Santa Ana College 

The mission of Santa Ana College is to inspire, transform, and empower a diverse community of learners.

Philosophy 110: Critical Thinking

INT 2018 PHIL 110 .docx

Course Information

Section: 61068

Instructor: Carlos Brocatto

Schedule: Monday – Thursday 9am -1:30pm

Location: D-201

Instructor Contact Information

E-Mail: brocatto­_carlos@sac.edu

Office: D-415

Phone: (714) 564-6536 

Course Description

College-level critical thinking and writing. Promotes self-awareness, independent thinking, and improved academic expression. Examines philosophical methods of reasoning and composition, and the uses of informal logic and criticism in personal life, college, work, and democratic society.

Prerequisite: English 101 or English 101H with a minimum grade of C.

A bit about me: My name is Carlos Brocatto, but please just address me as Carlos. I have planned to change the world with my education and each of you can help me to meet this goal by applying what you learn in this course. I'm not kidding. Why not reach for the stars? I like to relax in all sorts of ways like fixing coffee, listening to records (punk, hip hop, jazz and country mostly, some classical), and reading fiction, history and philosophy. I also tinker with a bass guitar from time to time...

Course Overview

The main objective of this class will be to understand the fundamentals of critical thinking by developing the ability to identify, understand, and critically analyze simple and complex logical arguments. We will learn to assess the strength of information we gather and how to effectively employ it through argumentation. One immediate benefit of this class will be an improved ability to read and write essays that respond to specific questions through clearly stated theses and cogent claims that support them. An added benefit will be the ability to apply what we learn to the lives we lead by cultivating and addressing issues in our communities.

Course Materials

1. Lewis Vaughn, Writing Philosophy: A Student’s Guide to Reading and Writing Philosophy Essays, 5^th Edition (New York: Oxford University Press, 2018). [WP]
2. Lewis Vaughn, The Power of Critical Thinking, 3^rd- 5^th (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010-18). [PCT]
3. Michelle Kuo, Reading with Patrick: A Teacher, A Student, and a Life-Changing Friendship (New York: Random House, 2018). [RP]

Films: Precious Knowledge (2011), I Am Not Your Negro (2016)

Additional course documents and supplementary materials will be available on Canvas (C).

Learning Outcomes

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

• Identify, reconstruct, and analyze logical arguments, including conclusions, premises, and implicit assumptions, within a wide variety of written works. 
• To apply, in both written and oral form, critical thinking concepts and techniques to contemporary issues related to society, politics, law, science, medicine, and education.
• To identify common reasoning errors and cognitive biases that lead to faulty argumentation.
• To write effective argumentative essays in which original, thoughtful, strongly developed critical positions are presented in a clear, methodical, well-structured manner. 

Assignments, Grades and Policies

Course Points

Class Participation                 16

Homework                              24

Term Paper Project                20

Midterm Exam                        20

Final Exam                             20

Total Points Possible              100

Grading Scale

A         90 – 100          points

B         80 – 89            points

C         70 – 79            points

D         60 – 69             points

F          0 – 59              points

Please note that every point is equal to a grade percentage point for this course; in other words, every single point counts toward your final grade.

Class Participation

Each student is expected to attend every class and to participate in classroom discussions. Each class period is worth 1 point. In order to get full credit for a class, you must be on time, be present for the entire class period, and be engaged with the class. Points are deducted when classes are missed and when distractions occur, including, but not limited to, entering class late, leaving during class, separate conversations, cell phone rings, text messaging or other uses of electronic devices/phones/laptops, engaging in non-class-related activities, and disrespecting others. Attendance is recorded each class with a roll call and/or a sign-in sheet; it is your responsibility to make sure that your presence is recorded through one of these methods each class. If you miss part of a class, you may receive no credit for that class, depending on how much of the class is missed.

All electronic devices (e.g., phones, computers, etc.) must be turned off or silent and put away during class lecture unless otherwise directed by the instructor.

Homework (HW)

You must be in attendance in order to receive instructions regarding these assignments. Homework will consist of special topics and selected exercises either as online discussions or from The Power of Critical Thinking text. Homework will require application of critical thinking skills such as identifying fallacious argumentation and demonstrating competency in proposition logic. There will be five homework assignments worth four points each.  

