PHIL 102: Critical Thinking & Reasoning
Instructor: Dr. Gretchen Skivington
Office Hours: MH 127 M & W 7:30-8:00; T & H 7:30-9:30; F by appointment
Phone: 775-753-2283
Email:
Day & Time: T, H 1-:215
Location: HTC121
Text: “Thinking for Yourself”, Mayfield, Cengage Learning, 9th edition only
Course Overview/Catalogue Description: Nonsymbolic introduction to logical thinking in everyday life, law, politics, science, advertising; common fallacies; and the uses of language including techniques of persuasion.
Course Objective: The course is designed to develop critical thinking skills through reading, writing and speaking.
Participation & Effort:
Attendance: You are allowed 3 absences as per GBC policy. At the 3rd absence you yourself will initiate a meeting with your instructor. At the 4th absence,for whatever reason,your grade will be lowered by one full letter grade. Any absences that exceed 4 are grounds for your being dropped from the course by your instructor. NOTE: Any 3 tardies for whatever reason= 1 absence. Please be on time and be prepared!
Effort: This is not a lecture class but a workshop in Critical Thinking. Its motor is the students: your instructor will be the driver. In class, you will find yourselves in cooperative groups and pairings in which your effort becomes that of another and your learning“Socratic”---Be present. Welcome to the ride!
Cellphones/Smartphones: Bring them by all means! And your laptops and I pads and ‘Blackberries’ and other snacks! Bring encyclopedias and dictionaries and your boyfriend who is a philosophy major at Stanford.Bring your over-wise Dutch uncle if you must. Caveat: ABSOLUTELY NOPERSONAL USE OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA which does not pertain to the course or course material (I mean it).
Participation: It’s up to you! In this class there is no “extra credit”, “no make-up”, no
“remediation”----what you give is what you get. There is no grade for your effort.You will, however, provide self-assessment of your progress throughout the class and calculate how much you yourself have invested into Philosophy 102 and your social contract with us at the end of the semester. **See Log/Journal metric.
Overview: Essays
Ch. 1Observationp. 12-35p. 39
Ch. 2Word Precisionp. 48-68p. 69-70
Ch. 3Factsp. 77-94p. 95
Ch. 4Inferencesp. 107-122p. 123-124
Ch. 5Assumptionsp. 138-155p. 153-156
Ch. 6Opinionsp. 169-181p. 181-182
Ch. 7Viewpointsp. 194-207(partnered)p. 210-211
Ch.8Argumentsp. 224-247(partnered)p. 248-251
Grading*:
Essays #1-8 (100 x8= 800 points)800
Journal (self-reflective narrative)
- part of participation grade
Final Project: Persuasive Argument200
Participation: 100 points self-assessment 100 points instructor200 ===
1200
Log/Journal Rubric Scale = 100 pointseach= 200 total**
AShows exceptional care organization Exhibits significant effort creativity
Babove average commendable
C acceptable average
Dbelow average minimal.
Measurements of Learner Outcomes:
Each student will be required to write eight essays, keep a journal and actively participation in class through Discovery activities as assigned.
.
Assessment Method / Learner OutcomesEssays #1-8 / 1, 2, 3, 5
Journal / 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Discovery activities / 1, 2, 3, 5
ADA Statement: Great Basin College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to qualified students with disabilities in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A qualified student must furnish current verification of disability. The Director of Services for Students with disabilities (Julie G. Byrnes) will assist qualified students with disabilities in securing the appropriate and reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids and services. For more information or further assistance, please call 775.753.2217.
Warning: March 24th is the final date to drop classes with a “W” grade.
General Education Objectives
PHIL 102 - Critical Thinking and Reasoning
Objective 1: Communication Skills - Communicate clearly and effectively in written and oral form, i.e. discussion, reading, listening, and accessing information. - Strong
Philosophy 102 is strong in communication skills. This course requires that students express their thinking abilities through both writing and oral communication. Part of the course grade is based on students’ thoughtful participation in the discussion activities which occur during every class period. The course is also writing-intensive, requiring students to complete one longer written assignment almost every week as well as numerous shorter ones. Students are also asked to revise major assignments for improvements in content and language.
Measurement:Each longer written assignment uses a rubric designed for that assignment which always includes an evaluation of communication skills.
