Aug. 31 |
First Day of Class! A
printable copy of the syllabus is
available. |
Sept. 6 |
The first
essay is assigned! |
Oct. 3 |
The second
essay is assigned. 2 copies of your essay
are due on Tuesday Oct. 9! |
Oct. 18 |
The answer key
for Exam 1 is available. |
Oct. 30 |
The third essay is assigned! 2 copies of your essay are due on Tuesday Nov. 6! |
Nov. 1 |
Exam 2 is scheduled for Thursday Nov.
8. A list
of review topics is available. |
Nov. 27 |
The answer key for Exam 2 is 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: Peer Review
and Scientific Journals
12) 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, 4th 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 Evaluations |
20% |
Final Exam |
20% |
Essays will be turned in every other week on Tuesday. 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 Tuesday when essays are turned into collect an essay for evaluation. Evaluations are due the following Tuesday, in between Tuesday 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% |