Critical Reasoning

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Course Description

The course has been designed to give students the opportunity to explore the basic tools of critical reasoning and to empower them to think for themselves. The ability to think critically is of great value in helping to deal competently with ethical, social and political problems in the work situation and everyday life. In most humanities courses at universities lecturers expect students to understand cultural diversity, to critically evaluate information and knowledge claims and to make responsible decisions. However, students are rarely given the opportunity to acquire these abilities in a systematic way.

The aim of this course is to give students the opportunity to acquire critical thinking tools to critically analyse and evaluate knowledge claims. Students will acquire the skills to develop a critical attitude to cultural stereotypes and biases.

These tools are crucial to making informed decisions so that, when students are faced with difficult situations in their professional or even private lives, they will be able to make appropriate reasoning choices.

Course Objectives

After completing this course, students will be able to:

  • CO1 Identify assumptions, reasons and claims and their interaction
  • CO2 Show the ability to make informed decisions that are based on facts and substantiated claims
  • CO3 Reflect on own thinking and develop a critical attitude to cultural stereotypes and biases
  • CO4 Analyze and evaluate information and knowledge claims critically
  • CO5 Apply the key concepts of critical reasoning to constructing own arguments and writing critical essays.

Course Topics

  • T1 Critical reasoning
  • T2 Analyzing arguments
  • T3 Obstacles to clear thinking
  • T4 Evaluating arguments
  • T5 The use of arguments in different kinds of writing

Course Structure

Module 1: Introduction to Critical Reasoning

Module Topics

  • MT1.1: Critical Reasoning
  • MT1.2: Thinking for Yourself
  • MT1.3: Informed Thinking
  • MT1.4: Critical Self-reflection

Module Objectives

  • MO1.1: Define critical reasoning
  • MO1.2: Demonstrate techniques on how to think for yourself (independent thinking)
  • MO1.3: Reflect critically on your own assumptions
  • MO1.4: Apply reasoning to argumentative statements

Readings

  • Lecture 1

Web Resources

Activities

  • 2 Journal Activities
  • 2 Objective Quizzes

(Course Objectives: 1, 2)

Module 2: Identifying and Analyzing Arguments

Module Topics

  • MT2.1: What is an argument
  • MT2.2: Analyzing arguments
    • Identifying premises and conclusions
  • MT2.3: The structure of arguments

Module Objectives

  • MO2.1: Identify Argument Components
  • MO2.2: Evaluate simple and complex arguments
  • MO2.3: Analyze premise and conclusion statements in arguments
  • MO2.4: Distinguish between empirical and value arguments

Readings

  • Lecture 2

Web Resources

Activities

  • 2 Journal Activities
  • 3 Objective Quizzes

(Course Objectives: 1, 3, 5)

Module 3: Obstacles to Clear Thinking

Module Topics

  • MT3.1: Preconceived ideas
    • Social Conditioning
    • Labeling
    • Stereotypes
  • MT3.2: Applying your knowledge and skills to argument evaluation

Module Objectives

  • MO3.1: Identify and examine obstacles to clear thinking
  • MO3.2: Recognize and interpret the nature of social conditioning and preconceived ideas
  • MO3.3: Illustrate labeling and stereotypes
  • MO3.4: Identify fallacious statements
  • MO3.5: Deconstruct arguments

Readings

  • Lecture 3

Web Resources

Slippery slope

http://www.garlikov.com/philosophy/slope.htm

Activities

  • 2 Journal Activities (take out JA4 and revise JA6)
  • 1 Objective Quiz - Identifying Fallacies

(Course Objectives: 1, 3)

Module 4: Evaluating Arguments=

Module Topics

  • MT4.1: Different types of arguments
  • MT4.2: Applying your knowledge and skills to argument evaluation

Module Objectives

  • MO4.1: distinguish between deductive and inductive arguments
  • MO4.2: analyze arguments for validity and soundness

Readings

  • Lecture 4

Web Resources

Activities

  • 1 Journal Activity (JA11)
  • Quiz: 2 self-check quizzes
  • Objective Test - Soundness and Validity
  • Objective Test - Identify Deductive vs Inductive

(Course Objectives: 4)

Module 5: The Use of Arguments in Different Kinds of Writing

Module Topics

  • MT5.1: Different kinds of writing
    • Expressive writing
    • Journals
    • Communicative writing
  • MT5.2: Writing argumentative essays
  • MT5.3: The philosophical attitude

Module Objectives

  • MO5.1: Distinguish between different forms of writing
  • MO5.2: Write argumentative essays using generally accepted guidelines
  • MO5.3: Reflect and critically evaluate your own personal biases, misconceptions and preconceived ideas
  • MO5.4: Identify and critically evaluate the ideas and beliefs of others

Readings

Web Resources

Activities

  • 2 Journal Activities (Revise JA12)
  • Objective Test - Selecting the Appropriate Writing Style

(Course Objectives: 5)

Assessments

  • 10 journal assignments
  • At least one (1) quiz per module?
  • Self-check exercise Module 3 (mid-point)
  • Selection of question types by TESC
  • Number of questions to be determined by available questions
  • Access to test bank for evaluation
  • Module Assignments will map to Course Objectives
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