Logic & Critical Thinking


INSTRUCTOR: Dr. L. K. "Larry" Magrath
Office: 204 Austin Hall
Phone: 405-574-1292 [405-222-0904 home]
Email: facmagrathlk@usao.edu


TEXTBOOKS: Kahane, H. 1998.  Logic & Contemporary Rhetoric: The Use of Reason in Everyday Life.  8th ed.  Wadsworth Pub. Co. Belmont, CA.
Verderber. 2000.  The Challenge of Effective Speaking.  Custom Edition.  Wadsworth Pub. Co.


GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to develop the skills necessary for analyzing, assessing, and formulating arguments, and to enhance your abilities as a public speaker.  The relationships between logic and language will be examined, as well and inductive and deductive reasoning, and the application of logic to everyday activities [such as advertising, editorials, political speeches, etc.]

GENERAL COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This course is intended to foster the following types of intellectual growth:

  1. An insight into the premises, logic, and sequencing of the USAO Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) program.
  2. To understand, analyze, assess, and formulate valid arguments.
  3. To be able to understand and identify logical fallacies.
  4. To understand the language of logic
  5. To learn to recognize propaganda.
  6. To gain an understanding of how "advertisers" try to influence your behavior [i.e. get you to buy their product(s),  service(s),  idea(s)].
  7. To understand the relationships between logic and language.
  8. To understand and be able to distinguish inductive from deductive reasoning.
  9. Except for the basic terminology [i.e. names of fallacies, etc.] you SHOULD NOT MEMORIZE, but THINK
  10. To help make you become aware of background beliefs and world views, both your own and those of people from other cultures.
  11. To help make you aware of current events at the local, state, national, and international level [i.e. you will be expected to keep up with current events by reading newspapers, magazines, listening to the radio and/or watching news programs on television]
  12. To help make you aware of geography and how it plays a role in determining our background beliefs and worldviews.
  13. To help you become aware of the significance of chronology in understanding the development of ideas and cultures, both at a personal and a global level.
  14. To help you become a more effective public speaker.
  15. To help you develop a good work ethic.  Remember as a student it is your job/work to be on time to classes and to study.  Remember also that the taxpayers of Oklahoma are "paying" you to be a student -- don't waste their investment in you!!!
GRADES:

Grades will be based on percentages of total points accumulated during the trimester.  Points may be accumulated by means of: hour exams, problem solving, essay writing, special projects, and instructors option.  The point distribution of grades will be as follows:
 
    % of grade
A. Hour exams 60.0%
B. Selected problem solving (the logic journal) 2.5%
C. Critical essay writing 5.0%
D. Special Project 15.0%
E. Speech Presentations 5.0%
F. Daily Quizzes 10.0%
G. Instructor's option (class attendance, class participation, etc.) 2.5%
  Total 100%

Note 1:Not completing the "Special Project," "The Logic Journal," the "Critical Essay" or the Speech Presentations will result in an automatic grade of "I" until such time as they are completed in a satisfactory manner.

Note 2:If you are not satisfied with your first grade on either the critical essay and/or the special project you may rework and resubmit either or both for a regrading after you have corrected the problems/deficiencies -- in that case the assigned grade will be an average of the original grade and the final grade.] 

Note 3:You should bring your logic journal to class every class period and be prepared to turn it in at ANY time for inspection and grading.

GRADE SCALE:     90% = A; 80% = B; 70% = C; 60% = D; 59% or lower = F

EXAMS:

  1. Hour exams will be based on the lecture material, assigned readings in the textbook and various outside materials [which will include current events, geography and chronology], and problem solving [homework assignments] and special projects.

    a. Everyone will be required to take the Final Exam, which will probably be a comprehensive exam.
    b. All exams must be taken at the time scheduled by the instructor.
    c. Any cheating on an exam will automatically cancel that exam grade for the person (s) caught cheating [i.e. a zero grade will be recorded for than exam].

  1. Exam Retake Policy:
    a. Hour Exams:  there will be a comprehensive MAKE UP EXAM sometime during the last two weeks of the trimester.  The grade from the Make Up Exam may be substituted for the lowest Hour Exam grade.  Anyone may take this exam in order to try to bring their course grade up.
    b. Daily Quizzes:
  1. All daily quizzes are worth 10 points each.  All of the daily quizzes will be averaged together and be worth an Hour Exam.
  2. If you have completely missed a daily quiz and you take it late, then it will be worth 8 points NOT 10 points.
  3. Any daily quiz grade of 6 or less may be retaken.  Any daily quiz that is retaken will be worth 7 points NOT 10 points.
  4. This is really a strong message that you should be in class every day and take the daily quizzes on time.

