PHI 1710 Logic, FA2024

Section: R1710-1503: T 1:00-3:50 RO campus R1710-1501: Th 6:00- 8:50 pm Zoom

Runs: 8/27/2024 - 12/10/2024 Runs: 8/29/2024 - 12/12/2024
Instructor: A. Droba Office: B 233 on RO campus
There are two sections represented on this syllabus. Section 1501 (TH) is an online class
taught remotely through Zoom. Section 1503 (TU) is a face to face class. Important class
information may be given during class meetings. Students may attend the other section if
needed. F2F class will be taught remotely in the event the instructor is able to teach but
unable to attend class for any reason. All recorded lectures and course material is
available on D2L to F2F students regardless. Requirements are the same for both classes,
only dates are different.

Phone 248-246-2663 Hours: F2F M, T, W 12-1 Online M, Th 5:30-6:00 and 30 min’s

after class.
E-mail: [email protected]
Emergency contacts: e-mail me.
Receiving Assistance: Students are urged to contact me should they have questions
concerning course content. Please consult this syllabus before asking questions regarding
exam dates, course requirements and grading. I’m a human being, not a machinated
reference guide; in emails, please provide your name, your class (logic) and any
information that will help me answer your question as quickly as possible. Though I try to
check e-mail regularly, I may not always be able to do so. You are responsible for getting
any information that was given in class. If you miss class, there will be video lessons
posted. Watching videos will not count towards attendance. If you have a disability or any
other special circumstance that may impact your course work and for which you may
require accommodations, please contact the ACCESS office (248-246- 2480) early in the
semester so that arrangements can be made.
By remaining in this course, students are agreeing to abide by the guidelines
outlined in this document and understand that I alone reserve the right to make
reasonable changes to the course as needed to facilitate instruction.

Course Description and objectives: This course is designed to give students an

introduction to informal logical analysis such as basic epistemology, argument forms
such as analogy and other forms, and fallacies. Students will learn basic concepts of
logical thinking: i.e. how to think about thinking.

Textbook: How to Think Logically, Seay and Nuccetelli, Pearson second ed. Additional
readings/notes/assignments will be online (D2L).

Grading is done on the basis of three tests (70%; 20, 25, 25) plus Required
Homework quizzes (20%) attendance/participation (10%).

Exams: Three exams will be offered. Consider all exams cumulative as later concepts and
skills build on previous material. Exam Dates: (I reserve the right to change dates according
to class preparedness) see schedule and/or D2L calendar.

Attendance and Homework: Homework is assigned and is gone over in class. It is easy to fall
behind and so it is essential that students show up for class on a regular basis. Students are
allowed 2 class periods (a class period is 3 hours) of absences before losing up to 2 points per
hour of absence. Though I will post videos going over work, we go over the assigned work in
class for students to ensure understanding of the concepts that will be tested on. Please take the
opportunity to interact, ask questions and deepen your understanding of the subject.
Homework quizzes: HW grade will be based on the successful completion of 5 online
quizzes which are based on the homework and will help students understand the exam
formatting. Each quiz is worth 4 points, scores of attempted questions correlate as follows:
100-75 =4, 75-50=3, 50- 25=2, 25-0=1. No points will be awarded for quizzes not
attempted. Quizzes will remain open until the last day of class but they should be taken in a
timely fashion throughout the course.

Policies and educational philosophies:

1. Grading Scale: 92+ =A, 82-87= B, 75-77=C, 65-74=D

I do give +/- within two points of the cutoff point of each grade. For example: 90= A-
I reserve the right to lower C range to 70 and the D range to 60. I will not alter the A/B
range.
2. Priorities, make ups and missing assignments: Students are expected to plan for
course completion. In the very rare event a student is unable to take an exam by the exam
date s/he is expected to notify me before the exam is given, unless such notification is
impossible. Please explain extenuating circumstances but please don’t beg. I will consider
all cases on their own merit. A make-up exam may be arranged if it is determined that the
student has a legitimate excuse. Absences may be mitigated by answering discussion
questions or attending another section’s lesson.
3. Missing exams and mitigation. Students who do not follow the assigned course
outline, for any reason, are at the instructor’s mercy. Assume the final grade may be
affected by missing exams and work. I have mitigation strategies, please contact me if you
missed an exam. Failure to take more than 1 exam cannot be mitigated.

