L.A. Mission College Sylmar, California Spring 2012 Philosophy 06: Logic in Practice (3395) Thur 6:50-10:00 pm in Instr 1002

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1 Professor: Lucas J. Mather Office Hours: Thur from 10:05 to 10:40 pm. REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: Patrick Hurley, A Concise Introduction to Logic, This is a standard, well-regarded text that is used in undergraduate programs across the nation at prestigious universities and colleges. Older editions of this text are fine, and 3 are available on reserve in the library. COURSE DESCRIPTION: Prerequisite: None Lecture: 3 hours. UC:CSU (CAN PHIL 6) 3 UNITS The characteristics of good reasoning as the basis of practical success in most human activity. Includes the study of meaning, inference and argument, informal fallacies, and the rhetoric of politics and advertising. Acceptable for credit: UCLA, CSUN: Philosophy 200. Student Learning Outcomes: Philosophy 6 Logic in Practice Argument Identification Students will be able to distinguish argumentative from nonargumentative passages, to identify premises and conclusions of arguments, and to distinguish between inductive and deductive reasoning. Argument Evaluation Students will be able to explain the distinction between validity and soundness. Students will be able to determine whether deductive arguments are valid or invalid by constructing Venn Diagrams for categorical syllogisms and truth tables for arguments in propositional form. Students will be able to translate simple arguments from English into symbolic form using capital letters and symbols for logical connectives. Students will be able to identify commonly encountered informal fallacies. Students will be able to classify inductive arguments as weak, moderate, or strong. Argument Construction Students will be able to construct cogent, carefully reasoned arguments on contemporary moral and social issues. Students will be able to research opposing views, to distinguish between factual and evaluative claims, and to reach carefully supported conclusions in a way that is sensitive to the complexities of the issue. They will be able to defend their conclusions in clear and concise written prose and to articulate them clearly in oral presentations Course Grading Scale: Course Requirement Percentages: A = % Participation/discussion/evidence of reading: 20% A- = 90 93% B+ = 87 89% Midterm Exams 10%, 15 % = 35% B = 84 86% B- = 80 83% Pop Quizzes 20% C+ = 77 79% C = 73 76% C- = 70 72% D+ = 67 69% Final Blue Book Exam (Possibly Cumulative) 25% D = 64 66% D- = 60 63% Total points 100 F = < 60% (the student s) responsibility to find out what you missed in your absence and to take good notes in class. p. 1

2 Course Requirements: The principle of an earned grade: You earn your grade by what you do, not just what you intend or intended to do, but by what you in fact do. You are graded on achievement, not effort. In some cases, the effort expended is considered part of the achievement. You don t start out with any points, you earn them as you go along, based on how you perform as the semester progresses. 1. Reading and Constructive Participation in class (20%): Mandatory. Selections may be changed at professor s discretion. Students are expected to attend classes, do the readings prior to the class during which they will be discussed, do assignments on time and participate in class activities a. Participating in class discussion: Mandatory. Fruitful class participation is a key component to this learning experience. It gives you a chance to hear from each other, and to find your own voice, both aloud and in writing. Therefore, note taking, careful listening, having read the text and having the text in class are essential to earning these points. When you contribute to a discussion, I will be good for you to have your text in front of you and quote from it, citing page numbers and paragraph numbers. This is important to keep everyone on track with the comments. In-class participation: This class will be a mixture of a lecture and discussion. Your active participation is encouraged and expected both during lectures and of course in discussions. You should ask relevant questions and make points as much as possible in class. Form your own opinion. Feel free to agree or disagree with the authors, the instructor and your fellow students. The only criteria, which should guide your participation in class, are the assumptions that we argue about ideas (not against individuals themselves) and we try to base our statements on empirical evidence or on theory and not solely on personal experience. We will treat one another with respect and not make our disagreements personal. This is essential to fostering the academic atmosphere of a free exchange of ideas. b. Students must come to class on time and stay for the duration. If you are late, enter the class as inconspicuously as possible, so you don t disturb your classmates or me. This is an expression of your basic courtesy. c. Homework: Mandatory. Homework exercises assigned from the text will be due from time to time, as announced in class. The homework component of the assessment will be on a pass/fail basis. If you give evidence of a reasonable and responsible effort at solving ALL the problems, and if you turn it in on time, you will earn credit for that. If there is any evidence whatsoever that the homework was simply made up, you will earn zero credit for that week. Counts as participation. 2. Pop Quizzes (20%): These may or may not be announced, in class or take home, and based on the reading or lecture. These are non-make-upable. It does not matter the reason for the absence, tardy, or any other failure to take the quiz. The quiz is due at the time it is due. No late work. The professor reserves the sole right to exercise discretion, for any or no reason, stated or not, for exceptions to this policy. In class quizzes will be between 5-10 minutes in duration. DSP&S students are possibly entitled to, in consultation with the professor, more time or other reasonable accommodations within power that the College grants to the professor for such purposes (e.g., keys/access to quiet rooms, which the College may or may not provide the professor). The quizzes are graded as follows: a. Full credit for those answers which are fully accurate, according to class lecture and the reading. (the student s) responsibility to find out what you missed in your absence and to take good notes in class. p. 2

