| Course Title: | Critical Reasoning |
|---|---|
| Course Number: | PHIL347 |
| Course Description: | This course introduces practical and theoretical contexts of logical argument as well as critical reading and reasoning. Students apply information analysis and problem-solving skills to define, convey, and defend positions that influence decision making. Students prepare a range of documents that reflect and/or incorporate principles of sound logic and reasoning. |
| Course Prerequisites: | ENGL135 or ENGL147 |
Syllabus
Course Information
Course Specific Requirements
Enter content here, if necessary.
Software Citation Requirements
This course uses open-source software, and as the end users of this software, students are required to cite the software for any student work, such as assignments, labs, or projects, where the software has been utilized. Open-source software does have end-user license agreements, and all students should read the entire agreement for a software prior to installation or usage. In order to use the software in this course, software citations have been created for students and can be located on the Open Source Applications page. These software citations must be included in all student work submissions that have used the software.
Textbooks and Resources
Required Textbooks
The following books are required for this course:
Critical Thinking: A User's Manual
2nd Edition
by Debra Jackson and Paul Newberry
2016 Wadsworth Cengage Learning
E-book Details
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- Enter email address and password. Bookshelf Online will open.
Step 3: Access the Desktop and Mobile Versions
You must complete Step 2 prior to using the desktop or mobile versions.
Already Registered? 3 Ways to Access Your eBooks
Online
Access your eBook by clicking on the book cover or title in the syllabus page. Bookshelf Online will open.
Desktop
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Mobile
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Campus Additional Information
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Terminal Course Objectives
DeVry University course content is constructed from curriculum guides developed for each course that are in alignment with specific Terminal Course Objectives. The Terminal Course Objectives (TCOs) define the learning objectives that the student will be required to comprehend and demonstrate by course completion. The TCOs that will be covered in detail each week can be found in the Objectives section for that particular week. Whenever possible, a reference will be made from a particular assignment or discussion back to the TCO that it emphasizes.
1
Given a personal or professional situation in which you must decide what to believe, analyze critical reasoning concepts necessary to examine arguments.
2
Given examples of arguments, apply critical reasoning techniques and procedures for analyzing the components and structure of the argument.
3
Given examples of arguments, evaluate them to determine the type of argument and apply the appropriate analysis for validity or strength.
4
Given a deductive argument, use higher order thinking methods to analyze and evaluate the arguments for validity and soundness.
5
Given an inductive argument, use higher order thinking methods to evaluate the strength or probability of the argument.
6
Given an argument, analyze it for common persuasive fallacies, including begging the question, appeal to ignorance, ad hominem, strawman, and others.
7
Given access to empirical evidence and other academic sources, demonstrate the ability to create a fallacy-free argumentative essay.
Lab Schedule
Week 1
None
Citrix
RKON
Skillsoft
Toolwire
WebServer
ACC COMAT
ACC NonCOMAT
CWP
EDUPE (MySQL)
Week 2
None
Citrix
RKON
Skillsoft
Toolwire
WebServer
ACC COMAT
ACC NonCOMAT
CWP
EDUPE (MySQL)
Week 3
None
Citrix
RKON
Skillsoft
Toolwire
WebServer
ACC COMAT
ACC NonCOMAT
CWP
EDUPE (MySQL)
Week 4
None
Citrix
RKON
Skillsoft
Toolwire
WebServer
ACC COMAT
ACC NonCOMAT
CWP
EDUPE (MySQL)
Week 5
None
Citrix
RKON
Skillsoft
Toolwire
WebServer
ACC COMAT
ACC NonCOMAT
CWP
EDUPE (MySQL)
Week 6
None
Citrix
RKON
Skillsoft
Toolwire
WebServer
ACC COMAT
ACC NonCOMAT
CWP
EDUPE (MySQL)
Week 7
None
Citrix
RKON
Skillsoft
Toolwire
WebServer
ACC COMAT
ACC NonCOMAT
CWP
EDUPE (MySQL)
Week 8
None
Citrix
RKON
Skillsoft
Toolwire
WebServer
ACC COMAT
ACC NonCOMAT
CWP
EDUPE (MySQL)
Course Schedule
| Week, TCOs, and Topics | Readings and Class Preparation | Activities and Assignments |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 TCOs 1 and 7 Understanding Arguments | Chapter 1: Thinking Critically Chapter 2: Recognizing Arguments | Graded Discussion Topics Homework Assignment: Precis 1 |
Week 2 TCOs 2, 5, 6, and 7 Analyzing and Diagramming Arguments | Chapter 3: Analyzing Arguments Chapter 4: Diagramming Arguments | Graded Discussion Topics |
Week 3 TCOs 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 Analyzing Arguments | Chapter 5: Preparing to Evaluate Arguments Chapter 6: Evaluating Categorical Arguments | Graded Discussion Topics Homework Assignment: Precis 2 |
Week 4 TCOs 3 and 4 Analyzing Arguments and Truth Functions | Chapter 7: Evaluating Truth-Functional Arguments | Graded Discussion Topics Homework Assignment: Truth-Table Worksheet |
Week 5 TCOs 5, 6, and 7 Inductive and Analogical Arguments | Chapter 8: Evaluating Inductive Generalizations Chapter 9: Evaluating Analogical Arguments | Graded Discussion Topics Homework Assignment: Precis 3 |
Week 6 TCOs 5, 6, and 7 Causal Arguments and Fallacies | Chapter 10: Evaluating Causal Arguments Chapter 11: Detecting Fallacies | Graded Discussion Topics Homework Assignment: Resource List for Argumentative Essay |
Week 7 TCO 7 Constructing Argumentative Arguments | Chapter 12: Constructing Arguments | Graded Discussion Topics Homework Assignment: Argumentative Essay |
| Week 8 All TCOs | Final Exam | |
Blended E-Learning
This course is an 8-week, intensive course that includes both classroom-based and e-learning activities. Your participation in both areas is essential to your success in this course. You should expect to spend time each week participating in the prescribed activities both before and after our class meeting.