PROBLEM SOLVING:

  1. "In class"exercises  which will be done in both " small group" (4 - 6 people) and "large group" (whole class).
  2. LOGIC JOURNAL:
  1. This MUST be a notebook or folder which is USED ONLY FOR THIS CLASS.  In it you will keep your Logic Journal notes, solutions to assigned  problems from the textbook, class handout materials, etc.
  2. This notebook/folder MUST BE BROUGHT TO EACH CLASS, it should be kept in such a fashion that it CAN BE HANDED IN FOR GRADING AT ANY TIME.
  3. Your journal must have three (3) separate sections EACH CLEARLY LABELED:
  1. Class notes: these are the notes from lecture and discussion.
  2. Problem solving:
    3. this will be the exercises the instructor assigns from the text.  Do your best to complete the assigned exercises.  If you try to complete each assignment, you will receive credit for the attempt.  If you can come up with a better solution to a problem than Kahane or I and prove it, you will receive extra credit. 
  3. Your daily journal: should contain:

    4.      a. questions &/or comments about the class -- assigned readings, discussion, etc.

         b. a written page for every day of the week (Monday through Friday) dealing with who you are, why you are, what's happening in your life, etc.  This journal is strictly confidential -- I will be the only one to read it, if you write something that you later decide you don't want read either X it out or staple the page shut.  In any case you will be given credit for doing the writing. Your writing in the journal will NOT be graded for grammar, spelling, etc.

         c. nearly every week some journals will be collected by the instructor -- each journal will be collected at least twice during the trimester, and possibly as often as every other week.

     

SPECIAL PROJECT: The special project may be kept in the back part of your Logic Journal or it may be done completely separately.  This project is intended to help you take a closer look at how you are manipulated by the news and advertising media,  as well as political, religious, economic, ethnic and other special interest groups in your everyday life.

 

For this project you are to FIND FIVE (5) examples OF EACH OF THE SIX (6) following types of manipulation.  Each example is to be ANALYZED  AND DISCUSSED BY YOU IN A SHORT PARAGRAPH with regard to why you would consider it to be in the particular category that YOU have placed it.  MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOUR ARGUMENTS ARE VALID.  The categories that your are to find examples of are listed below:

  1. Use of status to make you buy a product/service/idea

  2. Use of sex to make you buy a product/service/idea

  3. Identification advertisements

  4. Political or religious or special interest propaganda

  5. Advertising that is deceptive or misleading

  6. Biased editorials (politically/ethically/ethnically/religiously, etc.)

Note1: THIS IS A TOTAL OF 30 EXAMPLES.

Note 2: You may do this either a written, audio or visual (including use of video-or audio-tape) format.

Note 3: Because some examples could belong to more than one category -- make certain that you clearly state in which category you are placing the example by writing a short paragraph explaining why you are putting the example in the category that you have.

 

A short paragraph DOES NOT MEAN A SINGLE SENTENCE -- it means a short  paragraph composed of several sentences explaining your reasoning/thinking about why you have chosen to place the example in this particular category rather than another. Remember, just because something is "obvious" to you doesn't mean that it is "obvious" to someone else.

The Special Project will be due no later than Thursday 6 November 2003.

 

CRITICAL ESSAY WRITING:  This will be a short out of class essay over a topic that is of interest to you.  It is to consist of 900 - 1500 words [3-4 double-spaced typed pages -- PLEASE either type or use a word processor (and keep a copy of your essay on disk or a duplicate hard-copy).  Keeping a copy of the essay on disk will make it easier for you to revise your essay.  It will be due no later than 7 November 2002. The grade on the essay will be assigned as follows:

  1. Fifty percent (50%) on the content (correct use of logical arguments, etc.) of the paper.

  2. Fifty percent [50%] on the correct use of English as an effective medium of communication to the reader [your instructor]

COMMON GRAMMAR ERRORS:   Please make every effort to avoid them.

  1. Use complete sentences [i.e. subject and verb]

  2. DO NOT use double negatives

  3. Use of pronouns must be correct with regard to number, person, and reference [i.e. "he has" NOT "he have"]

  4. Avoid run-on sentences [i.e. avoid comma splices]

  5. Verb and subject must agree in number [i.e "atoms are" NOT "atoms is," "data are" NOT "data is," "bacterium is" NOT "bacterium are," etc.]

