Mt. San Antonio College
Spring Semester 2019
Syllabus/Outline
No Mandatory Meetings*
Professor: Charles T. McGruder, Ph.D.
Office: Building 26D, Room 2481E
Office Hours:
Online/email T/TH 9-10 am or By appointment
Telephone: (909) 274-4595
Email: cmcgruder@mtsac.edu
Web Address: https://faculty.mtsac.edu/cmcgruder/
Class Webpage: https://inside.mtsac.edu/
8 Week/Short Term Courses*
Beginning 02/25/2019 and Ending 04/20/2019
*CRN: 40541
*CRN: 40542
*CRN: 40681
Students are expected to be proficient in Canvas:
the Learning Management System (LMS) for Distance Learning at Mt. SAC.
You may want to take the Course:
STDY 85C - Study Techniques and Skills for Online Learning.
All Quizzes and Exams, including the Final Exam,
are taken in Canvas. They are not timed.
(When you take a Quiz or Exam, Save your answers as you go
in case there is a system or power problem)
Browsers
Canvas recommends that you use Chrome as your browser.
Other browsers (Fire Fox or Safari)
should be fine if you have the latest version.
We do not recommend: Internet Explorer.
Textbook
LOGIC - Custom Edition
Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 6
13th Edition, by Patrick J. Hurley, 2017
ISBN-13: 978-1-337-45006-5
The Custom Edition is available at Mt. SAC Bookstore (SacBookRac)
The Custom Edition comes from:
A Concise Introduction to Logic,
13th edition by Patrick J. Hurley, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-305-95809-8
If you have a different edition of the Textbook,
the Page Numbers do not matter as much as the Chapter and Section Numbers.
Dictionary - College Level
English Handbook
Recommended
Do You Think What You Think You Think?
The Ultimate Philosophical Handbook
By Julian Baggini and Jeremy Stangroom, 2007
Just The Arguments
100 of the Most Important Arguments
In Western Philosophy
Edited by Michael Bruce and Steven Barbone. 2011
Handouts
Glossary, Uses of Language, Definition,
Seven Steps in Argument Analysis, Validity and Strength,
Instructions for Fallacy Notebook,
Induction, Deduction and the Scientific Method
Critical Thinking Format/Study Sheet
Course Description
The analysis of language as an instrument of sound thinking in morals, politics, and everyday life. The course is designed to assist students to analyze an argument, avoid faulty conclusions in reasoning, understand levels of meaning and kinds of arguments, avoid verbal pitfalls, understand the steps of scientific methods, and identify value assumptions.
Purpose
The purpose of this course is to "do philosophy." Wonder is central to philosophy, not only as a starting point but also as a principle and foundation from which everything else proceeds. Philosophy is a radicalization of wonder in all directions. But radicalization is a slow process and we are obliged to work the same ground over and over again. Only in this way can the process continue and only thus can it realize its total potential.
To do philosophy is to conscientiously immerse ourselves in the process and product of seeking meaning in the world. Our primary concern is for the personal dimension which plays/works in the creation and criticism of all claims to knowledge and understanding. We will use "content" and "information" however our concern is the context for transformation.
Goals
An enhanced self/social understanding
An enhanced capacity to be philosophical - to grapple with language, values,
to discern value judgments, to relate meaning/facts/attitudes
A disciplined engagement with contemporary themes and issues in life
An enlargement of communication and critical thinking skills
An introduction to propositional/formal logic
Use of visual/analytical methods
Grading
A = 100-90%; B = 89-80%; C = 79-70%; D = 69-60%; F = 50% and below
Quizzes: 20%; Exams: 60%; Post & Homework: 20%
I run a straight point system, so you can compute your grade at anytime
by dividing the number of points earned by the total number of points possible.
Check Canvas for the status of your grade.
Please note:
Neatness and whether or not all instructions have been followed
will be factors in the grade.
Measurable Objectives
The student will:
1. Identify different uses of language and use them appropriately.
2. Recognize good reasoning from bad reasoning.
3. Identify and correctly label the fallacies used in everyday speech,
as well as in politics, advertising, and literature.
4. Employ logical rules to organize their thoughts, solve personal problem as well as academic problems.
5. Analyze and diagram ordinary language arguments to outline their structure and consistency.
6. Classify and Evaluate arguments as inductive or deductive
and determine validity and strength, soundness and cogency.
7. Reformulate natural language into symbolic form to determine its validity with Truth Tables.
8. Define terms and evaluate definitions employing the rules of definitions
to avoid or detect ambiguity, vagueness, and circularity.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
SLOs are: Pre and Post Quizzes
Attendance Policy/Check-in
Check-in through Canvas by the first day of the course, 2/25 (and by email)
Drop Policy
Last Date to drop without a "W: March 6
Last Date to drop with a "W": March 28
Any student missing more than 20% of class or assignments
before the drop date must be dropped by the professor.
How much time does this class require?
This is an 8 week online course and requires no on-campus time.
The class does need to match 54 on-campus hours plus homework time.
This class will take approximately 89 hours to complete
(an average of about 8-10 hours per week total)
Makeup Policy
No make ups allowed.
I will accept assignments early, but not late.
Disability Accommodations
Mt. SAC strives to make its courses accessible to everyone. It specifically considers features that make its courses accessible to individuals with disabilities, including those using assistive technology for computer access. if you need special accommodations, please contact both the professor and Mt. SAC Disable Students Programs and Services (DSPS) at (909) 274-4290 or http://www.mtsac.edu/students/dsps/
Writing Center
The Writing Center offers free tutoring and workshops to help students with writing in any course at Mt. SAC. Also, the Center’s computer lab offers printing services, access to the Internet, and lab tutors to help students with their writing while working at their computers. The Writing Center is located in 26B-100, behind the Clock Tower. For tutoring, students can stop by to make an appointment or call (909) 274-5325. You can also visit their website at http://writingcenter.mtsac.edu for more information.
