 Review / Submit LC, Disc
6 / Chap 4: Fallacies / LC, Disc, Quiz 04
7 / Chap 4: Argumentation / LC, Disc, Quiz 05
8 / Chap 5: Inductive Reasoning / LC, Disc, Quiz 06
9* / Chaps 1-2, 4-5 Review / Submit LC, MT Test
10 / Chap 6: Symbolizing Propositional Logic / LC, Disc, Quiz 07
11 / Chap 6: Constructing Truth Tables / LC, Disc, Quiz 08
12 / Chap 6: Using Truth Tables / LC, Disc, Quiz 09
13 / Chap 6 Review / Submit LC, Disc
14* / Chap 7: Inference Rules / LC, Disc, Quiz 10
15 / Chap 7: Simple Proofs & Refutations / LC, Disc, Quiz 11
16 / Proofs & Refutations, Chaps 1-2, 4-7 Review / LC, Disc, Quiz 12
17 / Cumulative Review / Submit LC, Final Test
* Shortened or holiday week.