Philosophy
11009-700 Principles of Thinking
Rex Gilliland, Instructor
Office: TL 11 Phone: 675-8947
Home Phone: 847-1952
L 96 TTh
Office Hours: MW
Email: gillilar@trumbull.kent.edu
Course Website: www.trumbull.kent.edu/gillilar/printhinkmorning.htm
Course Description: This course will provide an introduction to
critical thinking through a study of the concepts of formal and informal
reasoning, including fallacies, categorical syllogisms, Venn diagrams, truth
tables, and inductive arguments. We will also discuss clarity in writing, how
to evaluate information, as well as persuasive and rhetorical devices. The
objective of this course is to develop the students’ reasoning skills and their
understanding of the traditional methods of argumentation in order to help
prepare the students to navigate and contribute to a world that is becoming
increasingly complex.
Text: Brooke Noel Moore and
Richard Parker. Critical Thinking. Sixth edition.
Grading: Attendance and
Class Participation 5%
Daily
Homework 20%
Quizzes 25%
Exams 50%
A = 100-88
B = 87-78
C = 77-68
D = 67-58
F = 57-0
1. Exams and
Quizzes: There will be 4 in class exams,
including the final, and 4 in class quizzes. These will consist of the sorts of questions and problems covered in the homework
assignments and discussed in class. I will only allow each student to make up
one missed quiz or exam (excluding the final). You must have a valid excuse and
make it up before the next session of class. Contact me as early as possible to make arrangements.
2. Class
Participation and Daily Homework: The
majority of our class time will be spent discussing new concepts and homework
assignments, and each student’s participation is encouraged and expected. This
requires a careful reading of assigned texts and completion of the homework ahead
of class. Late homework will only be accepted
up to one week late and only with a valid excuse; students will only be given
half-credit for late homework.
3. Attendance: Prompt and consistent attendance is expected, and
is in your own interest because poor attendance and tardies
will inevitably affect your exam, quiz, homework, and class participation
grades. Also, I weigh attendance heavily when giving final grades in borderline
cases. Excessive absences will reduce your grade: To receive an ‘A’, you must
have less than 5 absences, for a ‘B’ less than 9, and for a ‘C’ less than 12. Tardies and leaving early will be counted toward your
absences. I will accept valid reasons for missing class (e.g., a doctor’s note
for a serious illness), but will only excuse one half of the absence.
4. Academic
Complaints: The procedure for handling
student academic complaints is found in the Student Academic Complaint Policy
and Procedures set down as University policy 3342-4-16 in the University Policy
Register. For information concerning details of that procedure, please see the
Registrar.
5. Students with
Disabilities: In accordance with
University policy, if you have a documented disability and require
accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please contract the
instructor at the beginning of the semester or when given an assignment for
which accommodation is required. Trumbull Campus students with disabilities
must verify their eligibility with Ms. Elaine Shively through the Office of
Student Disability Services (SDS), located in the Skill Center.
Schedule
T 1/16 Introduction:
What is Critical Thinking?
Th 1/18 Critical thinking, claims, issues, and arguments, 1-11
HW:
Exercises 1-1 problems 1-12; Ex. 1-2 all
T 1/23 Facts
and opinions, 11-17
HW:
Ex. 1-1 problems 13-25; Ex. 1-6 all
1. Clarity in Writing
Th 1/25 Organizing your ideas, 39-42;
Classification (handout)
HW:
Ex. 2-1 and 2-2 all; handout
T 1/30 Definitions,
43-48; Ambiguity, 49-56
HW:
Ex. 2-3 all and 2-4 problems 1-20
Th 2/1 Quiz #1; Vagueness, 61-63; Persuasive
writing and inappropriate language, 69-76
HW:
Ex. 2-6 all, 2-11 all, and 2-15 problems 1-10
2. Evaluating Information
T 2/6 Assessing the plausibility of the content, 79-82, 85-89
HW:
Ex. 3-3 and 3-4 all
Th 2/8 Assessing the credibility of
the source, 89-106
HW:
Ex. 3-7 and 3-8 all
T 2/13 Exam
#1
3. Persuasion, Rhetoric, and Informal Fallacies
Th 2/15 Rhetorical devices, 117-126
HW:
Ex. 4-7 problems 2-8, 10; and Ex. 4-8 problems 1-6, 8, 10, 11, 15, 17, 20
T 2/20 Rhetorical
devices cont., 126-132; Advertising, 141-146
HW:
Ex. 4-1, 4-14, and 4-15 all
Th 2/22 Informal fallacies, 149-166
HW:
Ex. 5-2 and 5-5 all
T 2/27 Quiz
#2; Informal fallacies cont., 175-183
HW:
Ex. 6-2 all; and 6-3 problems 1, 4, 6, 7, 10
Th 3/1 Informal fallacies cont., 183-192
HW:
Ex. 6-4, 6-5, and 6-6 all
T 3/6 Exam
#2
3. Methods of Argumentation
Th 3/8 Distinguishing explanations and arguments, 217-221;
Kinds of explanations, 227-234
HW:
Ex. 7-1, 7-2, and 7-7 all
T 3/13 Types
and components of arguments, 259-262, 266-270, 282-284
HW:
Ex. 8-1, 8-4, 8-8 all
Th 3/15 Categorical Logic: Categorical claims and
Venn diagrams, 292-299
HW:
Ex. 9-1 and 9-2 all
T 3/20 Categorical
syllogisms and Venn diagrams, 310-317
HW:
Ex. 9-11 all
Th 3/22 Quiz #3; Categorical syllogisms and Venn
diagrams cont.
HW:
Ex. 9-12 all
3/26 – 3/30 Spring
Break
T 4/3 Propositional
Logic: Truth tables and truth functional symbols, 333-346
HW:
Ex. 10-2 and 10-3 all
Th 4/5 Testing arguments with truth tables, 348-355
HW:
Ex. 10-4 all
T 4/10 Testing
arguments with truth tables cont.
HW:
Ex. 10-5 all
Th 4/12 Exam #3
T 4/17 Inductive
generalizations, 381-392
HW:
Ex. 11-7 and 11-9 all
Th 4/19 No Class
T 4/24 Analogical
arguments, 392-405
HW:
Ex. 11-1, 11-5, and 11-20 all
Th 4/26 Quiz #4; Causal arguments, 420-433;
Scientific reasoning (handout)
HW:
Ex. 12-2, 12-4, and 12-5 all
T 5/1 Practical
and moral reasoning, 467-472 and handout
HW:
Ex. 13-1, 13-2, and 13-3 all
Th 5/3 No Class
T 5/8 Final
Exam