Logic - PHL 1020
Fall 2007
Section 1 MWF 12:20 - 1:15, Kaplan 3
Section 2 TTh 11:10 - 12:35, Hudson 101
Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY

DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
Logic is is the study of arguments and one of the fundamental areas of philosophy. Because it studies arguments in terms of the way they are presented - both in terms of the way they are organized and the non-structural elements - what one learns in this course applies to any other course, subject, discipline, and endeavor one might engage in. The course does not focus on the topics of specific arguments, but the way we arguments are presented and how to evaluate arguments one confronts.

Specifically, this course will cover four areas: a general overview and introduction to logic, informal logic, and formal logic (both propositional and categorical logic). The objectives for this course are:e

1. recall basic terms and concepts related to logic
2. dentify arguments as they are presented in everyday language and distinguish them from other uses of language.
3. organize everyday arguments into standard form by listing the premises and conclusion
4. be able to identify common fallacies.
5. assess propositional arguments to determine whether they are valid or invalid
6. determine what, if any, valid inferences can be made from a set of premise

TEXT
The text for this class is An Introduction to Logic: Evaluating Arguments. Atomic Dog Publishing: Cincinnati, OH. 2001. ISBN: 1-931442-05-3

ASSIGNMENTS - Links to specific assignments are found on the schedule.
There will be three tests in this course. One will cover the basic concepts and ideas of logic and categorical logic, the second will cover propositional logic, and the third will cover informal logic. Each will be worth 150 points.

There will also be a final, cumulative test worth 200 points.

There will be ten short quizzes each worth 25 points. Five will be in class on part of the material each test will cover - 1 on the first half of the informal logic material, 2 on parts of categorical logic, and 2 on parts of propositional logic. The remaining five will be online quizzes for each chapter and will be reviews of the material from those chapters.; these will be available via WebCT).

The final 100 points will be for five homework and in-class assignments.

GRADING
Final grades will be determined by the total points you earn on all the assignments. I will use the following scale to determine the grade:

A 1000 - 920	B- 799 - 780	D+ 669 - 640
A- 919 - 900	C+ 779 - 740	D 639 - 580
B+ 899 - 860	C 739 - 700	F 579 - 0
B 859 - 800	C- 699 - 670

POLICIES

1. Complete work on time: your are expected to be an active participant in class and this requires having your work done before class starts. If you come to class unprepared, I may ask ask you to leave.
2. Late work is penalized: any assignment, including quizzes and testes, that is late by one class period is marked down by 5%; 10% if it is later than that. If you know you must miss a class for a scheduled event (religious holiday, athletics, etc.), please let me know in advance so we can make arrangements for making up the work. It is also your responsibility to be sure that I get the work you submit. If you turn something in other then during class, you must check to be sure that I did get it.
3. End of the semester and late work: Aany work submitted on the last day of class will be subject to 20% penalty. Furthermore, any work submitted at any time after the last student has completed the final during the regularly scheduled session of the last section of this class will not be counted.
4. PLAGIARISM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. READ, KNOW AND LIVE THIS. Plagiarism is any use of information, idea, or words of another person or source that is not document. I make every effort to return work within one week of the due date (failure of my doing so results in additional credit to you equivalent to the late penalties noted above), however, in cases where I suspect plagiarism I reserve the right to change your grade after this I have returned your work if I find evidence of plagiarism. You may wish to work with other people, but the work you turn in must be your own work. Instances of plagiarism can range from failure to document sources (an offense that will result in a 10% deduction of the possible points of the assignment from you grade) to verbatium copying selections from another source and (an offense that will result in receiving a 0 on the assignment and will result in the lowering of your final grade by at least one full letter grade). In cases where two classmates copy work together, I will grade the best paper and split the grade between the two offenders unless one admits to the plagiarism. If you plagiarize in any form a second time in this class, you fail.
5. Tolerance: You must show consideration and tolerance to others. If you are not being considerate or tolerant, you will be asked to leave the classroom.
6. Cell phones: If you have one and bring it to class make sure either that you turn it off or set the ringer to vibrate. If your cell phone goes off during class, I will take it and personally turn it off.the first time. The second time, I will ask for it whenever you enter the classroom and turn it off and return it at the end of each class period.
7. iPods and other electronic devices: If I see headphones on or in your ears, I will take them. You can keep the iPod, mp3 player, etc., but if you want to listen to it you will need new headphones.

COURSE SCHEDULE
Section 1 MWF
Section 2 TH
This is the schedule as I initially perceive it. I may make changes in the schedule to reflect the rate of progress we make, but I will announce any changes to the schedule in class and update the schedule on the web site.

PRACTICE PROBLEMS
This is a link to a list of practice problems you can use for various sections of the course. I will try to add more to the sets as the semester continues.