Course Syllabus

SYLLABUS

PHI 290-52212: LOGIC (3 credits)

Lake Land College

Oct. 14-Dec. 6, 2024 (online class)

Welcome to Logic!

My name is Tara Blaser and I am your instructor (please call me Tara).

contact information

Online Office Hours: My office is in NW 6 and my office hours are Mondays from 10:30am-2:30pm, and I have 3 more hours that are not time specific when I answer emails each college day.

You must use Canvas e-mail anytime you wish to email me. Furthermore, if you e-mail Friday afternoon or during the weekend, please understand that you will not hear back from me until Monday.  

  

required supplies

1. A computer. Canvas does not reliably support phones and tablets, so even if you have the app, you must stick with using a laptop or a desktop computer to complete assignments. Consequently, please note that you are NOT permitted to use your phone or tablet in this class for anything aside from checking email.
2. Reliable internet. It is your responsibility to meet all deadlines, so you must have a backup plan for what to do if your internet connection goes down.
3. The course book, which is entitled: Logic: An Emphasis on Critical Thinking and Informal Logic, 4th edition, by Stan Baronett,  (ISBN # 9780190691875). This book must be picked up or purchased from the Lake Land College Bookstore before classes begin. For more information, call the bookstore at (217) 234-5275.

 

classroom location

This is an online class, so everything for the course will take place on Canvas.

 

course description

Introduction to formal reasoning, including:  language and meaning, deduction and induction, evidence, syllogistic argument and science and hypotheses.

 

final exam

You will find the final exam schedule here.
Since this is an online course, you will not be required to come to campus for a final exam.

 

specific course information

1. Logic is a difficult course, so you should spend a lot of time each week working on it. With that said, I have given you access to all assignments and content, so you can work ahead, if you wish. Since many of you will not work ahead, I will not discuss correct answers with you until the deadline for assignments has passed.
2. You will have access to all assignments immediately, so you are more than welcome to work ahead. YAY!!! 
3. Assignments are always due Monday mornings at 11am. That way, if you have any issues with Canvas, you can contact someone at the help desk to assist you (217-234-5261).
4. Late work is docked 10% per day, beginning one second after the due date.
   In other words, if you submit work one second after the 11:00am deadline, it will be counted as late and docked 10%. If you submit work two days late, it will be docked 20%, and so on. Please note that I will NOT debate with you over when an assignment was submitted. This late grade policy will be determined by the clock that Canvas keeps.
5. Homework: You must make sure to have your completed homework with you before you begin the process of submitting it because you only have a limited amount of time in Canvas to get your answers submitted. This method allows you to submit the homework and have it graded for you immediately. 
6. You are allowed TWO attempts for the two tests (not the final exam), but if you opt to take a test a second time, you must do it before the due date. Canvas will keep the highest grade if you opt to take a test twice. If you are happy with your grade after the first attempt, you do not need to take it a second time.
7. Your lowest homework grade will be dropped.
8. Homework and tests: When you click on the link to submit homework or take a test, you must complete it at that time - you cannot begin and then pause or come back later. 
9. Tests: YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO USE YOUR NOTES DURING THE TESTS, UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED. 
10. When you take a test or submit homework, you will receive your score in Canvas immediately. However, you will not have access to correct answers until after deadline.
11. When you submit assignments, you can immediately click on the attachment and view exactly what I can view. Consequently, I will not check it for you or send you a confirmation that I have received your assignment. 
12. If you need help learning how to submit assignments, contact the nice Lake Land computer folks at 217-234-5261 for help. 
13. It is your responsibility to be sure I have received all assignments through the assignment button (attachments). Technological problems do arise, but it is your responsibility to meet all deadlines, regardless of any problems. Any technological problems that are not directly Lake Land College's fault are your responsibility. You must have a back-up plan for how to complete and submit assignments in case you have a technological issue. If, however, Lake Land College is responsible for a technology failure (ex: the server is down), I will make appropriate accommodations for the class. Again, direct technological questions to 217-234-5261.
14. I will not discuss a grade with you once that grade has been posted beyond one week. Consequently, if you have any questions or concerns about a grade, you must get in touch with me within a week after I have posted that grade.

grade breakdown

Your class grade is based on this scale:

           100%-90% = A 

            89%-80% = B

           79%-70% = C

            69%-60% = D

            59% and below = F

You will tentatively be graded based on the following criteria. Assignments may be added to or subtracted from the list below:

Homework - 30 points each

Tests and final exam - 50-100 points each

 

how to be successful in this class

1. Begin each module every Monday morning.
2. Follow the TIPS, when they are provided.
3. Submit assignments on time (before Monday mornings at 11am).
4. Contact the Canvas Help Desk if you have tech problems (217-234-5439).
5. Spend at least 3 hours/day on this class. For any full semester 3 credit course, a college student is expected to spend 9 hours a week working on that particular class. Since we are an accelerated class (2 month instead of 4 months), then you need to keep up by putting in the work every single day.
6. Read all assignments and take notes.
7. Watch all videos and take notes.
8. Work through each module.

Please pay attention to the TIPS that I provide because they will help you with the homework. Additionally, you must begin each module Monday morning and budget at least 18 hours a week of time for this course. Logic is NOT a class where you can succeed if you wait until the last minute to begin the work for that module.