Term Paper

This assignment will be divided into two parts and instructions will be provided in advance of the final due date. The first part of the project concerns the construction of a detailed summary outline for planned work and is worth five points. The second part consist of an argumentative essay. Part two will consist of an analytical summary. The term paper will call for an original summary analysis and will be judged according to coherence, clarity (including grammar/spelling), structure, argumentative strength, and originality. All work is to be typed, double-spaced, and four to five pages in length. Detailed instructions on how to construct a philosophy essay will be presented via PowerPoint, course texts, and in-class lecture.

Midterm & Final Exams

Each exam is in-class and consists of essay questions and exercises from our text. The midterm will cover all material worked through by the time of the exam. The Final is cumulative. Comprehensive study guides will be provided for each exam and we will review extensively in class. 

Late Essays and Make-up Exams

Unless there is a valid excuse (e.g., medical emergency, fatality, etc.), no late work will be accepted and no make-up exams will be made available for this class.

Plagiarism and Cheating

Plagiarizing or cheating on any assignment will result in a “0” for that assignment, and possible failure of the course. Anyone caught plagiarizing or cheating may also be subject to college disciplinary sanctions. Further guidelines on plagiarism will be provided with the instructions for the first essay assignment.

Students with Disabilities

Your success in this course is important to me. Santa Ana College and I are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability that may have some impact on your ability to do well in this course, I encourage you to speak with me as soon as possible. Also, please contact Disabled Students Programs & Services so that we can all collaborate on your classroom observations in a timely manner. DSP&S is located in VL-203, and their phone number is 714-564-6264. The DSP&S office requires documentation of your disability in order to receive reasonable accommodations. If you do not have documentation, they will work with you to acquire it. I look forward to supporting you to meet your learning goals.

It is the disabled student’s responsibility to contact the course instructor at the beginning of the semester to discuss potential plans when classroom evacuations are necessary. 

Reading and Assignment Schedule

Weekly topics are in italics while important dates and assignments are indicated in bold type. All assigned reading should be completed prior to the day indicated. 

Week 1: Introduction to Critical Thinking, It’s Obstacles and Reasons for Belief and Doubt

Mon., 1/7 – Class Introduction; Syllabus

Tues., 1/8 – Plato’s Euthyphro (Available on Canvas), PCT Ch1 – HW1 (Canvas Discussion) Due

Wed.,   1/9 – WP pp. 3-42, PCT Ch2

Thurs., 1/10 – PCT Ch3 – HW2 (Canvas Discussion) Due

Note: Tues., January 8^th is the last day to drop the course with no grade

Week 2: Making Sense of Arguments, Deductive Reasoning and Fallacies

Mon., 1/14 – PCT Ch4, WP pp. 88-98 

Tues., 1/15 – In-Class Exercises; PCT Ch5

Wed.,   1/16 – PCT pp. 218-229, WP pp. 43-87, 99-156, Midterm Review

Thurs., 1/17 – Midterm Exam; Film: I Am Not Your Negro (2016); RP Introduction & pp. 3-70  

Week 3: Writing Essays and Propositional Logic

Mon., 1/21 – MLK Day (No Class)! – HW3 (Canvas Discussion) Due

Tues., 1/22 – PCT Ch6, RP pp. 72-133 – HW4 (Term Paper Outlines) Due

Wed.,   1/23 – In-Class Exercises, RP pp. 134-208   

Thurs., 1/24 – RP pp. 209-279 – Term Paper Due                       

Note: Thurs., January 24^th is the last day to drop the course with a “W”

Week 4: Inductive Reasoning, Explanations and Scientific Theories

Mon., 1/28 – PCT Ch8 – HW5 (PCT Exercises) Due

Tues., 1/29 – PCT Ch9

Wed.,   1/30 – PCT Ch10, Final Exam Review

Thurs., 1/31 – Final Exam

Note: This schedule is tentative and subject to change if classroom circumstances warrant.

WP = Writing Philosophy (Available at the Bookstore)

PCT = Power of Critical Thinking (Available on Canvas)   

RP = Reading with Patrick (Available at the Bookstore)