3 b. Half credit for those answers which contain some accuracy or evidence of relevant material from lecture and reading, but which contain either omissions or errors. c. Zero credit for those answers which are not relevant, inaccurate, or too skimpy for college level work. 3. Midterm Exams (35% Total): If you participate in class, pay attention, take copious notes, read the text carefully, and do the homework with a view to learning the material well, you will probably do quite well on these exams. If you do not do these things, the exams will be like gambling in Las Vegas: the odds will always be against you. Plan wisely. DSP&S students are possibly entitled to, in consultation with the professor, more time or other reasonable accommodations within power that the College grants to the professor for such purposes (e.g., keys/access to quiet rooms, which the College may or may not provide the professor). 4. Final Exam (25%): This will include deductive logic (Categorical and Propositional) and informal fallacies, as well as argument recognition and reconstruction. DSP&S students are possibly entitled to, in consultation with the professor, more time or other reasonable accommodations within power that the College grants to the professor for such purposes (e.g., keys/access to quiet rooms, which the College may or may not provide the professor). Please Note Carefully: It is hereby stipulated that it is the student s responsibility to retain a copy of all work handed in, as well as all evaluated work handed back to the student by the professor. All performance assessment depends upon the accomplishment of these outcomes. STUDENTS ARE GRADED ON ACHIEVEMENT, RATHER THAN EFFORT. In some cases, specifically the homework, effort expended is itself considered part of the achievement. It is expected that each student will maintain high standards of honesty, ethical behavior, and academic integrity. All assignments submitted in fulfillment of course requirements must be the student s own work. Any student who is found plagiarizing, cheating, or handing in other student s work will be failed. It is assumed that students will perform at college level when preparing for class. Any paper that is to be handed in should be typed by the student, and submitted on the due date. Any evidence of plagiarism is grounds for a failing grade. It is the student s responsibility to know the definition of plagiarism according to LA Mission College. Do not quote from the book without citing the page and paragraph number. Nothing submitted late will be accepted, except in dire circumstances of which I am informed in advance, and/or which can be officially documented (doctor s note, court note, etc.). The professor reserves the right to accept or reject late work without explanation from the professor. **You will be excluded for non-attendance through the census date. If you stop attending after that date, I will not drop you. It is your (the student s) responsibility to drop the class in time to avoid fees and a failing grade on your transcript. It is also your responsibility to report your absence by prior to the absence. Attendance and being on time are crucial to ensuring your success in this class. (the student s) responsibility to find out what you missed in your absence and to take good notes in class. p. 3

4 You are responsible for any information/announcement that you miss in the event of your absence. It s a good idea to find a classmate you will be able to contact about these things. Academic honesty: Plagiarism and cheating are serious academic offenses. They will result in a failing grade and be dealt with according to the college guidelines. See below. Disabled students: If you are a disabled student, please contact the LA Mission College Special Services Office. I will make any necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs, according to the college rules and regulations regarding disability. See below. Electronic equipment: All laptops, cell phones, pagers, Blackberries, ipods, etc. must be turned off and put away during class. If there is a life or death emergency that requires you to keep your cell phone on, please let me know before class. During quizzes and exams all electronic equipment must be put away from sight in a bag or a backpack, or the student will earn a failing grade. See below Recording devices are prohibited in the classroom- Section of the California Education Code prohibits the use of any electronic audio or video recording devices, without prior consent of the instructor. (including cell phones, laptops, MP3 players, and more) A few legal statements regarding the professor s intellectual property of the course, etc. 1. Course materials prepared by the instructor, together with the content of all lectures and review sessions presented by the instructor, are the property of the instructor. Video and audio recording of lectures and review sessions without the consent of the instructor is prohibited. Unless explicit permission is obtained from the instructor, recordings of lectures and review sessions may not be modified and must not be transferred or transmitted to any other person. Electronic devices other than laptops (e.g., cell phones, PDAs, calculators, recording devices) are not to be used during lectures or exams without prior permission of the instructor. Recording devices are prohibited in the classroom- Section of the California Education Code prohibits the use of any electronic audio or video recording devices, without prior consent of the instructor. (including cell phones, laptops, MP3 players, and more) 2. Copyright 2009 Lucas J. Mather as to this syllabus and all lectures. Students shall not sell notes (or receive remuneration for taking notes) during this course to or by any person or commercial entity without the express written permission of the professor teaching this course. 3. Prof Mather s lectures are protected by state common law and federal copyright law. They are my own original expression and I may record them at the same time that I deliver them in order to secure protection. Whereas you the student are authorized to take notes in class thereby creating a derivative work from my lecture, the authorization extends only to making one set of notes for your own personal use and no other use. You are not authorized to record my lectures, to provide your notes (including any presentations, handouts, guides, outlines made available to you in this class) to anyone else or to make any commercial use of them without express prior written permission from me. 4 Cheating- unauthorized material used during an examination (including electronic devices), changing answers after work has been graded, taking an exam for another student, forging or altering attendance sheets or other documents in the course, looking at another student s paper/scantron/essay/computer or exam with or without their approval is considered cheating. Any student caught cheating will receive a zero for the assignment/exam and referred to the Department chair and/or Student Services for further disciplinary action. 5 Plagiarism- Plagiarism is defined as the act of using ideas, words, or work of another person or persons as if they were one s own, without giving proper credit to the original sources. This (the student s) responsibility to find out what you missed in your absence and to take good notes in class. p. 4

