Logic Online: Philosophy 105 0C1

Fall 2008

 

Thomas Bowen, Assistant Professor, Philosophy and Humanities

Office and Phone: Des Plaines, Room 2807; (847) 376-7084

Office Hours: TBA

Email: tbowen@oakton.edu

 

            Prefix              Number           Name                   Credits                               Lecture             Lab

            PHL                 105                  Logic                          3                                          3                     0    

Prerequisites

 

None

Course Description

 

This is a study of the principles of correct reasoning.  Attention is given to such topics as the logical use of language, types of definition, the methods of science and the techniques used in evaluating arguments.

 

Learning Objectives

 

1.      Students will learn to recognize and describe the structure of arguments in everyday exchanges and in more formal written material.

2.      Students will learn to evaluate accuracy of arguments.

3.      Students will learn to recognize common types of faulty reasoning.

4.      Students will learn skills that will enable them to construct their own persuasive papers with greater clarity and sophistication.

 

Academic Integrity

 

Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic integrity and follow Oakton’s Code of Academic Conduct. This Code prohibits:

 

·        cheating,

·        plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),

·        falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),

·        helping others to cheat,

·        unauthorized changes on official documents,

·        pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,

·        making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and

·        any other behavior that violates academic integrity.

 

There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton’s policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you.  If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.

 

Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.

 

Tentative Outline of Topics

 

Module One

Weeks 1-4

Identifying, Reconstructing and Analyzing Arguments

Chapters 1-5 of the textbook

First Graded Exercise

First Exam

 

Module Two

Weeks 5-8

Formal Evaluation of Arguments: Deduction

Chapters 6-7 of the textbook

Second Graded Exercise

Third Graded Exercise

Second Exam

 

 

Module Three

Weeks 10-13

Formal Evaluation of Arguments: Induction

Chapters 8-9 of the textbook

Fourth Graded Exercise

Third Exam

 

Module Four

Weeks 14-17

Informal Evaluation of Arguments: Informal Fallacies

Chapters 10-12 of the textbook

Fifth Graded Exercise

Fourth Exam

 

 

 

Methods of Instruction

 

1.      Online Discussion

2.      Text Based Exercises

3.      Online Exercises (some provided by instructor, others found on the textbook website: http://www.wadsworth.com/pubco/pub_companion.html

 

Instructional Materials

 

Rudinow, Joel & Vincent E. Barry. Invitation to Critical Thinking 5th ed. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1999. With this text students should receive an access code for the online supplement to this text located at: http://www.wadsworth.com/pubco/pub_companion.html (between “pub” and “companion” is an underscore “_”).

 

Elements of the Online Course

 

  1. Logic is essentially a skill set that requires a great deal of practice to learn and master. As a result, your success in this class will depend on two related factors.
    1. First, you must commit to a consistent, careful, and serious reading of the textbook. The basic content of the course is contained in the textbook. Only by careful study of the text, will you begin to learn this content. The structure of the textbook is not difficult, nor is the material particularly difficult –if you give it time and careful examination.
    2. Second, you must commit to doing exercises –logic can only be learned through practice. There are three ways to find exercises to use for practice: 1) you can do the exercises that are contained in the textbook; 2) you can do the exercises that are provided by the textbook’s website; and, 3) I will also provide you with exercises that you can do, or links to other sites on which you can find more exercises. This is truly important to remember that the more exercises you do, the more you will come to learn this material. As an online course, I will not be grading your exercises, nor monitoring whether or not you are doing the exercises. This means that doing the exercises is ultimately your responsibility. If you wish to master the material of this class, you will have to find the time and the energy to do these exercises and to try and get them right. Whether you do so is your choice. Of course, if you ever have questions or problems completing the exercises or if you simply wish for me to look them over and give you feedback on your work, you are welcome to contact me through email or to come see me during my office hours or at a time that is mutually convenient.
    3. The Invitation to Critical Thinking website (see URL above) contains a number of useful tools. Importantly, it contains a series of tutorial quizzes that you should find very useful as practice.
    4. The exercises posted in the modules will be good practice for the exams.

 

  1. This course will require you to take four exams. Each exam will count as 20% of your final grade.

 

  1. I will identify five different sets of exercises that I will expect you to complete and turn in (over the web) over the course of the semester. In total these exercises will count as 20% of your final grade.

Methods of Evaluation

 

1.      Four Exams: 20% each = 80%

2.      Graded exercises (five over the course of the semester): 20%

3.      Grading Scale: 91% - 100% = A // 81% - 90% = B // 71% - 80% = C // 61% - 70% = D // below 61 = F

 

Make-Up Work and Incomplete Policies

 

Exams should not be taken late. You have a week in which to take the exam at Oakton (DP or RHC) or at another location. Late exams suffer a 10% penalty per day they are late.

 

Graded exercises will suffer 5% penalty per day they are late.

 

On Taking Exams

 

Each exam will require you to come to Oakton Community College (either the Des Plaines Campus or the Ray Harstein Campus). Please let me know at the beginning of the semester whether you will be taking the exams at the DP or RHC campuses as a general rule. If you are not in the area (live elsewhere in Illinois, the US or are overseas) arrangements can be made for you to take these exams at or near your location. Let me know as soon as you can where you are, and we will work with the Alternative Education Office here at Oakton to arrange for you to take the exams. Each Exam will be available during the final week of the Module and can be taken during the regular operation hours of the Testing Center. (Or, if you are outside of the area by arrangement). You MUST TAKE THE EXAM DURING THAT WEEK. Late exams will be penalized. You should budget between 1 and 2 hours to complete the exams. No notes, texts or other aids are allowed.

 

 

Course Practices and Requirements

 

A.     If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability, you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services.  To request accommodation or services, contact the ASSIST office in Instructional Support Services.  All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements.  The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program

 

B.     The Oakton Community College Catalog states: Oakton Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, or marital status in admission to and participation in its educational programs, activities and services, or employment practices.  The College does not tolerate sexual harassment or sexual assault by or of its students or employees. In keeping with this policy of tolerance and non-discrimination, in this class all of us (myself included) should strive to listen and give careful consideration to all ideas expressed in class, especially those that are different from our own, without attacking or demeaning the people who have those views.  We should also strive to avoid using insulting terms or telling offensive jokes when talking to or about individuals or groups.