COURSE DESCRIPTION

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ONLINE STUDENTS WHO DO NOT LIVE NEAR MIDLAND:   It is often frustrating to try to locate the textbook for this course in your own nearby libraries or bookstores.  I recommend that you call or e-mail the Midland College bookstore and arrange to have the book shipped to you.  Look for contact information on the Midland College home page.

MIDLAND COLLEGE CATALOG DESCRIPTION:  This course "introduces students to the nature and methods of correct reasoning; deductive and inductive proof; fallacies, argumentation."

Office: Science-Faculty Building, Room 109 (hours to be announced)
Telephone: 432-685-4607 (direct line to my office)
E-mail, MC: franx@midland.edu
E-mail, Cox: franx@cox.net

This course is only available online: See "Class Policies" below. The focus of the course is on the nature and methods of correct reasoning. Students will receive instruction in the rules of argument, deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, and the recognition of fallacies. The course will minimize the abstractions of formal logic. Instead, students will practice the essentials of informal logic, also called "critical reasoning."

Texts, References, and
Required Text:

Cederblom and Paulsen, CRITICAL REASONING (Wadsworth, Fifth Edition, 2001)  [Note:  A Sixth Edition is now in the bookstores.  If you are taking the course online, the "Assignments" links indicate that you can still use either edition.]

Course Goals and Objectives

The "goals" of this course are for each student to be able to:
--Recognize and employ the elements of a well-constructed argument.
--Recognize and avoid the typical mistakes of invalid and unsound arguments.
--Recognize and employ both inductive and deductive approaches to reasoning.
--Employ the methods of good reasoning for practical, not abstract, problem-solving.
--Practice the skills of "critical thinking" in writing assignments and exercises.
More specifically, the "performance objectives" of this course are:
--To learn to distinguish between arguments and nonarguments.
--To learn to distinguish between premises and conclusions in arguments.
--To learn to arrange the components of an argument into a classical syllogism.
--To learn to evaluate syllogistic arguments for truth, validity, and soundness.
--To learn to recognize and evaluate inductive arguments for their probability.
--To learn to recognize and avoid common informal fallacies in logic.
--To prepare exercises and "critical essays" that demonstrate skills in logical analysis.

Student Contributions;
Class Policies

Students who wish to take advantage of the online format should register by any available means, then contact Dr. Franks via ordinary e-mail for further instructions (even if a first-day classroom meeting is indicated in the schedule of classes). It is essential that you provide a reliable e-mail address as soon as you have registered. To avoid falling behind, you must monitor and read all e-mail messages from Dr. Franks as you receive them. You should attempt to complete and transmit all exercises within one week of first posting. If an exercise requires revisions or additional work, you must complete the corrections within one week of notification. Otherwise, there will be no credit for the week's work.

Online students will complete most assignments by e-mail, but you may also wish to send the longer "critical essays" to me at Midland College by regular mail. You may also FAX the longer exercises to me: 432-685-6431.

Evaluation of Students

There will be no conventional testing in this class. Instead, your grade will derive from three carefully prepared "critical essays," plus a weekly series of short logical exercises following a format that I will develop for you via demonstrations and posted instructions. The longer exercises will be due at roughly five-week intervals, with the third one due during the week of finals. Each essay will count as one-fourth of your final grade.

The shorter exercises will help you prepare to write your critical essays. They will also contribute to another grade to average with the others. I will use my own judgment and records to assign this grade based on class participation and completion of exercises. This is likely to be a very good grade for class members who keep up with their assignments, avoid spotty participation, and demonstrate an interest in what we're doing.

In summary, there will be four grades to average, each equal in value. Three of these are "critical essays," the fourth is for participation and completion of exercises.

Class Schedule [Compressed to Eight Weeks during Summer Term.]

Sequence of Readings and Assignments (to be posted in greater detail on the website):

I. During the first three weeks of our course, we will work through Chapters 1-3 in Cederblom and Paulsen, learning the basics of "reconstructing arguments." Then we will spend Weeks Four and Five on Chapter 4, "Evaluating Arguments." As of Week Six, we will skip ahead to Chapter 10, "Putting it All Together." A required exercise will be posted each week. You must complete each exercise during the week it is assigned. No make- ups will be allowed, since it is essential that you keep up week by week.

FIRST CRITICAL ESSAY DUE (Topic will be posted during Week Seven)

II. During Weeks Eight and Nine, we will concentrate on Chapter 6, "Fallacies." As time permits during Week Nine, we will cover selected topics from Chapter 7. Then we will spend Weeks Ten and Eleven on Chapter 8, "Induction," with exercises posted each week.

SECOND CRITICAL ESSAY DUE (Topic will be posted during Week Twelve)

III. During Weeks Thirteen and Fourteen, we will concentrate on Chapter 9, "Explanation and Criticism of Theories." During Week Fifteen, there will be an opportunity for some optional exploration of Chapters Five and Eleven. Weekly posted exercises will continue.

FINAL CRITICAL ESSAY DUE no later than Tuesday of Week Sixteen. You will be allowed to choose the topic in consultation with Dr. Franks.)

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