Logic & Reasoning
Camden County College, Blackwood Campus
Philosophy 121, Section 01
Fall 2007
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
noon – 12:50 p.m. in Trailer C02
Camden County College, Blackwood Campus
Philosophy 121, Section 01
Fall 2007
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
noon – 12:50 p.m. in Trailer C02
Instructor: Sean Landis
Email: slandis@camdencc.edu
Phone: 609-980-8367
Course Website: http://ccclogic07.blogspot.com
Required Text
Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric, 10th edition (Howard Kahane & Nancy Cavender)
About the Course
We are presented with arguments for all sorts of conclusions all the time, on topics as serious as abortion or the death penalty and as trivial as the best player on the Phillies or the funniest late night host. How can we tell good arguments from bad ones?
This course focuses on understanding and evaluating arguments. We’ll first learn how to identify the components and structures of arguments. We’ll then learn how to pick apart bad reasoning found by going over logical fallacies—all the ways arguments can go wrong. We’ll also discuss psychological impediments—the ways most of us unreflectively reason poorly.
Armed with these evaluative tools, we’ll then explore our arguments for what we believe, and revise or strengthen them based on proper reasoning. The course’s main goal is to develop the ability to create original arguments that avoid the pitfalls of bad reasoning.
Grades
90-100% = A
80-89% = B
70-79% = C
60-69% = D
below 60% = F.
Midterm: 15%
Final: 25%
Quizzes (2): 7.5% each (15% total)
Oral Report: 15%
Short Papers (2): 5% each (10% total)
Group Projects (3): 3% each (9% total)
Other Homework (3): 2% each (6% total)
Attendance/Participation: 5%
Exams: The midterm tests everything covered during the first half of the course, and will last the full period (50 minutes) on the scheduled day. The final exam is cumulative—that is, it tests everything covered throughout the whole course, not just the second half. The final will last 50 minutes, and will take place on the last day of class.
Quizzes: Quiz #1 will test you on everything covered during the first 4 weeks of class, and quiz #2 will test you on everything covered after exam #1 (weeks 7 through 9). Quizzes will last 20 minutes, and be held at the beginning of the period on the scheduled day.
Oral Report: This will be a group project presented in front of the class at the end of the semester. Each group of 3-4 students will present a 10-15 minute oral presentation.
Short Papers: There will be two short papers (250-500 words each), the first on understanding and evaluating an argument, and the second on presenting an original argument of your own on a topic of your choosing.
In-Class Group Projects: There will be a lot of group work for this class. In addition to the group oral presentation, there will be three in-class group projects due at various times throughout the semester.
Other Homework: There will be three total homework assignments in addition to the two short papers. Each one is due at the beginning of class the day they are due.
Classroom Policies
Academic Integrity: Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Students found guilty of either will definitely fail the test, quiz, or assignment – and possibly the entire class.
NOTE: Working with fellow students on group projects or homework assignments is not cheating. Copying a fellow student’s completed homework assignment is cheating. (Come to me if you are unsure what constitutes cheating or plagiarism.)
Excused Absenses: Make-up exams, quizzes, in-class projects, or oral reports will only be scheduled for any excused absences (excused absences include religious observance, official university business, and illness or injury – with a doctor’s note). An unexcused absence on the day of the exam or quiz will result in a zero on that exam or quiz.
Important Dates
August 31: Last day to drop a course & receive a 100% refund.
September 17: Last day to drop a course & receive a 50% refund.
September 24: Last day to sign up to audit a course.
December 5: Last day to withdrawal from Fall Classes.
