Doug Thiel

Syllabi  

The syllabus for the Moorpark College online course in Introduction to Philosophy Spring 2012 CRN 32409 has its own course shell in Desire2Learn.    A copy of the syllabus is also posted on this website under "Moorpark Online Course" (click onto the link on your left).

The syllabus for CLU classes is posted at this website under the hyperlink for CLU which is also to your left.

If you are taking a class in Critical Thinking (Oxnard College) CRN 31639 that starts March 20th, the syllabus will be posted in January at this website under PACE

Below is the syllabus for Spring 2012 Critical Thinking Course CRN 32474 that meets at Moorpark College @ 6pm on Thursday nights (starting Feb 2).

 

Spring 2012 Critical Thinking/Analytic Writing        Moorpark College

 CRN 32474       HSS-239      Thurs 6-9:50pm

 Instructor: Doug Thiel          email: dthiel@vcccd.edu

   home: (805) 649-3720         website: http://faculty.oxnardcolledge.edu/thiel

 Text: Attacking Faulty Reasoning T. Edward Damer 6th ed

 Course Goals: Develop skills in critical thinking through the identification of arguments that employ coherence and sound reasoning. Learn to identify common fallacies of thought, logic and language. Throughout the semester we will employ adult learning strategies that include group discussions/though experiments and problem solving.

 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 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.

Class Attendance and Oral Participation: Both attendance and participation are important and they will be evaluated when grading the exams and final paper. This means that your overall grade will be affected by your classroom work. Attending class is not optional and all absences will require that the student notify the instructor via email or by telephone. In all cases of absences, a make-up assignment will be given and it must be completed. Students who fail to attend class and complete assignments will be dropped from the course.

Course Grade: 1. Mid-term in class. Students will evaluate several arguments and reconstruct those identifying fallacious elements – 45% of grade.   2. Term Paper. A term paper of 4-5 pages in length. Using one of the essays distributed in class, the student will select one to critique. This will involve the writing of a paper that demonstrates the ability to construct a thesis, develop reasons in support of the thesis and the capacity to understand and provide a defense to counter-arguments. – 45% of grade. 3 Class Participation/Attendance 10% of grade.

General Comments: The strategy for the course will be to devote the first part of the session to reviewing selected chapters in the text. This will give the students the necessary skills to recognize the logical structure of an argument. Additionally, students will learn informal fallacies which tend to diminish the force of one's reasoning. Elements of symbolic logic and constructs in the classical distinctions between deductive/inductive arguments will be scrutinized. The mid-term will be a test of the student's recognition skills in this area. The second part of the session will be devoted to the analysis of contemporary philosophical essays in which the writer articulates a position. In group exercises we will develop responses to these essays. This will prepare the student to write the final paper.

 Turnitin.com

All students in this class need to register with http://www.turnitin.com during the first week of the course. Use an email address that you use regularly. This will allow me to communicate to you via group email. This will also be the way you will submit your term paper. To register you need. Course ID 4670476 the password is socrates.

 Tentative Class Schedule

Feb 2 – Introduction. You should have your book and be ready to start the semester. Prior to this date I will have sent you email with information on how to obtain this course syllabus. Remember, students who fail to show up on the first night of class may be dropped from the course by the instructor.

Feb 9. Prior to class read Chapters 1,2,3. Complete any homework assignments given to you at the first night of class.

Feb 16. Read Chapters 4,5 prior to class

Feb 23   Read Chapters 6,7 prior to class

Mar 1   Read Chapters 8,9 prior to class

Mar 8 Induction/Deduction

Spring Break

Mar 22 Mid-term. Resources will be given for you to obtain the essays we will use in our remaining classes, i.e., Essays 1-4

Mar 29 Mid-term returned. Prior to class read Essay #1

Apr 5 Prior to class read Essay #2

Apr 12 Prior to class read Essay #3

Apr 19 Prior to class read Essay #4

Apr 26 Students will read the first page of their term paper. This one page must also be submitted to turnitin.com by April 27.

May 3 Last day of class, completed term papers must be submitted to turnitin.com          

 

Students with a disability, whether physical, learning, or psychological, who believe they will need accommodations in this class, are encouraged to contact ACCESS as soon as possible so accommodations can be set up in a timely fashion. Accommodations are based on eligibility and can only be provided if you have submitted a verification from ACCESS in the form of a Confidential Memo. The ACCESS office can be reached at (805) 378-1461 and is newly located in the LMC.

: This is a Smoke Free Campus – In the interest of the health and welfare of students, employees and the public, other than in parking lots, smoking is not permitted anywhere on the Moorpark College campus.

Division contact information: Applied and Social Sciences Division, Lori Bennett, Dean, Division Office phone number: (805) 378-1445.