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: September 13, 2006
Logic
2: October 4, 2006
Logic
3: October 20, 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. Keep in mind the Decision is quite long. Therefore, 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
8/21- Introduction
8/23- Chapter 1
8/25- Quiz
8/28-
8/30- Chapter 2
9/1- Chapter 2 continued
9/4 – LABOR DAY no
classChapter 2 continued
9/6- Chapter 2 continued
9/8 -Quiz
9/11- Chapter 2 continued
9/13- TEST # 1
9/15- Riddle
9/18-Chapter 3
9/20-Chapter 3 continued
9/22 Guest Speaker: Karen
Reynolds, Director Career Center
9/25-Chapter 3 continued
9/27- Chapter 3 continued
9/29- Chapter 3 continued
10/2-Chapter 3 continued
10/4- TEST # 2
10/6- No class
10/9-Chapter 3 and
Handouts
10/11- continued
10/13- continued
10/16-FALL BREAK
10/18- Review
10/20-Test # 3
10/23- “Statements” E-RESERVE
10/25- Types of Arguments
E-RESERVE
10/27- Quiz
10/30- Arguments continued
11/1- Church of the
Holy Trinity v.
11/3- Quiz
11/6-Roe v Wade E-RESERVE
11/8- Planned
Parenthood v. Casey E-RESERVE
11/10- In class exercise
11/13- “Separate
but Equal” Plessy v.
11/15- Brown v. Board E-RESERVE
11/17- In class exercise
11/20 NO CLASS
11/22 NO CLASS
11/27- Regents of the
“The Diversity Rationale”
11/29- Grutter
v. Bollinger Thomas Opinion
12/1- Gratz
v. Bollinger Rehnquist Opinion
12/6- Continued E-RESERVE
12/8-Review