Isaac moonzwe

PHI 210 – Critical Thinking

© 2015 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.

PHI 210 Student Version 1154 (1270 03-02-2015) Page 1 of 10

Quarter: Fall, 2016

Meeting Days/Time: Wednesday, 5:45 PM- 9:45 PM

Instructor: Dr. Isaac Moonzwe

Instructor’s Phone: (714) 614-7092

Academic Office: (301) 838-4700

Instructor’s Email: isaac.moonzwe@strayer.edu

Instructor Office Hours: Wednesday, 3:30 PM- 5:30 PM

Office Location: Strayer University – White Marsh Campus. Faculty Offices.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Develops ability to identify, analyze, and evaluate reasoning in everyday discourse. Examines the elements of good reasoning from both a formal and informal perspective. Introduces some formal techniques of the basic concepts of deductive and inductive reasoning. Promotes reasoning skills through examining arguments from literature, politics, business, and the media. Enables students to identify common fallacies, to reflect on the use of language for the purpose of persuasion, and to think critically about the sources and biases of the vast quantity of information that confronts us in the "Information Age."

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

Required Resources

Soomo (2013). Critical Thinking. [Webtext]. Asheville, NC: Soomo Publishing. Note: For each week of the course, all of the following materials in the Preparation and Evaluation portions can be accessed through the Webtext link within Blackboard. The Activities portion (discussion question) will not be located in Webtext, but rather in a separate Blackboard link within your shell.

Supplemental Resources

Critical Thinking Community. (2013). Defining Critical Thinking. Retrieved from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/766

Ellerton, P. (2011). Reason to Think. Issues, (95), 33-35. ETS. (2013). Introduction to the Argument Task. Retrieved from

http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/analytical_writing/argument/ Holyoak, K., & Morrison, R. G. (2005). The Cambridge Handbook of Thinking and Reasoning. New York,

NY: Cambridge University Press. Hughes, W. (2000). Critical Thinking: An Introduction to the Basic Skills. Peterborough, Ont: Broadview

Press.

mailto:isaac.moonzwe@strayer.edu

http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/766

http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/analytical_writing/argument/

PHI 210 – Critical Thinking

© 2015 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.

PHI 210 Faculty Version Pilot 1152 (1270 11-21-2014) Final Page 2 of 10

Philosophy Pages. (2011). Categorical Syllogisms. Retrieved from

http://www.philosophypages.com/lg/e08a.htm

Tittle, P. (2011). Critical Thinking: An Appeal to Reason. New York, NY: Routledge.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Define critical thinking.

2. Explain how critical thinking improves the ability to communicate accurately, both orally and in writing.

3. Develop skills for overcoming barriers which limit objective and productive critical thinking.

4. Demonstrate the importance of pre-writing, drafting, and revising; the consideration of audience, purpose, and text; the application of organizational strategies; and the recognition of effective language in written communication.

5. Apply the principles of argumentation to analyze, evaluate, and compose effective arguments.

6. Analyze the purpose of organizational structure to create persuasive arguments.

7. Identify the informal fallacies, assumptions, and biases involved in manipulative appeals and abuses of language.

8. Recognize the hindrances to the decision-making process in order to apply problem- solving skills to a variety of situations.

9. Write clearly and concisely about critical thinking using proper writing mechanics.

10. Use technology and information resources to research issues in critical thinking skills and informal logic.

WEEKLY COURSE SCHEDULE

The standard requirement for a 4.5 credit hour course is for students to spend 13.5 hours in weekly work. This includes preparation, activities, and evaluation regardless of delivery mode.

Week Preparation, Activities, and Evaluation Points

1

10/5

Preparation

(Note: Access materials through the Webtext link in BlackBoard)

 Chapter 1: Thinking

o What is Critical Thinking?

o Why Think Critically?

o The Best Possible

Activities

 Course Expectations and Introductions

 Discussion

Evaluation

20

30

http://www.philosophypages.com/lg/e08a.htm

PHI 210 – Critical Thinking

© 2015 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.

