Logic Syllabus

 

 

Course Description: In this course, we will study the concepts of formal and informal reasoning, including categorical syllogisms, propositional arguments, inductive generalization, analogical reasoning, causal arguments, inference to the best explanation, and informal fallacies. The objective of the course is to develop the students’ reasoning skills and their understanding of the methods of logical argumentation. Students will learn (1) how to judge the strength of claims and the quality of their sources, (2) how to identify different types of arguments, including their component parts and uses, (3) how to evaluate the quality of these arguments, and (4) how to formulate arguments that are both original and successful.

 

 

Textbook:   Lewis Vaughn, The Power of Critical Thinking, 2nd edition, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2007), ISBN 019532041, $70

 

 

Grading:         Class Participation                                            10%                            

                        Daily Homework                                              30%                

                        Writing Assignments (15%)                  

                                    and Argument Portfolio (15%)              30%                                        

Quizzes (10%) and Exams (20%)                     30%    

 

A+ 97-100; A 93-96; A- 90-92; B+ 87-89; B 83-86; B-80-82; C+ 77-79; C 73-76; C- 70-72; D+ 67-69; D 63-66; D- 60-62; F 0-59

 

1.  Exams and Quizzes: Almost one third of your grade will be based on 3 exams and 3 quizzes, which will include the sorts of problems found in the homework exercises as well as definitions. Cheating on tests will not be tolerated. Each student can only make up one exam or quiz (but not the final exam): You must have a valid excuse for missing the test (e.g., illness or family emergency; provide documentation if available) and make it up before the next session of class. Contact me as early as possible to make arrangements, prior to the scheduled exam or quiz. (Email or phone messages are acceptable for last minute occurrences.)

 

2. Homework and Class Participation: There will be a homework assignment due at the beginning of most class sessions. As in a math class, careful reading and completion of the homework assignment before class is very important because continual practice is essential for mastering logic. Late homework will only be accepted for students who were absent with a valid excuse, and must be turned in on the first day the student returns to class. Students who are tardy will only receive half credit for their homework. You are required to bring your book with you to class. Each student’s active participation in class is encouraged and expected.

           

            Homework Final Grade: A = 25 – 21 assignments, B = 20.5 – 17, C = 16.5 – 13, D = 12.5 – 9, F = 8.5 – 0

 

3. Writing Assignments and Argument Portfolio: I will assign a short writing assignment on alternating weeks to give you practice analyzing, evaluating, and formulating arguments, and to give you the opportunity to explore the relevance of logic. These writing assignments will culminate in a longer paper that explores the use of logic in your major. In addition, students will be compiling a portfolio with three original examples of each of the seven argument forms we will be studying, plus three complex arguments. Students who fail to turn in either of these longer assignments will not pass the class.

                        To ensure that students have adequate time to do the reading and homework assignments prior to class, all written assignments are due the day before class. Email them to me by 5 pm either Sunday or Tuesday, starting the subject line of your email with “Logic sec. 1” or “Logic sec. 3”, and bring a hard copy with you to class the next day.

Written assignments will be downgraded for poor spelling, grammar, organization, etc., if they have more than two errors per page. If you have difficulties in these areas, I strongly recommend taking drafts of your papers to the Campus Writing Center before turning them in. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.

 

4. Attendance: Prompt and consistent attendance is expected and is in your best interest because poor attendance and tardies will inevitably affect your other grades in the course. Also, I will weigh attendance heavily when determining final grades in borderline cases. Mastering logic requires the sort of guidance and feedback that students only receive in class. As a result, students who miss ¼ of the class sessions (7 absences) or more for any reason (including illness) will not pass the class. If you miss a class, I recommend that you make arrangements in advance to copy the notes of another student.

                        Frequent tardiness and leaving early without permission is rude and disruptive to the rest of the class. It is your responsibility to arrange your schedule so that you don’t have any other responsibilities during class time. After the second occurrence, tardies and leaving early will be counted as absences.

 

5. Extra Credit: For extra credit, students can formulate an original complex argument on a controversial topic, which, time permitting, we will evaluate in class. Consult with me before you start working on one of these assignments. No other extra credit work will be available.

 

All cell phones, music players, ear pieces/headphones, and other electronic devices must be turned off and put away during class time. I will consider requests to record the class or take notes on a computer (as long as the devices are only used for these purposes).

 

I strongly encourage students with disabilities, including invisible disabilities such as chronic diseases and learning disabilities, to discuss with me outside of class appropriate accommodations that might be helpful to them. A student’s disabilities must first be documented by the campus Disability Resource Center.