  6. Punctuation [.,/?!`~'";: etc.] must be used correctly

  7. Do not use the same symbol for hyphens and dashes, the proper usage is: hyphen [-], dash [--]

  8.  Spelling -- if in doubt about the correct spelling(s) for a word, look it up in a dictionary [or use the spell-checker on your word processor].  [Note: in English many words will have alternative spellings -- (i.e. color & colour; though & tho, night & nite, etc.)]

SPEECH PRESENTATIONS:  During the trimester, you will be expected to do two (2) speech presentations, one of which must be informational in content, the second speech must be persuasive.  The speech collectively will be worth 5% of the course grade.

 

STUDY TIME:  APPROXIMATELY TWO (2) HOURS OUTSIDE OF CLASS STUDYING FOR EACH ONE (1) HOUR SPENT IN THE CLASSROOM.  YOUR READING AND OTHER ASSIGNMENTS ARE PREDICATED ON THIS ASSUMPTION.  (This also assumes that you are an average student who will make an average grade of "c.")

 

Time is like money, if invested carefully it will eventually pay big dividends !!

 

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS (or comments) about material being covered in class or thing being reported in the news media or you just want to talk about something, please feel free to bring ideas and issues up in class, or stop by my office (204 AH or check the other room numbers posed at my office door) or contact me by EMAIL.  I will do my best to try to deal with your questions, concerns, and ideas.

 

ABSENCES:  Irregular attendance and habitual tardiness will seriously affect your grade.    Excessive absences will affect your grade in a negative way.  You will be allowed a total of three (3) absences without having a negative affect on your grade -- but keep in mind these three absences include any and all reasons that you may have for being absent (including sickness & late enrollment).  Once you have used up those three absences every additional absence -- for whatever reason will result in the loss of 1% point per absence subtracted from your course total.  [Example:  if you have a course average of 93 and have 7 absences, then your course average will go from a 93 (A) to an 89 (B), etc.]  Deaths, medical and weather emergencies may be excused.  ABSENCES WHICH CAN BE ANTICIPATED WILL NOT be excused.  Classes missed due to late enrollment are also considered as unexcused absences. 

 

REWARD FOR GOOD ATTENDANCE: Perfect attendance:  Perfect attendance will be worth three (3) extra percentage points on your final grade average.  Excessive absences will result in your course grade being lowered.

 

CLASSROOM COURTESY:  If you must be late for a class COURTESY requires that you enter quietly and with a minimum of disturbance to the class.

Individuals or groups who persistently disrupt the class by their actions may be requested to leave the class (or drop the class) by the instructor.  This is especially true with regard to TALKING IN CLASS -- when the talking is not relevant to the topic(s) under discussion.  It is most distracting both the instructor(s) and to other students to have to try to speak (or listen) over a constant background drone of conversation.  HOWEVER, in small group sections you are expected to speak and contribute to the group discussions.

DROPPING A CLASS:

If you need to drop this class, or any other class, please make certain that you have gone through the proper procedure which involves getting a drop/add slip from the Registrar's Office and getting it signed by your instructor(s) and your advisor. It then must be returned to the Registrar's Office, before you are officially dropped from a class.  If you just stop coming to a class, you will discover that you will receive an "F" at the end of the trimester.

MISSING CLASSES:

If you must miss classes for an extended period of time due to illness, accident or other reasons, YOU NEED TO CONTACT THE STUDENT SERVICES OFFICE and ask them to send a memo to all of your instructors.  The phone number is 405-574-1330.  This will save your or whoever calls for you the trouble of trying to locate specific instructors.  IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTACT US IF YOU CANNOT BE HERE FOR A CLASS.

 

                                                                        TENTATIVE  SCHEDULE  FOR  FALL 2003

There are ten (10) chapters in your Logic textbook and 9 in the Speech textbook, therefore it is reasonable to assume that we will try to cover one (1) chapter in each text about every two-three weeks beginning with chapter one (l), for the first 5 chapters.  The last chapters will probably be covered one/week.  You will be expected to have read the entire textbooks by the end of the trimester.  Remember, also to read the preface to the text.  You should expect an exam every 3-4 weeks.

               
NOTE: I anticipate breaking the class up into small discussion groups to work on problem sets, etc. about half of the class time.  So you should always come prepared to contribute to discussion within your small group and to help present your discussion group's ideals to the class as a whole.


 We will deal with some subject matter that will be at times controversial, and there will be times that some of you may feel uncomfortable with certain ideas, however one of the functions of a university education is to try to broaden your intellectual horizons.  Your should try to develop the ability to look at problems objectively, and to realize that not everyone uses the same standards to judge by that you do.  Ideally, you should be able to present an effective argument BOTH "for" and "against" a particular topic.

