Strayer university white marsh campus

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.

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All work submitted for this course is subject to the University’s Academic Integrity Policy available in the Student Handbook and the University’s Honor Pledge, printed below: I have read and understand Strayer University’s Academic Integrity Policy. I promise to conduct myself with integrity in the submission of all academic work to the University and will not give or receive unauthorized assistance for the completion of assignments, research papers, examinations or other work. I understand that violations of the Academic Integrity Policy will lead to disciplinary action against me, up to and including suspension or expulsion from the University. I understand that all students play a role in preserving the academic integrity of the University and have an obligation to report violations of the Academic Integrity Policy committed by other students. Academic Integrity Strayer University holds its students to high standards of academic integrity and will not tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of intellectual dishonesty include, but are not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, fabricating data or citations, stealing examinations, using instructor editions of textbooks without authorization, taking an exam for another, tampering with the academic work of another student, facilitating other students’ acts of academic dishonesty, and resubmitting work completed in another course (with the exception of compiling previous coursework, if approved, into a Directed Research Project). Plagiarism Plagiarism means the act of passing off the work or ideas of another person as one’s own. Plagiarism can be either intentional (for example, downloading a research paper from the Internet and submitting it as one’s original work), or unintentional (for example, the single improper citation of another person’s statement). Both forms of plagiarism are unacceptable at Strayer University, but the penalties may vary with the type and seriousness of the infraction. Turnitin Due to Strayer University’s firm belief in upholding academic integrity and honesty, a contract has been signed with Turnitin, which is essentially software to detect and avoid plagiarism. Courses including essays, research papers, or any writing assignments as assessment items serve to evaluate not only the effectiveness of a student’s writing skills, but also a student’s research skills (including proper citations and references), critical-thinking skills, and ability to provide strong argument to support and defend their point-of-view. In order to effectively and fairly measure these attributes in a student, it is important to know that the student has submitted original work. This is where the Turnitin feature is utilized. Students are allowed to run their writing assignment through this software to detect any instance of plagiarism and then perform the necessary changes before making the final submission to their Instructor for grading. This opportunity allows the students to make corrections in their paper and submit original work. The Instructor reserves the right to run the students’ work through this utility again and, in the event of finding any level of plagiarism, may use his/her discretion to grade the students’ work. APA Style Strayer University uses the APA (American Psychological Association) Writing Style in all its courses which require a formal writing assignment. Instructors provide information on some useful resources in the course. V092009 Course Participation Guidelines for Students The University encourages open discussion within its courses and often asks students to draw from personal experience in their responses to course assignments. Though such information should be used only for educational purposes, the University cannot guarantee that such information will remain confidential. Students are responsible for knowing the applicable polices of their employers and others with regard to the sharing of confidential information and using appropriate discretion. Additional care should be used when posting to online discussion boards where written comments are preserved. The University is not legally responsible for any inappropriate postings through its online discussion boards (i.e. those that violate University policy, defame another person, etc.). In order to preserve an open