   

academic integrity issues 

If you engage in any type of academic dishonesty, such as cheating or plagiarism, you will fail the class and be reported to V.P. Lynch for further disciplinary action. Plagiarism is the presenting of others’ ideas as if they were your own. When you write an essay, create a project, or create anything original, it is assumed that all the work is yours, except for that which is attributed to another author or creator. Consequently, it is extremely important to provide credit when you use any words or ideas from another person, even if you put the information into your own words. Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to:

• paraphrasing the work of another and not giving credit to that source, including AI
• copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit, including AI
• submitting an assignment that you copied from the internet (partially or whole), including AI
• submitting an assignment that someone else wrote (partially or whole), including AI
• having someone else do your homework for you (partially or whole), including AI
• receiving help from a friend or elsewhere to complete an assignment, including AI
• giving an assignment to someone else after you have completed it
• giving answers to someone else during or after you have taken a quiz
• using answers from someone else before or during a quiz
• using the book, notes, or internet during a quiz
• using another project as your own
• using an image or a copy of an image with crediting its source.
• paraphrasing another’s line of thinking in the development of a topic as your own

[Adapted from the Modern Language Association’s MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. New York: MLA, 1995: 26.]

Here is Lake Land College's Academic Integrity Policy: https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/student-handbook/academic-integrity-code/ 

 

student conduct

You are expected to behave in a professional manner, which means you should not be rude, threatening, or harassing. If you behave in such a manner, disciplinary actions will be taken.

Here is Lake Land College's Student Code of Conduct: https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/student-handbook/student-code/

helpful information

Everyone has issues at one point or another in life.Lake Land College has services that may be able to help you.

Office of Student Accommodations - Lake Land College is committed to providing a quality educational experience to all students. As such, Lake Land provides academic support services for students who have a documented disability. Find out if you qualify and get support at this office.

 

Financial Aid Office - Get financial aid information and questions answered at this office.

 

Foundation Office (scholarships) - Find out what kinds of scholarships you can apply for and get those applications at this office.

 

TRiO - TRiO is funded by the U.S. Department of Education to help students complete their academic goals and graduate from Lake Land College. The TRiO counselors and advisors work with each student individually, providing and connecting students with a wide variety of support services, events and activities. TRiO provides one-on-one meetings with staff, informative workshops, and access to educational, social and cultural opportunities available only to TRiO participants. All of TRiO services are free to eligible students. 

 

Veteran Programs - The Veterans' Office is located in the Financial Aid Office. You are welcome to stop by to ask what services are available to veterans or you can contact Danielle Downs in the Financial Aid & Veteran Services Office at (217) 234-5255.   

 

Laker Food Pantry - With support from the Lake Land College Foundation and its partnership with the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, Lake Land College is working to end food insecurity and hunger among our students and their families. If you are a Lake Land College student, it is easy to obtain food through the Laker Food Pantry. Ask a teacher for help OR complete the Shopping List linked in the Pantry site. Food is available for same-day pick-up at the pantry or for next-day delivery to another location on campus.

 

Tutoring Center - Get tutoring and other help at this office.

 

Lake Land College Early Advantage Program (LEAP) -  This program is free, voluntary, and confidential. The Lake Land College Early Advantage Program (LEAP) identifies services on campus that might be beneficial to achieving success in courses for which the student is struggling.  Students can join the program themselves or ask a teacher to enroll them. 

 

Safe Zone - Safe Zone was created by the Inclusion & Diversity Education Task Force to address the concerns of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and ally community at Lake Land College and the surrounding area. Safe Zone is a way to reach out to these students and welcome them in all areas of the LLC community. Safe Zones are areas on and around campus where supportive people provide information and work toward the elimination of myths, misconceptions, and stereotypes. 

  

Fitness Center - Use this facility to work out.

 

Mental Health Services - Find out about TimelyCare, which gives you free access to online therapy sessions.

Crisis and Community Mental Health Resources - These are community services available to you.

gen ed goals

Critical Thinking: Students will apply critical thinking skills through analyzing data and arguments and transferring insights to new contexts.

 

Problem Solving:  Students will demonstrate scientific and quantitative problem-solving skills through applying the scientific method and performing mathematical operations.

 

course outcomes

Course Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate proficiency in understanding key names, terms and concepts specific to the course.
• Apply course material to a selected personal, social, or educational topic. 
• Discuss and/or analyze course material effectively in writing, including the appropriate use of a documentation method when specified by the instructor.

 

IAI course description

H4906 : Introduction to Logic/Critical Thinking (3 semester credits)

A study of the rules of valid judging and reasoning, both inductive and deductive, in a traditional, language-centered context rather than a symbolic context. Logical analysis of both formal and informal fallacies and of the consistency and logical consequences of a given set of statements is included. Logical analysis is applied to concrete problems dealing with our knowledge of reality.

remember this information is here

I recommend that you print this page, or at least remember that it is here for future reference because you are held responsible for all policies and deadlines, even in the event that your internet connection isn't reliable. 
 

Below is a list of due dates for the course, along with links to assignments, and you will also find this information within each section's module.