 

LOGIC CAN BE BORING, OR IT CAN BE INTERESTING  AND A LOT OF INTELLECTUAL  FUN -- IT WILL BE WHICH  EVER  YOU CHOOSE TO MAKE IT !

 

FINAL EXAM:  Thursday 4 December 2003 from 2:40 am - 4:10 pm

 

SOME ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:  This class is not a passive class where you can act like a tape recorder/sponge by memorizing set answers and then repeating them back on a test.  You will have to become intellectually actively involved, to read, to listen, above all else to think critically and to question.  I will expect you to be aware of what is happening in the world around you -- all of the world, not just your local community.  You need to consider how the rest of the world affects you, and your potential lifetime career(s). 

 

We exist in a Global Society -- certainly at the economic level, if nowhere else, so it behooves us to know and try to understand what the people of the rest of the world are doing and thinking and why they think the way that they do.

 

Another thing that I would personally recommend to you VERY STRONGLY is that you need to keep your books and build a personal library for your future use, and use it!!

 

USE OF COMPUTERS/WORD PROCESSORS:

 

USAO has a state-of-the-art computer system, you need to learn how to use it, and then use it!!.  As a student you can obtain an EMAIL address which will allow you to use the "internet"/web system.  The future will belong to those who can think critically for themselves, who are flexible in their thinking and who are computer literate!  [My EMAIL address is: facmagrathlk@usao.edu;  I usually check my EMAIL every day, so this is a fairly fast way to contact me.]

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: 

  1. "We don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our descendants."   Amerind Proverb

  2. There is no such thing as a FREE LUNCH, everything has to be paid for at some time by someone in some way.

  3. "God has permitted us to develop new technologies as a way of checking on our growth and development as moral/ethical beings.  Let us pray that we do not fail God's test!"  LKM summer 1997

  4. "Wildlife is decreasing in the jungles, but it is increasing in the towns."  Mahatma Gandhi

  5. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."  U.S. Constitution

  6. What have you done to make life better/more pleasant for someone else today?

 

                                                                               FORMAT FOR CRITICAL ESSAY

FORMAT:

  1. Leave about a 1 inch (2.5 cm) margin at the top, bottom and sides of each page

  2. Double space your essay -- this leave room for me to make comments and corrections

  3. Place your name and the date submitted in the upper right had corner of the first page; ALSO if this is a draft copy of the paper please so indicate by writing "DRAFT COPY."   Draft copies will be graded, but the grade will not count -- my desire here is to help you improve the quality of your writing.

  4. Length:  about 900 -- 1500 words (3-4 typed pages).

SUGGESTED STRUCTURES:

  1. As a formal essay consisting of:

  1. Introduction -- a 50-200 word paragraph that clearly states your theses

  2. Main point #1

  3. Main point #2

  4. Main point #3, etc. for however many major points you are going to include

  5. Conclusion: a 100+ word paragraph that clearly summarizes your thesis and the main points made.

  1. As a persuasive letter to an appropriate elected official (at any level of the government), to the editor of a paper or magazine too try to make that person agree with you about a particular issue (or set of related issues).  You may be "for something," "against something," or "present a balanced view: with regard to the issue.

WRITING STYLE:

Use clear, direct prose written in standard English, do not obfuscate.  Use terms from our class and textbook (i.e. deductive reasoning, false dilemma, suppressed evidence, tokenism, sexist language, insufficient survey sample, etc.) to demonstrate to me that you have an idea about the proper application of there terms.

 

POSSIBLE TOPICS:

  1. Take a position on a controversial social political, economic, ethical/moral issue (i.e. Federal Debt, Federal Deficit, Welfare Reform, Tax Reform, Flat Tax, AIDS, ProChoice vs ProLife, Gun Control, Shelter for the Homeless, Juvenile Justice System, Capital Punishment, etc.)

  2. Pick an article from a journal or newspaper and analyze and discuss the article.  Include a proper literature citation for your original source and a xerox copy of the article that I can read.

  3. Analyze and discuss the use of euphemisms and logical fallacies in advertising on TV, radio or in the printed media (mass media)

  4. Study 5-10 editorials from the Daily Oklahoman (or other major newspaper) and deduce the writer's worldview.  Use specific examples quoted from the editorials to support your deductions.  Also submit xerox (or original) copies of the editorials.

  5. Design a topic that you are especially interested in and check with me for permission to write on that topic.