Scribd
Upload
130 views4 pages

Course Outline Logic 2016

This document provides information about the "Logic and Critical Thinking" course offered at Wachamo University. The course aims to introduce students to fundamental concepts of logic and methods of logical reasoning. Students will learn to analyze, evaluate, and construct arguments and sharpen their ability to think critically. The course objectives are for students to understand relationships between logic and philosophy, differentiate types of meanings and arguments, apply logical symbols, develop open-minded and logical reasoning skills, and understand basic critical thinking concepts and principles. The course will be taught using student-centered methods like discussions and debates and will be assessed through exams, assignments, and a final exam. Required textbooks and reference materials are also listed.

Uploaded by

Berhanu Ergano Domago
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
130 views4 pages

Course Outline Logic 2016

This document provides information about the "Logic and Critical Thinking" course offered at Wachamo University. The course aims to introduce students to fundamental concepts of logic and methods of logical reasoning. Students will learn to analyze, evaluate, and construct arguments and sharpen their ability to think critically. The course objectives are for students to understand relationships between logic and philosophy, differentiate types of meanings and arguments, apply logical symbols, develop open-minded and logical reasoning skills, and understand basic critical thinking concepts and principles. The course will be taught using student-centered methods like discussions and debates and will be assessed through exams, assignments, and a final exam. Required textbooks and reference materials are also listed.

Uploaded by

Berhanu Ergano Domago
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Wachamo University

College of Social Science and Humanities


Department of CIVICs and GaDS
Course Title: Logic and Critical Thinking Semester: I
Course Code: LoCT- 1011 Credit Hour: 5ECTS/ 3CrH
Academic Year: 2023/24 Instructor’s Name: Berhanu E.
I. Course Description
Logic and Critical Thinking is an inquiry that takes arguments as its basic objects of
investigation. Logic is concerned with the study of arguments, and it seeks to
establish the conditions under which an argument may be considered acceptable or
good. Critical thinking is an exercise, a habit, a manner of perception and reasoning
that has principles of logic as its fulcrum, and dynamically involves various reasoning
skills that ought to be human approach to issues and events of life. To think critically
is to examine ideas, evaluate them against what you already know and make decisions
about their merit. The aim of logic and critical thinking course is to maintaining an
‘objective’ position. When you think critically, you weigh up all sides of an argument
and evaluate its validity, strengths and weaknesses. Thus, critical thinking skills entail
actively seeking all sides of an argument evaluating the soundness of the claims
asserted and the evidence used to support the claims. This course attempts to
introduce the fundamental concepts of logic and methods of logical reasoning. The
primary aim of this course is to teach students essential skills of analyzing, evaluating,
and constructing arguments, and to sharpen their ability to execute the skills in
thinking and writing.
Course Objectives
Ethiopia is striving to guarantee sustainable development and good living condition,
where constant and consistent critical thinking plays an irreplaceable role.
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
 Understand the relationship of logic and philosophy,
 Recognize the core areas of philosophy,
 Appreciate the necessity learning logic and philosophy,
 Differentiate cognitive meanings from emotive meanings of words,
 Differentiate standard forms of categorical propositions from other types of
sentences used in any language,

Page 1
 Apply symbols to denote standard forms of categorical propositions to form
further logical assertions among them.
 Develop logical and open-mind that weighs ideas and people rationally;
 Develop confidence when arguing with others,
 Demonstrate logical argumentative ability,
 Develop logical reasoning skill in their day to day life, and
 Appreciate logical reasoning, disproving mob-mentality and avoid social
prejudice.
 Understand the basic concepts and principles of critical thinking.
 Apply critical thinking principles to real life situation.
II. Course Learning Outcomes
At the completion of the course, the student will have developed an understanding of
the role logic plays in the reasoning process. Specifically, the students are expected to
achieve:
 The ability to recognize and analyze arguments in everyday language, to detect
hidden or implicit premises, and to extract the logical form of an argument;
 The ability to show the deductive validity or invalidity of an argument, to
recognize and criticize the flaws of a weak argument, and to develop
counterarguments;
III. Units and Contents
Chapter One: Basic Concepts of Logic
1. Introduction
1.1. Basic Concepts of Logic
1.2. Techniques of recognizing arguments.
1.3. Types of Arguments
1.3.1. Deductive Arguments
1.3.2. Inductive Arguments
1.4. Evaluation of Arguments
1.4.1. Evaluating Deductive Argument
1.4.2. Evaluating Inductive Arguments
Chapter Two: Logic and Language
2. Introduction
2.1. Logic and Meaning
2.1.1. Cognitive and Emotive Meaning of Words

Page 2
2.1.2. Intensional and Extensional Meaning of Terms
2.2. Logic and Definition
2.2.1. Types and Purposes of Definition
2.2.2. Techniques of Definition
2.2.2.1. Extensional Techniques of Definition
2.2.2.2. Intensional Techniques of Definition
2.3. Criteria for Lexical Definitions
Chapter Three: Logical Reasoning and Fallacies
3. Introduction
3.1. Types of Fallacies: Formal and Informal
3.2. Categories of Informal Fallacies
3.2.1. Fallacies of Relevance
3.2.2. Fallacies of Weak Induction
3.2.3. Fallacies of Presumption
3.2.4. Fallacies of Ambiguity
3.2.5. Fallacies of Grammatical Analogy
IV. Teaching Methodologies
For the successful completion of this course, different Student-Centered teaching
methodologies will be applied. These include:
 Semi-Lecture, ,
 Class Discussion,
 Group Discussion,
 Pair Discussion,
 Peer-Learning
 Video/Audio Visual, and Self-Reading.
 Debate
V. Assessment Methodologies
The MoSHE Proclamation and the Senate Legislation of a given University shall
determine the assessment methodologies. Therefore, a Continuous Assessment
Method will be applied to evaluate the competence of students acquired from the
course. And the Continuous Assessment will incorporate:
 Mid Exam ………………………………….… 30%
 Assignment ………………………………....... 20%
 Final Exam.…………………………………… 50%

Page 3
VI. Readings and Texts
Textbook
Hurley, Patrick J. (2014) A Concise Introduction to Logic, 12th Edition, Wadsworth,
Cengage Learning.
Hurley, Patrick J. (2012) A Concise Introduction to Logic, 11th Edition, Wadsworth,
Cengage Learning.
Reference Books
Copi, Irving M.and Carl Cohen, (1990) Introduction to Logic, New York: Macmillan
Publishing Company.
Damer, Edward. (2005). Attacking faulty reasoning. A practical guide to fallacy free
argument. Wadsworth Cengage learning, USA.
Fogelin, Robert, J, (1987) Understanding Arguments: An Introduction to Informal
Logic, New York: Harcourt Brace Jvanovich Publisher.
Guttenplan, Samuel: (1991) The Language of Logic. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
Stephen, C. (200) The Power of Logic. London and Toronto: May field Publishing
Company.

Page 4

You might also like