CRITICAL THINKING SYLLABUS

FALL 2012 – Clayton State University

INSTRUCTOR: Mrs. Beth McClendon

PHONE NUMBER: (©) 404-543-2684; Office hours 12:40-1:15

E-MAIL ADDRESSES: ; .

TEXTBOOK: A Concise Introduction to Logic, 11th or 12th ed., by Patrick Hurley.

COURSE/TIME/BLDG CRIT 1101 – 3.0 CRN– 86538 Rm. U331 8:25- 9:40a.m.

OFFICE HOURS: 11:15-11:45 – Arts and Sciences Room

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course surveys and applies the elements of logical thinking: arguments, premises, and conclusions; deduction and induction; validity, truth, soundness, strength, and cogency; and language, meaning, and definitions

Computer Requirement:
Each CSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software

requirements for the student's academic program. For further information on CSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to .

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

*To recognize arguments.

*To use logic to critically analyze arguments.

*To be able to recognize fallacious reasoning.

*To recognize the distinction between deductive and inductive logic.

*To understand how to write argumentatively.

*To be able to communicate thoughts coherently and logically.

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TEXTBOOK: A Concise Introduction to Logic, 11th ed., by Patrick Hurley

SUMMARY OF GRADING:

40% - Midterm and Final Exam

20% - Homework Assignments/Activities

20% - Class Project (Structured Controversy)

10% - Class Participation

10%- Quizzes

FORMAT OF THE CLASS:

While I do lecture, I attempt to do as many activities and group work as I can. Doing group work will help develop relationships in the class. In addition, I realize that there are three major learning styles: auditory, visual, and kinestetic. By using a variety of activities, I try to appeal to all of the different learning styles. Consequently, my students as a whole do very well in my classes.

CLASS EXPECTATIONS:

  • I expect everyone to be on time to class. Students are allowed four tardies. For each additional tardy, one point will be counted off of your class participation grade which is 10% of your grade. So, by coming to class daily and participating, you can help your final average.
  • I do realize that there are emergencies that come up. Please let me know after class if you were late due to an emergency. You will only be allowed four absences. For each additional absence, one point will be taken off of your participation grade.
  • Again, I realize that are cases in which an emergency comes up. Please notify me as quickly as possible if such an occurrence happens. The reason it is imperative that you be in class is that a good deal of the material I will be covering in class is not even in the textbook. In addition, most of the activities we do will be in groups.
  • If you are absent, you cannot get credit for participating in a group activity. I would suggest, however, that you get the names and numbers of at least two other students that you can call if you miss class to at least get the lecture material for that day.
  • Get the names and numbers of at least two students.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:

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Generally, homework assignments will be limited to the first ten questions

in the exercise set. However, if a chapter is particularly difficult, it may

require doing more problems in the set. Answers to “starred” exercises are in the back of the book. Remember to bring your homework assignments to class on time! Late homework will be counted off 20% for each day it is late. So, if your homework is more than five days late, you will get a zero. This can seriously affect your grade.

Academic Dishonesty
Any type of activity that is considered dishonest by reasonable standards may constitute academic misconduct. The most common forms of academic misconduct are cheating andplagiarism All instances of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of zero for the work involved. All instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Office of Student Life/Judicial Affairs. Judicial procedures are described beginning on page 14 of theStudent Handbook(Procedures for Adjudicating Alleged Academic Conduct Infractions

Disruption of the Learning Environment

Behavior which disrupts the teaching–learning process during class activities will not be tolerated. While a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting, more serious examples includebelligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior. A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class. A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights as soon as possible following dismissal. If found in violation, a student may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF.A more detailed description of examples of disruptive behavior and appeal procedures is provided at:

Computer Requirement:

Each CSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic program. Students will sign a statement attesting to such access. For further information on CSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to:

Writing Assistance
The Writers’ Studio 224 is located in the A&S building, room 224. There you can talk with trained writing consultants about your writing projects. They are available to work with you at any stage of your paper, from generating ideas to organizing your paper to understanding how to format it correctly. The service is free; you may drop in and wait for a consultant or sign up for a regular appointment. But remember: you, not your consultant, are ultimately responsible for the quality and content of the papers you submit.

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Aside from meeting with consultants one-with-one, you can also participate in consultant-led writing workshops. In these workshops, consultants will guide you in discussions and activities important to academic writing topics. Consultants and student-writers will collaborate on ways to apply writing concepts and strategies to specific writing situations. You will be identify, analyze, integrate, and synthesize writing principles through a series of writing exercises. Remember that we are here to collaborate with you as you develop your own experiences as a student-writer.

