University of Central Oklahoma
College of Liberal Arts
Department of Humanities & Philosophy
Chris Weigand, Instructor
PHIL 1103 ONLINE
LOGIC AND CRITICAL THINKING
Syllabus and Schedule
Section Details: Fall 2010 Online
CRN
14334
15285
WebCT
126
138
Regular Online Classroom
http://athena.uco.edu:8090/webct
http://athena.uco.edu:8090/webct
Midterm & Final Tests
Proctored, by prearrangement
Proctored, by prearrangement
Instructor Contact Information
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EMAIL: cweigand@uco.edu (preferred) or southpaw65@gmail.com
PHONE/VMAIL: 405-397-5812 (preferred) or 210-828-1140
SKYPE: cweigand65 (http://www.skype.com)
MESSAGE RESPONSE TIME: End of next calendar day, if response required
VIRTUAL/ACTUAL OFFICE HOURS: By appointment
OFFICE LOCATION: LAR 203B
Material and Technology Requirements
Gensler, Harry. Introduction to Logic, 2nd Ed. London: Routledge, 2010. (ISBN:
9780415996518; http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415996518/). First edition
may be used (2001, ISBN: 9780415226752), but you will be responsible for accommodating
discrepancies (mostly chapter order).
We will use Blackboard/WebCT (http://athena.uco.edu:8090/webct) and Gensler’s LogiCola
PC software (http://www.jcu.edu/philosophy/gensler/LC/index.htm). A flash drive is
recommended for LogiCola. More details are at http://athena.uco.edu:8090/webct.
Proctored Test Location Requirement
The midterm and final tests will be PROCTORED at approximately Week 9 (Oct. 18-22) and
Finals Week (Dec. 13-17). You will need to come to UCO or another approved, secure
testing location, by prearrangement. More details will be available as test weeks approach. If
you anticipate problems with this requirement, please discuss this with me immediately.
Course Catalog Description and Objectives
Consideration is given to the requirements of correct reasoning with special emphasis on
informal fallacies, syllogistic forms, and the analysis of extended arguments. Prerequisites:
None. Specifically, we will:
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Identify, examine and apply principles and methods of good reasoning;
Identify, examine and evaluate real-world cases of good reasoning and of bad reasoning;
Read, write and employ formally symbolic representations of statements and arguments;
Evaluate categorical relationships, especially with Venn diagrams;
Evaluate propositional relationships, especially with truth tables; and
Evaluate arguments with a set of inference rules for natural deduction.
University of Central Oklahoma
College of Liberal Arts
Department of Humanities & Philosophy
Chris Weigand, Instructor
Assessments and Grades
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Proctored midterm test
Proctored semi-cumulative final test
Weekly LogiCola homework exercises
Best 10 of 12 quizzes @ 10 pts. each
Discussion participation
TOTAL
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100 points
100 points
120 points
100 points
80 points
500 points
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=
=
=
=
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20%
20%
24%
20%
16%
100%
Midterm and final tests must be taken in an approved, secure proctored setting, by
prearrangement; see Proctored Test Location Requirement (above). LogiCola homework,
quizzes and discussion participation are completed electronically and/or online, from any
location. See also Attendance and Participation Expectations (below).
Your earned points will be totaled and letter-graded on this standard scale:
450
400
350
300
0
to
to
to
to
to
500
449
399
349
299
points
points
points
points
points
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=
=
=
=
90 - 100%
80 - 89%
70 - 79%
60 - 69%
0 - 59%
=
=
=
=
=
A
B
C
D
F
Irregularities are strongly discouraged. Makeup or extra credit arrangements are not routine
or automatic. Exceptions are at my discretion and subject to conditions which may include
documentation, weighting of scores, and more. These and related matters are also discussed
in Attendance and Participation Expectations (below).
