Oxnard College

Doug Thiel

 

Syllabus for Critical Thinking CRN 31639   Oxnard College    

 Spring 2012               LA -6     TUESDAY 6-7:50PM

 This course is structured to the "hybrid" format. This means that the course will employ both classroom and distance learning strategies. We will meet in class for the assigned week-day sessions (6-7:50pm on Tuesdays) on all Tuesdays (starting March 20th -- see below class schedule).  We will also meet in class on two of the assigned Saturday sessions. However, the remaining six Saturday sessions will utilize various distance learning components. Meeting time for the  (2) Saturdays sessions is in LA-6 @ 9am.  The other Saturday sessions will be done online via the internet at a time and place that the student fits into his/her schedule.

 The goal of this class is provide the student with critical thinking skills that will help the student to see the logical structure of arguments. In our course, "arguments" will mean the defense of a thesis. Therefore we will study the informal "fallacies" which detract from good reasoning and we will also study elements of propositional logic. The student will need to have basic access to the Internet

 Student Learning Objectives:

  •  The student will develop the ability to recognize the components and structure of an argument designed to advance a thesis.
  • The student will recognize the common informal fallacies that detract from good reasoning.
  • The student will be able to understand and identify an inductive argument and a deductive argument.
  • The student will be able to construct a term paper that follows the guidelines of position paper writing and is free of the common fallacies that have been learned.

 TEXT: Attacking Faulty Reasoning, 6th Edition T.Edward Damer

 GRADING - The grading will be equally weighted with the following three components (each counting for 1/3 of the grade): 1) quizzes and work submitted on-line that is required in the syllabus, plus class attendance. 2) The mid-term exam 3) The term-paper

 Note: All of the below session where we meet in a classroom will be LA-6

 March 20 at 6pm ( 2 hours/ week-day classroom) - Introduction. Chapters I, II of the text will be covered. Students will explore the contents of an argument and the principles involved in constructing an argument using the "code of intellectual conduct". Note: Students who do not attend the first night of class may be dropped from the course.

 March 24th. “Live Session” SATURDAY starts at 9am. We will watch the movie "12 Angry Men". After viewing this movie we will engage into breakout groups to discuss the movie in terms of the critical thinking skills we have developed up to this point. A short quiz will then be given.

 March 27 at 6pm (2 hours/week-day classroom). We will work on Chapters 3, 4 and 5 of the text. We will outline several of the fallacies. A homework assignment will be given to locate a “letter to the editor” for classroom work on April 6th.

Distance Learning (this can be done between March 29th and April 3) - 4 hour- The student will log onto the instructor's website: http://faculty.oxnardcollege.edu/thiel/   Students will go to the PACE hyperlink and scroll past the syllabus. There, the student will find a list of informal fallacies from Chap. III, IV, V of the text (and directions for this distance learning component). The student will follow the directions regarding fallacy identification. Follow the guidelines for completing this assignment

 April 3 at 6pm (2 hours/weekday classroom) We will continue to work on the informal fallacies. We will discuss the letter to editor homework. And we will explore deductive/inductive statements.

 Distance Learning (this can be done between April 4h and April 10th)   Go to the instructor’s website and take the quiz on fallacy identification and on identifying deduction/inductive statements. Submit your answers to http://turnitin.com by April 11. Print out and bring a copy to clsss

 April 10th at 6 pm. (2 hours/weekday classroom). We will review for the mid-term exam.

 Distance Learning - 4 hours. The Mid-term will be done during this time frame. You will go to the this website and you will see the exam posted. You will need to send your submission to http://turnitin.com by Sunday April 15th. Late exams will not be accepted.

 April 17th at 6pm (2 hours/weekday classroom). You will have received your mid-term grade by email. We will go over the mid-term in class. I will distribute three essays that will become the basis for your term paper.

 Distance Learning - 4hours.  Students will go to my website and see their group assignment for essay number one. We will have a list of students with email addresses. You will be presenting the assigned questions for your group in class on April 24. You may email your answers to the questions to other members of your group. At the start of class on April 27, you will be able to have a group meeting prior to your presentation.

April 24th at 6pm (2hours/weekday classroom). Groups will have their meetings. Then group spokespersons will present the answers to their assigned question in class.

 Distance Learning - 4 hours   Following the same format as the prior week, go to the instructors’ website and ascertain your group assignment for May 1 

May 1 at 6pm (2 hours/weekday classroom). Groups will have their meetings. Then group spokespersons will present the answers to their assigned question in class.

Distance Learning - 4 hours   Following the same format as the prior week, go to the instructors’ website and ascertain your group assignment for May 8.

 May 8 at 6pm (2 hours/weekday classroom). Groups will have their meetings. Then group spokespersons will present the answers to their assigned question in class. We will go over the writing assignment for our last Saturday live session. This will be the first page of your term paper. Also, I will give you instructions for how to turn in your term paper to turnitin.com.

 May 12th   “Live Session” SATURDAY starts at 9am. Each student will read their writing assignment in class. THIS WILL BE OUR LAST CLASS MEETING. I will give you instructions for turning in your term paper at turnitin.com

 May 15th. Last day for this course. Your term paper will be due to turnitin.com. Late papers will not be accepted.

 

 

Students with disabilities, whether physical, learning, or psychological who believe that they may need accommodations in this class, are encouraged to contact ACCESS as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. Authorization from ACCESS is required before any accommodation can be made.

 

  Last Updated 1/14/12