Complete the tasks to verify your enrollment
To verify your enrollment and begin the course in Canvas:
Welcome to Logic in Practice Online!
The Logic in Practice Course is available in Canvas
The Check-in Process:
To locate the course
Login to: https://inside.mtsac.edu/ and enter User name and Password.
Click on the eLearning Resources tab.
Click on Sign on to MtSAC Canvas.
Click on CRN of PHIL 3 - Introduction to Logic
Follow The Check-n Process in Canvas
If you can not Login be patient and try again later, if you still have problems Loging in, call the HELP DESK: 909-274-4357
You must complete the Check-in process by the first day of class to verify your enrollment.
If you do not Check-in, it is your responsibility to Drop the course.
Good luck and see you online!
1. Read: Welcome to Introduction to Logic Page to Check-in, 2/25
2. Print and Review Syllabus/Outline
3. Take: the Pre-Quiz below by following the directions
4. Introduce: yourself on the Discussion: Introduce Yourself/Schedules
5. Read: the Introduction to Philosophy, Logic, and Textbook
6. Read: FAQs (At bottom of Page)
7. Read: Mt. SAC Student Canvas Orientation Module
8. Email me that you have completed the tasks (1-7)
You must do this by 11:59 pm, the first day of class, to verify your enrollment.
(This Check-in is how you will keep your place in the Class).
Follow Assignments in Canvas. The Assignments parallel the Textbook and the Discussions.
We begin our study of Logic with: Chapter 2 - Language: Meaning and Definition.
The Course Process:
Read the assigned Chapter Section.
Study the examples and take notes or highlight.
Do assigned exercises (if you have difficulty with the examples or exercises,
then post to the Discussion: ASK) The exercises do not have to be turned in.
Take section Quiz; Post to Discussion
Then the pattern repeats
Read, do exercises, take quiz, post to the Discussion. The first quiz 2.2 II. will be available on the first day of the course.
When you complete the Chapter Work, Post to Discussion, Quizzes, and Handout Work for the Chapter, review and take the Chapter Exam. (Discussions are due on Fridays. Quizzes and exams are due on Sundays, except the Final Exam)
All quizzes and exams, including the Final Exam, are taken in Canvas.
Use the Syllabus/Calendar as a guide to work through the material in a timely manner.
If, however, you wish to work through the material more quickly than the calendar suggests, the quizzes and exams can be made available.
Calendar Course Outline
Week Discussion Topics and Readings
1 Professor McGruder makes the Course Available in Canvas (Check-in and Orientation)
Complete the tasks by first day of the course to verify your enrollment
Begin the course in Canvas
Follow Assignments in Canvas
Discussion: Current Events 1 (First Four Weeks) Due Friday, 3/22
Read: Chapter 2 - Language: Meaning and Definition
2.1 Varieties of Meaning: Cognitive and Emotive
2.2 Intension and Extension of Terms; quiz
2.3 Definitions and Their Purposes; quiz
2 2.4 Definitional Techniques; quiz
2.5 Criteria for Lexical Definitions; Discussion: 2.5 Due Friday, 3/8
Chapter 2 Handouts: Uses of Language and Definition
Chapter 2 Exam - Language: Meaning and Defintion Due 3/10
3 Read: Chapter 1 - Basic Concepts
1.1 Arguments, Premises, and Conclusions; quiz: due 3/17
1.2 Recognizing Arguments; quiz; Discussion: 1.1 and 1.2 Due Friday, 3/15
1.3 Deduction and Induction; quiz: due 3/17
4 1.3 Classifying Arguments (Midterm Week)
1.4 Validity, Truth, Soundness, Strength, Cogency; quiz
Evaluating Arguments
Chapter 1 Handout: Validity and Strength
1.5 Argument Forms: Proving Invalidity
Discussion: Current Events 1 Due Friday, March 22 (See Week 1)
Glossary Exam due 3/24
Chapter 1 Exam - Basic Concepts Due 3/24
5 Discussion: Current Events 2 (Last Four Weeks) Due Friday, April 19
Read: Chapter 3 - Informal Fallacies
3.1 Fallacies in General
3.2 Fallacies of Relevance; quiz-due 3/31
3.3 II.Fallacies of Weak Induction; quiz-due 3/31
6 Mid-Chapter Fallacy Quiz 3.3 III. Due 4/7
3.4 Fallacies of Ambiguity; quiz; Discussion: 3.4 Due Friday, 4/5
3.5 Fallacies in Ordinary Language
Chapter 3 Exam - Informal Fallacies Due Sunday, 4/7
7 Read: Chapter 6 - Propositional Logic (Formal Logic)
6.1 Symbols and Translation; quiz-due 4/14
6.2 Truth Functions; quiz-due 4/14
6.3 Truth Tables for Propositions
Classifying Statements
Comparing Statements
Handout Reflections Due Friday, April 12
Post or Email List 8-13 ideas/things you learned from
Handout: Induction/Deduction & Scientific Method
8 6.4 Truth Tables for Arguments
Testing the Validity of Arguments
6.5 Indirect Truth Tables
Testing Arguments for Validity
6.6 Arguments Forms and Fallacies
Common Argument Forms and Note on Invalid Forms
Discussion: Current Events 2 Due Friday, April 19 (See Week 5)
Final Exam (Comprehensive)
All work is Due: Saturday, April 20 at 11:59 pm
Take the Post-Quiz by 4/20
| Last Updated: 10/19/22 |