PHILOSOPHY 102: LOGICAL REASONING
DR. PAUL NEWBERRY/Fall, 2011
Office: Faculty Towers 104A. Phone: 654-3068. Dept. fax: 654-6904.
Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 2-3pm
E-mail: pnewberry@csub.edu
Runner Courses (Blackboard): This is a website available only to students registered in this class.
Homework assignments, practice problems, and class information will be available on this page. To
access, go to CSUB Homepage: from the list on the left side of the page, choose Runner Courses
(Blackboard). Follow the directions to log in.
REQUIRED TEXT: Jackson, Debra and Paul Newberry Critical Thinking: A User’s Manual.
Wadsworth (Cengage Learning), 2011.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this course is to increase your ability to think and reason
critically. We are bombarded constantly with proposals, arguments, announcements and messages that
try to persuade us; only by sound and judicious reasoning can we begin to control our own reactions to
this information. The study of Logical Reasoning can help you develop this control that will benefit your
entire career, both in college and out.
Thinking logically is a skill. That means, first, that it can be learned and can be improved. Also,
like any skill, the ability to think critically is acquired and improved only with practice and hard work. In
this course, we will work to acquire and practice these important skills in a number of ways. First, prior
to class you will read about various concepts and issues relevant to logical reasoning and apply these
concepts to homework. Next, in class we will engage in a discussion of the concepts and issues, and we
will go over homework and related problems on the board. Sometimes you will work alone, sometimes in
groups.
Course Goals and Objectives: The overall goals of the program in Philosophy at CSUB are to enable
students to (1) explore critically various systems of beliefs and values, (2) grapple with the foundations of
their own beliefs and values, and (3) develop habits of critical thinking, writing and reading, and to use
these skills to address real world problems. In keeping with these broad goals and the three goals of all
Area A3 general education courses, students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
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Distinguish arguments from non-arguments (Area A3 Goal 1);
Analyze the parts and structure of arguments (Area A3 Goal 2);
Identify unstated conclusions and implied claims (Area A3 Goal 2);
Recognize fallacious reasoning (Area A3 Goal 3);
Distinguish deductive and inductive arguments (Area A3 Goal 3) ;
Choose the appropriate criteria for evaluating deductive and inductive arguments (Area A3 Goal 3);
Evaluate deductive arguments (Area A3 Goal 3); and
Evaluate inductive arguments (Area A3 Goal 3).
Write an argumentative essay (Area A3 Goal 4).
REQUIREMENTS
Your progress in this course will be assessed through the following requirements:
Progress Tests
2@25 pts
50 pts
Midterm exam
50 pts
Argument essay
25 pts
Final exam
80 pts
205 points possible
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Letter grades and their percentage equivalents:
87-89=B+
77-79=C+
67-69=D+
93-100=A
83-86=B
73-76=C
63-66=D
90-92=A80-82=B70-72=C60-62=D-
BELOW 60=F
Note: to satisfy the Area A3 requirement, students must earn at least a C in the course.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
1M
9/12 Introduction: What is logical reasoning, and why is it valuable?
2W
9/14
Recognizing and counting claims
Homework: Read Ch. 1 an the beginning of Ch. 2 (pp 1-20)
Complete Ex. 2.1-2.9
Download the syllabus from Blackboard and bring it to class.
3F
9/16
Recognizing arguments
Homework: Read Ch. 2 (pp 20-29) and complete Ex. 2.10-2.14
4M
9/19
Analyzing arguments
Homework: Read Ch. 3 (pp 30-39) and complete Ex. 3.1-3.10
Last Day to ADD classes
5W
9/21
Identifying unstated conclusions and implied claims
Homework: Read Ch. 3 (pp 39-44) and complete Ex. 3.11-3.16
6F
9/23
Analyzing multiple arguments
Homework: Read Ch. 3 (pp 44-49) and complete Ex. 3.17-3.22
7M
9/26
Writing a Basic Analysis
Homework: Read Ch. 3 (pp 49-56) and complete Ex. 3.23
8W
9/28
Progress Test 1
9F
9/30
Diagramming arguments
Homework: Read Ch. 4 (pp 57-67) and complete Ex. 4.1-4.11
Last Day to WITHDRAW without a W on your transcript
10M
10/3
Diagramming arguments
Homework: Read Ch. 4 (pp 67-76) and complete Ex. 4.12-4.19
11W
10/5
Diagramming extended arguments
Homework: Read Ch. 4 (pp 77-86) and complete Ex. 4.20-4.32
12F
10/7
Writing a Basic Analysis plus diagram
Homework: Read Ch. 4 (pp 86-90) and complete Ex. 4.33
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13M
14W
10/10 Detecting fallacies: begging the question and appeal to ignorance
Homework: Read Ch. 5 (pp 91-97) and complete Ex. 5.1-5.6
10/12 Detecting fallacies: appeal to illegitimate authority and ad hominem
Homework: Read Ch. 5 (pp 97-106) and complete Ex. 5.7-5.13
15F
10/14 Detecting fallacies: strawman and red herring
Homework: Read Ch. 5 (pp 106-114) and complete Ex. 5.14-5.1
16M
10/17 Writing a Basic Analysis plus fallacy identification
Homework: Read Ch. 5 (pp 114-117) and complete Ex. 5.19
17W
10/19 Midterm Exam (Bring a Bluebook to the exam)
18F
10/21 Distinguishing kinds of arguments
Homework: Read Ch. 6 (pp 118-131) and complete Ex. 6.1-6.9
19M
10/24 Writing a Complete Analysis
Homework: Read Ch. 6 (pp 131-140) and complete Ex. 6.10-6.14
20W
10/26 Translating categorical claims
Homework: Read Ch. 7 (pp 141-154) and complete Ex. 7.1-7.12
21F
10/28 Evaluating categorical arguments: Venn diagrams
Homework: Read Ch. 7 (pp 154-167) and complete Ex. 7.13-7.20
Last Day to WITHDRAW for a Serious and Compelling Reason
22M
10/31 Evaluating categorical arguments: using rules
Homework: Read Ch. 7 (pp 168-175) and complete Ex. 7.21-7.26
23W
11/2
Writing a Complete Analysis plus Evaluation
Homework: Read Ch. 7 (pp 175-183) and complete Ex. 7.27-7.32
24F
11/4
Progress Test 2
25M
11/7
Constructing arguments
Homework: Read Ch. 12 (pp 284-297) and complete Ex. 12.1-12.8
26W
11/9
Constructing arguments: peer review
F
11/11 HOLIDAY—Veteran’s Day—campus closed
27M
11/14 Analyzing analogical arguments
Homework: Read Ch. 9 (pp 220-228) and complete Ex. 9.1-9.7
Argument essay due at the beginning of class
28W
11/16 Evaluating analogical arguments
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Homework: Read Ch. 9 (pp 229-236) and complete Ex. 9.8-9.11
29F
11/18 Writing a Complete Analysis plus Evaluation
Homework: Read Ch. 9 (pp 236-240) and complete Ex. 9.12
Final Exam (see final exam schedule) (Bring a Bluebook to the exam)
The Finer Points
Writing and Critical Thinking: The general education guidelines stipulate that this is a writing
intensive class. There are two very good reasons for incorporating writing into a logical reasoning class.
