Department of Philosophy Practical Logic PHIL125 (Section A1)
Fall 2020 Instructor: Hassan Masoud
Office: 2-67 Assiniboia Hall (Dept of Philosophy) E-mail: [email protected]
Office Hours (over Zoom): Thursday 2:00 – 3:00 PM (or by appointment)
Course Location, Days & Time: Tuesday-Thursday 2:00 – 3:20 PM (Remote Delivery) Teaching Assistant Information: Mattia Sorgon ([email protected])
Teaching Assistant Office Hours (over Zoom): Wednesday 11:00 – 12:00 PM (or by appointment)
Course Description:
This is a course on practical logic which may also be called ‘informal logic’ or ‘critical thinking’.
The focus is on the elementary methods and principles for analyzing and evaluating reasoning as it occurs in everyday contexts. Topics include an analysis of arguments, informal fallacies, introduction to scientific method, elementary statistical reasoning, elementary sentential logic, as well as the study of argument in contemporary debates about issues of social concern.
Note: It is your responsibility as a student to ensure that you have the appropriate prerequisites for the course.
Course Objectives and Expected Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the term, you would have a clear understanding of:
- the basic concepts required for critical thinking, such as statement, argument, premise, conclusion, opinion, evidence, etc.
- some philosophical notions referring to different worldviews such as realism, skepticism, relativism
- deductive and inductive reasoning, as well as scientific reasoning - how critical thinking matters in the areas of health, ethics, and law
- different sources of beliefs such as personal experience, news and media, and advertisement.
And, you would be able to:
- express your opinion more clearly and analyze it more critically
- extract arguments from non-argumentative texts, news articles, documentaries, and everyday conversations
- have fruitful discussions with others about your thought and their opinions using techniques of critical thinking
- assess the quality of various types of reasoning
- detect fallacies penetrating arguments intentionally or unintentionally.
Course Format:
This course is delivered remotely; no classes, tutorials, office hours, quizzes, or exams are held on campus. Each week our routine will be as follows:
- On Monday, a set of notes, video recordings, and guidelines regarding assignments, quizzes, and discussion forums will be posted on eClass. So, the agenda of the week is set on Monday.
- On Tuesday, we have an online session on Zoom from 2:00 to 3:00 PM. Attending Zoom sessions is not mandatory, and all the Zoom sessions are recorded and posted on eClass, but it provides an opportunity to get involved in live discussions and have a questions and answers period.
- On Thursday, I have my weekly office hours on Zoom from 2:00 to 3:00 PM. If you have any questions or need to discuss any part of course works, you can connect, and be in a queue to have a one-on-one meeting with me.
Textbooks: There is a required textbook for this course; it is titled The Critical Thinking Toolkit (Wiley-Blackwell 2017). This textbook is available online through the University Libraries website. You can read it online or download it chapter by chapter via this link:
https://search.library.ualberta.ca/catalog/8133404. Extra readings and discussion materials will be made available in eClass.
Additional Course Fees: N/A Important Dates:
First Day of Class: Sep. 1 Add/Delete Date: Sep. 15 50% Withdrawal Date: Oct. 2 Withdrawal Date: Nov. 30 Last Day of Class: Dec. 7 Final Exam Date: Dec. 17
Date of Deferred Final Exam: N/A
Lecture Schedule & Assigned Readings:
Week Dates Topic Readings (Textbook)
1 Sep. 1 – Sep. 6 Introduction
2 Sep. 7 – Sep. 13 Logical Arguments Ch. 1
3 Sep. 14 – Sep. 20
Definitions, Claims,
Argument Types Ch. 2
4 Sep. 21 – Sep. 27 Deductive Reasoning Ch. 3 & 4
5 Sep. 28 – Oct. 4 “ “ “ “
6 Oct. 5 – Oct. 11 Informal Fallacies Ch. 5
7 Oct. 12 – Oct. 18 “ “ “ “
8 Oct. 19 – Oct. 25 Midterm Review
9 Oct. 26 – Nov. 1 Inductive Reasoning Ch. 6
10 Nov. 2 – Nov. 8 “ “ “ “
RW Nov. 9 – Nov. 15 Reading Week
11 Nov. 16 – Nov. 22 Cognitive Biases Ch. 7 12 Nov. 23 – Nov. 29 Scientific Reasoning Ch. 9 13 Nov. 30 – Dec. 6 Final review
14 Dec. 7 “ “
Components of Course Grade:
Component Weighting Due Date
Homework assignments (4) 20% (4 X 5% each) Sep. 27, Oct. 11, Nov. 8, Nov. 22 @ 4 PM
Quizzes (4) (on eClass) 20% (4 X 5% each) Sep. 20, Oct. 18, Nov. 15, Nov. 29 @ 4 PM
Participation 10 % Throughout the term
Midterm exam (take-home) 20% Oct. 25 @ 4 PM
Final exam (take-home) 30% Dec. 17 @ 9 AM
In this course:
Assignments: Questions are uploaded on eClass 5 days before the due date of each
assignment. Answers should be submitted on eClass by the due time according to the above schedule. For the policy for late assignments see below.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be a set of multiple-choice or short answer questions. Each quiz will have an hour time limit. The quizzes will be opened 24 hours before the due time, and closed at the time mentioned in the schedule above. There are no extensions or make-ups for quizzes.
