| Aug.
31: |
First Day of Class! A printable
copy of the syllabus
is available. |
| Sept. 30: | The list of review topics for Exam 1
is now available. |
| Oct. 26: | The Answer Key for Exam 1 is
now on-line. Please come see me if you have any questions about
your grade. |
| Nov. 2: | The list of review topics for Exam 2 is now available |
| Nov. 16: | The Answer Key for Exam 2 is
now on-line. Please come see me if you have any questions about
your grade. |
| Nov. 16: | Essay 4 is assigned.
Due date is Nov. 23rd, and don't forget to turn in two copies. |
| Dec. 8: | The list of review topics for the Final Exam is now available |
Material Covered: Readings:
1)
What
is science?
Ben-Ari, Chapters
1, 2, and 3
2) Case Study:
Astrology
Ben-Ari, Chapters 5
3) Critical
Thinking Basics
Vaughn, Chapter 1
4) Credibility
Vaughn,
Chapter 4
5) Case
Study: Cold Fusion
Ben-Ari, Chapter 6
6) Rhetoric
and Fallacies (2 weeks)
Vaughn, Chapter 5
7) Case Study: UFOs
Vaughn,
Chapter 10
8) Varieties
of Argument
Vaughn,
Chapter 3
9) Deductive
Arguments
Vaughn, Chapters 6 and 7;
and
Ben-Ari, Chapter 11
10) Inductive
Arguments
Vaughn,
Chapter 8; and
Ben-Ari, Chapter 10
11) Case
Study: Dark Matter
What is the
Universe Made of?
Additional
Course
Information:
Course Goals:
To learn the basic
skills of reasoning, including the types and structures of arguments,
common fallacies, and critical evaluation of evidence.
To understand the
scientific thinking process.
To understand the
difference between science and pseudoscience.
To understand the
difference between good science and junk science.
Required Texts:
Vaughn,
Lewis, The Power of Critical Thinking, 2nd edition
Ben-Ari, Moti, Just A Theory
Both
of these books are available at the Hornet Bookstore.
| Exam 1 |
15% |
| Exam 2 |
15% |
| Class participation |
10% |
| Essay Portfolio |
20% |
| Essay Evalutations |
20% |
| Final Exam |
20% |
Essays will be turned in every other week on Monday. Two copies must be turned in at that time. One copy will be read by me and returned with comments, and the other will be read by a classmate as an essay evaluation and then returned with their comments. Essays must be no longer than 2 pages, double spaced, in a 12 point font, with 1 inch margins, and they may be shorter as long as you satisfactorily complete the assignment. At the end of the semester you will pick your two best essays, revise them, and turn them in for grading as your essay portfolio.
Essay evaluations will be one page, double spaced, in a 12 point font with 1 inch margins. You will read a classmate's essay and criticize (which means mention both good and bad aspects!!) the critical thinking and reasoning used in the essay. I will grade your evaluations on a credit/no credit basis, if I judge you have made an honest effort in your evaluation. You must be in class on Monday when essays are turned into collect an essay for evaluation. Evaluations are due the following Monday, in between Mondays when essays are due.
Extra credit may be earned by bringing into class examples of psuedo-science being passed off as real science in the popular press. Examples may come from newspapers, magazines, books, etc.... Only printed materials are allowed – no web sites!!! no TV shows!!! no movies!!! The example must be a case where someone is taking the pseudo-science seriously – sarcastic or satiric examples do not qualify. With each example you must submit a one page, double spaced write up in a 12 point font with 1 inch margins. The write up will critically evaluate the pseudoscientific claims being made, pointing out specific weaknesses in the arguments used.
| A |
>=95% |
| A- |
>=90% |
| B+ |
>=87% |
| B |
>=82% |
| B- |
>=77% |
| C+ |
>=73% |
| C |
>=69% |
| C- |
>=66% |
| D+ |
>=62% |
| D |
>=58% |
| D- |
>=55% |
| F |
less
than 55% |