NOTE THE SCHEDULE CHANGES BELOW Philosophy 100: Logic and Critical Thinking Fall 2011 CRN 70956 MW 12:45-2:10 PM Location: H-308 Instructor Information Dr. Ian M. Duckles Course Description: This course explores the relationship of communications and critical thinking with a focus on good reasoning and the impediments to its mastery. This course emphasizes the development of skills in logical processes including familiarity with the more common fallacies. This course is designed for students learning to apply principles of critical thinking to the practical problems of everyday life. Textbooks: There are two texts required for this class:
Assignments: Your grade in the course will be based on your performance on the following assignments:
Grade Scale: ≥ 90 = A Academic Integrity and Conduct: Mesa College students are bound by the Student Code of Conduct, Policy 3100. In this course, cheating, plagiarism, disruptions of instructional activity, fraud and/or lying will result in, at a minimum, a grade of “F” for the assignment/test with no make up permitted. Any of these infractions may result in an “F” for the course as well and formal disciplinary action by the Dean of Student Affairs as described in the code (as published in the catalog or online). Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities who may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and DSPS. DSPS can be found at http://www.sdmesa.edu/dsps/ or they can be contacted by phone at 619-388-2780. Schedule: (topics and important dates included): Homework will be due daily and assignments will be announced in class. Do not be concerned if we fall ahead or behind on this schedule. The most important goal is that everyone understand the concepts and problems. This schedule is subject to change. All changes will be announced in class and posted on the course website. The schedule uses the following abbreviations:
Week 1: Introductions Monday, August 22: Introduction (ISD 11-16) Wednesday, August 24: Language (ISD 19-37) Week 2: Language August 29: Language (ISD 38-49) Homework: Take the Nostradamus prediction on page 30 of our text and show how it can be interpreted to predict some recent or historical event. August 31: Syllogisms (ISD 49-54) Homework: Pick an issue that you find interesting and write two paragraphs about it. The first paragraph should strongly take one side of the issue; the second paragraph should strongly take the other side of the issue. In writing the paragraphs, try to use as many of the manipulative features of language that we talked about in class as possible. Identify your use of them. Find one example of each of the four types of definitions and one example of each of the three ways to define. Week 3: Symbolic Logic September 5: NO CLASS September 7: Symbolic Logic (Material Available Online) Week 4: Symbolic Logic September 12: Symbolic Logic Homework: Symbolic Logic I, Problem Set B #'s 11-20; Symbolic Logic II, Problem Set A #'s 6-15. September 14: Symbolic Logic Homework: Symbolic Logic II, Problem Set B. Symbolize and draw truth tables for problems 1-5 and 17-22. Week 5: Symbolic Logic September 19: Symbolic Logic Continued Homework: Symbolic Logic 4: Problem Set B #'s 1-10. September 21: Symbolic Logic Continued Week 6: Exam September 26: Review for Exam September 28: FIRST EXAM Week 7: Fallacies October 3: Formal Fallacies (ISD 55-58) Homework: Find examples of each of the fallacies we discussed in class. October 5: Informal Fallacies (ISD 59-85) Homework: Find examples of each of the fallacies we discussed in class. Week 8: Bullshit October 10: On Bullshit (OB 1-30) October 12: On Bullshit (OB 31-67) Week 9: Personal Experience October 17: On the Justification of Belief: Personal Experience (ISD 171-196) October 19: On the Justification of Belief: Personal Experience (ISD 196-222) Week 10: Exam October 24: Review for Exam October 26: Exam 2 Week 11: Science October 31: On the Justification of Belief: Empirical Science (ISD 223-242) November 2: On the Justification of Belief: Empirical Science (ISD 242-266) Week 12: Science and Evolution November 7: Introduction of Paper Topic; Watch Film in Class November 9: Continue Film Week 13: Evolution and ID November 14: Darwin and the Theory of Evolution November 16: Intelligent Design Week 14: Thanksgiving Break!! November 21: NO CLASS!! November 23: NO CLASS!! Week 15: The Media November 28: The Media: Introduction (ISD 267-276) November 30: The Propaganda Model of Media (ISD 277-290) Week 16: The Media December 5: Watch Film in Class December 7: In-Class Peer Editing (Bring two copies of your rough draft to class) Week 17: Finals December 12: Review for Final December 14: FINAL EXAM (Final Paper Due) TEN TIPS FOR SUCCESS IN THIS COURSE (Thanks to Professor June Yang):
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