Logic and Critical Thinking
Office:
Hollenbeck 301
Phone: 937 327 7847
e-mail: mmartinezsaenz@wittenberg.edu
This
course will be divided into two parts. The first part of the course is designed
to introduce students to formal logic.
By the end of the semester the students should be able to do the
following: (1) translate statements in Categorical and Propositional (2)
evaluate and solve proofs in Categorical and Propositional Logic, (3)
understand better some methods and techniques for problem solving. Students will take three exams and quizzes
during this part of the class. During the second part of the semester we will
work on developing our critical thinking skills. The students will get an appreciation of
critical thinking as it relates to the law.
Each student will have the opportunity to evaluate court decisions
enabling him or her to recognize the subtleties involved in rendering legal
decisions.
Course
Requirements:
Quizzes
20%: There
will be a short quiz every Friday, excluding exam weeks. These quizzes will enable me to determine
whether or not each of you is understanding the material. I will drop the 3
lowest quiz grades. No make-up quizzes
will be given.
Logic
1: February 1, 2006
Logic
2: March 1, 2006
Logic
3: March 22, 2006
Each
student will be expected to read and write a reaction to a U.S. Supreme Court’s
Decision. You can select from the Regents of the University of California v. Bakke,
Gratz v. Bollinger, Grutter v. Bollinger. It is your burden to convince me of your position. You will, as a consequence, be expected to
write an “argumentative paper.” If you
have any questions regarding this assignment please ask. I would urge you not to wait until the last
minute to begin reading and preparing your paper.
The
essays should be MORE than two pages, but LESS than six pages. Answers that
either
do not meet the minimum requirement or exceed six pages will not be evaluated.
Use
standard margins and no more than 12 point font.
This
class will not be exclusively a lecture class.
While I will lecture, at least half of the class will be devoted to
discussion. Since participation is an integral part of this class, attendance
is required. If you have not read or
done the assignment for the day please do not try to make up some
nonsense. It will serve you better in
the long run to acknowledge your mistake and perform better the next time. All students will be expected to go to the
board during the first part of the course.
I will explain this more fully during the first class session.
ACADEMIC
DISHONESTY WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE COURSE see Student Handbook for
Texts
Elias
E. Savellos Reasoning and the Law (RL)
1/9- Introduction
1/11- Chapter 1
1/13- Quiz
1/16- MLK Day Class
Cancelled: Assignment on Web Page
1/18- Chapter 2
1/20- Chapter 2 continued
1/23- Chapter 2 continued
1/25- Chapter 2 continued
1/27-Quiz
1/30- Chapter 2 continued
2/1- TEST # 1
2/3- Riddle
2/6-Chapter 3
2/8-Chapter 3 continued
2/10-Quiz
2/13-Chapter 3 continued
2/15- Chapter 3 continued
2/17- NO CLASS
2/20-Chapter 3 continued
2/22- Chapter 3 continued
2/24-Quiz
2/27-Chapter 3 continued
3/1- TEST # 2
3/3- No class
3/6-3/10 SPRING BREAK
3/13- Chapter 3 and
Handouts
315- Chapter 3
3/17- Quiz
3/20-Review
3/22- TEST # 3
3/24-Riddle
3/27- “Statements” E-RESERVE
3/29- Types of Arguments E-RESERVE
3/31-Quiz
4/3-Arguments continued
4/5- Church of the
Holy Trinity v.
4/7- No CLASS
4/10-Roe v Wade E-RESERVE
4/12- Planned
Parenthood v. Casey E-RESERVE
4/14- In class exercise
4/17- “Separate but
Equal” Plessy v.
4/19- Brown v. Board E-RESERVE
4/21- In class exercise
4/24- Regents of the
“The Diversity Rationale”
4/26- Grutter
v. Bollinger Thomas Opinion
4/28- Gratz
v. Bollinger Rehnquist Opinion
5/1- “The Diversity
Rationale Reconsidered” E-RESERVE
5/3-Review
Final Papers due May
10, 2006 by 5 pm.