COURSE SYLLABUS
FALL 2010

Stacey Burks
http://personalweb.sunset.net/~seburks
Internet access is required
Office hours to be announced as needed
e-mail (checked several times daily):burksst@butte.edu



I. CATALOG DESCRIPTION

PHIL 6, Introduction to Logic
Recommended: Reading Level III, English level II
Transfer Status: CSUC, UC
Three hours lecture

A study of traditional logic with both deductive and inductive reasoning, syllogisms, and fallacies. Practical application of basic skills in orderly and accurate reasoning and communication.


II. COURSE CONTENT

A. Major Objectives
1. The student will understand the basic differences between inductive and deductive thought patterns.

2. The student will learn how to think in an orderly manner.

3. The student will be able to recognize his/her faulty thought patterns and to correct them.

4. The student will be able to “see through” fallacies in advertising, news media, and every day language.

B. Unit Titles

1. Introduction
a. arguments vs. expositions
b. truth of premises vs. validity of inference
c. logical necessity vs. empirical necessity
d. deduction vs. induction

2. Language: Meaning and Definition
a. intension and extension
b. connotation and denotation

3. Informal Fallacies
a. Fallacies of relevance: appeal to force, abusive ad hominem,
circumstantial ad hominem, accident, straw man, missing the point red
herring, etc.

b. Fallacies of weak induction: appeal to ignorance, hasty generalization,
false cause, slippery slope, weak analogy, etc.

c. Fallacies of presumption, ambiguity, and grammatical analogy: complex
question, begging the question, equivocation, false dichotomy, sup-
pressed evidence, etc.

4. Categorical Proposition
a. The square of opposition
b. Translating and evaluating arguments in ordinary language


5. Categorical Syllogisms
a. categorical propositions
b. immediate inferences
c. logical analogies as means of proving invalidity
d. Venn diagrams
e. rules of inference

Other deductive arguments: modus ponens, modus tollens, hypothetical syllogisms, disjunctive syllogism, and dilemma.


III. GENERAL METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

A. Lecture

B. Discussion

C. Group Work


IV. METHODS OF EVALUATION

A. Homework - you will be expected to put in a minimum of six hours of work outside of class. While homework is required, I will not be collecting all of it. Rather, I will randomly ask for homework and select 5 problems to grade. For those who get all 5 correct, 2 pts extra credit will be added to the quiz that covers the same material. Those who miss 3 or more will be required to turn in the next section’s homework in its entirety until I collect the next set of “randomly” selected homework from all. Understand that you will not pass the quizzes if you do not do the homework.

B. Quizzes - 9/12 - one to two may or may not be dropped when averaging final grade - to be discussed. It is your responsibility to check web site for quiz dates as I will not be announcing them during class time.

C. There will be one midterm (chpts. 1 &3) and a final examination (chpts. 4 &5). Dates to be posted on web site. Details under grading. It is your responsibility to check web site for all details pertaining to the midterms and final. Failure to check this site for the specifics before each major test could result in your failing the test(s).

D. Papers: The Butte College general education writing requirements will be met with a minimum of two “argument analyses” and one explanation paper. *These will be discussed further during class. Each paper will be two-typed pages in length (roughly 350-400 words per page).

E. Class Participation: While you will not be graded for participation (per se), class participation may help me make the final grade decision should you be on the cusp between two grades.

V. MATERIALS OF INSTRUCTION

Concise Introduction to Logic, Hurley
Ninth Edition
Why We Hate Us: American Discontent in the New Millennium, Dick Meyer
Crown Publishing

WARNING: Why We Hate Us contains some profanity. If you feel this is inappropriate for you, please see me within two weeks so that I can give you an optional reading assignment .

VI. PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING

Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. Any student who is discovered
representing someone else’s work as his/hers will receive a failing grade in the
course and be subjected to further disciplinary action as outlined in the Student
Handbook. *

VII. CELL PHONES, iPods, laptops, etc.

Cell phones, iPods, video games, etc., must be turned off once class begins. No text messaging. Should your phone ring during class, your phone alarm go off or you’re found to be text messaging, you will be asked to leave the classroom for the duration of the class period. A repeat infraction will result in disciplinary action as deemed appropriate by the Dean of Student Affairs. Repeat infractions will result in disciplinary action as deemed appropriate by the Dean of Student Affairs.

Laptops may be used for taking notes, but instructor retains the right to ask to see one’s laptop screen upon request. Anyone using a laptop for any other purpose than accessing homework or taking notes will lose his/her laptop privileges for the remainder of the semester.

