PHIL 3: Critical Thinking
Section 5503, Spring 2019 Course Syllabus

AS SOON AS YOU ARE ENROLLED IN THIS CLASS, ***CLICK ON YOUR CANVAS ACCOUNT (just under SRJC logo in the top left), click "NOTIFICATIONS," and make sure "ANNOUNCEMENT" is turned ON. You may select others if you choose***

Textbooks

1. Critical Thinking: A Student's Introduction, by Gregory Bassham et al. Fifth or Fourth Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2013 (5th ed.), 2011 (4th ed.) — a FREE PDF of Critical Thinking 4th edition at:  — http://s3.amazonaws.com/engrade-myfiles/4008228113384505/Students_Guide_to_Critical_Thinking.pdf  —I don't know who posted it or whether it will remain there,— If you want to use a copy from the reserve desk in the library, bring a valid SRJC student ID card. Call Number B809.2 .C745 2013 or B809.2 .C745 2011.
2. UnSpun, by Jackson and Jamieson. New York: Random House, 2007. Reserve: BF637.D42 J33 2007
3. Science and Religion by Thomas Dixon. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. Reserve: BL240.3 .D57 2008

You can locate and order textbooks online via the SRJC Bookstore or online elsewhere. Older editions can be quite cheap online at Ebay, Amazon, etc.

 

Course Description

This course teaches practical reasoning, argumentation and the analysis of language as useful tools for making reasonable decisions about what to do and believe.

This is an introductory course in critical thinking and critical reading skills. In this course, you will learn how to identify, construct, analyze, and evaluate ARGUMENTS. These skills will increase your comprehension of material you read in other courses and material from the media. These skills will also make your writing clearer and more persuasive. We will cover the different kinds of argument and various methods for evaluating arguments. We will also work on critically reading argumentative ("persuasive") essays and writing short argumentative passages. You will develop your ability to distinguish good arguments from bad arguments and,  your ability to reason and write well. We will study fallacies, language, inductive reasoning, deductive reasoning, and arguments involving probability and statistics. We will also give special attention to advertising, the news media, political rhetoric, fake news, and science vs. pseudo-science.

 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Analyze arguments to identify and explain the claims and premises.
2. Evaluate arguments to determine whether claims are adequately supported.
3. Compose cogent written arguments.

 

Class Meetings

Class Meetings, Jan 15  - May 16

Tues/Thurs 10:30-11:50, Emeritus 1509

Final Exam: May 21

Important Dates: https://portal.santarosa.edu/SRWeb/SR_SectionDates.aspx?Section=5503&Semester=20193

 

Instructor Contact

Dr. Mulder, Electronic communication through Canvas is preferred, using the "Messages" or "Inbox" icon in the left or bottom margin.

Email: dmulder@santarosa.edu

Office Hours: Notify me IN ADVANCE. TTh 9:40-10:30, Emeritus 1513 (*let me know if you're coming, so I'm not off running errands)

Course Web Site

Students will use the Canvas course web site for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, viewing classmates' work, sharing resources, and viewing grades.

 

 

 

Course Requirements

Class Participation (10 points)

Proper classroom conduct and respectfulness, and regular attendance and participation in class are required. See Standards of Conduct and Attendance below.

Class Presentation (10 points)

You may present a brief summary and explanation of an article, from a list I will provide, on topics related to our course. Alternately, you may find and present to the class one example of a “critical thinking lapse” or a “critical thinking success” from your own experience or someone you know. I will give you several examples in class before any students have to give a presentation. You’ll be graded about 2/3 on the content and about 1/3 on the quality/clarity of your presentation style.

Assignments (25 points each)

Regular reading assignments from the textbooks and my own online materials in Canvas must be completed before the class meeting for which they are assigned.

There will be SIX (6) graded homework exercise sets (worth 25 points each) online in Canvas. All homework will be CUMULATIVE, but emphasizing the most recent topics. LOWEST GRADE DROPS, so FIVE (5) Count

All homework must be completed and turned in online in CANVAS. If it's not in your Canvas account, it doesn't count.