Attendance and Participation Expectations
The following will be expected:
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Taking midterm and final tests in secure proctored setting, by prearrangement
Good online attendance and discussion participation
Good homework habits and engagement with the material
Taking assessments according to schedule
Substantial improvement of low scores, where needed
Attending departmental tutoring, where needed (details at course site)
Not habitually requesting or expecting special favors or allowances
Documentation concerning major irregularities, especially absences
Prompt and proactive attention to potential or actual problems
This list may not be complete; I reserve the right to include reasonable additions. More
details are at http://athena.uco.edu:8090/webct.
I will take these matters seriously, and you should too. First, some of them directly constitute
numerical components of your grade; see Assessments and Grades (above). Second, good
study habits facilitate better understanding of the material, which improves overall scores.
University of Central Oklahoma
College of Liberal Arts
Department of Humanities & Philosophy
Chris Weigand, Instructor
Finally, these matters will influence discretionary decisions I make concerning makeups,
borderline cases, curves, exceptions, or the like.
University of Central Oklahoma
College of Liberal Arts
Department of Humanities & Philosophy
Chris Weigand, Instructor
Academic Integrity
Cheating will not be tolerated. Violators will be subject to the fullest extent of disciplinary
action that UCO allows and/or recommends. See UCO Student Information Sheet and
Syllabus Attachment (below) for more information.
UCO Student Information Sheet and Syllabus Attachment
Please also see the following link:
http://broncho2.uco.edu/academicaffairs/StudentInfoSheet.pdf
It provides additional UCO information, policies and guidelines concerning the following
matters and more:
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Academic Integrity
ADA Accommodations
UConnect Resources and Expectations
Incomplete Grades and Withdraws
Important Dates and Holidays
Weather and Emergency Plans
Final Exam Daily Limits
Contacting Faculty
Helpful Telephone Numbers
Class Attendance and Work Expectations
Course Evaluations
Library Hours
You will be held accountable for all UCO requirements or conditions specified in this
attachment. I will invoke it as necessary in defense or enforcement of my own policies and
practices.
Changes and Exceptions
I reserve the right to make reasonable modifications to this syllabus, schedule, or any element
of this course to best meet the needs of the class. Any changes will be announced. You may
be asked to provide written justification for any exceptions you feel you deserve, although
that is no guarantee that exceptions will be granted.
University of Central Oklahoma
College of Liberal Arts
Department of Humanities & Philosophy
Chris Weigand, Instructor
Schedule of Activities and Assessments
More details available at http://athena.uco.edu:8090/webct
WEEK
TEXT / TOPIC / ACTIVITY
ASSESSMENT
1
Syllabus, Orientation, Course Readiness
Quiz 00 (Course
Readiness)
2
Chap 1: Truth, Validity, Soundness, Forms
LogiCola, Discussion,
Quiz 01
3*
Chap 2: Syllogistic/Categorical Logic
LC, Disc, Quiz 02
4
Chap 2: Venn Diagrams
LC, Disc, Quiz 03
5
Chaps 1-2 Review
Submit LC, Disc
6
Chap 4: Fallacies
LC, Disc, Quiz 04
7
Chap 4: Argumentation
LC, Disc, Quiz 05
8
Chap 5: Inductive Reasoning
LC, Disc, Quiz 06
9*
Chaps 1-2, 4-5 Review
Submit LC, MT Test
10
Chap 6: Symbolizing Propositional Logic
LC, Disc, Quiz 07
11
Chap 6: Constructing Truth Tables
LC, Disc, Quiz 08
12
Chap 6: Using Truth Tables
LC, Disc, Quiz 09
13
Chap 6 Review
Submit LC, Disc
14*
Chap 7: Inference Rules
LC, Disc, Quiz 10
15
Chap 7: Simple Proofs & Refutations
LC, Disc, Quiz 11
16
Proofs & Refutations, Chaps 1-2, 4-7 Review
LC, Disc, Quiz 12
17
Cumulative Review
Submit LC, Final Test
* Shortened or holiday week.