TESTS:

You will be tested on three different area:

1. Your understanding of the concepts introduced and your ability to apply the concepts, as in the exercise set.

2. Your ability to construct various types of arguments

and your ability to analyze various types of arguments.

3. Your notes. You will find that my lectures will contain

information that is not necessarily in the book in order to help you better understand a particular aspect of logic. Therefore, it is fundamental that you take notes in class and study them before a test.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS:

Date / In class / Homework Assignments / Important
Dates
8/14 / Begin simulation acitivity
8/16 / Finish simulation
Activity. Analyze data. Go over the three fundmental laws of logic.
8/21 / GGo over Chapter 1: Section 1.1 – Arguments, Premises, and Conclusions, p.1-5. . Begin going over section 1.2 – Recognizing Arguments, p. 14. Discuss Aristotle. / Do Ex. 1.1 1-6, pp 7, 8.
8/23 / Go over homework. Begin going over non-inferential passages, p. 16-24.
8/28 / Handout the Iraqui Study Report. Work in groups. / Finish Iraqui Study Report
8/31 / FGo over the Iraqui Study Report. Go over part in class. – Begin Deduction and Induction, p. 33. Demonstrate the difference between deductive and inductive logic. Go over Deductive Argument forms, p. 35-36.
9/1-9/4- / Labor Day Holidays
9/6 / BBegin going over Inductive Argument Forms, pp. 36-38 . Demonstrate some of the Inductive Argument Forms. / Hw. Ex. 1.3- 3-6,7,10
9/11 / Go over homework. Begin going over Section 1.4 – Validity, Truth, Soundness, Strength, and Cogency, p.44. Demonstrate how to increase the strength of inductive arguments. / QUIZ tomorrow
9/13- / Quiz
FFinsh Section 1.4. Do Ex. 1.4- 9-15, p 53,54.. Begin going over Section 1.5 –Argument Forms: Proving Invalidity, 54. Go over Structured Controversies. / Do ex. 1.4, 55 2-8
9/18 / Begin Chapter 2 – Language, Meaning, and Definition, Section 2.1, p. 78-82. Do Ex. 2.1, Varieties of Meaning, 83,84.. Go over Structured Controversies. Go over Section 2.2– The Intension and Extension of a Term, p.88. Play games to illustrate the difference between the intension and the extension of a term. – Begin going over Section 2.3 – Definitions and Their Purposes. p. 93. Go over five types of definitions. / Do speech for homework, pp. 83,84.
9/20 / Do activity to demonstrate theoretical definitions. Begin chapter 3 Informal Fallacies. Go over Section 3.1, 3.2 / Handout on types of definitions.
9/25 / Review for Midterm
9/27 / MIDTERM
10/02 / Go over Section Begin Section 3.3 – Fallacies of Weak Induction – Write a sales pitch to sell something in class. Work on Structured Controversies.
10/04 / Begin Chapter 4: Categorical Propositions, p. 189. Go over Section 4.1 - The Components of Categorical Propositions, pp. 197-200. Do Ex. 4.1 1-6 in class, p. 200.
10/09 / Go over Section 4.2 –Quality, Quantity, and Distribution, p.200. HW Do Ex. 4.2 1-8, p.204-205.
Work on Structured Controversies.
10/11 / Structured Controversies
10/16 / Structured Controversies
10/18 / Structured Controversies
10/23 / Structured Controversies
10/25 / Go over Section 4.3 – Venn Diagrams and the Modern Square of Opposition, p.205. Discuss Boole and Aristotle.
10/27 / Go over 4.5 – The Traditional Square of Opposition, p. 227. Begin Chapter 5 – Categorical Syllogism -Section 5.1 -
Standard Form, Mood, and Figure, p. 259. / QUIZ tomorrow
11/01 / Do class activity. / QUIZ
oGo over Section 5.3 – Rules and Fallacies, p. 280. Begin activity.
11/6 / Finish activity. Go over activity.
11/8 / Go over Section 9 on legal precedent. Begin discussing Socrates.
11/12 / Discuss the Trial of Socrates. Give handouts.
11/15 / Discuss Plato.
11/20 / Work on Trial
11/21-25 / Thanksgiving Break
11/27 / Work on Trial
11/29 / Trial