5 includes definitions found online on Wikipedia, materials from blogs, twitter, or other similar electronic resources. The following examples are intended to be representative, but not all inclusive: - failing to give credit by proper citations for others ideas and concepts, data and information, statements and phrases, and/or interpretations and conclusions. - failing to use quotation marks when quoting directly from another, whether it be a paragraph, a sentence, or a part thereof - Paraphrasing the expressions or thought by others without appropriate quotation marks or attribution - Representing another s artistic/scholarly works such as essays, computer programs, photographs, paintings, drawings, sculptures or similar works as one s own. First offense, you will receive a zero for the assignment in question. Any further offenses may result in expulsion from the class, as determined by the disciplinary action from the Office of Student Services. 6 Recording devices in the classroom- Section of the California Education Code prohibits the use of any electronic audio or video recording devices, without prior consent of the instructor. (including cell phones, laptops, MP3 players, and more) 7 Reasonable Accommodations: If you are a student with a disability and require accommodations, please send me a private and speak with me in private after class. The professor will protect confidentiality within the power granted to him by the College (e.g., if the College decides not to provide the professor with an with office a cubicle does not count as an office because they have no doors to shut and as such are not private in which private meetings are able to be held, the professor cannot be held responsible for not being able to hold a completely private meeting with a student but the professor will do his best to be discreet and quiet within the space granted to him by the College for such purposes as teaching and meeting with students when discussing confidential issues such as grades, etc.). The sooner the professor is aware of the student s eligibility for accommodations, the quicker the professor will be able to assist the DSP&S Office in providing them. For students requiring accommodations, the DSP&S Office at Mission College provides special assistance in areas like: registering for courses, specialized tutoring, note-taking, mobility assistance, special instruction, testing assistance, special equipment, special materials, instructor liaisons, community referrals and job placement. If you have not done so already, you may also wish to contact the DSP&S Office in Instructional Building 1018 (phone 818/ TTD 818/ ) and bring a letter stating the accommodations that are needed. All students should have the Sheriff department # in cell phone (818) Proposed Course Schedule* Week 1 Week 2-4* Argument and Logic, Philosophy, Plato & Socrates, Evidence, Truth, Belief Deductive Logic Truth Functional Connectives and Truth Tables. Film and Ad analysis **There will be Quizzes in here depending on how quickly are able to go may or may not be announced in class. Week 5-8* Deductive Logic: Categorical Syllogism and Venn Diagrams; Quantified Predicate Logic. Film and Ad Analysis **There may be Pop Quizzes in here depending on how quickly are able to go may or may not be announced in class. *3 Midterm EXAMs TBA stay tuned take good notes (the student s) responsibility to find out what you missed in your absence and to take good notes in class. p. 5

6 Week 9-11 Types of Inductive Reasoning/Informal Fallacies. Film and Ad Analaysis. **There may be Pop Quizzes in here somewhere, depending on how quickly are able to go. Week Film and advertising analysis finding/identifying fallacies. Avoiding fallacies. Week 16: FINAL EXAM Thurs May 31 st from 8pm to 10:00pm *Subject to Change at the Lecturer s Discretion (the student s) responsibility to find out what you missed in your absence and to take good notes in class. p. 6