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CRITICAL THINKING Chaffey College – Rancho Campus
Philosophy 76, section 79651
Spring 2015, MW 7:00-10:30pm, Room SS-100
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:
- distinguishing between facts and opinions
- evaluating and constructing valid arguments
- identifying informal fallacies
- using inductive and deductive arguments
- using categorical and propositional logic
- examining moral reasoning - both theoretical and applied
- applying the principles of formal reasoning to concrete decision-making situations
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+ = 600-580, A = 579-560, A- = 559-540, B+ = 539-520, B = 519-500, B- = 499-480,
C+ = 479-460, C = 459-420, D+ = 419-400, D = 399-380, D- = 379-360
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 my lecture or your classmates by being late. No lateness allowed.
PLAGIARISM:
Plagiarism shall be punished according to the guidelines set forth by Chaffey College. Plagiarists will receive an F for the assignment.
Students with disabilities: If you require special accommodations, please inform me.
COURSE SCHEDULE (tentative):
March 23rd - Chapter 1: What is Critical Thinking?
March 25th - Chapter 2: Two Kinds of Reasoning, Quiz 1
March 30th - Chapter 3: Critical Thinking and Clear Writing
April 2nd - Review, Test 1
April 6th - Chapter 4: Credibility
April 8th - Chapter 5: Persuasion Through Rhetoric, Quiz 2
April 13th - Chapter 6: More Rhetorical Devices
April 15th - No Classes Held, Faculty Lecture Day
April 20th - Chapter 7: More Fallacies, Quiz 3
April 22nd - Review, Test 2
April 27th - Chapter 8: Deductive Arguments
April 29th - Chapter 8: Deductive Arguments, Quiz 4
May 4th - Chapter 9: Truth-Functional Logic
May 6th - Review, Test 3, Essay Due
May 11th - Chapter 10: Inductive Reasoning, Quiz 5
May 13th - Final Exam, 7:00pm