Instructor: Dr. Shane Drefcinski
Office: 339 Gardner Hall
Office phone: 342-1828
Fax number: 608-342-1427
E-mail: Drefcins@uwplatt.edu
Home Page: http://vms.www.uwplatt.edu/~drefcins/index.html
Office Hours:
MW: 1000-1200
TR: 1100-1400
and by appointment.
Required Texts:
Course Content: This course deals with the practical application of logic in the analysis of arguments. The first unit focuses on techniques for identifying basic arguments and determining whether or not they are deductively valid. The second unit focuses on more complicated arguments and introduces the techniques of symbolic logic for determining whether or not they are deductively valid. The third unit focuses on inductive arguments, fallacies, arguments by analogy, and definitions. Notice that this course does not fulfill a humanities requirement for UWP.
Grading: Grades are based on three exams and a combination of quizzes and short assignments. The first two exams are unit exams and are each worth 75 points. The combination of quizzes and short assignments are worth a total of 150 points. Finally, the final exam, which is cumulative, is worth 100 points. While there is no grade based on classroom participation, solid classroom participation will improve borderline grades.
Policy on Missed Exams and Quizzes, Late Assignments, and Incompletes:
The student must inform the instructor before the exam that will be missed,
preferably in person, and must provide an acceptable reason for the absence.
Students who miss the exam without prior notification will not be allowed
to make up the exam. Make-up exams may be slightly more difficult.
Assignments must be turned in on the assigned date. An assignment
that is turned in late will be penalized unless an emergency or illness
prevented the student from turning it in on time. Incompletes will
not be routinely assigned for unfinished course work. In order to
receive an incomplete the student must consult the instructor before the
week of final exams and provide an acceptable reason why the coursework
cannot be completed. Finally, any student who may need an accommodation
due to a disability should see me. A VISA from Services for Students with
Disabilities authorizing your accommodations will be need.
Unit I: Classical Deductive Logic
Week of January 21-23
Read: Kelley, ch. 5 (pp. 87-104).
Answer: exercises A, C & D (pp. 116-122).
Week of January 26-30
Week of February 2-6
Week of February 9-13
Week of February 16-20
Read: Kelley, ch. 11 (pp. 301-08).
Answer: Kelley, ch. 11, exercises A, C: 1-5 (pp. 323-25).
Friday, February 20–First Examination.
Week of February 23-27
Week of March 1-5
Week of March 8-12
Read: Kelley, ch. 13 (pp. 388-95).
Answer: Kelly, ch. 13, exercise E, F (pp. 400-03).
Friday, March 12–Short Assignment #2 Due
“Spring” Break–March 15-19
Week of March 22-26
Read: Kelley, ch. 14 (pp. 405-24).
Answer: Kelly, ch. 14, exercises B and C (pp. 443-45).
Week of March 29-April 2
Read: Dolan, Inference and Imagination, pp. 139-62, 235-51.
Answer: Kelley, ch. 14, exercise F using truth trees (pp. 447-49).
Friday, April 2–Logic Quiz #5
Week of April 5-7 (April 9: No classes on Good Friday)
Week of April 12-16
Unit III: Inductive and Informal Logic
Week of April 19-23
Read: Kelley, ch. 15 (pp. 451-78).
Answer: Kelley, ch. 15, exercise D (pp. 479-84).
Friday, April 23–Short Assignment #3 Due
Week of April 26-30
Argument by Analogy,
Fallacies
Week of May 3-7
Read: Connell, Logical Analysis, ch. 42-43 (pp. 276-88); Kelley,
ch. 3 (pp. 36-45).
Answer: Kelley, ch. 3, exercises A, B (pp. 53-54).
Wednesday, May 5–Logic Quiz #7
Final examination: Take-home due on Tuesday, May 11.