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Spring 2011; MWF, 10:00–10:50 a.m.; Humanities 135
Professor: Dr. Rob Rupert
Office: Hellems 188
Office hours: Mondays, 12:00–2:00 p.m., and Fridays, 2:00–3:00; also available by appointment
Office phone: (303) 735-0988
E-mail: robert.rupert@colorado.edu
Course website: http://spot.colorado.edu/~rupertr/logicSp11.htm
Teaching Assistant: Michaela McSweeney, michaela.mcsweeney@colorado.edu
Office hours: Th,11:00–2:00, in Hellems 15; also available by appointment
Required Textbook : Graeme Forbes, Modern Logic: A Text in Elementary Symbolic
Logic (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994).
The primary aim of this course is to develop students’ analytical skills, with special emphasis on the construction and critical evaluation of arguments. Students will develop these skills by studying symbolic representations of arguments and argument patterns.
Although we will spend much of our time learning the symbolic language and the rules for reasoning within our symbol-system, I will try to make clear the connections between arguments represented symbolically and those we encounter in our everyday lives. In this way, the course will help students to decide whether the reasons offered in support of a conclusion genuinely prove that conclusion. Even when we are not applying the course material to arguments expressed in English, students will refine their reasoning skills by learning our system of symbols and rules.
During this term we will cover material from Chapters 1–8, according to a schedule of readings to be announced in class as we move along. Graded and nongraded homework assignments will also be announced or distributed in class. I will not collect nongraded homework; its function is to give students practice working problems and to provide common points of reference during lecture. Homework and reading assignments will also be posted on the course website.
Graded Work:
Homework assignments: There will be a total of ten graded homework assignments, each worth ten points. A graded homework assignment will be due at the beginning of class every Friday, except Jan. 28, Feb. 18, March 11, April 8, and April 29. Each student’s two lowest homework scores will be dropped when I calculate final grades (no more than eighty points can be earned from homework).
Exams: There will be five exams. The first four are worth forty points each, and the last, worth eighty points. Exam dates are Jan. 28, Feb 18, March 11, April 8, and Saturday,
April 30. The first four exams will be given during our normal class period; the last will be given during our assigned final exam period: 7:30–10:00 p.m. No early final exams will be given.

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Makeup Exams and Late Papers:
Makeup exams: I will give a makeup exam only if I am notified in advance of the student’s inability to attend class on the day of the examination and either (a) the student is absent in order to represent CU in an official capacity (verification required) or (b) the student can document the occurrence of one of the following events: an accident that prevents the student from attending class; illness of or serious injury to the student, to one of the student’s parents, to his or her spouse, or to his or her child; a death in the student’s immediate family; or a similarly serious event the occurrence of which is beyond the student’s control and which prevents the student from attending on the day of the exam.
Regarding (b), appropriate forms of documentation include, but are not limited to, doctors’ notes, police reports, and death certificates. Also, if the student’s documentation makes it clear that it was not feasible for him or her to meet the advance-notice requirement stated above, that requirement will be waived. I have every intention of sticking to this policy; there are, however, extenuating circumstances in which I will allow a student to take a makeup exam at a significant penalty, even though he or she does not qualify for a makeup exam based on the policy stated above.
Late papers: Late homework papers will not be accepted, although students may turn in assignments early. I will collect homework papers no earlier than 10:05 on the days that homework assignments are due (in other words, you get at least a five-minute grace period). If you do not turn in your paper by the time they are collected, it will be considered late and will you will not get credit for it . Remember, your two lowest homework scores will be dropped.
Attendance Policy: It is expected that students will attend all lectures and be prepared for class; to be prepared you should do the assigned reading and nongraded homework before class. There is, however, no credit awarded for attendance.
Observance of Holy Days: Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty deal reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments, or required attendance. In order for accommodations to be made, students must notify me at least two weeks in advance of any conflicts resulting from religious observance. Anyone caught lying about their religious affiliation or their observance of a holy day, so as to take advantage of CU’s effort to protect religious freedom, is guilty of academic misconduct and is subject to disciplinary action, which may include an ‘F’ for the course. (See full details of the
University policy at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html. )
Dropping the Course: The University has a complex policy regarding when students can drop courses, whether a signature is required, how much money, if any, will be refunded, etc. Please see http://registrar.colorado.edu/students/registration/registration_packet/drop_add.html#drop add for a full statement of the policy.

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Statement Regarding Academic Integrity: Students are responsible for knowing and adhering to CU-Boulder’s policies related to academic integrity. Academic misconduct can come in many forms, including cheating, plagiarism, aiding academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct will be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; (303)
735-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion).
Other information on the Honor Code can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html
and at http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/
ADA Statement: If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to me a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs may be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard 322, and http://www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices
Statement Concerning Discrimination and Harassment: The University of Colorado at Boulder policy on Discrimination and Harassment, the University of Colorado policy on Sexual Harassment, and the University of Colorado policy on Amorous Relationships apply to all students, staff members, and faculty members. Any student, staff member, or faculty member who believes s/he has been the subject of discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at
(303) 492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at (303) 492-5550. Information about the ODH, the policies referred to above, and campus resources available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained at http://www.colorado.edu/odh
Grading Scale:
Point total = Final Grade
304-320 pts. = A 235-244 pts. = C
288-303 pts. = A- 224-234 pts. = C-
277-287 pts. = B+ 213-223 pts. = D+
267-276 pts. = B 203-212 pts. = D
256-266 pts. = B-
245-255 pts. = C+
192-202 pts. = D-
Below 192 pts. = F