Class meeting time: TR 2:30-3:45

Professor: Dr. Martha Beck

Office: Alphin 214; Office phone: 793-1774

Home phone: 793-2740; P.O. Box: 2317, Alphin Building

Office hours: MTWRF 4:00-5:00 and by appt., Alphin 214

Practical Logic: An Antidote for Uncritical Thinking, 4th edition,

by Soccio and Barry

Booklet: purchase from Dr. Beck

As the book title suggests, the ultimate goal is to enable a student to think critically about all aspects of life: personal, professional and intellectual. This goal is achieved by studying the different kinds of arguments, the relationship between a type of argument and the subject-matter under examination, and the many ways arguments are inappropriate, inadequate, or structurally flawed. One emphasis of the course will be on the way argumentation affects daily life, including the arguments, or lack thereof, we are exposed to each day through advertising, newspaper articles, and other media. Another emphasis will be on examining the way different kinds of arguments are used in different academic disciplines, specifically in the courses taught at Lyon College.

Since this is an upper-level course, I expect that most of you are already critical thinkers and can do the work. Therefore, I will not lecture; I will begin each class with a summary of what we will cover for the day, but each student should expect to be "on the spot" for a few minutes each day. In theory, we will have a set of homework "problems" each day which focus on the type of argument under discussion for that day. In some cases, there could be more than one possible response (logic is not "black and white") and we can discuss alternative interpretations of an argument. All students need to be engaged in the class discussions. We need to recognize how difficult it is to argue clearly, and how often the same argument can be interpreted differently. We need to recreate in the classroom the kind of disagreements and arguing that goes on constantly in the "real world."

Attendance is required and will be taken at the beginning of each hour. If you have a good reason to be absent, leave a note, email or phone message. If I do not receive notice by 6:00 p.m. on the day you were absent, you will receive a zero for that day. If you give me a legitimate excuse, you may hand in the written assignment for that day and receive credit. Unexcused absences will have the following effect on your grade:

a) Up to 3 unexcused absences: no change in grade;

b) 3-6 unexcused absences: final grade lowered by 1/3;

c) 6-8 unexcused absences: final grade lowered by 2/3;

d) 9-10 unexcused absences: final grade lowered one full grade;

More than 10 unexcused absences: final grade will be an "F".

There will be some kind of written assignment due every week. These grades, along with class participation will count for 20% of your final grade.

There will be three take-home exams and a final. You will have one hour to finish each exam. The final will be handed out on Dec. 6 and due noon, Dec. 13. Each exam will count 20% of your grade. All exams must be pledged.

You may study for the exams collaboratively, but I will give them to you sealed shut and you may not look at them until you are ready to take them. Once you open the exam, you will have a specified amount of time to work on it. You may not discuss the exam with anyone. I recommend that you hand it in immediately after you take it, pledged that you did not exceed the time limit and that the work was all your own.

Last day to drop a course and receive a "W" grade: Sept. 25

Mid-term grades due: Oct. 10