Participation before, during, and after class meetings is critical to your success in this intensive environment.
To get the most out of our weekly class meetings, it is essential that you come to class prepared. The weekly readings listed in the Course Schedule will prepare you for class. Our class meetings, in turn, will prepare you for upcoming exams and assignments.
Through the DeVry e-learning platform, you will be able to
- review the Syllabus and weekly assignment information;
- submit completed work for grading;
- take quizzes and exams;
- obtain copies of class handouts and notes;
- e-mail the instructor and other students; and
- participate in online discussion of class material.
Due Dates for Assignments & Exams
Unless otherwise specified, the following applies.
- Access to most weeks begins on Sunday at 12:01 a.m. mountain time (MT).
- All assignments are to be submitted on or before Sunday at the end of the specified week that they are due, by 11:59 p.m. (MT).
- All quizzes and exams are to be completed on or before Sunday at the end of the specified week that they open, by 11:59 p.m. (MT).
Week 8 opens at 12:01 a.m. (MT) on the ending Sunday of Week 7. Any assignments or exams must be completed by 11:59 p.m. (MT) Saturday of the eighth week.
Due Dates for Assignments & Exams
All assignments, quizzes, and exams are to be completed per the schedule indicated by your instructor.
Assignment Values and Letter Grades
The maximum score in this class is 1,000 points. The categories, which contribute to your final grade, are weighted as follows.
| Assignment | Points | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Discussions (40 points, Weeks 1–7) | 280 | 28% |
| Homework: Precis (75 points each, Weeks 1, 3, and 5) | 225 | 22.5% |
| Homework: Truth-Table Worksheet (Week 4) | 60 | 6% |
| Homework: Outline for Argumentative Essay (Week 6) | 35 | 3.5% |
| Homework: Argumentative Paper (Week 7) | 150 | 15% |
| Final Exam | 250 | 25% |
| Total Points | 1,000 | 100% |
All of your course requirements are graded using points. At the end of the course, the points are converted to a letter grade using the scale in the table below.
Final grades are based on the percentage equivalent in the chart below and are not rounded to the next higher letter grade.
| Letter Grade | Points | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| A | 900–1,000 | 90% to 100% |
| B | 800–899 | 80% to 89.9% |
| C | 700–799 | 70% to 79.9% |
| D | 600–699 | 60% to 69.9% |
| F | 599 and below | Below 60% |
DeVry Graduate Academic Policy and Relevant Resources
DeVry Undergraduate Academic Policy and Relevant Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
When are grades calculated, and how can I view my grades?
- You must complete any quizzes and post your written assignments (if necessary) to the weekly Dropbox by Sunday 11:59 p.m. (MT) each week, except Week 8 which closes at 11:59 p.m. (MT) Saturday.
- Once your work is reviewed, you should see comments and total points for each assignment in the Gradebook. Instructors should have Discussion work graded by the following Tuesday and all other assignments by the following Friday.
- You may check your progress at any time by going to the Gradebook, selecting the week and then your name.
- Click on the points earned for each assignment in the Gradebook to see any instructor comments.
What should I do if a discrepancy is found with my grade?
- Double-check the error and try to determine what caused it.
- Send your instructor an email explaining your findings.
- Trust that any error in grading will be corrected quickly
What if I cannot get my work submitted on time?
- If you have an emergency that will cause your work to be late, please contact your instructor in advance of the due date so that arrangements can be made. Your instructor may reserve the right to deduct points for work turned in late based on the reason and the timeliness of notice.
- If a technical problem prevents you from meeting the scheduled due date, please contact the Help Desk at 1-800-594-2402 and immediately email your instructor about the situation.
How can I get extra credit?
Extra credit is not an option.
Questions and Concerns
Please feel free to contact me for help with coursework or other areas that may impact your progress. Here are some examples.
- Do you have general questions about attendance, deadlines regarding your courses, student financial aid, or other areas?
- Are you a member of the military service? Do you need to adjust your schedule due to active duty, or do you have questions about your GI Bill® benefits or have other unforeseen military and veteran-related issues that have developed?
- Do you need supplementary student assistance? Please let me know if you are having academic difficulty and would like an ADA accommodation. Although I can talk with you about getting assistance, an excellent point of contact is the Office of Student Disability Services. You can reach the Office by calling 877-496-9050, option 3, or by e-mailing adaofficer@devry.edu or adaofficer@keller.edu.
Regardless of your situation, please feel free to contact me for assistance in whatever area of concern you might have. I will do everything I can to assist you or put you in contact with University colleagues who are trained to assist you in whatever area of concern you might have.
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