First, writing necessarily requires thinking and reasoning; trying to clearly put down on paper what you
mean forces you to grapple with ideas. Writing also can offer evidence of weak or strong reasoning.
In this class, you will write argument evaluations and analyses on selected homework
assignments in each chapter and on all Progress Tests and Exams. In addition, you will write one 25point argumentative essay following the procedure outlined in Chapter 12.
Homework and participation: I will assign reading and homework for almost every class. However,
since the homework is practice, you will not receive points for it. Much of our class time will be spent
with students writing answers to the homework problems on the board or orally explaining them. This is
because you can learn critical thinking skills in the same two ways that you learn any other skill. First,
you must understand the particular skills. This comes from careful study of the text. Second, you must
practice, practice, practice.
Thus, your active participation is a vital aspect of this class. You cannot learn a skill without
applying and practicing it, and classroom participation is essentially the application of the various
thinking skills. I will not expect you to always have the right answer to questions and problems in class,
but I will expect you to have done the reading and the homework and to be prepared to engage with the
material during the class session.
Every 5-unit course at CSUB is designed to require at least 10 hours work per week outside of
class, and this class is no exception. You may find that succeeding in this class requires substantially
more time than that since learning to think critically may be very different from what you have done in
previous classes.
Progress Tests (2 tests @ 25 points each = 50 points): Since this course is a skills course, on tests and
exams you will need to demonstrate mastery of logical reasoning skills. The specific format of Progress
Tests will closely mirror the homework and classroom activities. We will discuss the format fully and
clearly in class prior to the first test.
Midterm Exam (50 points): The Midterm Exam is cumulative and will be modeled on the Progress
Tests. If you have been mastering the various thinking skills as the class progresses, then you should be
in a good position for the Midterm Exam. I will discuss the particular format prior to the exam.
Final Exam (80 points): The Final Exam is cumulative so you can demonstrate the extent to which you
have mastered the skills taught during the entire course. You should notice that it carries the greatest
weight of any of the individual class assessments. I will discuss the particular format prior to the exam.
Tutoring: This course has a Teaching Assistant who will be available for tutoring. Schedules and places
will be announced after the first week of class.
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Late Work: I expect you to take all exams and tests at the scheduled time. If you cannot take an exam
on time, you must contact me directly or by email prior to the test date in order to be eligible for a makeup exam. Whether to allow the make-up or not will be my decision.
Essays not turned in on time in class are considered late and will be reduced by 5 points (20%)
for the first day and another 5 points for each additional calendar day late.
Disability Accommodations: CSUB encourages qualified persons with disabilities to participate in
its programs and activities. According to the campus’ disability policy statement, “CSUB is committed to
providing an inclusive environment, which is responsive to the needs of all students, faculty, staff,
managers/administrators, and the public when they are using University services. To ensure this
inclusion, appropriate accommodations, as required by law, are provided to individuals, who have
verified disabilities and who require these accommodations in order to enjoy access to University
programs, services, or activities for which the individuals are otherwise qualified.” To request academic
accommodations due to a disability, please contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities
(SSD) as soon as possible. Their office is located in SA 140, and they may be reached at 661-654-3360
(voice), or 661-654-6288 (TDD).
Academic Integrity: “The principles of truth and integrity are recognized as fundamental to a
community of teachers and scholars. The University expects that both faculty and students will honor
these principles and in so doing will protect the integrity of all academic work and student grades.
Students are expected to do all work assigned to them without unauthorized assistance and without
giving unauthorized assistance.”—CSUB Catalog, 2011-13
I encourage you to work with your classmates whenever you can, but you must do your own
work. Turning in work that you did not do or cheating in any way constitutes academic dishonesty.
University policy dictates that anyone guilty of academic dishonesty may receive a grade of “F” for the
course. In addition, the instructor must notify the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities which
may add additional sanctions.
Class Attendance Policy: I strongly encourage you to attend each class meeting prepared to learn. I
take attendance, but class attendance is not part of the grading requirements (except for peer review
sessions).
Possible Interruptions: The Faculty union is in the midst of contract negotiations, and there is a
possibility of a work interruption. Updates on this situation will be provided throughout the course.
Please turn off cell phones and other electronic devices while you are in class.