MASTER COURSE OUTLINE
Big Bend Community College
Date: March 2008
DEPT: PHIL&
NO: 106
(Formerly: PHL 220)
COURSE TITLE: Logic
CIP Code:
Intent Code:
Program Code: N/A
38.0101
11
Distribution Desig.:
Humanities/SQR
PREPARED BY:
Dennis Knepp, Ph.D.
CREDITS:
Total Contact Hours Per Qtr:
Lecture Hours Per Qtr:
Lab Hours Per Qtr:
Other Hours Per Qtr:
5
55
55
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is an introduction to the procedures used to evaluate persuasive arguments, including those
made in political debates and advertising, and several methods of deductive reasoning. Students will
learn how to identify common mistakes and will learn how to analyze more advanced formal
arguments.
PREREQUISITE(S): None
TEXT: Worksheet Handbook or appropriate college level text(s) as chosen by instructor
COURSE GOALS:
Students will learn how to identify common mistakes made in persuasive arguments and will learn how
to analyze more advanced formal arguments.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be familiar with several of these themes:
 identifying arguments, premises and conclusions
 evaluating basic arguments they will encounter in their studies and everyday life using informal
fallacies
 Venn diagrams
 truth tables
 the fundamental rules of deductive reasoning
 conditional proofs and indirect proofs
 inductive reasoning
COURSE CONTENT OUTLINE:
At his/her discretion, the instructor will organize the course using one or more of the following areas or
topics:
1. What is an argument?
2. Informal fallacies
3. Venn diagrams
4. Translation into formal notation
5. Truth-tables
6. Deductive inference
7. Conditional proof and indirect proof
8. Arguments by analogy
Document1
Page 1 of 2
9. Mill’s methods of causal reasoning
10. Probability theory
EVALUATION METHODS/GRADING PROCEDURES:
A minimum of three exams and a comprehensive final is required.
PLANNED TEACHING METHODS/LEARNING STRATEGIES:
X Lecture
Laboratory
Supervised Clinical
X Small Group Discussion
Audiovisual
X Individualized Instruction
Special Project
Other (List)
Division Chair Approval
Document1
Page 2 of 2