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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discussion within the classroom environment, students may choose to not specifically identify their current or previous employers by name or withhold other similar identifying information. Questions or concerns regarding this policy should be directed to the course instructor or the applicable Campus Dean, Strayer University Online Dean of Students or the Dean of Student Affairs. Attendance Policy Students are expected to attend all regularly scheduled classes. Should absences be necessary, students are responsible for the material covered during the absences. Faculty cannot grant requests for excessive amounts of make-up material, and they may request written documentation detailing the reason for the absences. Excessive absences make it almost impossible for a student to meet the academic objectives of a course; they frequently cause a student to receive a lower grade, even though, the absences were unavoidable. Strayer University requires all faculty members to take attendance during each class period and to record it accurately on their permanent roster. This data is available for verification of attendance by the appropriate governmental agencies and educational accrediting organizations. A student who is absent from four consecutive class meetings, excluding holidays and emergency cancellation of classes, will be withdrawn automatically from that course. A student will be withdrawn automatically from a mini-session course when he/she misses two consecutively scheduled class meetings. Attendance in an online asynchronous course is automatically recorded by the system. Even though accessing an online asynchronous course only once a week is sufficient for a student for attendance purposes, an active participation by the student helps the student’s performance and overall grade. Each week runs from Monday through Sunday (midnight) Eastern Time. In a Synchronous course, attendance is taken by the Instructor during each live session. Grade Dispute Policy Disputes regarding grades may be raised only on FINAL grades. The student must dispute a final grade within thirty (30) calendar days after the end of the course for which the grade was awarded or the date the grade was awarded, whichever is later. After this time, the University will not evaluate grade disputes from the student. Grade disputes are subject to a 3-level review process. The student must first submit the grade dispute in writing to the instructor of the course for which the grade was received. The dispute must include copies of any documentation that supports the student’s request for a change of grade. Within ten (10) working days of receiving the student’s dispute, the instructor will respond V092009 to the student to explain the grade awarded and/or will provide a detailed written explanation that includes the final grade calculation as specified by the syllabus grading criteria. If the instructor is unavailable or does not respond within ten (10) working days, or if the student feels there is additional information that needs to be reviewed in response to the faculty member’s decision, he or she should refer to the Student Handbook at https://icampus.strayer.edu/publications/student_handbook for information on how to proceed. Inclement Weather Policy In the event of inclement weather, consult the Strayer University student website at https://icampus.strayer.edu/ for information on University closings and delays. Netiquette Since most communication in the online learning interface takes place in written form, it is extremely critical to understand “netiquette” (“net etiquette”) that covers a wide variety of conventions, all of which relate to maintaining a certain code of conduct in online communications. Strayer University strongly upholds its students, staff, and faculty to highest standards of conduct and expects all to demonstrate these acceptable courteous behaviors and practices in online communications as well. This is to ensure that the students, staff, and faculty experience a professional and pleasant virtual environment. There are several resources available over the Internet that discuss the definition and core principles of netiquette but, briefly, being respectful, thoughtful, meaningful, and ethical are all fundamental rules of netiquette. To review some detailed guidelines on Netiquette, refer to the website by the Responsible Use of the Network Group of the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) at

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 10 of 10

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1855.txt?number=1855 or the book titled “Netiquette” by Virginia Shea (1994). There are several other resources and literature available on this topic both online and on print and can be searched via the Internet. UNIVERSITY SERVICES Learning Resources/Library A variety of learning resources designed to help students succeed academically is available through the Strayer University Library and Learning Resources Center (LRC). Each campus LRC offers resources, books, and periodicals for research. Circulating books located at any LRC may be requested for use through the LRC Manager. Library resources are also available online, and can be accessed from any computer connected to Internet. The Library’s online databases and other research resources can be accessed after login through the University’s website at https://icampus.strayer.edu/lrc/home. eCollege online courses can also link to the Library through the Resource tab located on the course web pages. Library web pages provide thousands of full text periodicals; over 50,000 electronic books; radio and TV transcripts; the complete Encyclopedia Britannica and other reference sources; access to the Strayer University Library catalog; online tutorials, and useful links to Internet resources. A tour of the LRC, if possible, is highly recommended and can be scheduled through your LRC Manager. Tutoring Services Tutoring is offered for undergraduate level courses in subject areas such as English, writing skills development, mathematics, accounting and computer information systems. All students have access to these free tutoring services-whether they are taking classes at a brick-and-mortar V092009 campus or via Strayer Online. Tutoring services are provided by either a full-time or part-time faculty member with a strong background in the subject area in which he or she is tutoring. Campus based tutoring schedules vary slightly, but typically tutoring services are available Monday through Friday in the late afternoon and Saturday mornings in order to accommodate the needs of our student body. Students should check with their Academics Office for a tutoring schedule and information on how to schedule an appointment. Notice to Students with Disabilities Strayer University welcomes students with disabilities and provides reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids and services in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws. A student with a disability is not required to disclose his/her disability to the University unless he or she wishes the University to provide a reasonable accommodation. If you desire accommodations for a disability in this course and have not already contacted the Director of Disability Services with your request, please do so immediately. Requests may be submitted to: Director, Disability Services, 1133 Fifteenth Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20005, Phone: (877) 261- 6908, Fax: (202) 419-1423. Security on Campus Any person in immediate danger due to crime or emergency while on University property should contact local police immediately by dialing 911. When the emergency has subsided, the victim should also report the incident as soon as possible to the Campus Director of the location where the incident occurred. The University’s Campus