Philosophy B7: Introduction to Logic - Bakersfield College

PHIL B7: Introduction to LogicBakersfield CollegeFall Semester 2011K. Moya Arthur, ProfessorOffice: H-45; Hours: Mon.-Thur. 1-2, and by appt.Class Website: E-mail: Welcome to Logic!Logic is about reasoning and argumentation. To achieve fluency inthis discipline, we will practice many different forms ofargumentation on any number of topics. It will be assumed thatthis course is a college level course, taught to adults, and ANYtopic is open for discussion, regardless of content. Thus you mayfind yourself exposed to many different, and possibly,contradictory positions than you currently hold. It is the intentof this course that you learn to think rationally and thisrationality is only attained through the examination of allpoints of view. If at any time, you feel uncomfortable withissues being discussed, please feel free to raise this concern inclass, or privately in my office. All positions will berespected.Text (Required)Critical Thinking and Logic: A Philosophical Workbook.By Todd Furman, North Syracuse, NY: Gegensatz Press, 2011.AttendanceSince this class is best understood as a method rather thansolely a content course, much of what you will learn will bethrough actual practice and application of skills demonstratedand practice during class. To this end, your ability to bepresent and take advantage of these demonstrations is of utmostimportance. It is rare that a student succeeds in the course thathas missed many classes. Thus, you will be dropped from thecourse if your absences exceed two weeks of class time (4 classperiods).Exams and QuizzesThere will be 6 exams, one for each chapter 1-6, and a cumulativefinal exam. The exact dates of the chapter exams will beannounced at least one week prior to the actual exam.Tentatively, exams are scheduled every other week. Each of theseexams must be taken on or before the day it are scheduled. Therewill be no make-up exams, except on the most dire conditions,i.e. “death” – preferably, your own.Class AssignmentsThere will be 3 class assignments made throughout the course ofthe semester. Each will require you to critically consider and

apply your growing logic skills to some topic/problem. Eachassignment will be worth 100 points and each must be completed inorder to receive a passing grade for the class.HomeworkHomework assignments will be given and graded based oncompleteness; that is did you attempt to complete the problem,not that you necessarily got the correct answers. Homework mustbe completed on the tear-out sheets from the text. A portion ofeach class will be given over to discussing and explaining thehomework assigned for that day. Exam questions will be verysimilar to the questions asked in the homework.Extra Credit *Each of you has the opportunity of receiving extra credit pointsfor each hour you study logic with someone(s) else currentlyenrolled, or previously enrolled, in my logic class (Thisincludes ASB tutors). In order to receive this extra credit, youmust have the individual sign her name on the “study buddy sheet”(the goldenrod paper, handed out in class) stating the date andlength of time that you studied together. This sheet will be duethe day of the scheduled final for your class. *Your total extracredit points may only raise your grade one step.Help, Assistance and “Love”I wish to do nothing less than help all of my students succeed inthis course. I will be delighted to work with you and do what Ican to make the course material more assessable or to help yousolve any problem you are having in completing the assigned work.Any student who feels that she or he needs any sort of help,assistance or a bit of encouragement should feel free to visitwith me during a regularly scheduled office hour, or to make aspecific appointment when we can meet outside or regularlyscheduled office hours.Students with disabilities who believe they may need specialaccommodations in this class are encouraged to contact DisabledStudent Programs & Services located at Student Services Building,1 st Floor, Counseling Center 661-395-4334), as soon as possible tobetter ensure such accommodation s are implemented in a timelyfashionStudent Learning OutcomesA passing grade in this class will ensure that the student knowshow to reason well, can communicate their argumentative positionto themselves and others and evaluate other’s reasoning. Thespecific skills are as follows:1. Students will be able to identify a good argument.2. Students will be able to produce a good argument in bothwritten and oral form.

3. Students will be able to evaluate arguments, recognizefallacies in reasoning and correct theses fallacies in bothwritten and oral form.