PHI 108-31: Logical and Critical Reasoning

Winter 2020
Instructor: Adam Blair | Email: [email protected] | Class: January 7 – January 25, 2020

Course Description
The principal aim of this course is to help students acquire the skills of thinking, reading, and writing
critically. We will develop a sensitivity to language and argumentation that is applicable to a wide range of
situations and subject matters. We will be looking at structures of logic and logical fallacies to judge the
validity of arguments, as well as looking at examples in both philosophy and culture to see how the
structures of logic pervade our daily lives. By cultivating our capacity for critical reasoning, we will not only
think more carefully and clearly in our educational goals but will become better engaged in the world
around us.

Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, students should have...
• An understanding of the logical structures of the primary classes of arguments used in scholarly
work as well as everyday contexts;
• The ability to analyze arguments within these primary classes for their strengths and weaknesses, as
well as validity;
• The ability to recognize common fallacies in reasoning;
• Knowledge regarding how to construct good arguments using principles of informal reasoning;
• Reflecting on your own thinking practices;
• Considering the arguments of others without judging the arguments in advance; and
• Engaging peers in a deep and substantive way regarding their own thinking.

Required Texts
You must purchase or rent Critical Thinking: A Concise Guide, 4th Edition by Tracy Bowell and Gary Kemp.
You must get this edition in order to take this course. ISBN: 860-1410717810. It can be an eBook or a
physical book, but keep in mind I will reference page numbers.

Grading
The most important thing with Logical Reasoning and Critical Thinking is practice. The semester is divided
into 6 sections, one for each chapter of the book we will be reading. We will spend roughly three days
going through each chapter, and you should complete the exercises at the end of each chapter on your
own. Along with each chapter, you will complete a quiz and participate in a discussion section related to
the chapter’s material. The quizzes are to be completed on your own time, but must be finished by specific
deadlines, so you cannot wait until the end to do them all – this is purposeful, so that you can stay on top
of the chapters as we go through them. You can, however, move ahead if you feel ready to do so. All of
this semester’s work is cumulative, so it is important that you keep up with the work we do together. The
breakdown of grading is as follows:

A: 93-100 50% [500 points] – Quizzes (5 quizzes at 100 points each)

A-: 90-92
B+: 87-89 20% [200 points] – Discussion Assignments
B: 83-86 10% [100 points] – Course Participation
B-: 80-82 20% [200 points] – Final Exam
C+: 77-79
C: 73-76
C-: 70-72
D+: 66-69
D: 60-65
F: <60
Quizzes: The Quizzes will be on Blackboard and be primarily multiple choice but may be mixed with
short answer and longer responses. They will require you to work on problems and exercises based upon
material covered in the chapter and the posted presentation. These will be open book, and you can return
to them as often as you like over the course of the three days of a given chapter. As soon as you begin a
test, you have 3 days to complete it, but it will expire at midnight on the day listed on Blackboard. In
addition, you only have one submission attempt—once you submit a quiz I cannot re-release it to you
Ensure you are done before submitting! You can begin the exam, but work over the problems on your
own several times before determining whether or not to submit; logical reasoning is a practical activity
which you must train yourself in. Not engaging the material and counting on the open book policy will not
work. Begin the quiz at the beginning of each unit, and work through them with the exercises.

Online Conversation: You will be divided into 3 groups: A, B, and C. Look at the schedule at the end of
this syllabus to see when you post, reply, and respond. For each lesson, one group will post an answer to
prompt questions which I provide—they will either be specific prompts or be more open-ended. The next
group will then reply to these posts in a substantive way. The original poster will then respond to the other
group’s replies. Every post should show a deep engagement with the material and with your own thinking.
Shoot for at least 5 sentences per post, reply, and response. I will be grading just as others grade for
participation in an in-person class – based upon your own willingness to engage and depth of discussion.
Be sure to post, reply, or respond by midnight on the day provided. This is a very quick class, so you only
have one day turn-around time. Be on top of your responses – late posts, replies, and responses will
have points deducted. Although the schedule mentions the bare minimum posting, replying, and
responding required, please do check-in at each conversation, as it will help you to study and engage the
material. Consider these discussions as our “shared class time” together.

There will be no recorded lectures, but posted slideshows covering material from the book, as well as extra
problems for you to work through. I will host a live review session for the final, and will be available online
to help you with anything you need. Email me ASAP if you need help – don’t wait.

Extra Credit: If you participate in the posts, replies, and responses more than is required, you may receive
extra credit. Further, if you have questions on the material beyond the required posts, and post in the
“Questions” board, then you may also get extra credit. If you answer another student’s question you may
receive extra credit. This is up to the professor’s discretion.

Policies
1. You may not use work from your peers, in this class or from prior semesters. Blackboard
will alert the instructor if you are referencing other material, and if so, you will get a 0.
2. All course communication and testing will be conducted through the university Blackboard site. It
is your responsibility to make sure that you can access the site and that your email is up-to-date.
3. No late work will be accepted. This class is so short that we cannot afford any delays.
4. This class is based on personal growth and enrichment through engagement with others in a
learning community. Respect is important, so we are able to develop an open and supportive space
for dialogue and inquiry. If you feel this isn't being upheld, please email me.
5. If you require any special assistance or have any questions or concerns about anything at all, please
don't hesitate to email me. No question or request is too small!
6. Finally, this syllabus is tentative. Changes will be marked in new syllabus drafts on Blackboard.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT
Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person’s work as your own is always wrong. Faculty are required to report any suspected
instance of academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary. For more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including categories of academic dishonesty, please refer to the academic judiciary website at
http://www.stonybrook.edu/uaa/academic judiciary/.

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES (DSS) STATEMENT

If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact Disability Support Services (631) 632-6748 or http://studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/dss/. They will determine with
you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential. Students who require assistance during emergency evacuation are encouraged to discuss their needs with their professors
and Disability Support Services. For procedures and information go to the following website: http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/fire/disabilities/asp.

CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT

Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other people. Faculty are required to report to the Office of Judicial Affairs any disruptive behavior that interrupts their ability to teach,
compromises the safety of the learning environment, and/or inhibits students' ability to learn.
Course Schedule

Date Lesson posted Quizzes DUE Discussion DUE

Tuesday 1/7 Begin Chapter 1 Introduction Posts Due

Wednesday, 1/8 Introduction Replies Due,

Group A Posts (Ch. 1)

Thursday, 1/9 Group B Replies (Ch. 1)

Friday 1/10 Begin Chapter 2 Chapter 1 Quiz Group A Responses (Ch. 1)

Saturday, 1/11 Group B Posts (Ch. 2)

Sunday, 1/12 Group C Replies (Ch. 2)

Monday, 1/13 Begin Chapter 3 Chapter 2 Quiz Group B Responses (Ch. 2)

Tuesday, 1/14 Group C Posts (Ch. 3)

Wednesday, 1/15 Group A Replies (Ch. 3)

Thursday, 1/16 Begin Chapter 4 Chapter 3 Quiz Group C Responses (Ch. 3)

Friday, 1/17 Group B Posts (Ch. 4)

Saturday, 1/18 Group A Replies (Ch. 4)

Sunday, 1/19 Begin Chapters 5 & 6 Chapter 4 Quiz Group B Responses (Ch. 4)

Monday, 1/20 Group C Posts (Ch. 5 or 6)

Tuesday, 1/21 Group A Replies (Ch. 5 or 6)

Wednesday, 1/22 Chapter 5 Quiz Group C Responses (Ch. 5

or 6)

Thursday, 1/23 Final Review, LIVE ONLINE SESSION

Friday, 1/24 through FINAL EXAM

Saturday, 1/25