Exams: The midterm and the final exam will be take-home. Questions are uploaded on eClass 48 hours before the exam time. Answers should be submitted on eClass by the due time according to the above schedule.
Participation: For participation, see below (Attendance).
Grading:
Marks for assignments and exams are given in percentages. The percentage mark resulting from the entire term work and examination then produces the final letter grade for the course, according to the table below (“Department of Philosophy Undergraduate Grading Scale”).
Percentage Letter grade 4-point value Descriptor
95-100 A+ 4.0
Excellent
90-94 A 4.0
85-89 A- 3.7
80-84 B+ 3.3
Good
75-79 B 3.0
70-74 B- 2.7
67-69 C+ 2.3
Satisfactory
63-66 C 2.0
60-62 C- 1.7
57-59 D+ 1.3 Poor
50-56 D 1.0 Minimal pass
0-49 F 0 Failure
The final mark will be absolute, and no curves will be applied.
Past Evaluative Material: Sample exams will be available on eClass.
Attendance: Regular attendance is essential for optimal performance in any course. Since this course is delivered remotely, participation is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of participation in weekly discussion forums. Guidelines for discussion forums and the criteria of evaluation will be available on eClass.
Policy for Late Assignments: Extensions for assignments can only be granted for serious reasons and if you email me before the due time. Late assignments will be penalized 1% (from the total of 5%) per day. Assignments will not be accepted later than 3 days after the due time.
Missed Tests and Assignments: Deferral of term work is a privilege and not a right; there is no guarantee that a deferral will be granted. Misrepresentation of Facts to gain a deferral is a serious breach of the Code of Student Behaviour.
Deferred Final Examination: For information on how to apply for a deferred exam see “I Missed my Final Exam, Now What?”
Student Responsibilities:
Academic Integrity: The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect.
Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour and avoid any behaviour that could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.
All students should consult the Academic Integrity website. If you have any questions, ask your instructor.
An instructor or coordinator who is convinced that a student has handed in work that he or she could not possibly reproduce without outside assistance is obliged, out of consideration of fairness to other students, to report the case to the Associate Dean of the Faculty. See the Academic Discipline Process.
Recording of Lectures: Audio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as a part of an approved accommodation plan. Student or instructor content, digital or otherwise, created and/or used within the context of the course is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the content author(s).
Disclaimer: Any typographical errors in this syllabus are subject to change and will be announced in class and posted on eClass. The date of the final examination is set by the Registrar and takes precedence over the final examination date reported in this syllabus.
Student Resources:
The best all-purpose website for student services is: https://www.ualberta.ca/current-students.
Accessibility Resources: (1 – 80 SUB)
The University of Alberta is committed to creating work and learning communities that inspire and enable all people to reach their full potential. Accessibility Resources promotes an accessible, inclusive, and universally designed environment. For general information and to register for services visit the Accessibility Resources webpage.
The Academic Success Centre: (1-80 SUB)
The Academic Success Centre offers a variety of workshops on effective study and exam strategies. There are in-person and online sessions available for a modest fee.
The Centre for Writers: (1-42 Assiniboia Hall)
The Centre for Writers offers free one-on-one writing support to students, faculty, and staff.
Students can request consultation for a writing project at any stage of development. Instructors can request class visits and presentations.
Health and Wellness Support: There are many health and community services available to current students. For more information visit the Health and Wellness Support webpage.
Office of the Student Ombuds:
The Office of the Student Ombuds offers confidential interviews, advice and support to students facing academic, discipline, interpersonal and financial difficulties.
Learning and working environment:
The Faculty of Arts is committed to ensuring that all students, faculty and staff are able to work and study in an environment that is safe and free from discrimination and harassment. It does not tolerate behaviour that undermines that environment.
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information can be found at https://www.ualberta.ca/campus-life/sexual-violence
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Policy about course outlines can be found in the Evaluation Procedures and Grading System section of the University Calendar.
Copyright: Hassan Masoud, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta (2020)
