PHIL 120& HY: Symbolic Logic (5 Credits)
Everett Community College, Winter Quarter 2016
ProfessorInstructor:
Mike VanQuickenborne; ‘Mike’ will be fine
Contact Info:
Office: Gray Wolf Hall 311
Office Hours: Tu & Th: 10:00-12:10
Message/Office Phone: (425) DUTYFUL*1
Email: mvanquickenborne@everettcc.edu*
Snow Day Info: to receive an sms or email in case the campus is closed sign up at:
http://www.everettcc.edu/emergency/notification/
Room/Time:
Gray Wolf Hall 270 / Tuesday and Thursday: 8:20-9:50 (Item #6948)
Gray Wolf Hall 284 / Tuesday and Thursday: 5:30-7:00 (Item #6950)
The nearest bathrooms: By the elevators
Prerequisite: MATH 092 or MATH 098 or MATH 099 with a grade of C or higher OR
placement into MATH& 107 or higher.
Distribution Information:
This course counts for the Quantitative Skills requirement, the Natural Science (Non-Lab)
requirement, and the Transfer Elective requirement.
Required Text:
Hurley, Logic: The Essentials, 1st ed., or A Concise Introduction to Logic, 12th, 11th, or 10th
edition. Available in the bookstore, in digital format through our course website ($35.96 + tax),
and on in-library reserve at the EvCC Library circulation desk.
Optional Texts:
Burch, Study Guide for Hurley’s A Concise Introduction to Logic, 10th Ed. Available for inlibrary checkout only at the EvCC Library circulation desk.
Hurley, Instructor’s Manual (answer key to non-starred exercises from our text) Available for inlibrary checkout only at the EvCC Library circulation desk.
EvCC Library Hours: M-Th 7:30 AM-8:00 PM, F 7:30 AM-4:00 PM, Sat 12:00 PM-4:00 PM
*Email is my preferred method of communication. Voicemail will be checked on Tu & Th, email M-F.
Required Website: symboliclogic.weebly.com
Website we will NOT be using: Canvas
The Course:
Welcome to Logic. The course is a study of the methods and principles used to distinguish
correct from incorrect reasoning. After establishing a few basic concepts, the course will proceed
to investigate three types of symbolic logic: Categorical, Propositional, and Predicate.
Course Goals:
Broadly stated, I expect that at the conclusion of this course you will be able to:
• analyze the structure of arguments
• demonstrate through identification and analysis an understanding of key concepts such as:
validity, soundness, deduction vs. induction, premises, and conclusions
• demonstrate why arguments are valid or invalid using three forms of symbolic logic:
Categorical, Propositional, and Predicate logic
My Expectations:
In order to meet these goals I have the following expectations of you:
• This classroom is smaller than you think. Anyone who arrives to class late is necessarily
disrupting the ability of their classmates to learn. Leaving early is just as much a distraction as
arriving late. Such behavior is rude, and I expect you to avoid it unless absolutely necessary.
Those students who are late or leave early will be noted in the attendance record and could find it
very difficult to earn any extra credit in the course.
• You must be familiar with the student code of conduct in the student handbook.
• It is also required that you treat each other with respect at all times, especially with regard to
disrespectful comments and behaviors (facial expressions and other mannerisms). Remember
that this classroom is smaller than you think. You must also treat me with respect. This requires
that you remain silent when I am talking, and never text during class. We will have many
opportunities for questions about the material, but I ask that you bring up any points for
discussion to the whole class, not just those seated next to you. When raising a question, I ask
that you only raise your hand when someone is finished speaking. Anyone who fails to exhibit
respect for their classmates or myself will be removed from the classroom, as is discussed in the
student handbook.
• You may not bring children into the classroom, in accordance with college policy.
• You must ensure that your cell phone does not ring during class.
• You must have your own textbook and bring it to every class meeting.
• Every hour in class requires 2 hours of work outside of class.
• Please, I appreciate the thought, but no gifts for the instructor.
Your Expectations:
In turn, you may have the following expectations of me:
• I will treat you with respect.
• I will start and end class on time.
• I will grade your assignments fairly.
• I will respond to your questions and comments to the best of my ability.
