PHIL 2303: LOGIC
COURSE INFORMATION 8-2003
Student Conference Times MW 2:15— 3:15 TT 2:15 — 3:15
F 11:20 — 12:00 (And most afternoons when I am not in class)
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION: Includes the principles of logic, including deduction, induction, meanings and usages of language, argument and fallacies, the correct use of these principles in reasoning, and their practical application in everyday life. Semester Hours 3 (3 lec)
COURSE OUTLINE: Unit I: Logic, Reasoning, Induction, and Science
Unit II: Deductive Arguments and Symbolic Logic
Unit III: Language and Fallacies
TEXTBOOK: Stephen Layman, The Power of Logic, 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill.
CLASS ATTENDANCE: Given the subject matter of this course and the way student skills are practiced, regular and punctual attendance is essential to student success. Students with excessive absences will be dropped from the roll in accordance with the following policy: Except in cases of significant and documented extenuating circumstances, students who miss two consecutive weeks of class or who accumulate absences which total at least 25% of the semester's scheduled meetings WILL BE DROPPED from the course!. Should you ever have to miss consecutive classes, I suggest that you contact me by phone. Students are responsible for all work assigned or covered in classes from which they were absent. Students will be provided with periodic updates regarding their attendance status.
PUNCTUALITY, AND PARTICIPATION: Habitual tardiness and repeated early departures from the class are disruptive and will not be tolerated. Nor will students be permitted to wander in and out of class! These activities will be counted as partial absences and treated accordingly. If you should ever have to come into this class late, PLEASE DO NOT CUT CLASS. Instead, please enter quietly and take a seat BY THE DOOR and then check with me after class to assure that I have your partial attendance credited. So, please note that a rare late arrival will NOT cause you problems, but recurring tardiness will eventually lead to a student being dropped from the course. The great majority of college students understand the need for civility toward others. Most students routinely exhibit such behavior, and expect their classrooms to be free from distractions. So please be assured that significant or chronic disruptive behaviors will not be tolerated in this class. (For example: abusive language, eating, sleeping, chatting, cell phone use, bringing children or other guests, coming and going, etc.)
EXAMS: Each unit will include a unit exam. During the course of each unit the student will complete a pretest over the material for that unit. Since this pretest (or practice exam) will cover the same material as the "real exam" (and be in the same format), it will serve as learning objectives and a final self-check of unit skills prior to the exam. Students maintaining at least a C average and at least an 85% attendance rate, will be exempt from taking the comprehensive final exam.
COMPUTATION OF COURSE GRADE: Each of the three unit exams and the comprehensive final will comprise 25% of a student's course grade, to which will be added any extra credit points which have been earned as explained above. The minimum average required for an A is 90, for a B is 80, and for a C is 70. All final grades are rounded UP from .5 and above. Students who maintain at least a “C” average on the three unit exams will be exempt from taking the comprehensive final exam (as described above) and will have each unit exam grade comprise 33.3% of their final grade.
EXTRA CREDIT OPTIONS: Students who maintain an 85% attendance rate will qualify for certain extra credit opportunities during the term. These will be described later.
SPECIAL HELP FOR STUDENTS: Students are expected to work diligently to master course skills. Anyone who experiences significant or prolonged difficulty with course content is expected to seek individual assistance from the instructor--and perhaps in some cases, from the Tutorial Center (which can provide tutors). In accordance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), MCC's designated ADA co-coordinators, Dr. Johnette McKown, Executive Vice President and Dr. Lynn Abernathy, Vice President, Student Services, are responsible for coordinating the College's efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under ADA. Students with disabilities requiring physical alteration of the classroom setting (e.g., separate table and chair, wheelchair access, etc.) should inform their instructor or contact Dianne Feyerherm at 299-8843 or dfeyerherm@mclennan.edu . Students with all other disabilities (e.g., learning, ADD, dyslexia, etc.) should contact Katie Garrett at 299-8428 or kgarrett@mclennan.edu .