INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC, PHIL 1011, Summer 2014, Online INSTRUCTOR: Nina Atanasova Department of Philosophy Office: 257 McMicken Hall Mailbox: 206 McMicken Hall Email: atanasna@mail.uc.edu Office hours: Online or in person by appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is an introductory course in formal logic. It covers the basics of Syllogistic logic and Symbolic (mathematical) logic. By introducing basic logical formal analytic methods of reasoning we aim at strengthening our abilities to reconstruct and evaluate the validity of arguments presented in formal and informal texts. This further strengthens our critical thinking skills and provides us with tools for making important decisions in our day-to-day and professional lives. The course is appropriate for students with all sorts of backgrounds. It fulfils Quantitative Reasoning and Humanities and Literature BoK. The course is designed as a learning-by-doing course and involves regular short homework assignments. [1]
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the end of the course, students will be able to: * detect and reconstruct arguments in standard form * translate natural language statements into sentential and predicate logic symbols * determine the validity or the invalidity of argument forms using several different logical methods, such as truth tables, Venn diagrams etc. * use proper logical terminology in their evaluations of arguments COMMUNICATIONS * Students are expected to complete their assignments before the due date. * In the event of unforeseen circumstances that prevent the student from fulfilling a requirement by the deadline, he or she has to contact the instructor as soon as possible with an explanation of the situation and negotiate an arrangement to make up the missed work. * Missed assignments cannot be made up or negotiated more than a week after the due date. * In case a student needs help from the instructor, he or she has to send an email request and expect a response within 48 hours. * The instructor will be available by appointment for face-to-face online or in-person meetings. [2]
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS: We will use Aplia online product designed for Hurley, Patrick. A Concise Introduction to Logic, 12 th edition. 2015. You are required to purchase a code for Aplia. It comes with an online textbook. Below you will see links to discounted bundles that you can purchase online. A bundle is also available in UC s bookstore. You may purchase just the Aplia code (option 1 below), a bundle including the Aplia code and a hard copy of the book (option 2 below) or the Aplia code (option 1 below) and the e-chapters we will cover (option 3 below). 1. Aplia: http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/en/us/storefront/us?cmd=displaylandingpage&id=75792 &cid=1-1ss4mkn&entitynumber=5706 2. Bundle Aplia + Book: http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/en/us/storefront/us?cmd=displaylandingpage&id=74273 &cid=1-1skjyrs&entitynumber=5706 3. E-chapters: http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/isbn/9781285196541 In case you decide to purchase individual chapters, keep in mind that we will only cover chapters 1,4,5,6,7, and 8 in this class. [3]
GRADING AND COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Performance will be evaluated in the following categories: Aplia 30 pts. Discussion Board 10 pts. Quizzes 10 pts. 2 Midterm Exams 15 pts. each/ 30 pts. total Final Exam 20 pts. Extra Credit Assignments and Practice 10 pts. As you see, the total possible score that you may acquire is 110 pts. However, 100 pts. will be sufficient to acquire the maximum total score from required assignments. The purpose of the extra 10 pts. is to give the opportunity to people who work consistently throughout the term to receive an excellent grade even if their scores are not always perfect. [4]
EXPLANATION OF INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENTS Each week, I will post a detailed description of the assignments that are due for that period. They will fall under the following categories: Aplia Assignments: These will be your main homework assignments and your main resource for practice and instant feedback. Most of these assignments will be graded. However, occasionally some of them will be made available to you just for practice and will not be assigned regular grades for homework. Discussion Board: Each week, except when we have an exam, you will be required to engage in a discussion about the material we cover on a given week. Each of you will be required to post a thoughtful question or raise some issue based on the readings and the other course materials from that week by midnight on Thursday of that week. Then, each of you will be required to provide thoughtful comments or responses to at least one of your classmates initial posts. These will be due by midnight on Sunday of that week. Quizzes: Each week you will have to do a 5 min-long quiz on Bb. Those will consist of 1 3 multiple-choice questions. The same questions may be included later on your exams. [5]
Midterm Exams: There will be two midterm exams: one at the end of Module 2 and another one at the end of Module 3. These will consist of three sections: (1) 5 multiple-choice questions 15 min; (2) 5 open-ended definitional questions 15 min; (3) handwritten and scanned exercises. For (3) you will have 3 hours after you download the assignment to do it, scan your work, and upload it to Bb. Each of the exams will cover only the material from the module covered immediately before that. Final Exam: The final exam will have the same format as the midterm exams but it will be comprehensive. It will include material from modules 2 through 4. Extra Credit: Each week, I will assign at least one exercise for you to just practice. If you want to receive extra credit you will have the opportunity so scan your handwritten exercises and submit them to me for feedback and extra credit. If you have any disabilities that may interfere with your performance, let me know as soon as possible so we can make the appropriate accommodations for you. [6]
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES Week Module Dates Homework Assignments 1. 1 May 12 May 18 Documents and videos on Bb posted each week, 2. 2 May 19 May 25 Documents and videos on Bb posted each week, 3. 2 May 26 June 1 Documents and videos on Bb posted each week, 4. 2 June 2 June 8 Documents and videos on Bb posted each week, 5. 2 June 9 June 15 Midterm Exam on Module 2 6. 3 June 16 June 22 Documents and videos on Bb posted each week, 7. 3 June 23 June 29 Documents and videos on Bb posted each week, 8. 3 June 30 July 6 Documents and videos on Bb posted each week, 9. 3 July 7 July 13 Midterm Exam on Module 3 10. 4 July 14 July 20 Documents and videos on Bb posted each week, 11. 4 July 21 July 27 Documents and videos on Bb posted each week, 12. 4 July 28 August 3 Documents and videos on Bb posted each week, 13. 2-4 August 4 August 8 Final Exam on Modules 2 through 4 [7]
MODULE DESCRIPTIONS Module 1: Orientation/ Week 1/ May 12 May 18 This module will present you with the basic structure of the course and will train you how to use the course resources. Assignments include: Syllabus + Quiz on the content of the syllabus Personal Introduction on Discussion Board Setting-Up an Aplia account Aplia homework assignments Module 2: Syllogistic Logic/ Weeks 2 5/ May 19 June 15 We will cover Chapters 1, 4, and 5. It will contain the standard assignments described above. Module 3: Propositional Logic/ Weeks 6 9/ June 16 July 13 We will cover Chapters 6 and 7. It will contain the standard assignments described above. Module 4: Predicate Logic/ Weeks 10 13/ July 14 August 8 We will cover Chapter 8. It will contain the standard assignments described above. Note: Syllabus is subject to possible changes. [8]