University of Central OklahomaDepartment of Humanities & Philosophy
College of Liberal ArtsChris Weigand, Instructor

PHIL 1103

LOGIC AND CRITICAL THINKING
Syllabus and Schedule

Section Details: Fall 2010

CRN / WebCT / Room / Regular Meetings / Final Test
14331 / 123 / LAR 130 / MWF @ 9-9:50 am / W 12/15 @ 9-10:50 am
14332 / 124 / LAR 132 / MWF @ 11-11:50 am / M 12/13 @ 11am-12:50 pm
14333 / 125 / LAR 124 / MWF @ 1-1:50 pm / F 12/17 @ 1-2:50 pm

Instructor Contact Information

  • EMAIL: (preferred) or
  • PHONE/VMAIL: 405-397-5812 (preferred) or 210-828-1140
  • SKYPE: cweigand65 (
  • MESSAGE RESPONSE TIME: End of next calendar day, if response required
  • OFFICE HOURS: By appointment, or drop by before or after sections listed above
  • OFFICE LOCATION: LAR 203B

Material and Technology Requirements

Gensler, Harry. Introduction to Logic, 2nd Ed. London: Routledge, 2010. (ISBN: 9780415996518; First edition may be used (2001, ISBN: 9780415226752), but you will be responsible for accommodating discrepancies (mostly chapter order).

We will use Blackboard/WebCT ( and Gensler’s LogiCola PC software ( A flash drive is recommended for LogiCola. If you anticipate significant technical challenges with these requirements, please discuss this with me immediately.

Four Scantron “Mini Essay Book” sheets (form 886-E) are required for the tests. These are available at the UCO bookstore.

Course Catalog Description and Objectives

Consideration is given to the requirements of correct reasoning with special emphasis on informal fallacies, syllogistic forms, and the analysis of extended arguments. Prerequisites: None. Specifically, we will:

•Identify, examine and apply principles and methods of good reasoning;

•Identify, examine and evaluate real-world cases of good reasoning and of bad reasoning;

•Read, write and employ formally symbolic representations of statements and arguments;

•Evaluate categorical relationships, especially with Venn diagrams;

•Evaluate propositional relationships, especially with truth tables; and

•Evaluate arguments with a set of inference rules for natural deduction.

University of Central OklahomaDepartment of Humanities & Philosophy
College of Liberal ArtsChris Weigand, Instructor

Assessments and Grades

  • Three regular tests @ 100 pts. each
/ = / 300 points / = / 50.0%
  • Semi-cumulative final test
/ = / 100 points / = / 16.7%
  • Weekly LogiCola homework exercises
/ = / 80 points / = / 13.3%
  • Attendance and participation record
/ = / 60 points / = / 10.0%
  • Best 10 of 12 quizzes @ 6 pts. each
/ = / 60 points / = / 10.0%
TOTAL / = / 600 points / = / 100.0%

Tests are administered in class; for the final test, see also Section Details (above). Quizzes and LogiCola homework are completed electronically and/or online, from any location. Attendance and participation are discussed in Attendance and Participation Expectations (below).

Your earned points will be totaled and letter-graded on this standard scale:

540 / to / 600 / points / = / 90 - 100% / = / A
480 / to / 539 / points / = / 80 - 89% / = / B
420 / to / 479 / points / = / 70 - 79% / = / C
360 / to / 419 / points / = / 60 - 69% / = / D
0 / to / 359 / points / = / 0 - 59% / = / F

Irregularities are strongly discouraged. Makeup or extra credit arrangements are not routine or automatic. Exceptions are at my discretion and subject to conditions which may include documentation, weighting of scores, and more. These and related matters are also discussed in Attendance and Participation Expectations (below).

Attendance and Participation Expectations

The following will be expected:

  • Good attendance and classroom participation (unexcused abs = 3 pts; lates = 1-2 pts)
  • Good homework habits and engagement with the material (discretionary)
  • Avoidance of cell phone, laptop or similar distractions (1-5 pts per incident)
  • Taking assessments according to schedule (discretionary)
  • Substantial improvement of low scores, where needed (discretionary)
  • Attending departmental tutoring, where needed (discretionary)
  • Not habitually requesting or expecting special favors or allowances (discretionary)
  • Documentation concerning major irregularities, especially absences (discretionary)
  • Prompt and proactive attention to potential or actual problems (discretionary)

This list may not be complete; I reserve the right to include reasonable additions. More details will be given in class and at

I will take these matters seriously, and you should too. First, attendance and participation directly constitute one numerical component of your grade; see Assessments and Grades (above). Second, good study habits facilitate better understanding of the material, which improves overall scores.Finally, these matters will influence discretionary decisions I make concerning makeups, borderline cases, curves, exceptions, or the like.

University of Central OklahomaDepartment of Humanities & Philosophy
College of Liberal ArtsChris Weigand, Instructor

Academic Integrity

Cheating will not be tolerated. Violators will be subject to the fullest extent of disciplinary action that UCO allows and/or recommends. See UCO Student Information Sheet and Syllabus Attachment (below) for more information.

UCO Student Information Sheet and Syllabus Attachment

Please also see the following link:

It provides additional UCO information, policies and guidelines concerning the following matters and more:

  • Academic Integrity
  • ADA Accommodations
  • UConnect Resources and Expectations
  • Incomplete Grades and Withdraws
  • Important Dates and Holidays
  • Weather and Emergency Plans
  • Final Exam Daily Limits
  • Contacting Faculty
  • Helpful Telephone Numbers
  • Class Attendance and Work Expectations
  • Course Evaluations
  • Library Hours

You will be held accountable for all UCO requirements or conditions specified in this attachment. I will invoke it as necessary in defense or enforcement of my own policies and practices.

Changes and Exceptions

I reserve the right to make reasonable modifications to this syllabus, schedule, or any element of this course to best meet the needs of the class. Any changes will be announced. You may be asked to provide written justification for any exceptions you feel you deserve, although that is no guarantee that exceptions will be granted.

Schedule of Activities and AssessmentsMore details available at

WEEK / TEXT / TOPIC / ACTIVITY / ASSESSMENT
1 / Syllabus, Orientation, Basic Concepts / Quiz 00 (Course Readiness)
2 / Chap 1: Truth, Validity, Soundness, Forms / LogiCola, Quiz 01
3* / Chap 2: Syllogistic/Categorical Logic / LC, Quiz 02
4 / Chap 2: Venn Diagrams / LC, Quiz 03
5 / Chaps 1-2 Review / Submit LC, TEST 1
6 / Chap 4: Fallacies / LC, Quiz 04
7 / Chap 4: Argumentation / LC, Quiz 05
8 / Chap 5: Inductive Reasoning / LC, Quiz 06
9* / Chaps 4-5 Review / Submit LC, TEST 2
10 / Chap 6: Symbolizing Propositional Logic / LC, Quiz 07
11 / Chap 6: Constructing Truth Tables / LC, Quiz 08
12 / Chap 6: Using Truth Tables / LC, Quiz 09
13 / Chap 6 Review / Submit LC, TEST 3
14* / Chap 7: Inference Rules / LC, Quiz 10
15 / Chap 7: Simple Proofs and Refutations / LC, Quiz 11
16 / Proofs and Refutations, Chap 7 Review / LC, Quiz 12
17 / N/A (Finals Week) / Submit LC, TEST 4

* Shortened or holiday week.