PHIL 110: Critical Thinking and Composition
Fall 2014
Schedule # 28887, Section 8
COURSE INFORMATION
Class Days: Tuesday and Thursday
Class Times: 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
Class Location: Engineering 427
Office Hours Times (and by appointment): Tuesdays 12:30
PM – 1:30 PM
Office Hours Location: Arts and Letters 430
Course Overview
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This course is an introduction to critical thinking and writing. It is about argumentative writing and everything that
should accompany argumentative writing: the evaluation and development of correct reasoning, effective style and
organization, correct deductive and inductive reasoning, fallacies, the critical appraisal of evidence, and the
construction of rebuttals and counter-arguments.
This course satisfies the Intermediate Composition and Critical Thinking requirement for general education. You may
find more information regarding this requirement in the San Diego State University general catalog, under the
Communication and Critical Thinking requirements. See http://arweb.sdsu.edu/es/catalog/2013-14/086098_GradReq.pdf.
Student Learning Outcomes:
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Outline arguments in premise-and-conclusion form
Distinguish between reliable and unreliable premises
Properly use evidence and examples
Properly use analogies
Define important terms
Properly cite sources
Develop causal arguments
Identify and use the different types of deductive arguments
Identify the major fallacies
Argue for and against common positions
Enrollment Information
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Prerequisites: (from SDSU’s General Catalog) “Satisfaction of the English Placement Test and Writing Competency
requirements and Africana Studies 120 or American Indian Studies 120 or Chicana or Chicano Studies 111B or English
100 or Linguistics 100 or Rhetoric and Writing Studies 100 or 101. Proof of completion of prerequisites required: Test
scores or verification of exemption; grade report or copy of transcript.”
Students are responsible for any adjustments to their own schedule. All of these schedule changes must be initiated
through the Office of the Registrar. The add/drop deadline for this semester is September 8th.
Course Materials
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Morrow, David, and Anthony Weston. A Workbook for Arguments: A Complete Course in Critical Thinking.
Indianapolis: Hackett, 2011.
Course Structure and Conduct
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This is class is a traditional lecture, with some in-class assignments and quizzes
Course Assessment and Grading
Major Due Dates:
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Essay 1: 10/28
Exam 1: 10/28
Essay 2: 12/9
Final Exam: 12/16 (10:30 AM – 12:30 PM)
Scored activities and weighting by percentage of total score
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Quizzes
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Essay 2
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Final Exam
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Participation
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Homework Assignments
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Essay 1
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Midterm Exam
20%
20%
20%
10%
10%
10%
10%
Grading Scale
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SDSU Grading Guidelines
Outstanding
achievement;
available only for the
highest
accomplishment.
Praiseworthy
performance; definitely
above average.
Average; awarded for
satisfactory
performance; the
most common grade.
Minimally passing;
less than average
achievement for
undergraduate
students.
87 – 89.9% = B+
77 – 79.9% = C+
67 – 69.9% = D+
93 – 100% = A
83 – 86.9% = B
73 – 76.9% = C
63 – 66.9% = D
90 – 92.9% = A-
80 – 82.9% = B-
70 – 72.9% = C-
60 – 62.9% = D-
Failing.
0 – 59.9% = F
Excused Absence Make-up Policies
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There will be no make-up exams or quizzes without some sort of legitimate and documented excuse for missing class
(e.g. a doctor’s note).

Late homework, likewise, is not accepted without some sort of legitimate and documented excuse for missing class
(e.g. a doctor’s note). Emailed homework is not accepted.

