Critical ReasoningFall 2014Drexel UniversityPHIL-105-942; CRN OnlineInstructor: Patricia GrosseEmail: [email protected] men are animals. Socrates is a man. Socrates is an animal.All of the swans we have seen are white.Therefore, all swans are white.Course Description:In this course we will distinguish between different kinds of arguments, identify theirstructures, evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and work through common fallacies thatappear in ordinary language. Some examples of arguments and fallacies we will review inclass include appeals to emotions, appeals to authority, personal attacks, and slippery slopearguments. Together, we will utilize the skills we will learn in this class to analyze the kinds of storiesbeing told to us every day through various forms of media presented by advertisers,journalists, comedians, professors etc. It is the intention of this course to engender a healthyskepticism in its students in order to produce more savvy, critical thinkers who questionrather than accept given modes of thought.Course Goals: The goal of this course is to introduce the basic concepts of logic and to develop technicalproficiency with informal logic, in both its traditional and modern forms, in and through a studyof categorical and propositional logic. Through this study, we will develop our ability to evaluatearguments and clearly express ideas, especially in areas where there are no clear answers. To thatend, some specific goals of this course are to learn how to understand and respond to everydaylogical fallacies as well as to be able to present your own critical thoughts and argumentsverbally and in writing.Required Materials:1- Critical Thinking: A Student's Introduction, 4th Edition (2011), McGraw Hill, Authors:Bassham, Irwin, etc.- All other readings will be available through BlackBoard. You are expected to print yourown copies of these texts and bring them to class with you on the days they are assigned.Grade Assessment:Your grade will be weighted as follows- 10% Discussion Boardo At the conclusion of every Tuesday/Thursday class, you will be given a series ofactivities and discussion questions you must complete on the discussion boardwith your classmates before the end of the week (5pm Saturday). These activitieswill be the space for discussions on the class materials and subjects. These boardswill be open for you to participate in from Sunday to Saturday for each week. - 15% Journalso Throughout the semester you are to keep track of the various media you consume.For numbered Journals, you are to find an advertisement, TV clip, movie,commercial, book, speech, etc., and relate it to the themes of the unit we arecurrently working on in class. These Journals will be due every Wednesday(starting in Week 2) by 8pm throughout the course. - 15% Final Projecto This project will be related to the Journals you will be doing throughout the class,so do keep track of them! More information will be made available closer to theend of the Quarter.- 20% Quizzeso Noncumulative; multiple choice and short answer.- 20% Midterm o Will be cumulative; multiple choice and short answer.- 20% Final o One part will be cumulative but the majority will focus on material since theMidterm Exam.Please keep copies of all of your work and check your grades on BlackBoard regularly. If youhave an issue with a grade, see the policy on Grade Questions below. All Homework Assignments and Quizzes are due by the date and time they are listed as due onthe Syllabus. However, you are able to submit them early if you so desire. A NOTE ON EXTRA CREDIT: Sometimes life happens, and our projects, assignments, andwork suffer. If you have received a grade for an assignment that you know you could have done2better on, come to me for possible extra credit. Extra Credit may include a rewrite, additionalreadings and responses, attending a lecture and writing a short summary, etc.Grade ScaleA+: 4.00; 100 B+: 3.33; 87 C+: 2.33; 77 D+: 1.33; 65A: 4.0; 95 B: 3.00; 84 C: 2.00; 74 D: 1.00; 55A-: 3.67; 90 B-: 2.67; 80 C-: 1.67; 70 F: 0.00; <553Other Policies: - Discussion Board: As this is an online course, participation in the Discussion Board iscrucial. This is not a space for disturbing pictures or content, however. If you post anygore or sexual pictures or posts on this message board you will receive an automatic 0 foryour Discussion Board grade. This board is also a safe space to express ideas andquestions—there will be no insults, slurs, or general negativity regarding individualstaking this course. There will no harassment of any kind. - Communication: Please contact me at [email protected]. I will respond to your emailwithin 72 hours. - Statement on Disabilities: Drexel seeks to make reasonable academic accommodationsfor students with disabilities. Please contact the Office of Disability Services atwww.drexel.edu/oed/disabilityResources/ or by phone at 215-895-1401 in order to attainan Accommodation Verification Letter. Students requesting disability services at Drexelshould present a current accommodation verification letter issued by the Office ofDisability Services (ODS). Additional information athttp://www.drexel.edu/oed/disabilityResources/, 3201 Arch St., Suite 210, Philadelphia,PA 19104, 215-895-1401 (V); 215-895-2299 (TTY).- Statement on Academic Integrity: This course will enforce strict standards of academicintegrity. You are also expected to follow all rules given by the instructor regardingacceptable and unacceptable collaboration on any given assignment. When takingquizzes, be sure you do not attempt to give or receive unauthorized information.Violations of the academic integrity code will typically result in a failure of theassignment and possible failure of the course. Academic integrity policies and procedurescan be found at http://www.drexel.edu/studentlife/community_standards/overview/- Comfort Zone: Some of the material in this class will discuss religion, politics, andsexuality. If you are uncomfortable with specific readings, let the instructor knowprivately so that we can organize an alternative assignment for you. - Grade Questions: All grades will be available for view on