Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking

This page provides general information about the course in Logic and Critical Thinking that I used to teach at Hunter College.

course description

This course aims to empower students to use critical thinking to learn more effectively and make better judgments in their academic, professional, and personal life. Students in this course will learn to diagnose and avoid common errors in reasoning, analyze and evaluate arguments, write better papers, and use elementary formal logic. This is not a thorough introduction to formal logic (also known as symbolic, deductive, or mathematical logic).
textbooks
  • Weston, Anthony. A Rulebooky for Arguments, 4th ed. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2008.
  • Engel, S. Morris. With Good Reason, 6th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2000.
  • Magnus, P.D. forall x. 2008. http://www.fecundity.com/logic/.
learning objectives

After this course, students should be able to:

  1. Analyze arguments in natural language
  2. Evaluate arguments and identify logical fallacies
  3. Use elementary propositional logic
  4. Write better thesis-governed papers
assignments & assessments
  1. Various in-class group activities
  2. Online homework assignments
  3. "Found Argument" analyses
  4. Structured in-class debate
  5. 1,200-word argumentative essay
  6. Two in-class midterm exams
  7. Mock exams (with peer review)
  8. Final exam
syllabus

Please contact me if you are interested in previous syllabi from this course.
Notes

I've taught this course two or three times a year now since 2006.