CRITICAL THINKING AND REASONING

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Course Instructor: Dr. Marion Ledwig; CDC Building # 4 room 409; phone: (702) 895-3462; email: marion.ledwig@unlv.edu; http://faculty.unlv.edu/ledwig, office hours: Wednesdays 4:00-5:00 pm and by appointment

PHIL 102 002 finals: Wednesday May 6, 8:00 AM
PHIL 102 005 finals: Monday May 4, 10:10AM
PHIL 102 011 finals: Monday May 4, 1:00 PM
PHIL 102 015 finals: Wednesday May 6, 3:10 PM

First midterm: 23rd of Februrary

Second midterm: 30th of March

COURSE DESCRIPTION
What makes your reasoning good or bad? If you are interested in not only making good and convincing arguments but also understanding why some arguments are good and some not, this will be the course you are looking for. The main task in this course is to become familiar with inductive and deductive reasoning. This includes (1) valid argument forms, like affirming the antecedent and denying the consequent, (2) fallacies in reasoning, like the fallacy of affirming the consequent and the fallacy of denying the antecedent. Moreover, we will look at propositional logic and the role language plays with regard to arguments. Furthermore, different methods will be used to find out whether an argument is valid, like the method of the counterexample and truth tables. With regard to induction we will look at causal inductive arguments, statistical syllogisms, and reasoning by analogy. There will be three exams, approximately 5 popquizzes, and numerous homework assignments.

LITERATURE
Govier, T. (2005), A Practical Study of Argument, 6th Edition, Thompson Wadsworth.

SYLLABUS

1. Introduction to critical thinking
2. What is an argument (chapter 1)
3. Pinning down argument structure (chapter 2)
4. When is an argument a good one (chapter 3)
5. Looking at language (chapter 4)
6. Premises: What to accept and why (chapter 5)
7. Working on relevance (chapter 6)
8. An introduction to inductive arguments (chapter 9)
9. Causal inductive arguments (chapter 10)
10. Analogies: reasoning from case to case (chapter 11)
11. Conductive arguments and counterconsiderations (chapter 12)
12. Deductive arguments: propositional logic (chapter 8)
13. Deductive arguments: categorical logic (chapter 7)
14. Final exam.

REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING SYSTEM
Homework assignments each week and participation (40 %)
Three in-class exams (10 % for each midterm and 30 % for the finals) and approximately 5 popquizzes (the popquizzes don't count more than 10 % of the final grade)

Borderline cases with regard to grades will be decided at the whim of the instructor.

COURSE POLICIES
Poor attendance will adversely affect your participation grade. Plagiarism is a serious violation of academic integrity and will result in a failing grade in the course and a letter to the dean. (More severe penalties may apply for repeat offences.) You are responsible for knowing the University's Academic Integrity Policy (see http://www.unlv.edu/pubs/catalogs/undergraduate/pdf/main/acadpol.pdf). Exams must be written at their scheduled times. Exceptions will be considered only in the most extraordinary of circumstances.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
“Academic integrity is a legitimate concern for every member of the campus community; all share in upholding the fundamental values of honesty, trust, respect, fairness, responsibility and professionalism. By choosing to join the UNLV community, students accept the expectations of the Academic Misconduct Policy and are encouraged when faced with choices to always take the ethical path. Students enrolling in UNLV assume the obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with UNLV’s function as an educational institution.”
An example of academic misconduct is plagiarism: “Using the words or ideas of another, from the internet or any source, without proper citation of the sources.” See the “Student Academic Misconduct Policy” (approved December 9, 2005, located at <http://studentlife.unlv.edu/judicial/misconductPolicy.html>).

COPYRIGHT
The University requires all members of the University Community to familiarize themselves and to follow copyright and fair use requirements. You are individually and solely responsible for violations of copyright and fair use laws. The University will neither protect nor defend you nor assume any responsibility for employee or student violations of fair use laws. Violations of copyright laws could subject you to federal and state civil penalties and criminal liability, as well as disciplinary action under University policies. To familiarize yourself with copyright and fair use policies, you are encouraged to visit the following website: <http://www.unlv.edu/committees/copyright/>.

DISABILITY INFORMATION
The Disability Resource Center (DRC) coordinates all academic accommodations for students with documented disabilities. The DRC is the official office to review and house disability documentation for students, and to provide them with an official Academic Accommodation Plan to present to the faculty if an accommodation is warranted. Faculty should not provide students accommodations without being in receipt of this plan.
UNLV complies with the provisions set forth in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, offering reasonable accommodations to qualified students with documented disabilities. If you have a documented disability that may require accommodations, you will need to contact the DRC for the coordination of services. The DRC is located in the Student Services Complex (SSC), Room 137, and the contact numbers are: VOICE (702) 895-0866, TTY (702) 895-0652, FAX (702) 895-0651. For additional information, please visit: <http://studentlife.unlv.edu/disability/>.

REBELMAIL
By policy, faculty and staff should only e-mail students’ Rebelmail accounts. Rebelmail is UNLV’s official e-mail system for students. It is one of the primary ways students receive official university communication. All UNLV students receive a Rebelmail account after admission to the university.  Non-admitted students should contact the Student Help Desk at (702) 895-0761, in the Student Union Room 231, or by e-mail: studenthelp@unlv.edu.  See http://rebelmail.unlv.edu/ for information.

UNLV WRITING CENTER
One-on-one or small group assistance with writing is available free of charge to UNLV students at the Writing Center, located in CDC-301. Although walk-in consultations are sometimes available, students with appointments will receive priority assistance. Appointments may be made in person or by calling 895-3908. The student’s Rebel ID Card, a copy of the assignment (if possible), and two copies of any writing to be reviewed are requested for the consultation. http://writingcenter.unlv.edu/

Midterm 1 with solutions

Midterm 2 with solutions

popquizz 2 solution

Second midterm practice exam without fallacies

Additional material: chapter 1 summary (what is an argument)

Additional material: chapter 2 summary (argument structure)

Additional material: chapter 3 summary (when is an argument a good one)

Additional material: chapter 4 summary (language)

Additional material: chapter 5 summary (which premises are acceptable and which are unacceptable)

Additional material: chapter 6 summary (the relevancy of premises)

Additional material: chapter 9 summary (inductive arguments)

Additional material: chapter 10 summary (causal inductive arguments)

Additional material: chapter 11 summary (analogies)

Additional material: chapter 12 summary (conductive arguments)

Additional material: chapter 8 summary (propositional logic)

Tutor information

last updated 01/08/2009