Objective 2: Critical Thinking - Integrate creativity, logic, quantitative reasoning, and the hierarchy of inquiry and knowing in social and scientific understanding. - Strong
The purpose of this course is to refine the students’ understanding of thinking and to acquaint them with the skills and standards of good thinking. Students learn inductive reasoning (the scientific method) as a process based on observation and precise use of words; they learn to distinguish between fact and inference, and to recognize the barriers to good thinking presented by assumptions and unsubstantiated opinions. Students learn to use fact and the principles of logic to construct an argument as well as to recognize the flawed thinking represented in logical fallacies. Basic principles of statistics (sufficiency of sample, drawing conclusions from numerical data, interpreting charts and graphs) are applied in exercises and class discussions. Students are also introduced to the basic principles of deductive reasoning. At the heart of this course is the recognition that thinking is always contextual and problem-solving, that it teaches students to create and test hypothetical solutions to perceived problems in the environment.
Measurement: Students must apply the concepts of critical thinking in completing exams, quizzes, and writing assignments.
Objective 3: Personal and Cultural Awareness - Understand the roles of individuals in society, the development of human societies, and the significance of creativity in the human experience. - Strong
Philosophy 102 focuses on students as individual thinkers, and it asks students to consider widespread cultural assumptions which influence how individuals and groups think. One way of looking at the course is that its subject matter becomes people's beliefs, opinions, etc. Since the course makes familiar, takenforgranted attitudes the subject of academic study students become much more attuned to them. Successful students in the course begin to routinely question these things. There is also a strong historical component of Philosophy 100. The course acquaints students with the standards of thinking which have been applied and perfected throughout history. Logical principles first articulated by Greek philosophers are applied to both historical and current situations. For example, students discover that the racial stereotypes which plague modern society are linked to the flawed reasoning called ethnocentrism. Students learn that they are individually accountable for their thinking and the actions which result. They are also introduced to a non-linear kind of thinking, lateral thinking, which allows for unexpected or creative solutions for a given problem.
Measurement: Exams; rubrics for written assignments; periodic student evaluations of learning.
Objective 4: Personal Wellness - Develop knowledge, skills, and behaviors which promote personal well-being. - Moderate
Good thinking is a life-enhancing skill which has application well beyond the classroom. This course promotes personal wellness because it makes students aware of barriers to critical thinking and gives them ways to improve their personal thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Measurement: Exams; rubrics for written assignments; periodic student evaluations of learning.
Objective 5: Technological Understanding - Function effectively in modern society through the use of technology. - To Some Degree
Students must submit major writing assignments in printed form, which requires them to gain familiarity with computer word-processing. They are also encouraged to use on-line and CD-ROM source materials in finding information for writing assignments and class discussions.
Measurement: Proper formatting of word-processed assignments; evaluation of web-based materials. Use of electronic-based online dictionaries, encyclopedias, databases.
PHIL 102: Spring ’14 Schedule Essay Instructions/Grading
T 1.21Ch. 1: Basics & Definitionp.12-35
H 1.23 Observation/ DISCOVERY ACTIVITIES
T 2.4***Essay #1 DUE: Observationp.39
Ch. 1: Observation cont/ DISCOVERY
H 2.6Ch. 2:Word Precision/ DISCOVERY
T 2.11Ch. 2: cont.
H 2.13***ESSAY #2 DUE: Word Precisionp.69-70
T 2.18Ch. 3: Facts p. 76-93
H 2.20Ch. 3:
T 2.25***ESSAY #3 DUE: Factsp.95
H 2.27Ch. 4: Inferences
T 3.4Ch. 4:
H 3.6***ESSAY #4 DUE: Inferencesp. 123-124
T 3.11Ch. 5: Assumptions
H 3.13Ch. 5:
T 3.18***ESSAY #5 DUE: Assumptionsp. 153-156
H 3.20Ch. 6: Opinions
T 4.1Ch. 6
H 4.3***ESSAY #6 DUE: Opinionsp. 181-182
T 4.8Ch.7: Viewpoints
H 4.10Ch.7;
T 4.15***ESSAY #7 DUE: Viewpoints (paired)p. 210-211
T 4.17Ch. 8: Argument
T 4.22Ch. 8
H 4.24***ESSAY #8 DUE: Argument(paired_p. 248-251
T 4.29Ch: 10: Inductive Reasoningp. 280-305
H 5.1Ch. 12: Deductive Reasoning
T 5.6Persuasive Argumentp.327-352
H 5.8Persuasive Argument
T 5.12 ***FINAL PERSUASIVE ARGUMENT DUE