Requirements:
In order to reach the course goals I have assigned readings from our text which I expect to be
completed before class. The written assignments are as follows: two closed-book-and-notes
quizzes, and 4 in-class exams which will closely reflect the types of problems you encounter in
the text. For these exams you will be able to use a note sheet, as long as you follow the
guidelines described on the Logic Exam Guidelines handout. (Because you must return your
exams after I score them, you can record your scores on the handout I gave you on the first day
for your records.) To prepare you for the exams a practice exam will posted to the course website
before you take the exam. The practice exams will have the same types of problems that you will
encounter on the actual exams and it will have an answer key to check your results. You will not
have to turn in your practice exams, they are for your benefit only.
Grading*:2
If you stop coming to class, it is entirely your responsibility to complete the paperwork to
withdraw from the course. Anyone who fails to complete any of the coursework and who stops
attending without officially withdrawing from the class will receive a “V” grade which
negatively affects your ability to transfer to the university of your choice and can possibly cause
problems with financial aid. If you are auditing the class you must have attended at least two
thirds of the classes, lesser attendance will result in a V grade.
(NOTE CAREFULLY!) Missed Quizzes or Exams:
If you miss class the day of a quiz or exam, you cannot make it up, except in cases of an
emergency. Note that an unexpected request to work during class is not an emergency. You
*If
you are repeating this course in order to attempt to earn a better grade than the one given when the same course
was taken earlier, you must submit a course repeat card to the Enrollment Services office immediately. Otherwise,
the earlier low grade will continue to be counted in the GPA. If you are enrolled in this class in order to remedy an
Incomplete grade given in the same course within the past year, please consult Karl Ritter (425-388-9211) in
Enrollment Services immediately. It is probable that this is not an effective plan and will create a mess.
have to make a choice between making school or work the higher priority. Your chances for
succeeding in this class will increase if you make school the higher priority. If you feel ill or
there is an emergency I will require two things: 1) you, or someone who is acting on your behalf,
must contact my office (via email or voicemail) on the same day that you have missed class, and
2) when you return to class you must provide written documentation supporting your claim. If
you fail to meet either of these conditions, I will not allow you to take a make up, or give you
credit for your assignment. DO NOT COME TO CLASS IF YOU ARE FEELING ILL.
Plagiarism & Penalties:
From the NY Times, July 5, 2010 “To Stop Cheats, Colleges Learn Their Trickery”: “In surveys
of 14,000 undergraduates over the last four years, an average of 61 percent admitted to cheating
on assignments and exams.” Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 10th ed., defines “plagiarism” as
“to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own.” Plagiarism is completely
unacceptable and any student who cheats on an assignment will receive a score of zero for that
assignment and all future assignments in the course. I will also report the incident to the
Behavioral Intervention Team which may take further disciplinary action.
Extra Credit:
Engaged class participation is crucial for your success as a student. As an incentive I will boost
any student’s grade by one quarter (e.g. a “B+” would become an “A-”) if they are actively
engaged in the course. The following behaviors will result in less extra credit being awarded to a
student: showing up to class sick, poor attendance not due to illness, arriving late after the first
week, leaving early, talking when I or another student is talking, being disruptive, texting,
sleeping in class, or not paying attention. Extra credit can be a significant boost to your grade in
the class, so I encourage you to take it seriously. Note that this is the only form of extra credit
available for this course and that the extra credit will amount to no more than 20 points.
Statement of Disability Accommodation:
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have
emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the
building must be evacuated, please talk to me today, or make an appointment to see me soon.
Mental Health Statement:
An article entitled “Mental Health Needs Seen Growing at Colleges,” published in the NY Times
on Dec. 19, 2010 and written by Trip Gabriel, stated that: “Forty-six percent of college students
said they felt “things were hopeless” at least once in the previous 12 months, and nearly a third
had been so depressed that it was difficult to function, according to a 2009 survey by the
American College Health Association.” If you find yourself feeling that things are hopeless,
please know that things are never hopeless and I am glad to talk to you. We also have
professional counselors employed at the college who are there to serve all students. They are
located on the third floor of Parks and can be contacted by phone: 425.388.9263 or email:
counseling@everettcc.edu.
For Further Reading (both are available in the EvCC library):
Labyrinths of Reason by William Poundstone is an engaging and well-written book of puzzles
and explanations of the logic and philosophical theories behind those puzzles.
Logicomix by Apostolos Doxiadis and Christos Papadimitriou is a graphic novel about the
history of logic and mathematics.
Samples of some of the wisdom and artwork former students have shared in this class:
“Elvis will die, if Elvis will die. Then he was hung, Elvis was hung.”
“Some conductors work on trains. Some conductors are sociopaths.”
“All conductors are metal unless made with something nonmetal.”