PHI 210 Student Version 1154 (1270 03-02-2015) Page 3 of 10

 Soomo Webtext Assignment: Chapter 1

2

10/12

Preparation

(Note: Access materials through the Webtext link in BlackBoard)

 Chapter 2: Barriers

o Emotions

o Groups and Culture

o Pride

Activities

 Discussion

Evaluation

 Soomo Webtext Assignment: Chapter 2

 Assignment 1.1: Conflicting Viewpoints Essay – Part I

20

30

30

3

10/19

Preparation

(Note: Access materials through the Webtext link in BlackBoard)

 Chapter 3: Arguments

o Arguments are Support

o Deduction

o Induction

Activities

 Discussion

Evaluation

 Soomo Webtext Assignment: Chapter 3

20

30

4

10/26

Preparation

(Note: Access materials through the Webtext link in BlackBoard)

 Chapter 4: Fallacies

o Fallacies

o More Fallacies

o Even More Fallacies

Activities

 Discussion

Evaluation

 Soomo Webtext Assignment: Chapter 4

 Assignment 1.2: Conflicting Viewpoints Essay – Part II

20

30

100

5

11/2

Preparation

(Note: Access materials through the Webtext link in BlackBoard)

 Chapter 5: Sources

PHI 210 – Critical Thinking

© 2015 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.

PHI 210 Faculty Version Pilot 1152 (1270 11-21-2014) Final Page 4 of 10

o Credibility

o Experts

o Everyone Else

Activities

 Discussion

Evaluation

 Soomo Webtext Assignment: Chapter 5

20

30

6

11/9

Preparation

(Note: Access materials through the Webtext link in BlackBoard)

 Chapter 6: Explanations

o Qualities of Explanations

o Scientific Explanations

o Statistics and Fallacies

Activities

 Discussion

Evaluation

 Soomo Webtext Assignment: Chapter 6

 Exam 1: Chapters 1 through 5

20

30

100

7

11/16

Preparation

(Note: Access materials through the Webtext link in BlackBoard)

 Chapter 7: Problem Solving

o Defining the Problem

o Generating Solutions

o Make Your Choice

Activities

 Discussion

Evaluation

 Soomo Webtext Assignment: Chapter 7

20

30

8

11/23

Preparation

(Note: Access materials through the Webtext link in BlackBoard)

 Chapter 8 Language

o Language and Thinking

o Define Your Terms

o Word Games

Activities

 Discussion

Evaluation

20

30

PHI 210 – Critical Thinking

© 2015 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.

PHI 210 Student Version 1154 (1270 03-02-2015) Page 5 of 10

 Soomo Webtext Assignment: Chapter 8

9

11/30

Preparation

(Note: Access materials through the Webtext link in BlackBoard)

 Chapter 9: Ethics

o Ethical Claims

o Ethical Reasoning

o Moral Theories

Activities

 Discussion

Evaluation

 Soomo Webtext Assignment: Chapter 9

 Assignment 2: Problem Solving

20

30

150

10

12/7

Preparation

(Note: Access materials through the Webtext link in BlackBoard)

 Chapter 10: Case Study

o Introduction to the Case Study

o Exploring the Context

o Taking Sides

o Debating Whether to Act

Activities

 Discussion

Evaluation

 Soomo Webtext Assignment: Chapter 10

20

30

11

12/14

Preparation

(Note: Access materials through the Webtext link in BlackBoard)

 Reading(s): None

Activities

 Discussion

Evaluation

 Exam 2: Chapters 6 through 10

20

100

GRADING SCALE – UNDERGRADUATE

Assignment Total Points % of

Grade

PHI 210 – Critical Thinking

© 2015 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.