Two submissions for each exercise set allowed; grade equals average of two scores. They will consist of short answer, fill-in the blank, multiple-choice, true-false, and matching. The material comes from the textbook, class lectures and supplemental materials (videos).

Graded homework in Canvas opens after Thursday's class meeting and is due BEFORE 10:00 am on the following Tuesday, giving you 110 HOURS to get it done. NO LATE WORK ACCEPTED.

Exams (midterms 30 points each; Final 45 points)

There will be two in-class midterms (30 points each) and one comprehensive final exam (45 points) -- OPEN BOOKS, OPEN NOTES. The material comes from the textbook, class lectures and supplemental materials.

If you get at least a PASSING GRADE on the final, you will not drop below the course average you had before the final!!! (Dropping a whole letter grade at the very end is just too cruel  :-0

Late Policy

No late work accepted. All assignments are due at the designated time on the due date. Assignments will be open in Canvas for 110 HOURS, so NO LATE WORK IS ACCEPTED.

 

Grading Policy

Click the “Grades” link in Canvas to keep track of your grades.

Weighting: 

10 points, Class Participation

10 points, Presentation

25 points each for five Graded Homework Exercises

30 points each for two Midterms

45 points, Final Exam

250 points TOTAL

Grades will be assigned as follows:

A: 90-100% 
B: 79-90% 
C: 67-79% 
D: 55-67%

If taking Pass/No Pass you need at least a 67% overall average and must complete the midterm exams and the final exam to pass the class.

 

Required Software

Chrome is the recommended browser for Canvas

Run this computer readiness test to check your browser for plugins and versions.

Important Dates

GO TO SCHEDULE OF CLASSES AND CLICK ON THE DATES LISTED FOR YOUR SECTION

 

Dropping the Class

If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it. A student may be dropped from any class when that student's absences exceed ten percent (10%) of the total hours of class time. It is strongly advised that if you need to miss more than one class/homework deadline in a row that you contact the instructor to avoid being dropped from the class.

Attendance

For face-to-face courses, students who fail to attend the first class meeting may be dropped by the instructor. For classes that meet online, students who fail to log on and initiate participation by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time of the first day of the class may be dropped by the instructor. 

Instructors are required to drop all No-Show students immediately following the second class meeting. A No-Show is an enrolled student who has not attended any class meeting of the course. For classes that meet online, a No-Show is an enrolled student who has not logged on and initiated active participation by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time of the second day of the class. 

Pass‐NoPass (P/NP)

[You may take this class P/NP. You must decide before the deadline, and add the option online with TLC or file the P/NP form with Admissions and Records. With a grade of C or better, you will get P.

You must file for the P/NP option by [date]. Once you decide to go for P/NP, you cannot change back to a letter grade. If you are taking this course as part of a certificate program, you can probably still take the class P/NP. Check with a counselor to be sure.]

Instructor Announcements and Q&A Forum

The instructor will post announcements on the Announcements page in Canvas throughout the semester. Canvas notifies students according to their preferred Notification Preferences. SET YOUR NOTIFICATION PREFERENCES TO INCLUDE ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Standards of Conduct

Students who register in SRJC classes are required to abide by the SRJC Student Conduct Standards. Violation of the Standards is basis for referral to the Vice President of Student Services or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Student Code of Conduct page.

Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. Students are encouraged to share information and ideas, but not their work. See these links on Plagiarism:

SRJC Writing Center Lessons on avoiding plagiarism
SRJC's statement on Academic Integrity

Special Needs

Every effort is made to conform to accessibility standards for all instructor-created materials. Students should contact their instructor as soon as possible if they find that they cannot access any course materials. Students with disabilities who believe they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disability Resources (527-4278).

List of assignments

Note to students: the assignments listed below do not include all course content. To view all course content, go to HOME.