CRITICAL THINKING Moreno Valley College
Philosophy 11, section 28431
Fall 2014, Tuesdays 6:00-9:10pm, Room MH 227
Instructor: S.E.A. Hughes
Welcome to Critical Thinking. This course provides a set of tools to hammer out the dents in faulty reasoning. You will learn techniques for hammering out these dents so that your use of reason becomes smooth and shiny. These techniques include:
REQUIRED TEXT:
Critical Thinking (10th edition) by Brooke Noel Moore & Richard Parker
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Three one hour tests and a comprehensive final (100 points each).
2. A short argumentative essay (4-6 pages, 100 points) on an issue within one of the following topics of conversation: Abortion, Animal Rights, Autos and Highways, Capital Punishment, Education, Energy, Environment, Firearms, Food and Nutrition, Gay and Lesbian Issues, Genetics, Health & Medicine, Human Rights, Immigration, Pornography, Substance Abuse, and Women’s Issues. Topics will be narrowed later in the semester.
3. Five quizzes (20 points each, take-home or in-class).
4. No homework. However, you must PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!
Grading Policy:
A = 600-540, B = 539-480, C = 479-420, D = 419--360
ATTENDANCE AND CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE:
Students who skip classes tend to earn the lowest grades. To excuse an absence, just notify me in advance. Please do not disturb your classmates or my lecture by arriving late.
PLAGIARISM:
Plagiarism shall be punished according to the guidelines set forth by MVC. Plagiarists will receive an F for the assignment.
Students with disabilities: If you require special accommodations, please inform me.
COURSE SCHEDULE (tentative):
Week 1 - Chapter 1: What is Critical Thinking?
Week 2 - Chapter 2: Two Kinds of Reasoning, Quiz 1
Week 3 - Chapter 3: Critical Thinking and Clear Writing
Week 4 - Chapter 3: Critical Thinking and Clear Writing, Test 1
Week 5 - Chapter 4: Credibility
Week 6 - Chapter 5: Persuasion Through Rhetoric, Quiz 2
Week 7 - Chapter 6: More Rhetorical Devices, Quiz 3
Week 8 - Chapter 7: More Fallacies
Week 9 - Chapter 7: More Fallacies, Test 2
Week 10 - Chapter 8: Deductive Arguments
Week 11 - Chapter 8: Deductive Arguments, Quiz 4
Week 12 - Chapter 9: Truth-Functional Logic
Week 13 - Chapter 9: Truth-Functional Logic, Test 3
Week 14 - Chapter 9: Truth-Functional Logic, Essay Due
Week 15 - Chapter 10: Inductive Reasoning, Quiz 5
Week 16 - Final Exam, Tuesday, December 9th, 6:00-9:10pm