VIII. ATTENDANCE

Roll will be taken every day. If any students enter class after roll has been taken, it
is up to the student at the end of the class to inform the instructor that he/she came
in late. If the student fails to do so, the student will be shown as having been
absent for that day. Excused absences will be determined case by case. Notes from
physicians, lawyers, etc., will help in determining whether an absence will be considered
excused. Quizzes, midterms, papers, etc., will not be accepted late. NO EXCEPTIONS. In
the event that you will be absent on a due-date, it is up to the student to make
arrangements with the instructor to get the work in prior to actual due date. NO
LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED. In the event that an absence is deemed
excused and the student missed a quiz or mid-term, the student will make up the
work on his/her first day back after the absence. As mentioned above, roll will be
taken at the beginning of every class day. If a quiz is to be given, it will be given
immediately after roll. Any student who is late on a quiz day will be asked to wait
outside until everyone has finished the quiz. Failure to be on time for a quiz results
in a failure to take the quiz. An exception will be made in the event that the school’s
busses are late. It will be the only exception. If you know you will be missing a quiz due
to an unexcused absence (attending a wedding, taking a personal day, family reunion,
extended weekend, etc., you may take the quiz you would otherwise miss in advance. You
must notify the instructor (via email) two days in advance to ensure the instructor brings the
quiz to the tutorial center.

STUDENTS WHO FEEL THEY CANNOT ADHERE TO THE ABOVE STANDARDS NEED TO SEE THE INSTRUCTOR WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF CLASS TO EXPLAIN THEIR SITUATIONS.

IX. GRADING

a. Although all work will be graded with letter grades, all letter grades are
equal to points. for example: “A” = 10 points, “B” = 8 points, “C” = 5,
"C-" = 4 points, etc. The quizzes will count as 1/4 of your entire grade. The
three papers will count another 1/4. The mid-term and final will each
equal 1/4 of your grade. The first midterm will cover chapters one and three,
the final, chapters, four and five.

b. The three required papers mentioned on page two are not optional papers. Any students who fail to turn in all three papers by the end of the semester will receive a failing grade. Incompletes will not be given for failure to submit all three papers by semester’s end unless a student has a serious and compelling excuse.

c. Any student who earns A’s on all the Logic quizzes prior to the midterm/final is exempt from taking the midterm/final (whichever applies). Any student who earns all A’s with the exception of two B’s on all the quizzes prior to midterm is also exempt from taking the midterm. A student must earn all A’s on the quizzes prior to final to waive taking the final. Any student who earns A’s on all quizzes covering Why We Hate Us may waive writing the first essay assigned.


X DROPPING THE COURSE

During the first eight weeks of class, any student who misses more classes than
the class meets in a given week will be dropped. If a student has
compelling reasons for missing class, it is up to the student to notify the instructor
so that s/he isn’t dropped. After the eighth week, a student will receive a letter
grade for the class unless he or she can demonstrate a serious and compelling reason
for withdrawing from class. Serious and compelling reasons does not include failing
the class.

As noted below:
The following situations may reasonably be defined as "serious and compelling" for justifying late withdrawal:
a. An extended absence due to a verifiable accident, illness, or personal problem; for example, a one or two week absence with a doctor's written excuse.
b. An extended absence due to a death in the family. This applies to absences exceeding a week due to family affairs that must be attended to by the student.
c. A necessary change in employment status which interferes with the student's ability to attend class.
This change in status must be verified in writing by the student's employer.
d. Other unusual or very special cases, to be considered on their own merit.

The following situations would NOT fall under the intent of "serious and compelling”:
a. Grade anticipated in class not sufficiently high or student is doing failing work.
b. Failure to attend class, complete assignments or take a test.
c. Dissatisfaction with course material, instructional method or instructor.
d. Class is harder than expected.
e. Pressure of other classes, participation in social activities or simple lack of motivation.
f. Change of major.


XI SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION

Supplemental Instruction: Weekly Peer Assisted Study Sessions

What is Supplemental Instruction (SI)?
Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a series of weekly study sessions for students taking historically difficult classes.
SI is for all students who want to improve their understanding of course material and improve their grades.
Attendance at sessions is voluntary.
SI is a chance to get together with people in your class to compare notes, discuss important concepts, develop strategies for studying the subject, and to test yourself before your professor does.
An SI Leader guides you through the material.

What is an SI Leader?
SI Leaders are students who have taken the course before and are prepared to share with you what they have learned about how to study the material. They know the course content and are anxious to help guide you through it.
Your SI Leader will be in class with you every day, hearing what you hear and reading what you read.
The SI Leader’s job is to help you think about the lectures you hear, the books you read, and then put it all into perspective.

Reasons to attend SI:
· It’s free
· No roommate, Play Station or other distractions
· Guaranteed study time
· Study in small groups with an experienced SI Leader
· Practice effective learning strategies for the course
· Impress your peers and professor with your knowledge of the subject
· Test yourself before our professor does
· Improve your grade!