Late papers are accepted, but each day that a paper is late will result in the loss of one letter grade. Emailed papers
are not accepted.
Students with Disabilities
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact
Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact
Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations
based upon disability cannot be provided until you have presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from Student
Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Academic Honesty
The University adheres to a strict policy regarding cheating and plagiarism. These activities will not be tolerated in this class.
Become familiar with the policy (http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/conduct1.html). Any cheating or plagiarism will result in failing
this class and a disciplinary review by Student Affairs.
Examples of Plagiarism include but are not limited to:

Using sources verbatim or paraphrasing without giving proper attribution (this can include phrases, sentences,
paragraphs and/or pages of work)
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Copying and pasting work from an online or offline source directly and calling it your own
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Using information you find from an online or offline source without giving the author credit
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Replacing words or phrases from another source and inserting your own words or phrases
Submitting a piece of work you did for one class to another class
If you have questions on what is plagiarism, please consult the policy (http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/conduct1.html) and this
helpful guide from the Library:( http://infodome.sdsu.edu/infolit/exploratorium/Standard_5/plagiarism.pdf)
Exams and Assignments
1.
Participation (10%): Participation is an important part of this class. Participation includes attendance, but it is not
limited to this. Active engagement (e.g. paying attention, asking questions, taking notes, etc.) is also necessary in
order to do well in this category.
2.
Homework Assignments (10%): There will be five credit/no credit homework assignments throughout the semester.
Each assignment is worth two percent of your grade.
3.
Quizzes (20%): There will be six pop quizzes throughout the semester. Each of these is worth 4% of your grade (the
lowest grade is dropped).
4.
Essay 1 (10%): In this 2-3 page paper, you will take a stance on an issue and use strategies from the book to argue
your case effectively. A list of possible topics, along with an in-depth description of the assignment, will be provided
two weeks before the essay is due. You may choose a subject that is not on the list, but I must approve the topic at
least one week before the paper is due.
5.
Midterm Exam (10%): There will be a midterm exam. It will have multiple choice and true or false questions, as well
as one essay question. Review materials will be provided one week in advance.
6.
Essay 2 (20%): In this 3-5 page paper, you will argue the opposite of whatever stance you took in the first essay. For
instance, if your first essay is about why green is better than blue, then your second essay should maintain that blue is
better than green. This assignment might prove to be difficult, but the ability to see both sides of an issue is a
strength that you should learn. This essay will be due at the beginning of the last class session.
7.
Final Exam (20%): There will be a cumulative final exam. It will have multiple choice and true or false questions, as
well as one essay question. Review materials will be provided one week in advance.
Description of the course environment
The projects for the course are described thoroughly in class. Students are encouraged to develop a timeline for the semester
for accomplishing the tasks required.
Participation, as well as regular attendance, is necessary to do well in the course. As stated above, active engagement (e.g.
paying attention, asking questions, taking notes, participation in in-class assignments etc.) is necessary.
Estimated time commitment
Assignments and Estimated Hours
Assignment
Estimated hours
1. Homework (each)
1/2
2. Essays (each)
4
3. Preparation for Exams (each)
3
Guidelines for students' participation
In calculating each student's participation points, the instructor will take into consideration the following:
•
•
•
Attendance
Active engagement (e.g. paying attention, asking questions, taking notes, etc.)
Participation in in-class assignments
How to participate in the course
To do well in this course, all of the following are important: attendance, regular in-class participation, reading, and assignments.
If you show up regularly and put in your best effort, you should not fail this class. This class is, however, not an “easy A.” Exams
are difficult, but study guides and review sessions can help with this. Essays are strictly graded, but you have the opportunity to
turn in drafts.
Texts and materials
Required Texts
Morrow, David, and Anthony Weston. A Workbook for Arguments: A Complete Course in Critical Thinking. Indianapolis: Hackett,
2011.
Interacting with me
The best way to reach me, outside of class and office hours, is through email. I try to respond within 24 hours, but this is not
always possible. You may reach me at the following address: eholguin@rohan.sdsu.edu
You will receive emails from me through Blackboard. To ensure that you receive emails from Blackboard, please check that the
email you have provided the university is correct. As some email systems block Blackboard emails as spam, it is pertinent that
you either remedy this or get a SDSU email account. To get an SDSU email account, go to http://wwwrohan.sdsu.edu/newstudacct.shtml