PHI 210 Faculty Version Pilot 1152 (1270 11-21-2014) Final Page 6 of 10

Weekly Soomo Webtext Assignments 300 30%

Assignment 1.1: Conflicting Viewpoints Essay – Part I 30 3%

Assignment 1.2: Conflicting Viewpoints Essay – Part II 100 10%

Assignment 2: Problem Solving 150 15%

Exam 1: Chapters 1-5 (open book with a 2-hour time limit)

(25 questions, worth 4 points apiece)

100 10%

Exam 2: Sections 6-10 (open book with a 2-hour time limit)

(25 questions, worth 4 points apiece)

100 10%

Participation (11 discussions worth 20 points apiece) 220 22%

Totals 1,000 100%

Points Percentage Grade

900 – 1,000 90% – 100% A

800 – 899 80% – 89% B

700 – 799 70% – 79% C

600 – 699 60% – 69% D

Below 600 Below 60% F

Instructional Materials

In order to be fully prepared, obtain a copy of the required textbooks and other instructional materials prior to the first day of class. When available, Strayer University provides a link to the first three (3) chapters of your textbook(s) in eBook format. Check your online course shell for availability.

Review the online course shell or check with your professor to determine whether Internet-based assignments and activities are used in this course.

Strayer students are encouraged to purchase their course materials through our designated bookstore MBS Direct. http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/strayer.htm If a lab is required for the course, MBS Direct is the only vendor that sells the correct registration code so that Strayer students may access labs successfully.

Discussions

To earn full credit in an online threaded discussion, students must have one original post and a minimum of one other post per discussion thread.

Please note: Material in the online class will be made available three weeks at a time to allow students to work ahead, however, faculty will be focused on and responding only to the current calendar week. As it is always possible that students could lose their work due to unforeseen circumstances, it is a best practice to routinely save a working draft in a separate file before posting in the course discussion area.

http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/strayer.htm

PHI 210 – Critical Thinking

© 2015 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.

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Professors hold discussions during class time for on-ground students. Check with your professor if any additional discussion participation is required in the online course shell outside of class hours.

Tests

Tests (quizzes, midterm and final exams, essay exams, lab tests, etc.) are available for student access and completion through the online course shell. Check the online course shell to determine how students are expected to take the tests. Do not change these questions or their point values in any way. This disrupts the automated grade book preset in the online course shell.

 Online students are to complete the test by Monday 9:00 a.m. Details regarding due dates are posted in the Blackboard Calendar tool.

 On-ground students are to complete the tests after the material is covered and before the next class session.

Assignments

A standardized performance grading rubric is a tool your professor will use to evaluate your written assignments. Review the rubric before submitting assignments that have grading rubrics associated with them to ensure you have met the performance criteria stated on the rubric.

Grades are based on individual effort. There is no group grading; however, working in groups in the online or on-ground classroom is acceptable.

Assignments for online students are always submitted through the online course shell. On-ground professors will inform students on how to submit assignments, whether in paper format or through the online course shell.

Resources

The Resource Center navigation button in the online course shell contains helpful links. Strayer University Library Resources are available here as well as other important information. You should review this area to find resources and answers to common questions.

Technical support is available for the following:

 For technical questions, please contact Strayer Online Technical Support by logging in to your

iCampus account at https://icampus.strayer.edu/login and submitting a case under “Student

Center,” then “Submit Help Ticket.” If you are unable to log in to your iCampus account, please

contact Technical Support via phone at (877) 642-2999.

 For concerns with your class, please access the Solution Center by logging in to your iCampus

account at https://icampus.strayer.edu/login and submitting a case under “Student Center,” then

“Submit Help Ticket.” If you are unable to log in to your iCampus account, please contact the IT

Help Desk at (866) 610-8123 or at mailto:IThelpdesk@Strayer.edu.

TurnItIn.com is an optional online tool to assess the originality of student written work. Check with your professor for access and use instructions.

The Strayer Policies link on the navigation bar in the online course shell contains academic policies. It is important that students be aware of these policies.

UNIVERSITY NOTICES Honor Pledge

https://icampus.strayer.edu/login

https://icampus.strayer.edu/login

mailto:IThelpdesk@Strayer.edu

PHI 210 – Critical Thinking

© 2015 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University.