4. Withdrawals (WS grade): students who missed the deadline to withdraw themselves
may be withdrawn by the instructor by contacting me in writing (email) that you wish for
the grade of WS.
5. Cheating is grounds for failure of this course and a mark on the student’s permanent
record. Furthermore, it is bad for one’s character. Please don’t do it. Any suspicious work
will be investigated but you are considered innocent until proven otherwise.
6. Attendance, manners and effort: My aim is to create a positive, enjoyable learning
environment for all students in the class. Toward that end, it is important that you attend
class prepared to discuss the assigned homework. The more you bring to class, the better it
will be. It is imperative that you respect your fellow classmates and myself by

1) How you interact: allowing all classmates the right to voice their opinions without fear
of ridicule, and not making objectionable (gendered, racial or ethnic) comments,
especially comments directed at a classmate. Using language appropriate for public.

2) Contributing to a focused classroom atmosphere: Be prepared for class. Use

your registration name to enter Zoom class, if applicable. Do your best to keep
distractions to a minimum. Don't disturb class by messaging off topic questions
during lecture/lessons (though classes are ADHD friendly).

3. Extra Credit: Extra credit is built into the exams

4. Non-Drops and N grade: Anyone who fails to complete the course without dropping
will receive a grade based on work completed unless the student contacts me requesting a
withdrawal. Per federal law, any student who does not attend the first 20% of class will
receive an N grade that cannot be changed retroactively. An N grade can negatively affect
the student’s ability to receive financial aid in the future. Students who do not attend one
Zoom or class by the third week of class will be assigned an N grade.

5. Per FERPA: Generally, schools must have written permission from the student in order to
release any information from a student's education record. For more information see the
following: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html
In the College Catalog and student Handbook and on its website, OCC provides
explicit information about its FERPA policy.

6. Empowering Students in Need As student at OCC, you have access to free

Microsoft Office software, and other items. If you are in need of housing, food or other
assistance, please contact a counselor for a list of resources, and see the brochures
available at the ASC and other locations. www.oaklandcc.edu/counseling/

Weekly schedule. There are two classes listed: Tuesday class is the first date and Thursday is
the second. See D2L for zoom id.

Week /date begin Topic Reading /video Exercises from text

Tues/Thurs
W1: Aug 27, Aug M1; Syllabus, Chpt 1 Read on Chpt 1
29 Identifying Premises and Ex. iii, iv, v
(course pack 1/4) arguments conclusions
W2: Sept 3rd, 5th M2: Rhetoric vs Read chpt 2-2.2 Chpt 2 to 2.2 , pg 29ex i,-v
argument Orwell, Rappaille and
Luntz
W3: Sept 10, 12th M3: Background chpt 3,
information, truth Chpt 3
and other features Ex.v 5-8, ix, xii
of reasoning
W4: Sept 17th, 19 M4: Extended Chpt 4-4.4 Chpt 4pg 78 I, ii, iii, iv
(course pack 2/4) arguments
Exam 1 opens
(M5)
W5: Sept 24, 26 M5: begin The exam is online.
Deductive vs. Assignment on D2L in module
inductive 5, complete after the exam
W6: Oct 1, 3 M6:Deductive Chpt 5 Chpt 5, ex. i, ii, iii, iv xii (pg
(course pack 3/4) 112)
(vii, viii in class), x, Xv, xvi,
xviii
W7: Oct 8, 10th M7: Statistical Read chpt 6 Exercises begin in the logic
Syllogism packet/online
and Sample
W8: Oct 15th, 17th M8: Analogy
Read Chpt 6

W9: Oct 22th, 24th M9: Authority We will do all chpt 6

exercises.

W 10: Oct 29, 31 M10: Online Exam

Exam 2 opens only this week.
W11: Nov 5, 7th M11: Fallacies Chpt 7/10
(course pack 4/4)
W12: Nov 12th, 14th M12: Fallacies Chpt 10/8

W 13: Nov 19, 21 M13-14 Argument Chpt 9 Chpt 8 ex. i, ii, vi, ix, x, , xi
analysis
continued
Nov 26, 28 Thanksgiving Rest

W 14: Dec 3, 5 M 13-14 Argument Chpt 9 ex i, v

Exam 3 opens analysis
continued
W 15: Dec 10, 12th Exam only. Make sure all HW
Complete Exam 3 quizzes are taken.
by tonight